Running Blind

Trapped Part One

This is totally jacked up! No way did she ever think she would be down in ghetto slinging warrants. A disgusted hiss freed from her lips as she glared at the decrepit house. Staring at it through her shades, how did she get here? Her life spiraled out of control and she couldn't shake the hot mess she had become.

Damn, she missed Travis. Just the thinking of him made her heart ache, but anytime she'd dwell on him, the guilt would ride in and take over. Baleigh should never have listened to him that night. She knew better, procedures said to stay within eyesight of your partner. But no, she went stupid and did what he said. Now he is dead and she got fired over it.

Now this, hustling busted out bail jumpers. Once she resigned from the force, she couldn't get work, nothing! Not even a security guard job at Wal-Mart. Then a friend mentioned that she could make good money working as a bounty hunter. What the fuck, a bounty hunter? Even that wasn't easy for her. No one would touch her but one slime ball, Vinnie DeCarlo.

Baleigh shivered at what she had to do to get the gig. Vinnie ran a down and out bail bonds joint down in Culver City. Everything about Vinnie was disgusting and the fact she had to suck his dick made it worse. It truly sucked to be her. A grunt ripped out, he was disgusting? How about herself? One notch up from a tweaker dumpster slut.

Dark eyes darted to the warrant. A sense of dread raced through her. A probation bust out for domestic violence. How fucking ironic. Exactly the situation that got Travis killed. How she hated DV calls and here she sits again facing one. Travis flooded back into her thoughts. Talk to me Travis baby.

Fingernails rapped to the steering wheel as Baleigh stared straight ahead at the house that held nothing but trouble. Her mind went blank, nothing! Baleigh might as well be running blind. She turned off everything inside her and exited her car. Warrant in hand she approached the desolate hole in the wall.

Taking a look around to make sure no one had the jump on her, she slowly moved up the front steps. Fingers reached behind her to feel the .38 Colt tucked into the back of her jeans. Then those same fingers rolled into a fist and gave the peeling door a few solid raps. She craned her head to listen for footsteps. Here they came, and they sounded light, like a female.

At this moment, when her nerves teetered. Not knowing what's on the other side. Baleigh stepped back, blew a deep breath and cringed inside for all hell could break loose. The door swung open.

"What do you want?" Baleigh's eyes found a scrawny white chick sneering at her.

She looked past the girl quickly to see if anyone else might be lurking. The background too murky and that made Baleigh jumpy. A glance back to the girl. "Looking for Derrick Ruiz ... he here?"

The girl gave her a hard look. "Who wants to know?" The whole tone of her voice said bitch. Baleigh figured the chick thought she was one of Ruiz's girls. She knew in a second this little slut would be up in her face.

"I am, how's that work for you?" This is it. This could get out of hand real fast. All her senses went on high alert for trouble might bust loose. The bitch snorted and stared real hard. Baleigh figured the chick was trying to figure her out. Old girlfriend? The cops?

"Fuck off." The door started to close. Baleigh shoved her booted foot between the door and the jamb. Everything moved with a blur. She dove into the door to push it open as the little trollop tried to push back. Damn, this little bitch was strong. She had a hell of a time pushing back. The curses between them flew out as each fought the door.

Baleigh so engrossed in her struggle never heard the stomping of footsteps coming up the stairs behind her. It happened so fast she had no time to react. Nothing registered for she went flying past the door and landed on the floor. Her nostrils filled what smelled like dirt and piss. Groaning and trying to figure out what the hell happened, all she heard were shouts and screaming.