Thief in the Twilight

Training Glitches

The rumble of thunder rolls down the street to where I stand before the store window, the crowds of late-afternoon shoppers and rush hour trapped commuters reflected in its dull surface. I ignore the collections of baubles and last season's fashions on display and focus instead on these scenes, watching for the flash of movement that will betray my pursuer's presence. I don't know much about what that flash meant, but the hairs on the back of my neck communicate the situation loud and clear.

I'm being followed.

My shadow may not be very good at keeping their movements hidden, but they manage to blend into the background with little difficulty. I can't spot anyone paying more attention than I would expect and am attracting more from passers-by just by standing so still in front of a random store. Should have picked a more appealing one, I'll admit. Glancing up, I realise it's a charity store. No wonder I'm gaining such attention.

I turn and pick up the pace, hurrying along the sidewalk. The first fat drops of rain begin to patter down, and I hunch deeper into the Burberry coat I wore just in case. This will both help and hinder my pursuer -- I will have more trouble seeing them, but they will need to get closer to spot me. As umbrellas begin to sprout like weeds about me, I give silent thanks and start questing for a way to evade.

No, not that alley, too narrow. Nameless storefronts pass by my vision as I search. That could work, but no, that bin blocks too much off. Hmmm, yeah, that could work.

Four hundred yards further on from the charity store, I duck into an alley between an apartment complex and an Italian joint. It's wide enough to allow deliveries to be made for either building and the fire escapes are easily accessed from ground level. All it takes is a quick hop onto the dumpster by the side door to the restaurant, and it's no effort to grab hold of the lowest ladder rung. I don't even need to release the catch to swing myself up.

Crouching low, I wait to see whether someone follows or I spot them on their way past. Ten seconds, twenty, thirty. A minute goes by and I'm about to drop down and make for the other end when someone slips out of the crowd and into the alley. Thanks to the clouds and the rain, now starting to hint at the sheets it'll become, darkness has slipped in as well and helps to hide me in my vantage point. I can take my time appraising the figure in the hoodie and slacks that pretends to casually cut across the block using this particular alley.

They're not fooling anyone. Their posture is too stiff, their gaze sweeping back and forth. Sloppily, they're not sweeping up as well. That will be their undoing. Or maybe not. I pause before striking, my attention drawn to the bulge beneath the hoodie. They have something there, something concealed. Either in a shoulder holster or slung over the shoulder. They're treating it delicately, keeping it out of the rain. Smart, the last thing one needs is their weapon to get wet and jam. That's why I don't like weapons with moving parts. But it does leave me at a disadvantage sometimes. Will just need to be quick about this.

I wait, letting the rain wash my silhouette away, as the figure begins to hurry, clearly panicking, towards the other end of the alley. Just a little closer. Closer. They pass below me, and I let them take a couple of steps more. Then I drop, a shadow that does not flap in the night.

I hit the hoodie-wearing figure across their shoulders, my weight ploughing into their back, sending them stumbling and then sprawling to the tar. I wince as they hit hard, sliding along the rough surface, my knees not faring any better as I bungle my landing. Water splashes everywhere and I hear something crack as the figure lands. Probably not a weapon then.

Pushing my hair out of my eyes, I plant a foot, ready to rush the figure as they stand. If I put all my weight behind it, they'll go down and stay down, just need to time it right.