Detective John Smith

Chapter 5

I took cover behind a wrecked bus as the voices drew nearer. Peering through rusted windows, my heart sank - Nick was there with the Snake and his men, circling a bound and bloodied man.

"Last chance, scumbag. Where did you stash the loot?" the Snake demanded. When the man just coughed up blood, the Snake nodded to one of his goons.

I tensed, ready to make my move. But then Nick spoke up firmly, "Enough. We don't torture civilians."

The Snake eyed Nick coldly. For a tense moment, it seemed there would be bloodshed between them. Then the Snake shrugged and waved his men away.

With the goons departing, Nick cut the man's bonds and helped him up. So he was still one of the good guys. I started to emerge—

But suddenly Nick whipped around, drew his pistol, and leveled it right at me! "Sorry John, it's just business." He chambered a round and stepped toward the Snake...whose cruel smile told the whole story.

My old friend had switched sides.

I couldn't believe my eyes as Nick drew down on me. This wasn't how it was supposed to end between brothers in blue. But I had no choice now - it was him or me.

As Nick's finger tensed on the trigger, I launched into action. Using the wrecked car as cover, I kicked off with lightning speed, my boot connecting solidly under Nick's jaw. He crumpled instantly.

But now the Snake and his men opened fire, riddling the car with bullets. I returned shots from behind cover, winging one goon while the Snake retreated. This wasn't over yet.

Popping the clip on my Pistol, I rolled out and gave chase behind a hail of lead. The Snake was fast but I was fueled by rage, closing the distance between us in the junkyard maze.

Finally spying him reloading behind a stack of tires, I vaulted over and tackled him hard. We grappled violently, my blood pounding in my ears. With a wrathful yell, I landed a crushing blow that sent the Snake limp.

Breathing heavily, I cuffed him up as sounds of sirens approached in the distance. Justice had been served at last. But the pain of Nick's betrayal would haunt me for a long time...

As the wail of sirens grew louder, echoes bouncing around the stacks of rusted junk, I dragged the unconscious Snake into the open. My longtime foe was finally in cuffs where he belonged.

But my senses remained on high alert, wary of any last tricks up his sleeve. Sure enough, as I frisked the Snake for weapons, movement caught my eye. One of his lackeys emerged from behind a wreck, pistol raised with vengeance on his mind.

Before he could pull the trigger, I whirled and dropped him clean between the eyes with a single shot. The goon's body crumpled lifeless to the dirt while the sirens closed in.

Holstering my smoking piece, I stared coldly down at the fallen man, a grim message for any others still considering retaliation. Then I turned my cold gaze to the motionless form of my former friend Nick lying nearby.

How far he'd fallen from the righteous path we once walked together. Such was the cost of joining the dark side in this town. But tonight, justice was done at last.

With the Snake and his last henchman cuffed and the precinct notified, my work here was finished. But lingering questions still gnawed at me as the cruisers rolled up with lights flashing.

Chief Williams was first out, taking in the scene with a grave nod. "You did good work tonight, Smith. This scumbag's finally going away for good where he belongs."

I handed over the Snake without a word, eyes drifting to Nick's unconscious form being loaded into another car. What made a good cop go rogue like that?

As the sirens faded into the night, I stared up at the moon with a weary sigh. Another battle won, but the war still raged on in these mean streets. Who knew what new evils would fester in the darkness until the next showdown.

All I could do was try and get some rest, tend my wounds, and prepare for whatever lurked around the next corner. Because in this town, there was never truly an end to the fight for justice. It was an endless grind that defined my very bones.

With that, I started the long drive home, already wondering what new case would land on my desk come morning. The name's Smith. John Smith, Detective. And this city still needs guys like me, as dark as it gets.

The sun rose over another long night of fighting crime in this city. As always, little sleep was had as my mind replayed the tense moments of danger and sacrifice it took to see justice done.

But a new day meant new work, and I could already feel it calling me back to the streets. After a quick coffee break, I headed to the precinct to see what cases had piled up overnight.

Stepping into the bullpen, I was greeted by the familiar sounds of phones ringing off the hook and detectives hustling between boards updating leads. This place never slept, and neither could I as the city's protector.

Chief Williams spotted me and beckoned me over. "We've had a triple homicide in the warehouse district, Smith. Whole families wiped out execution style. I want you on point finding who's sending this message."

I nodded grimly, already flipping through crime scene photos that showed unspeakable acts of violence. More innocent blood on my hands to avenge. These dark streets had claimed too many as it was, but not if I had anything to say.

Grabbing my coat and piece, I saluted the chief. "I'm on it. These savages won't know what hit 'em." And with that, I was off into the city storm once more, eyes and ears open for the slightest clue to bring down our newest monsters. Another day, another fight for justice begins...