interrupt. “Why would they care about outlaw bikers? That makes no sense.” “I’m getting there. It wasn’t just bikers. They’re trying to pin the death of two cops on me too. As if there are not enough bikers in jail to pin it on, they want me to take the fall for how some things went down.” “I still don’t get why you’re coming to me or why you think I can help. You do want my help right? That’s what this is all about?” “It’s about Alex too.” I lunge for my purse. My hand finds my gun surprisingly fast. I’m flat on my tummy when my hand grasps the gun so as I pull it out of my purse I roll over to my back. Blade would be proud of me right about now. In one fluid motion I bring the gun to bear on Mark and I’m pulling the trigger. I know my aim is lousy but if I shoot every bullet left I’ll probably hit something. Mark jumps back away from me drawing his own weapon. I watch in terrifyingly slow motion as flames shoot out at me from the barrel of his gun. Twice his weapon explodes in front of me. I feel the searing heat of lead creasing the air too close to my head and right shoulder. Mine just makes this awful metallic clicking sound. Something is wrong. I wait for a burst of agonizing pain that should follow getting shot twice but it never comes. Mark drops his gun and reaches the edge of the bed in three long strides. He leaps across and lands to my right side as his hands grab my gun wrenching it painfully from my fingers. “What the fuck?” He shouts over my ringing ears. “What the fuck did you do that for you crazy bitch? You tried to kill me!” “And you killed Alex! Payback’s a bitch ain’t it?” “What? I didn’t kill Alex! Are you fucking crazy?” “But you just said-” “I said they’re trying to pin the death of a couple cops on me. Yes Alex is one but I did not kill her. I know she was your best friend. I could no more do that than kill you.” “Oh you mean like you just tried not five seconds ago?” I ask him. “That was my reflexes. You’re lucky I am way out of practice and just knocked back a few or you’d be dead right now.” “Shouldn’t we get out of here? You just shot at me three times. The police are probably on their way by now.” “Are your ears ringing?” He asks me. “Actually no.” He holds up his weapon and now it makes sense. “The department lets you use silencers?” I ask. “This ain’t my service weapon. It’s untraceable and thankfully has this handy dandy silencer or yes, the police would have already been here. It’s a good thing your safety was on or we’d be in trouble even if you didn’t hit me.” “Yeah I guess I need to practice a bit more before I try to shoot any more cops. Well, ex-cops right. You are off the force now aren’t you?” “I’m on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of the initial investigation. Well…that’s not entirely true. Had I cooperated with IA and made all my appointments I would be on suspension but since I disappeared into the wind I’m sure they just issued a warrant and fired my ass.” “Why are they trying to pin Alex’s death on you?” “They suspect I am a secret Death Crusader and they want to pin something on me that will put me away forever. They know the case they have against the person they did lock up for her murder is under review and his new lawyer has filed an appeal. They really need a fall guy now and that’s me.” “Why are you still here anyway? When I left weren’t you trying to leave town with that blonde bimbo?” “The night you disappeared into the wind I decided it was time to run. I knew you had the pictures and when I figured out you kept a couple grand in the drug money I expected you would go to the police so I had to step up the game and leave that night. We just had to pick up our new papers first but we couldn’t do that until the morning. We had planned to use the new documents to purchase plane tickets