BULLET-CITY

Part-14

     Out of breath, Imma determinedly wrapped on the door with her broomstick. However, she was taken aback when the door creaked open.

     As she entered, she saw the place was a mess. Chairs were turned over, papers were strewn all over the floor and the refrigerator was open. Imma gripped her broomstick tightly with both hands as more crashes echoed from the bedroom.

     "I've called the cops and they're already on their way, so unless you want a face full of splinters I suggest you leave now."

     Imma advanced forward, but she cut short when three men strolled casually out from the bedroom. The foremost man, wearing a dark double-breasted suit, slicked back his hair and smiled playfully.

     "Well, hello madam," said Bruce politely.

     "I apologize if we were too loud. You see, we just came to kidnap your upstairs neighbor, however, when we found she was gone we decided to put her apartment into disarray to send her a message. We won't be too much longer, I promise."

     One of the men standing beside Bruce aimed his gun at Imma, but Bruce put up a hand and stopped him. Imma's eyes went wide.

     "No, we can't have any more bodies. Do me a favor, just show her the dark room and let's get moving. We've got a busy two nights ahead of us. I've got a friend in the hospital I need to visit."

     The man nodded and put down his gun. He smiled as he walked casually past where Imma was standing. He quickly swung the butt of his gun around, hitting Imma on her occipital skull. As she fell to the ground, the only thing Imma saw was black.

                                        --

     "Whoa, heavy," said Vince, slowly creaking open the door to Laura's apartment. He began to look around.

     Laura was silent as she took in the scene of her torn- up apartment. Jewelry, dry spaghetti, and papers cracked underneath her feet as she advance past Vince.

     "Oh my..., I, I can't believe this, who would...?"

     "I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count," replied Vince as he curiously picked up a half cut Tina Turner T-shirt." He raised an eyebrow.

     Laura snatched the clothing out of his hand and picked up a broken laundry basket and set it in. The basket dipped over into the surrounding mountain of clothes already around it. Tears formed in her eyes.

     "Do you think it was Bruce, then," she asked shakily.

     "I most certainly do, and not only that, I think he was trying to send us a clear message."
     "And what message would that be?"

     "'I know who you are and can get to you any time,'" replied Vince snooping around a pile of jewelry.

     "Well, actually..."

     She broke off as they heard sirens outside the apartment. Vince ran to the window and peaked through the blinds, all while stringing Laura along jerkily. Looking down, he saw a squad car. Two  policemen stepped out. As if sensing his presence, one of them looked up and caught a glimpse of his eyes.  Laura pushed Vince aside get a better look,  butt instead her handcuff stuck to the blinds.

     The officer pulled out his radio, "calling for backup, I believe we've spotted the perps. From the shoot out this morning. Repeat, calling for backup."  He hooked the radio and ran into the apartment building. Vince snapped the blinds shut.  After giving Laura a dirty look he began rummaging more aggressively through her hair products.

     "What are you doing?" Said Laura.

     "Well, I am currently going through your junk to find a measly little hair pin, or something before our friends join us."

     "Okay, my stuff is not junk, these are top of the line products, besides, I keep the hairpins in the bathroom, but who knows where they could be now since my apartment is trashed."

     "Do you have some sort of escape route or something that we can get to?"

     "I'm not going anywhere, I'm staying right here and am going to tell them the truth."

     Laura protested by walking in the other room.

     She folded here arms, straightening Vince's arm towards her at the same time. Vince let out an audible growl. "Not this issue again. I thought we went--"

     Just then Laura let out a scream. She pointed towards an old rubber fishing boot on the ground. It was Imma Prier. She was laid flat out on the floor. All she saw was the battle scars manifesting themselves as raccoon eyes. Imma's breathing was too shallow to notice.
Laura began to back up towards Vince with one hand over her mouth. Just then there was a loud bang at the door.

—
Meanwhile, a black Cadillac Escort and another squad car pulled up to the apartment. Diana, and several other officers came pouring out of their vehicles.

"FBI, we are leading this investigation as of now,' said Diana putting her badge back into her jacket.
The officers looked at her curiously for a moment.

"This is a matter of national security, are monitoring all communications."

The lead officer shrugged his shoulders and extended an arm towards the door.  "After you."