Of Falling Stars and Distant Hills

Chapter Six 

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The heat is on, on the street
Inside your head, on every beat
And the beat's so loud, deep inside
The pressure's high, just to stay alive
'Cause the heat is on." — Glenn Frey "The Heat is On."
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"Keep looking, they couldn't have gotten far. They're around here somewhere."

The cold metal of the vehicle touched Tramp's back like ice water being poured down his shirt. He didn't dare move or even breathe. They were so close it made his arm hairs stand on end. The shadow of their legs danced on the pavement beneath the automobile which blocked him and Lady from view.

"I keep telling you, if they had a crate it's over."

"Did you hear one turn on?! We would've heard it by now, idiot. Now shut your mouth and keep looking."

"Fine."

"Hey, what do you wanna do when we catch them?"

"Does that matter? Let's just get em' first and then I'll figure it out."

Tramp had to bite the inside of his cheek to stay calm. He hated running. He hated hiding. And he hated being at their mercy most of all. Tramp lifted himself up against the car and covertly peek through it's foggy windows. He could make out the three who stubbornly refused to give up searching for them. The glow from the street light allowed him just enough light to make out exactly who they faced. He recognized Hook Nose, just like he'd feared, the blonde with the newsboy hat and possibly one of the twins. Tramp grit his teeth and lowered back down to the ground.

"Did that kid look familiar to you?"

"The one we're after?"

"Yeah. I don't know if I've seen him with the others before."

"Like that matters. He and the dame are with Calvetti and that's all I need to know."

"Guess so. They wouldn't have been standing there without a reason."

"The way they ran makes it seem pretty obvious they know what's goin' on. And besides a skirt is easier to get info out of anyway."

"Yeah but I got a good look at her, and she was an Egg. How does that make sense?"

"The Mutts already got their hooks into Swanson, would you really be surprised if they had a rat too?"

"But why a dame?"

"Got me there. Guess it's just all the more reason to catch em' so we can find out."

"Enough yappin'. If we wanna nab them we gotta get moving. Let's get to the crate, we'll cover more ground that way."

Their voices began to fade as they pressed down the street, and it was silent once more. The trill of far off police sirens echoed like a whisper, and leaves rustled down the sidewalk. Once Tramp was certain they'd left he whispered: "They're gone for now, we can breathe for a minute."

Lady unsuccessfully attempted to suppress a few sobs and dropped her head into her hands.Tramp pursed his lips and felt helpless in the face of her terror, which he still couldn't quite fathom. This really must have been the first time she'd been faced with danger of this kind. Tramp thought. Could he even remember a time he wasn't accustomed to this?

"You've never been in a spot like this have you?" Tramp asked softly.

Lady shook her head and sniffed. "Never."

"Well, for what it's worth." He sighed. "I am sorry."

"It's not your fault."

Tramp felt a spark of guilt and didn't respond. It kind of is though. But he wasn't going to inform her of that considering the state she was in. Later. He thought. I'll tell her when this is all over. He looked down at his feet and tried not to dwell on it.