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Staring down at the table of the interrogation room, I allowed my mind to drift into space as Detective Stone questioned me about recent events, remembering how the white van had pulled up & slammed into me, creating a gap between Alex & I. Then it had peeled off, heading towards some unknown destination. I didn't get a good glimpse at the license plates. I didn't even know who had been inside. It could've been the cops...Or worse. "Mr. Allen!" Stone shouted, snapping me out of my trance. I glared at him, stony silent, then returned my gaze to the steel table. "Since you're not feeling cooperative, let me make this abundantly clear." he said, taking off his glasses & rubbing the bridge of his nose. "In the past 2 weeks, you've killed 4 people, abducted your girlfriend, went on a cross-country escapade, and shot & wounded 2 police officers when you were apprehended. Quite frankly, you're in a lot of trouble, Mr. Allen" he said, getting up in my face, "Now, if you confess & tell us where Alex Chen is, I'll work with the judge towards getting you a more lenient sentence. Fair enough?" Looking straight at him, I growled, "I DID NOT kill Bradley Thomas. He was my best friend, not to mention I had no motive to want him dead. I'll admit to the others, but they were in self-defense."

"As for Alex's whereabouts, I wish I knew as much as you do. A white van pulled up & separated us. When it drove off, she was gone." I finished. "I'm sorry, Mr. Allen, but I have a very hard time believing your claims", Stone said, "First off, why would those men be after you? Second off, how did Brad Thomas actually die, then? Third off, why did you tell Ms. Chen to run instead of coming with us?" "I'm protecting her." I muttered. "The police could've protected her just as..." he started. "No, you couldn't." I said, dropping my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. Realization filled Stone's eyes & he nodded. As he leaned forward, I continued, "These people after us will do anything to make sure we die. They've got as much as half your police department in their pocket." "I don't believe a word of that nonsense." he scoffed. Suddenly, the door to the interrogation room flew open & Stone's suit jacket burst apart as a bullet tore through his chest, spilling crimson onto the tile floor.

Hopping to my feet, I kicked over the heavy metal table & dragged the wounded detective to safety. Ripping Stone's pistol out of its holster, I aimed at a burly officer stepping through the doorway. The shot clipped his jugular and, clutching his neck, he crumpled to the ground, hot arterial blood painting the walls a bright red. As more gunshots thudded against the table, I pressed my hand to Stone's wound, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. "You...Were right..." he gasped. "Save your breath, Stone!" I shouted. "We both know...That I'm doomed..." he said weakly. "At least let me...Redeem myself...For arresting...An innocent man." As he took grabbed the barrel of the pistol, I nodded & asked, "Where's the exit?" "There's a hatch...Leads to the sewers...Third tile." he whispered. Nodding, I slid the tile out from the rest, revealing a person-sized hole dropping into a sewer. Grabbing the rungs of the ladder, I quickly but carefully climbed down & dropped into a puddle of filth. Several gunshots rang out, and the now-lifeless body of Detective Stone tumbled in after me. I slid his eyelids shut, then took off down the dark, dank tunnel.

Sitting in the back of a cab, I tightly wrapped my fingers around the pistol on the inside of my jacket. Don't worry, Alex, I thought. I'll find you, even if it takes me a lifetime.