BULLET-CITY

Part-11

"What is wrong with you!! Just go back and tell them what happened!" screamed Laura.

"I see you've found your voice," replied Vince sticking a finger in his ear.

Vince paused long enough to finally contemplate what had just happened. Why was the FBI here? And what were city officials doing in the middle of a gunfight? He took a quick moment to wipe the sweat from his face. He could hear more sirens echoing throughout the city, but all headed in his direction.

Vince looked around. He knew these streets like the back of his hand. They were in a tight, dimly lit brick alleyway that connected to a one-way street. Vince quickly pulled Laura down behind some rusty trash barrels as a patrol car rolled by slowly. His nose stung from the smell of moldy fish and cat litter.

"Sheesh! Pull my arm out the socket, why don't you," scolded Laura.

She held one hand to her nose. "And you stink. Don't you ever shower?"

Vince rolled his eyes and stood up, dragging her with him. Vince had his own agenda and he wasn't going to let some uptown rich intern ruin it for him. There was too much at stake.

First thing was first, they needed protection. With a greasy-haired thug and the FBI after them, Vince needed fire power, and fast. He'd given up his service weapon to the chief, so he'd have to sneak into his apartment and get his spare from the safe. It was risky, but seemed the only option at the moment.

"And where are we going now?" whispered Laura in a nagging tone.

Vince crept to the edge of the opening to see if the coast was clear. After looking left and right he walked casually out of the alleyway. Besides an old couple walking on the other side of the street and cars whizzing by, the area was clean.

Vince proceeded to the right, whistling to himself. Laura followed suit, but not without first stealing a glance at the old couple across from them.

"Hey! Over here! Help, I'm being kidnapped by a crazed lunatic!" said Laura waving frantically to the old couple. The motion shook Vince's arm as well.

Vince smiled nervously at the curious old couple and pulled Laura abruptly close to him. "No worries here, just a little game my girlfriend and I like to play, keeps the relationship hot! You know us young folks, always trying to be different!"

"Oh, nice speech, Churchill. Like I'd ever be caught with someone like you," snided Laura.

She looked him up and down as if contemplating a great mystery. Her eyes narrowed and a large smirk crossed her face.

"And where did you get those clothes? You do realize it's not 1985 right?"

Vince let out an audible growl and pulled around the corner accidentally bumping into a policeman tallying a parking meter. Laura smiled to herself triumphantly. The policeman looked at the couple annoyed. Vince smiled awkwardly, trying to fight Laura's arm as she attempted to show the man her handcuff. Vince grinned and quickly jerked the handcuffs out of sight behind his back.
Laura whipped up some fake tears. She mouthed the word "help" as she rolled her eyes towards Vince.

"Wait a minute," said the police officer, slowly drawing his gun.

Thinking fast, Vince took his handcuffed arm and punched the man in the face, knocking him out cold. He looked at Laura and shook his head disapprovingly. "You just assaulted a man of the law."

Laura's jaw dropped, "But I..."

Vince smiled and began power walking.

It was at least 10 blocks to his apartment. Vince considered taking the bus or a taxi, but thought better of it. He wasn't sure exactly who he was dealing with yet, and until he knew, they needed to be as inconspicuous as possible. Unfortunately at the moment, traveling by foot seemed the most plausible way.

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