12:30 PM. I step out of the police car and look up at the building before me. This was the local police station, and hopefully, it's where I'll finally get some answers. The cop driving the vehicle gets out and opens the backdoor, taking out a handcuffed Cole and leading him into the building. Thinking back on what had happened feels so surreal. I somehow managed to take Cole down WHILE tied up! And while I have to admit it felt kinda cool… I think I'd rather stick to solving crimes, and letting the police have all the action. The ever-encompassing darkness… the ropes eating away at my skin… the subtle, yet rancid sense of fear… With a small shudder of reflection, I regain focus and head into the building. I got a job to do!
The inside of the police station is uncannily quiet. Cops recline back at their desks, bored out of their minds. The drought of crimes isn't only effecting me, it seems! A woman with long, black hair sat behind the receptionist counter, lost deep in a magazine. She paid no mind to me, and I largely paid no mind to her, and was just about to make my way into the interrogation room when something caught my eye: On the receptionist counter was a cardboard box. Out of sheer curiosity, I peer over and take a look inside… it's full of coasters!
"What are these doing here?" I mutter to myself, causing the receptionist to look up from her magazine.
"Huh? Oh, that… We accidentally ordered those instead of like, handcuffs or something. Feel free to take some, or whatever…" She explained, sounding like she couldn't care less and returning to her magazine. Free coasters? Well… my desk has been getting awfully damp whenever I drink… I suppose one coaster couldn't hurt! I take one of the plain white coasters and slip it in my breast pocket… and then I take another… and another… and then anoth- you know what? I'm just gonna grab the whole box and… take it with me. What can I say? Free stuff!
Box of goodies in tow, I make my way to the interrogation area. It's a hallway on the rightmost side of the facility home to three separate interrogation rooms. It wasn't the flashiest, but it got the job done! On my way to the station, I called ahead to let them know that I wanted to interrogate a suspect for the case I was working on. They complied and here we are! Two officers stood outside the first interrogation room; one man and one woman. The man had brown hair and a brown mustache while the woman had blonde hair and sunglasses. Before I could say anything, the two nod in my direction and open the door. I spend a moment to ready myself, take a deep breath, and enter.
The interrogation room is… bleak, if I'm being honest. Gray walls, gray floor, gray table and chairs… The only things that aren't gray are the white fluorescent lights and the black one-way glass. And of course, sitting at the table, is Randy.
He's nervous, which is to be expected. I doubt they treated him too kindly, and I do feel a little bad… He looks up at me awkwardly, gulping as I sit down and put the box on the table. I decide to begin the conversation, pulling out my notepad. "So, how's jail?" I ask, trying to relax him a little.
Randy looks at me confused, not expecting such an outlandish question. "I-It's ok, I guess…" He replies, scratching his wrist.
"Good." I nod, flipping through my notepad in an attempt to try and find a talking point. "Now I just have a few questions: Are you familiar with Cole?" I ask, only now realizing that I never caught his last name.
"I-I know a lot of Coles…" Randly mutters, looking down at the floor. I suppose I should have seen that coming, huh?
"Right, right. And do any of these Coles work as the security guard at the factory?" I question, causing Randy to shift a little in his seat.
"Y-yeah…" He nods. Randy was like putty in my hands!
"I see… and have you ever… worked with him before?"
"I… I don't understand…" He asked, his eyes darting over to the two guards.
"Well…" I trail off, reaching into my pocket. "Remember this?" I ask, taking out the slip of paper that had the address to the warehouse on it and placing it on the table. Randy looks down at in in shock, giving a quiet nod. "Now I don't wanna judge, but I don't think an abandoned warehouse is a good place to have a date…" I add, trying to figure out where to go with this.
"W-what are you saying?" Randy replied defensively, trying not to look at the damning evidence that was the paper. I do want to believe that he's innocent, I really do! He's just a kid, she shouldn't have to deal with something like this! But the leaves in his truck, the paper, the warehouse… it all adds up so well! Maybe a little… too well.
"... What I'm saying is, you're a fall guy!"
"W-woo?" Randy asked, unable to hide a cringe-inducing smile.
"I think you've been set-up, used to take the blame for the actions of your chororts." I continue, ignoring his… strange little comment. I start pacing the room, putting my hands behind my back in deep thought. "It's a classic move; they rope some unsuspecting sucker (No offense) into their scheme, get them to do their dirty work, and when things get rough…" I pause, suddenly snapping to Randy and slamming my hands down at the desk. "Boom! That 'sucker' is suddenly the lone culprit!"
Randy seems shocked at my revelation, scooting back in his seat. "W-what?! S-she would never do that to me!" He yelps, shocked by my heinous accusation.
"So you admit to being involved?" I ask, raising an eyebrow with a smirk. Bingo.
"W-wait, what I meant to say is-" Randy starts, but I cut him off.
"Randy. Listen to me." I sigh, glancing over to the two guards before sitting back down. "I'm sure whoever the boss of your operation is seems super trustworthy, but they tricked you. Someone as young as you shouldn't have to go to prison just so some conniving criminal can get away scot free!" I argue, looking up at the fluorescent lights above. "I can't guarantee you'll get out of this without repercussions, but I'm certain that by helping me out, you'll be doing a great service to coffee addicts everywhere! So… what do you say?" I ask, holding my hand out to him.
Randy looks around the room, trying to avoid my gaze. But after a few moments, he nods, and shakes my hand! "O-okay… I don't know too much, but I'll do what I can!" Randy smiles, seemingly feeling a lot better about himself.
"Great! Now as I said before, I got a few questions. First and foremost: Do you know who your boss is?" I ask, whipping out my pen so I can write things down. This was it!
"Y-yeah! Their name is-" Randy starts, before suddenly letting out a yelp of pain. "O-o-ow! W-what was…" He sputters, before abruptly falling off his chair and hitting the floor with a 'thud'!
"R-Randy!" I shout, eyes ablaze with shock. I quickly get up and maneuver around the table, picking up his limp body. It was then that I noticed something lodged in his neck… a tranquilizer dart! I look up to the two officers, only to notice the lady one hastily stuffing something into her pocket. She catches my bewildered glare and quickly takes her leave, turning tail and sprinting out the door! "H-HEY!" I yell out, dropping Randy's body and running out the door. The other guard watches on in utter confusion, whipping out his walkie talkie and screaming for backup.
I quickly enter into the interrogation hallway just in time to see the imposter of an officer turn the corner. I quickly give chase, pure confusion festering in my soul. Why did she shoot him? She must be in on this too! Maybe Randy had said too much… but why not use a real gun at that point? Do they still need him alive? I have more questions than answers, but I know one thing for sure: I can't let her get away!
I turn the corner and see her dash to the doors. Luckily, the other officers must have gotten the backup request! Two policemen stand between her and the door, brandishing their batons. I slow down to a halt, there's no way she can get out of this one! … Or so I thought.
It all happened so fast. She wasn't even phased by the officers, and kept running! All of a sudden, she leaps towards one officer, grabbing his arm and twisting it. This causes him to cry out in pain, dropping his baton in the process. She then grabs the baton, raises her back leg, and delivers a roundhouse right to the officer's temple! The officer crumbles, and the girl lands in a wide stance. Reacting to the defeat of his ally, the other guard raises his baton to strike. But as he swings his weapon down, the girl twists her upper body and delivers a swift backhand right into his cheek! The officer curses as he falls to the floor, his baton rolling on the ground to my feet. The girl runs out the door, and without thinking, I grab the baton and continue the chase!
"GET BACK HERE!" I yell out, sprinting out of the police station and onto the sidewalk. This girl was clearly dangerous, how am I even supposed to subdue her?! I'm way out of my depth, but I can't let her get away! Being able to capture her could be the final piece I need to solve this mystery! She's running down the sidewalk, pushing oncoming pedestrians out of her way. Thankfully, the streets aren't too crowded at this time of day, making it so she can't lose me in the crowd. Just as I'm starting to gain on her, she flings open the doors of the nearest building and runs in!
I enter the building after her, and I'm greeted to a VERY busy office building. Workers scurrying to and fro, carrying stacks of papers and office supplies to the maze of cubicles that fill the floor. I begin to worry that I lost her in the hurricane of papers and people, but I spot her in front of an elevator at the other end of the building, desperately pressing the call button! I begin to make a break for her, but the crowded environment makes the process… sloppy. She notices me charging at her, and starts to mash the button. Suddenly, the doors open and she enters, fiddling with the buttons inside. If those doors close before I can get there, I'll lose her! I look around, trying to think of some way to keep those doors open. I spy an intern pushing along a small cart full of boxes, and an idea alights in my mind.
"Hey can I borrow this?" I ask, not waiting for a response as I grab onto the push handle of the cart and dart forward, wrenching the cart out of their hands. I dash forward with the cart ahead of me. The elevator doors are starting to close, I gotta hurry! Once I get close enough, I take aim, and launch the cart with all my might! It rolls across the floor at blazing speed, lodging itself between the elevator doors, stopping them from closing! The girl jumps back, staring down at the cart in shock. Not wasting a moment, I run up to the elevator doors and throw myself forward, landing on the top of the cart! She's trapped! The girl looks up at me, probably glaring behind her shades, and I tighten the grip on my borrowed baton.
But suddenly, the girl regains her composure, and raises her knee. It looks like she's about to attack, so I raise my baton in front of me to try and preemptively block it. However… she doesn't attack me. Instead, she launches her leg out at the cart, kicking it out of the elevator! The doors close behind us, and I fall to the floor. I push myself back onto my feet and stare up at her, and it was right then when I realized. She's not trapped in here with me…
I'm trapped in here with her.
I only barely have time to raise my arm as her baton smashes into me, causing a resounding CRUNCH to rattle the shaft. She tried to deliver a hard right with her weapon into my skull, but my arm came up just in time to block the blow. I cry out in pain as the elevator lurches, starting to move upward. The sudden change in motion combined with the pain in my left arm almost makes me fall over, but I manage to hold my ground. Trying to counterattack, I swing my baton upward with my right hand, trying to aim for her chin. But she leaps back just in time, dodging my blow. As her feet touch the ground, she steps forward, raising her baton and trying to slam it down on my head. I manage to bring my baton up just in time, haphazardly blocking the blow and causing both of us to recoil back. I keep trying to swing at her, hoping that if I keep up my offense, I'll break her defense eventually!
A swing to the right? She blocks.
A bash to the head? She dodges.
No matter what attack I use, she either avoids or blocks it!
After a few seconds of this, the elevator's bell rings and the doors open. The girl looks past me, and smirks deviously. She suddenly drops down and sticks her leg out, swerving her body around and knocking me clean off of my feet. A sweep kick! I fall onto my butt, and the girl dashes past me. I lay on my back, dazed and disheartened. My arm is aching, and my head is pounding. This girl was WAY out of my league! (In more ways than one…) Maybe I should just call it quits. The police could handle her, right? The elevator doors start to close… it's over, I lost.
But right before they can fully shut, I shove my baton out between the doors, stopping them from closing. Slowly, I get up and start walking out the elevator. I know she's better than me, I know I can't beat her… but if I can just stall until the police get here…
I climb up a short flight up stairs and open a door, finding myself on the rooftop on the building. It's mostly barren, home to only a satellite dish and air vent. The girl is standing at the edge of the roof, peering down to the ground far below. She was probably planning on jumping to the next building, but it's too far away! Using this opportunity, I start to charge at the girl! I get closer and closer, but she turns around and notices me!
"Why you little-!" She angrily shouts, quickly reaching into her shirt pocket and pulling out a small, silver object. It's a tranquilizer gun, the same one that knocked out Randy! One hit from that, and I'm going down! Before I can even react, it's too late. She pulls the trigger, and I feel the force of the dart hit my chest. Her aim was perfect, she hit me right in the heart! I slow to a halt, waiting for the tranquilizer to kick in. My soul sinks as a terrible truth reveals itself in my mind. It's over… she won.
… So… uh, how long is this supposed to take? For Randy, he was knocked out near instantly! I look down, only to see that the dart isn't in my chest… it's on the floor! The girl looks shocked beyond belief, and I don't pass up my chance. Before she can take another shot, I run up and tackle her! We both fall to the floor, and before she can make a move, I whip some handcuffs and lock them around one of her arms. I… I did it! That's TWO fights today, and I won both of them! Given, my arm is probably broken… but that's besides the point, right?
I pull the girl up and quickly lead her over to the satellite dish, wrapping the cuffs around the pole before attaching the other end to her free arm. She's too dazed to do anything, probably still processing what just happened. The adrenaline is starting to wear off, and the pain in my arm is becoming very apparent. I take a few steps back and sit down on the air vent, putting my hand on my rapidly beating heart. As I do so, I hear a loose 'cringle'. I peer into my breast pocket to see what the noise was, and suddenly it all made sense. The reason why the tranquilizer didn't work was because it hit the coasters I put in my pocket! Given, the impact shattered most of them into an unrecognizable mess… but who cares? If she had shot anywhere else, it would be game over! I took out my phone, about to call the police when…
"You… asshole…"
I look up, stuffing my phone back into my pocket. The girl had seemingly come to her senses, and she doesn't seem too happy!
"How the hell did you beat me?! Once I get these stupid cuffs off…"
She snaps at me, but I ignore her threats. But something does catch my attention: Her voice. I didn't notice it before, lost in the heat of the action. But now that I'm actually listening to her… No. It can't be! I get up and start walking up to her, curiosity and disbelief piercing my mind.
"What do you think you're doin-" She starts, but I don't let her finish. Instead, I reach forward and rip her glasses off of her face. Now that her cover was gone, I get a good view of the girls face. My eyes go wide as my hypothesis was correct. It's… it's the health inspector!
It's Sammy Vanquez!