The Alley By:

Eli Susman

There was something brewing in the alleyway between 15th and 16th Ave, at the corner of Thompson Way. It was that time at night when parents force their teenage kids to come home. A skinny, weak man in his mid twenties walked through the alley, bouncing to the beat of the music playing loudly in his headphones. He was tweaked, and his brain no longer focused on anything other than happiness. This man had a job to complete: wait in this alley, and pretend to be Rickie Packard. That was all he had to do. Wait in this alley, and pretend to be Rickie Packard. Simple.

He had just moved from Portland to Seattle, where his first three months were not so amazing. His parents were barely paying for a good-for-nothing apartment in a crappy neighborhood, and he was yet to get a job. Lucky for him, he met a guy in a laundromat. The man’s name was James Wilkins. This James guy offered him a job, and he instantly jumped at it. The next day, he was delivering 8 balls of cocaine to some junkie’s rathole on the other side of town. From there, things moved quickly. One month after that first delivery, he was swimming in money.

At a warehouse where he was making a delivery and pickup, he was persuaded into trying the needle for the first time. After more than a month of being on the job, he hadn't once tried anything he was transporting, mainly because he was still in contact with his parents. But that night, a man by the name of Jimmy Haywire came up to him and said,

“Put this shit in your arm, or you’re not going’ home tonight.” As two other men stood nearby, guns in hand.

He couldn’t think very long, his decision was already made for him. He did it. The needle was in his arm, and his body went cold. He fell backwards, and didn't remember the next seven hours. All he knew was he woke up on the floor of a warehouse, and drove home still feeling sick to the point of agony. He swore he would never do it again.

Four days later, on another trip not too far from his house, he did it again.

That night his boss had called him, and given him an assignment that made little sense to him at the time.

“Go to the alley between 15th and 16th Ave at the corner of Thompson. Wait in the alley, and pretend to be Rickie Packard.”

Simple.

Back in the alley, the frail Tanner Maxwell, or as his gang called him, “Slim Fire,” was waiting for...something. He wasn’t quite sure why he was there, he hardly could remember. All he knew was he was supposed to be Rickie Packard. Finally, after a long wait in the desolate alley, a person appeared. A man, presumably, with a hood covering his face.

“Hey man, you looking for Rickie Packard?” Tanner quickly said to him, not sure what else to say as he was put on edge by the man’s presence. The hooded man didn’t respond. Now, Slim Fire was agitated.

“Hey homie, are you looking for Packard or not?”

The man slowly nodded his head.

“Alright dog! Well, I’m Packard, what’chu need?”

There was an eerie pause, then in a flash, the hooded man pulled a gun on Tanner Maxwell, shot him in the chest, and re-holstered the gun. The gunshot was silenced, and when the bullet nailed his chest, Tanner “Slim Fire” Maxwell fell backwards. Within a minute, he was dead. His journey through Seattle was over, and his boss wasn’t going to be very happy…or was he?

Chapter 1.

On the screen of Michael Dawson’s ancient Magnavox TV a video game was being played. One animated character smashed the opposing character with a hammer and the words “K.O.” appear in large bold letters.

“Ha! That’s the second time in a row I’ve beaten you! How many times do I have to say that Fiery Link is better than Storm Monkey!”

“Okay, okay, maybe you’re right Dick. But I still like Storm Monkey’s special move.”

“Well it didn’t work very well against Fiery Link’s special move; I finished you with one hit!” Michael Dawson had just lost to his best friend Richard, better known as “Dick.” The two boys, or rather the two men, loved video games, despite the fact they both had 24 years behind them.

“Whatever.” Michael said.

Dick looked down at his watch.

“Woah! It’s already 9 o’clock, want to run out and get some food?”

Michael looked over to him.

“Yeah for sure, lets go.”

They got up and headed to the door of Michael’s small apartment.

“Where do you want to go?” Michael prompted his friend.

“Uhhhh, how about Deli Bro’s Sandwich Shop?” The restaurant they always went to.

“Yeah sounds good, I don’t know why I even asked.” Michael responded.

They walked out the door.

Michael had met Dick six years earlier at college. An early morning sociology class their freshman year at

Seattle University.

“Can I sit here?” Dick had asked Michael that early morning, trying to sound formal.

“Go for it, I’m sure as hell not reserving the seat for anyone else.” Michael chuckled.

Dick sat down.

“I just moved here from Boulder.” Dick blurted out. Although he had been his high schools jock, he was

nervous around a crowd of new kids.

Michael looked at him with inquiring eyes, “Nice. I’ve actually lived here my whole life.”

“Why’d you want to come to this school? Oh! Was it the only school you got in to?”

Michael laughed, “No. I got into plenty of other schools, I just really wanted to stay local”

“That makes sense.”

“I thought so too.”

There was an awkward silence.

“So…you play any video games?” Michael asked.

“You’re kidding right? That’s about the only thing I do! Besides football of course.”

“Oh, you play football. For your high school team I assume?” Michael said.

“Yeah, I did. Don’t think I’m just some stupid jock, though. I’m actually a smart kid.” Dick was worried.

“The thought never even crossed my mind. Football is a cool sport. What position do you play?”

Dick was amazed. Michael didn’t judge him one bit.

“I play linebacker.”

“Makes sense. You’re a pretty big guy.”

Dick smiled. Their friendship blossomed from that point on.

They soon began spending a lot of their free time together, and now, two years since college graduation, they still lived in Seattle. After college, Michael pursued a career as a police officer, something he had dreamed about since he was a little boy. He attended the local Police Academy, but after spending weeks there, he was called into the Chief Officer’s office for a “talk.”

“Please, take a seat Michael. We need to talk.” The Chief motioned for him to sit.

“Oh man, this doesn’t sound like a conversation that is going to make me very happy.” Michael tried to smile and lighten up the room with a joke. Dick had taught him this, but it didn’t seem to be working as well as when Dick did it.

“Michael, after some thought, we have decided to kick you from the academy.”

“Holy crap! He didn’t sugar-coat that one at all,” Michael thought.

Michael’s face turned red.

“May I ask why?”

“Well, frankly Michael, for a lot of reasons.”

Michael’s face turned red.

“Your physicals are nowhere near where they should be. Your mile time isn’t close to seven minutes. You

barely know how to use a gun. Watching you try to drive a car is a joke. When we asked you lie detector

questions you failed 3 of the ten questions. Yes Michael, I know you smoked pot in high school. You lied.”

The Chief took a breath, then continued, “You have absolutely no resilience. Your hand-to-hand combat is laughable. I don’t think you’ve ever won a spar. When you try to do anything in a pressure filled moment, well, you choke Michael. I’m sorry. Please get your things together and leave.” Michael stared blankly at the man.

“Fuck, man! This guy holds nothing back!”

Michael left the office, devastated. He had spent his entire life dreaming about the day he would fight crime, and keep the city of Seattle safe. He talked with his parents, as well as Dick, about jobs he could take, but no matter what anybody said to him, he didn’t want an office job. He applied to multiple other police academies, but in the end, he never got accepted. Only twenty days after being kicked out of the original Police Academy, Michael walked through the doors of his old high school and into the principals office.

“Hello Mr. Alperstein, it’s me, Michael Dawson.”

The overweight man looked up from his computer.

“Michael! How’s my favorite student doing?”

“I’m great! And yourself?”

“Not too bad. Some boys crapped in the urinals the other day. They claim it’s this new thing called the

“urinal challenge”. I’ll never understand these damn kids.”

Michael had to try hard not to laugh.

“So why’re you here?” Mr. Alperstein asked.

Michael hesitated.

“I’m, I’m here to ask for a job as a security guard at the school.”

“The job’s yours.” Mr. Alperstein responded instantly.

And so, Michael became the head security guard at his old high school. Making just above minimum wage. He was excited. He thought being a high school security guard would have some action. However, the high speed action chases where minimal. The closest he came to an action chase was catching a kid smoking weed in the bathroom, or the time when a naked homeless man ran onto campus. Nothing too insane. Whether or not something crazy was going down, he always thought he had to be prepared in case something did. He would practice quickly pulling his gun out of its holster and yelling, “Freeze! Put your hands in the air!” He wasn’t a police officer; those days were long gone; he wished they weren’t. On the other side of the spectrum, Dick was doing pretty well. He was the head of a bank, and made good money. He owned a big house, bigger than Michael’s at least, and never had any money troubles compared to Michael, who had dealt with his fair share. His banking firm was a pretty well known one, called “Morgan’s Banking,” named after the original founder.

They could see their breaths in the air on their way to Deli Bro’s Sandwich Shop.

“You doing anything tomorrow night?” Michael said.

“Yeah, I think I’m going to some club. Some blonde chick invited me.”

“Oh, nice.”

Neither Dick, nor Michael, had ever had a serious girlfriend since they had met. However, Dick would often go out to bars and clubs and bring girls back to his nice house. Michael would make fun of Dick for doing this repeatedly, though he was really just jealous that he had never been with a girl.

“I would invite you.” Dick said quickly, “But I know you don’t really like parties. Sorry.”

“No, no, you’re right, I don’t.” Michael said. They continued on without talking.

They were passing 14th street, one block away from the Deli when Dick broke the silence.

“Hey, I’m not feeling sandwiches. Can we go to The Fortune? I want some pasta.” Dick sounded scared.

“Why would we do that.” Michael was confused. They were so close, they could see the top of the big

dual colored bright sign.

“I just don’t want sandwhiches.”

“Then get something else. They don’t just sell sandwiches.”

“Come on man, we go here all the time.” Dick persisted.

“Dude, The Fortune is probably closes by now.”

They were shivering. Dick didn’t answer.

“It’s freezing, I just want to get inside. I’m going to the Deli.” Michael turned and started walking. Dick

stood in the cold for a second. He was about to turn and go home, but he decided against it.

“Wait up! I’m coming.”

Michael turned and smiled.

“I knew you would.”

As they got to the Deli, a man, or so they presumed, ran out of the shadows of the alley next to them. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Michael and Dick. The man was immobile, staring at them. They turned, and were startled. For a moment, all three men looked at each other. Each waiting for the other to break the silence. Dick and Michael couldn’t see the man’s face, just shadows and the steam coming from his panting breath. Quickly, with a sudden bolt of speed the man turned the corner, and walked the opposite way down the street. Michael and Dick turned to each other. “That was creepy.” Dick quickly said before Michael could speak.

“Suspicious. That was suspicious.” Michael felt like he was a detective, or even a police officer investigating a crime scene.

“Hm, I guess.” Dick was not as amused.

“I’m going into the alley, I gotta check it out.” Michael took a step forward.

“Woah, Woah, Woah.” Dick put a hand to his chest stopping him, “Don’t go in there. We have no idea

what could be in there. We aren’t police officers. Lets just get some food and go home.”

Michael continued staring into the alley, “Fine, let’s go.”

Then they turned and left the alley, however, that night was not the last time they would stand at the entrance to the alley between 15th and 16th street at the corner of Thompson Way. They walked into the Deli and sat down in the booth they always sit in.

“How was work today?” Michael asked Dick.

“It was alright, busy day.”

“How so?”“How was work today?” Michael asked Dick.

“It was alright, busy day.”

“How so?”

“Just a lot of people coming in to the office.”

“Ah, okay.”

Dick looked down.

“You okay man? You’re not acting yourself tonight.” Michael asked.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just tired.”

“Okay.”

They ordered and their food came ten minutes later. They ate in silence, then went their separate ways home.

Chapter 2.

Later that night, Michael was lying on his small bed. He couldn’t stop thinking of the hooded man. The sequence repeated over and over again in his head. The alley. The dark face. The uncertainty.

“That was creepy.” What Dick said to him played in his head. “Why do I keep thinking about this?” He thought. He knew it was creepy, but it was more than that. But what was it? Could it truly just have been an innocent man walking through an alley late at night? No. It couldn’t have been. There was more. The man was walking from something. Leaving something behind even. Something he wanted to be far away from, and quickly. Michael knew this, Dick knew this, the hooded man knew this. It was evident in the way he walked-quickly and sharply. The man was heading somewhere. Somewhere important. A followup. Was it something illegal? Why did he stop when he saw them? Did they know him? No, not yet at least. “Who was that guy?” This same thought persisted in Michael’s overflowing mind.

“I need to figure out who he is. And why he stopped when he saw us. I need to.”

Knock Knock Knock. Michael was standing at the front door of Dick’s house. Two stories, awkwardly modern, the sparse windows being the only thing keeping it from being truly modern. The door swung open, revealing Dick wearing nothing but underwear, hair ruffled, half asleep. “Michael, what are you doing here?” Dick was on the verge of anger, though he seemed concerned. “It’s,” he looked down at his watch, “2:30 in the morning”

“Dick, this is urgent.”

“Middle of the night urgent?”

“Yes.”

Dick gave him a disgusted but understanding stare before letting him inside.

“Michael, this was not urgent at all.” Dick had a dead look on his face, disappointed in Michael. He had just told Dick everything that was stuck in his mind. “No, no, listen. I’m sure he was up to no good.”

“Ha! That’s assuming he is in fact, a he. We have no idea who this…person even is. “He” could be a

“she.” And he could of been out for a late night stroll.” Dick couldn’t believe that Michael was serious.

“Late night stroll, my ass.” Michael stood up, trying to paint a picture to Dick.

“Think about it, Dick He was in that alley, up to no good, killing someone, selling drugs, planting a

bomb, maybe he was”

“Listen to yourself, you sound higher than Snoop Dog.” Dick was laughing at this point, and Michael

couldn’t help but crack a grin as he responded.

“I do not. I have some valid points.”

“You’re saying complete nonsense. Do you remember what happened when you thought that guy was

your stalker?” Michael’s smile went away. “Ahhh see, now you don’t look so happy,” Dick’s smile grew

even bigger, “You thought he was your stalker. Turned out he just worked and lived in the same two

buildings as you!”

Michael rebutted quickly, “And don’t forget that I saw him at the market!”

“Oh wow, you saw him at the market once! Cause that’s a big stalker red flag!”

“I saw him at the market twice.”

“Same difference.” Dick couldn’t believe he was having this conversation, but Michael wasn’t done.

“And maybe I was wrong with that, but this one I am sure of. Believe me, I had an entire investigation

going on at school the last two weeks. I was sure that one of the sophomores had drugs on him. And guess

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what…”

“What?” Dick was mocking him, and Michael knew. Though he still continued.

“He did have drugs. And I busted him.” Michael was proud.

“Oh nice. You busted a high school kid with some weed. Now he can’t get stoned with his friends and eat

3 Li’l Woody’s burgers at midnight.” Dick was flat out laughing at his friend now.

“Laugh all you want. The rest of the faculty thought I was a hero.”

“Man, is your old high school really that boring? I got busted with weed multiple times at my school.”

Michael, unamused said, “Yes, you’ve told me a million times.”

“Well the memories never get old.”

Michael didn’t argue. He just stood there.

“Listen, Michael. I get that you might feel like a police investigator with this guy in the alleyway thing…”

“Hooded guy in the alleyway.” Michael corrected him, and Dick grinned.

“The hooded guy in the alleyway thing, but you have to go home, I’m tired, it’s the middle of the night.

You’re not going to find this guy. If he really was up to no good, he’d be long gone from anywhere

around here.”

“I’m gonna find him.” Michael was serious.

“Okay, you do that Michael.” Dick continued mockingly.

“Call me in the morning.”

“I will.” Dick responded.

Chapter 3.

Michael got back to his house, swung open his door, and was instantly frozen. His eyes widened, and he stared at the disorder in front of him. Chairs and tables thrown on their sides. Papers on the floor. There was a man, the hooded man, kneeling at Michael’s glass coffee table with a computer in front of him. He was wearing all black.

“What the fuck!” Michael yelled.

The man looked to Michael, and then back at the computer, the download bar had hit 100 percent. He grabbed the flash drive from it, and sprang to the window.

“You’re the guy! You’re the guy from the alley!” Michael yelled as he ran after him. The man began climbing through the window, ready to leap out of the second story. As he jumped out, his dark coat lifted up, revealing the burgundy and blue shirt beneath.

“I knew you were up to something!” Full of excitement Michael ran to the window and looked out into the alley next to his apartment. The man was already gone as if he had vanished into thin air. A smile grew on Michael’s face. He was excited. He turned to his computer. Download complete. A download of what, he thought.

He contemplated calling the cops. After all, a man had just broken into his house. However he quickly remembered how much he hated the police force for kicking him out of the Academy.

“I can do this myself,” he thought. “I don’t need the police to help me find this guy.” He began thinking about what his next step was going to be.

He spent five minutes fixing his living room, then crawled into bed. Michael was ready to become the superhero he never was before. He dreamt plenty that night.

Michael woke up to his phone buzzing, he was getting a call from Dick. He sleepily answered the call.

“Hey.” Michael said groggily.

“Hey, my house, breakfast. You coming?”

“Yeah, I’m on my way.”

“Okay, see you soon.”

“See yah.”

He hung up the phone, and dragged himself out of bed. He put on his usual attire. His blue jeans, plain colored shirt. The simplest outfit a person could put together. He combed his hair, and brushed his teeth, then left his small apartment. On his way to Dick’s house he thought about what he was going to tell him, how he was going to explain that the man they saw the night before had broken into his house and downloaded something off his computer. It definitely wasn’t a simple story.

He arrived, and knocked on the door.

“It’s open!” He heard a muffled yell from inside.

Michael walked in and the smell of pancakes, eggs, and bacon filled his nose.

“Smells great in here!”

Michael walked into the kitchen and saw Dick standing by the stove with sizzling bacon on it. He was wearing a, “Mr. Good Lookin’ is Cookin” apron.

“Thanks, I’ve been going at it all morning. He was looking over his shoulder at Michael. “Sit, it’s almost ready.”

Michael sat, waiting for the right moment to tell him, he wanted to blurt it out, but he didn’t. He knew how much Dick was into this breakfast, and he didn’t want to distract him.

“Want a glass of OJ?”

“Yeah.” He started getting up.

“No no sit. I got it.” Dick opened the fridge and grabbed the carton. He tossed it to Michael, and Michael

caught it. “Nice catch.”

Michael smiled, “I don’t know why you always have to do this.”

“Always have to do this? Michael, it’s your birthday for cryin’ out loud! This is my present to you!”

“Well, I thank you, but it’s a bit much.”

“Think whatever you want. This breakfast is about to be the bomb.”

Michael shook his head and looked down.

“Dick, I need to tell you something.” He looked up.

Dick could sense the concern in his voice, making him stop what he was doing and turn to face Michael.

“What is it?” Dick asked, scared.

“You were wrong!” Michael yelled as he burst into laughter.

Dick smiled, “What do you mean I was wrong?”

“I mean that the hooded guy broke into my apartment last night and downloaded something from my

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computer!”

Michael was expecting a response, but Dick said nothing. He just stared at Michael with amazement.

Then, Dick turned around back to the food on the stove.

“You’re insane.”

“You’re not hearing me, that guy is up to something!”

“I heard you perfectly fine Michael. What are you gonna do about it?”

“Well I’m not gonna call the police. That’s for sure.”

“I knew you were gonna say that.”

“Well, yeah. I’m gonna figure out who he is without the police!”

Dick laughed his burly laugh and said, “Are you stupid?”

“No, come on, I’m gonna start my research today.” Michael said.

“Did you just say, ‘come on’?”

“Yes.”

“Michael, I’m not gonna help you with this. This shit could be dangerous.”

“It’s not dangerous.”

“I’m not having this conversation. I’m not helping.” Dick threw his hands up.

"It’s my birthday! Fuck man just help me out!”

Dick stopped the back and forth.

“It’s your birthday Michael, and you shouldn’t waste it looking for some guy you’re not gonna find.”

“You turned me down last night, now you turn me down again!”

“I’m not turning you down I’m just…”

“Not turning me down! You are doing just that! You keep going against…”

“I’m not going against anything, I’m just trying to not be stupid!”

“So now you’re saying I’m stupid?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“Then what did you mean?”

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“I, I meant…”

“No! You don’t know what you meant. You just sit on your fat ass all day and don’t help me with

anything. I don’t want your help!”

“And I don’t want to give it to you!”

“I’m glad you don’t!”

“Fuck you!”

“Fuck you!”

Michael left his house with a slammed door.

Chapter 4.

Michael went running through the doors of the local library, still mad at Dick.

“God, he’s such a…Dick.” He thought to himself with a slight chuckle.

He approached the front desk and cut multiple people in line.

“Where can I find books on crimes?”

“Excuse me?” The librarian, with grey hair tied up in a not, a protruding nose with glasses resting on

them, and a frail frame, responded to Michael.

“Something with criminal records. Do you have that kind of thing here?”

“I’m sorry, we don’t have any crime books.”

“Nothing! No sort of database, records, anything?”

“We have a database, but I’m not sure if you’ll find what you’re looking for in it.” The lady looked at the

long line behind Michael.

“Sir, you need to move aside. There are customers waiting.” Michael looked behind himself, then back.

“Where can I find this database?”

“It’s next to the history section, on a computer, aisle 10.”

“Thanks.”

Michael turned and headed to aisle 10.

On his way there, he thought about his friend. What was he doing? Why didn’t he want to help?

Michael arrived at the computer. A youtube page was opened; “Shrooms Developed Humans from Apes Conspiracy Video #3” He quickly exited it out before he got distracted. He began searching for the crime database that he was there for. He clicked around, and typed the word “Crime” what seemed a million times. A few minutes passed, but he still couldn’t find what he was looking for. The computer was more complicated than he was expecting.

“What are you doing?” A voice from behind Michael made him jump.

A man, maybe 2 years younger than Michael, stood behind him. He was skinny, and had glasses.

“What, who are you?”

“I’m Lucas. You?”

“I’m Michael.” Michael was hesitant.

Lucas extended a hand.

“Nice to meet you, Michael.”

“Uh yeah. Nice to meet you too.” He returned the handshake.

“So what are you doing?”

Michael wanted to tell the guy to fuck off, but instead responded with, “Why do you care?”

“I’m just curious, I haven’t seen many people use this computer before.”

“I assume you spend a lot of time at this library.”

“You could say that.”

“Huh, alright.” Michael smiled a bit, then stopped himself. “I’m doing nothing.”

“I think you’re lying to me. I saw the way you came running in here. You’re doing something important.”

Michael shook his head.

“You mind if I sit here?” Lucas pulled up a chair next to Michael.

Michael looked at him. “Whatever man. Just don’t bother me anymore.” Lucas sat down.

Michael took a breath then continued searching. He typed the words, “Crime Database” into the search

bar.

“You’re trying to delete your name off the list!” Lucas was sure he was right.

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“What! No! I’m looking for someone!” Michael realized what he said and stopped himself.

“You’re deleting someone else’s name off the list?”

“No. I’m… I’m… looking for a guy who robbed my house.” The last time Michael said this to someone,

the only other time actually, was when he told Dick. And Dick didn’t take it well. He was expecting a

similar response from Lucas.

“Oh.” Lucas said. Michael was worried.

Crap, now this guy thinks I’m a freak. Michael thought to himself. He wasn’t quite sure why he cared what Lucas thought of him.

In high school Michael had been a quiet kid. He didn’t talk a lot, but he was very close with the few friends he had. There was a girl, her name was Jessica. He was obsessed with her and never stopped thinking about her. The only problem was, she didn’t give two shits about him. He asked her out to prom senior year. He and his friend Pat had it all planned out. It took them weeks to figure out what they were going to do.

It was a week before prom, and Michael was sitting in his small red Toyota. He was parked outside Jessica’s house.

“You can do this, you can do this, you can do this.” He whispered repeatedly to himself. He took a big breath, then quickly stepped out of the car. The bouquet of colorful flowers in his right hand. He was wearing a black and white suit, and looked quite nice considering he usually wore blue jeans and a plain t-shirt to school everyday. His mom had helped him pick out the tux. Each step he took he thought about turning back. He walked up the tall stairs leading to the door, and knocked on the door. Quickly a short man, with a thick head of hair opened the door.

“Can I help you?” The man said.

“Is Jessica there? I’d like to ask her something please.”

The man turned his head, as if to call his daughter, but stopped before he said anything.

“Are you, that Michael kid?” Jessica’s dad asked.

“Yeah, that’s me. Michael Dawson.” He had a smile on his face.

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Jessica’s dad avoided eye contact and said, “Sorry Michael, she’s not home right now. Try again another

time.”

Michael’s heart raced, while his mind felt calm. He was still scared too be standing at the front door of Jessica Davidson’s house, though he was somewhat glad that he didn’t have to ask her to prom. He knew he wanted to. That he was sure of. Though it was a relief to not have to confront a girl like that. She was beautiful. Tall, like Michael, with straight black hair, and razor blue eyes.

Michael tried to swallow, but his throat was dry.

“Thank you.” He nodded. “Tell Jessica I stopped by please.”

“Of course.”

Michael turned away and the door was quickly shut behind him. Once at the bottom of the stairs he turned back to look at the house. It was two stories, kind of old fashioned. The sort of house that’s in a horror movie. He looked at the top right window where Jessica’s room was, and he saw her. They made eye contact, and she quickly ducked away.

Michael was devastated to say the least. And to add icing on the cake, Jessica spread the rumor that Michael showed up at her house drunk and asking if she wanted to, “Bang him.” Michael was the only one that knew that this wasn’t the truth...besides Jessica herself, of course.

In the library, Michael was holding his breath waiting for Lucas to respond. He was expecting the worst.

“That’s cool.” Lucas said simply, “Can I help?”

Michael’s eyes went wide, he was surprised that Lucas wasn’t even a little caught off guard by this.

“I don’t need any help” Michael shut him down.

“It sure looks like you do. Let me see the computer for a second.” Lucas started leaning towards the

keyboard and mouse.

“You won’t know how to use this thing. It makes no sense.”

“I’m a computer technician. I think I can figure it out.” He gained control of the computer.

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Within seconds he had the entire state of Washington’s criminal records open on the screen.

“What’s the name of the guy you’re looking for?”

“His name?” Michael didn’t know the guys name. He wasn’t even sure he was a guy.

“Yes. His name. Oh…Is it a girl?”

“No, no, I’m pretty sure it’s a ‘he’.”

“Pretty sure? What?”

“Well I didn’t get a good look at him.”

“Okay whatever. What’s this person’s name?”

“I…I don’t know.”

Lucas turned away from the computer screen and looked at Michael.

“You expect to find this guy, but don’t even know his name?”

“Well, I thought I could do some research, maybe figure out who he is.”

Lucas looked at him for a second. Thinking.

“Well you can’t. But maybe, just maybe, we can. The two of us.”

“And how do you propose we do that? You said it yourself, without his name he won’t be in the

database.”

“Well, we’ll have to do a little more than just looking the dude’s name up on some library database.” He

grinned. Michael was interested.

Chapter 5.

Michael and Lucas spent the next three hours gathering information about the situation. They first went to the Deli.

“So, you go to Seattle University?” Lucas asked.

“No. I already graduated.”

“Oh. I go there now.”

“Really! Isn’t it a great school? I love this city.”

“Yeah, I love it too.”

19

They continued walking to the Deli.

“You said you’re a computer technician? How’d you score a job like that?”

“Well my dad works as a technician at Microsoft, so he kind of gave me the ‘in’.”

“You work for Microsoft?” Michael yelled.

“No, no. But because my dad, does it helped me get a job.” Lucas responded.

“Oh, okay. Where did you live before coming to school here?”

“I’m from Los Angeles. Never would have thought I’d move to Seattle for school, that’s for sure.”

“Hah; I’ve always lived here.”

“Cool.”

They got to the Deli and walked in, the bell hanging on the door dinging as the door opened.

They approached the hostest.

“Hi. Can I ask if a man has come in wearing all black recently?” Michael asked.

The hostest looked at him blankly.

“What? A man wearing all black? Is this some kind of joke?” The short women said.

“Never mind.” Lucas said. They left, realizing that was no use.

Next, they went to both apartment buildings that the alley was between, and they knocked on every door.

That ended up being a complete waste of time. They went back to Michael’s apartment.

“I don’t get it. We’ve gone over all the hints, the clues, the possibilities. And still, I’m stumped.” Lucas finally said. “You’ve told me the story, even walked me through it, and still nothing.”

“We’ve got to be missing something.” Michael stood up.

“I don’t see what we’d be missing. It makes no sense.” Lucas said.

Michael sat down again and said, “I don’t get it. What did this guy want from my computer? What does this criminal have anything to do with me? Maybe I should just go to the police.”

He looked down at the floor as Lucas stood up and walked to the window.

Lucas was skinny, like Michael, though he was short. The opposite of Michael. Lucas had glasses, that didn’t fit his loud and excited behavior.

“So, you said he jumped out of here?” Lucas asked.

“Yeah.”

“It just doesn’t make sense. How could he have gotten out so fast?”

“I don’t know.”

Michael got up and stood next to Lucas. They looked out the window, trying to understand how the man

could have gotten out so quickly.

“He probably used his super-hero outfit to fly away.” Michael laughed.

“What do you mean ‘super-hero outfit’?” Lucas asked.

“Well, I think I told you before, but he was wearing all black. Black hood and mask, pants, jacket,

everything. Listen, Lucas, I was just playing around.”

“Are you sure?” Lucas asked, “Shoelaces, shoes, everything was black?”

Michael thought for a moment.

“Yeah. Just black.”

Lucas exhaled.

“Oh, wait. Actually, he was wearing a bright burgundy and blue t-shirt underneath all the black. I saw it as he was climbing out the window.

Lucas’ eyes went wide. “Michael, don’t you understand how important that is?”

“No. Why is that important?”

“Listen to me. Do you recognize the colors? Burgundy and blue, is that from any business in the area?”

“Oh, well, yeah I do.”

“What place?” Lucas chirped with excitement.

“I…I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it, but I definitely recognize them. I have all along. I just didn’t think much of it.”

“Michael, this is big, really big.”

Michael looked at Lucas with thoughtful eyes.

“Man, where are those colors from?” Michael said. He was annoyed with himself that he hadn’t put two and two together himself.

Knock Knock Knock

Michael turned and walked to the door. He opened it and Dick was standing there.

“Who the fuck is this guy?” Dick said instantly as he started walking into the apartment.

“I’m Lucas, and you are?”

“I’m Dick, bitch.”

“Oh, nice to meet you.”

Dick just looked at him. Michael came up next to them.

“Dick, I met this guy at the library. He’s helping me look for the guy from the alley.”

Dick laughed, “You’re still on this? I came back figuring you’d be done with this crap.”

“It’s not crap.”

“Not crap? Have you found him yet?”

“No. But we are getting there.” Michael said.

Dick responded with a disgusted look.

“Is it him?” Lucas pointed at Dick.

Michael snapped his head around.

“What? No! It couldn’t be him. He was with me when I first saw the guy.”

“Oh, he’s wearing a burgundy and blue shirt so I figured…”

“A burgundy and blue shirt.” Michael cut him off.

That is when it all hit Michael. He figured it all out. The puzzle pieces came together and everything made sense.

“Burgundy and blue…he is wearing a Deli Bro’s Sandwich Shop shirt. Their colors are burgundy and blue. That’s our favorite restaurant!”

Michael grinned from ear to ear.

“Damn right it is! Wait, why do the colors matter?” Dick said.

“I’ll explain on the way. We’re going to the Deli.”

The bell hanging on the door of the deli rang as they walked in.

“Okay, what did you say he looked like again?” Lucas asked Michael.

“He had dark blue eyes. And was about this tall.” Michael held his hand up a little taller than himself.

Lucas nodded, and began looking for the person who best fit the description.

He looked at a waiter walking with a platter of food. She was a she, though Michael was never a hundred percent sure that the person in the hood was a male. She had dark blue eyes, but was barely five feet. Definitely not her. One of the waiters was serving food to a family sitting in a booth. He had brown eyes. Wasn’t him. He continued searching for a few more seconds. Then Michael said his name to get his attention.

“Lucas.”

Lucas turned around to face Michael and Dick.

“Guys, I know a better way of finding this guy.”

“How?” Lucas said.

“If he was in that alleyway the night Dick and I were here.” Michael gestured in the direction of the alley.

“He couldn’t have been working here that night.”

“And you’re saying we ask the manager who works when, and we find the person who doesn’t work Friday nights?” Lucas practically took the words from Michael’s mouth.

“Exactly.”

Lucas nodded; and he and Michael rushed to the receptionist.

“Can we talk to the manager?” Lucas said.

“Aren’t you the two boys that were here earlier?”

They shrugged their shoulders.

“Follow me.” The lady led the three of them into the back office where a fat man with a scraggly beard was sitting with his leg propped up. He was reading a magazine.

When they entered the room, the manager didn’t put down the paper.Dick coughed to get the mans attention, and he put the paper down.

With a deep and raspy voice the man spoke, “Can I help you?”

“Yes, you can. Do you know which of your employees doesn’t work Friday nights?”

The man squinted his eyes, “Why do you want to know?”

Michael looked from Lucas to Dick, then back at the manager; who was wearing a name tag with the name “Herwitz” on it.

“Just give us the name please.” Michael said.

“You know what. I don’t think I should give it to you. But I will. I don’t really care today. I’m tired.” The man flipped open a notebook, then scanned the page with his finger. He stopped at one name on the list. “His name is Lane. He just left here before you walked in. You could catch him leaving if you go now. I think he drives a vintage Mercedes.”

“Let’s go.” Michael said.

The boys ran out.

“Thanks!” Lucas yelled.

The three of them hurriedly jumped into Dick’s beautiful Jaguar and rushed out of the parking lot. They saw a car pull out from the back driveway, a vintage Mercedes. “There!” Michael pointed and Dick spun the wheel to the right to follow. They turned the corner quickly, and caught up with the man’s car. They didn’t drive far. The man turned into the alley as they were passing it. They were right behind him. As the man got out of his car, Michael, Dick, and Lucas jumped out of their car. Michael spoke up.

“Are you Lane Feldman?”

The man turned, startled, and stared into Michael’s eyes. It was clear that he was worried.

“Are you, or are you not?” Again Michael yelled.

Then, Lane turned and disappeared into the shadows of the alley.

“Hey, get back here!” Lucas shouted as he, Michael, and Dick chased the man. Now they could barely anything. All around them was darkness. They stopped running.

Suddenly a hand swiftly yanked Lucas away and into the shadows, unnoticed by the other two boys. “Lucas turn on your flashlight so we can see better.” No response. “Lucas?” Michael and Dick turned around. Their bodies instantly tensed when they saw that nobody was standing behind them. Michael took a step forward into the seemingly endless darkness.

“Lucas, were’d you go?”

Behind Michael, another hand yanked Dick backwards, this time, a slight sound was made.

Michael quickly spun around.

“Dick?”

He wasn’t there. Michael started to breath harder, trying to stay composed.

“Who’s there? Lucas? Dick?”

Out of nowhere, a man came running out of nowhere and slammed Michael against the wall. He got up in

his face, his deep voice blared.

“Who are you and why are you here?”

“I’m nobody!” Michael pleaded and squirmed to get free.

The man, with a round bald head pushed him harder against the wall.

“Where are my friends?” Michael was resisting even more. He moved and spoke wildly.

“Don’t worry about them.”

“I said where are my friends!” Michael screamed.

“Michael you need to stay quiet.”

Suddenly Michael stopped. He was calm. He began speaking calmly.

“How do you know my name?”

Michael could barely see him, but still he could see that his eyes opened wide. The bald man looked side to side, then knocked Michael out with one punch. Everything snapped to darkness.

Michael’s eyes slipped open. His head was throbbing, and he could see his nose was swelled up affecting his sight. It hurt like a bitch. He turned his head and saw Lucas and Dick both tied to chairs, intensely whispering to each other. Michael then realized he was tied up on a chair as well. He wiggled his hands, but quickly learned that it was no use.

“Michael.” Dick whispered trying to get his attention. It did, and Michael swung his head over and saw Lucas and Dick staring at him.

“Where are we?” Michael responded.

“We’re trying to figure that out.” Lucas said.

“But it seems that nobody is here.” Dick continued.

“You haven’t seen anybody?”

Lucas shook his head just as three tall men, one of which was the bald guy who hit Michael, walked in the room. The bald man and Michael quickly exchanged glances.

“Look what you two idiots got us into.” Dick whispered to Lucas. He responded with rolled eyes. The three men moved into a triangle formation around them, and held their guns readily.

Michael, Dick, and Lucas watched the three men, expecting them to do something, but they stood motionless. Suddenly, a man, Lane Feldman strolled in.

“Do you know why you’re here?” The man’s voice echoed through the cold cement room. It had a very… normal sound to it. This surprised Michael.

The three of them stared at him.

Michael broke the silence sternly, “How do you guys know my name?”

Lane’s face panned to Michael, but he did not speak. He looked back to Dick and Lucas.

“I think you know why I have you three here.”

“We don’t!” Michael screamed.

The hooded man’s head snapped around, and he took a step towards Michael.

Discreetly, Lucas spoke to Dick, “I think I can get us out of this.”

Dick turned to him, “How do you plan on doing that hotshot?”

“Heyyy man, I’m dyin’ of thirst, is there any way I can get some water?”

The man turned and walked away motioning for one of the other two guards to come with him.

A few second later, Lucas purposely fell in his old chair. One of the legs broke off the chair in the process, and Lucas quietly grabbed it. Lane looked over to the last guard that was still in the room.

“You deal with this please.”

Michael noted that he was polite enough to say, “please."

The last guard went to Lucas, and helped him up, but when he was close, Lucas swiftly hit the man in the head with the leg of the char. The guard passed out, and conveniently fell onto the chair. Breaking Lucas free.

“He didn’t hit that guy very hard.” Michael thought.

Then Lucas quickly grabbed the guards gun and pointed it to the now worried Lane.

“Get these men untied, now!” Lucas demanded.

Lane looked at him, “Benny!” The man who had gone to get water came back in.

“Untie these two.”

He looked at the other guard, who was passed out on the floor, then proceeded to untie Michael and Dick.

After he untied them, they quickly got behind the gun wielding Lucas.

“Leave.” Lucas said as he waved his gun away. The man left, leaving Lane alone.

Michael walked to him.

“Who are you…and why did you do this to us?” Michael was angry. Very angry.

Lane didn’t respond.

“Who are you?” Michael said again.

Lane lifted his hand, and pointed to Dick.

“You!” The boys were confused, “This is all your fault! You’re the man I’ve been looking for!”

Michael looked at Dick, “You know him?”

Dick was quickly defensive, “What? No! I have no idea who this guy is!”

Quickly, Lane continued, “Yeah, you do. He knows me. I’m the man assigned to arrest him. Your

“friend” is one of the most wanted criminals in the country!”

“What?” Michael and Lucas said in unison.

“Hey man, this is a big misunderstanding, I’m not the guy you’re looking for.”

“You’re not the big time drug dealer. The one leading the cartel on this side of the border?” Tensions

continued to rise in the conversation.

“I have no idea what you’re saying.”

“Neither do I.” Michael chimmed in, “My best friend isn’t a drug dealer. I think I’d know if he was.”

Lucas continued standing in silence.

“Michael, let’s go.” Dick said, and they began walking away. Lucas stayed, pointing the gun at the man.

Michael turned around.

“Lucas.” Michael said, but Lucas didn’t look at him.

“Go, Michael. I’ll call the police on this lunatic.”

Michael nodded, and he and Dick left in a hurry.

Chapter 6.

“What the fuck was that man?” Michael said as he and Dick walked speedily down the street.

“Michael, I need to tell you something.” He stopped walking.

Michael was frightened for what was coming next.

“What is it?”

Dick took a breath.

“Michael, that man, that man was not looking for me. I was looking for him.”

“What? Wait. You’re…”

“Yes. That’s right. I’m an assassin, and that man is the drug dealer. My people have spent years looking for him.”

“Your people? What do you mean your people, dude? I thought you were a banker or some shit like that!”

“I am. But that is only my cover. I’m sorry for lying to you Michael.”

Michael looked down. Not sure what to say. Their friendship that had lasted for many years, since the moment they met, had it really all been a lie? It hadn’t felt like it.

“So…do you get to do cool secret agent stuff, like, Sherlock Holmes kinda shit?” Michael had a smile growing.

“You could put it that way.” Dick looked at Michael, “Come on. Let’s go back to my place.”

“Nah, I’m tired. This is a lot to process. I’m gonna go back to my apartment.”

“Okay. Talk to you later?”

“Yeah.”

Michael had believed Dick, but was still feeling weird. If he was just a secret agent kind of guy,

why couldn’t he have told me before? Michael kept asking himself this. He got home.

Put the key in the lock.

Turned it.

Pushed the door open.

And there, in front of him, Lane and Lucas were standing.

“Michael, sit down.” Lane said.

“Again! You are in my house again! What do you want from me? I know who you are, and I’m gonna call my friend if you don’t leave right now!” He turned to Lucas, “And you, why are you here?”

Again, Lane spoke, “Michael please take a seat.” He moved his jacket out of the way, showing his gun. Michael noticed, and did as he said.

“Michael, I’m Agent Lane Feldman. I work for an underground agency employed by the U.S. government called the Underground Anti Crime Agency, UACA for short. We are located all across the country. Your friend is not who he says he is. He is the leader of a Mexican drug cartel. His name, Dick, it’s short for Richard, you know this yes?”

Michael nodded his head.

“Okay. Well, he does not go by this. He goes by Rickie Packard, and he is one of the most wanted criminals in our country. There was word that he was in Seattle. That is why I’m here. I was sent to find him. Do you understand Michael?”

“I don’t believe you.”

Lane Feldman took a breath.“Why is he here?” Michael pointed at Lucas, “Did you know all along?”

“Michael, let me introduce you to Agent Lucas Richards.”

Michael couldn’t believe it.

“I’m sorry Michael.” Lucas said.

Michael thought for minutes. Did he want to get involved in all this? Did he want to so quickly betray his

friend? Was he even his real friend?

“What are you gonna do to Dick?” Michael asked.

“Arrest him.”

Michael thought for another moment, then stood up.

“I’ll help.”

“Let me show you something.” He pulled out his phone. On the screen were pictures. A lot of them. Pictures of Dick, of Michael, of Dick and Michael. But most importantly, pictures of Dick, or as he should be called, Rickie Packard. Sitting in an expensive house with money, and drugs, and more money, and even more drugs. Pictures of him all over the place. Shooting people, killing people. In rooms full of drugs and guns. Guns. Drugs. Money. It was true. Dick was not Dick. He was Richard Packard. Wanted drug lord.

No. No. No. This can’t be true. My best friend is not. No. Not a drug lord. Not a murderer.This isn’t him. I didn’t befriend a criminal. I couldn’t have. I didn’t. He isn’t. Michael thought to himself.

“Michael.” Lane said. He looked up at Lane, eyes red and full of tears. “Michael, help us take down your friend. It’s the right thing to do.”

“Why is he here?” Michael pointed at Lucas, “Did you know all along?”

“Michael, let me introduce you to Agent Lucas Richards.”

Michael couldn’t believe it.

“I’m sorry Michael.” Lucas said.

Michael thought for minutes. Did he want to get involved in all this? Did he want to so quickly betray his

friend? Was he even his real friend?

“What are you gonna do to Dick?” Michael asked.

“Arrest him.”

Michael thought for another moment, then stood up.

“I’ll help.”

Chapter 7.

Micheal and Dick were sitting next to each other on a bench at an outdoor train station with a covering. The station sat overlooking a nice view of the city. Agent Feldman was there as well, unnoticed by Dick. Lucas, being the computer guy, was sitting in a van below the station, viewing the security footage.

“Lucas, you got eyes on us?” Agent Feldman said to Lucas and Michael through earpieces they had.

“Yes, cameras are up and running.”

“Good.” Agent Feldman said.

Michael and Dick were quiet, then Michael started talking.

“It’s pretty crazy that you’re a secret agent. Ya’ know?”

“Yeah it is. Let’s not talk about it.”

He’s lying to my face. My best friend is lying to me about who he is. Michael yelled in his mind.

“The train should be here pretty soon.”

“Yeah, then we can finally get some good food downtown.”

“Yeah.” Michael turned to Agent Feldman.

“Michael, you ready?” he spoke in his ear.

Michael looked at him, and gave a small, scared nod.

Agent F spoke, “One…two…three!”

In the blink of an eye, Agent F tossed a pistol to Michael, he stood up, caught it, and pointed it at his

friend. All in one motion.

Dick’s eyes went big.

“Michael, what are you doing?”

“I know who you are! I know who you really are!”

Dick stood up.

“Michael, I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

“Stop lying to my face! I know you’re a drug dealer!”

Dick’s face went tense, and Agent F spoke into Michael’s ear.

“Michael, keep it down.”

He looked at Agent F, then back to Dick.

“Michael, give me the gun.” He began walking toward Michael with his arms shakily in front of him. Michael shook his head. They continued backing up, towards the train tracks. The train was heading towards them.

“I thought I knew you!”

“Michael, you do know me, just give me the gun!”

He shook his head again and tears poured from his eyes. The train was closer.

“Michael. Give-me-the-gun.” Dick said. Michael was inches from the tracks and the train was going to arrive any second.

Michael stared into the eyes of Dick. They glared at each other. Year of friendship. Years of trust. All thrown down the drain.

Then the train zoomed by just barely missing Michael. He let out a cry, and lowered the gun. He no longer could control his emotions. He fell into his friends arms.

“I’m sorry.” Michael whimpered.

“No, I’m sorry.” Dick had a demented smile on his face. All at once, Dick grabbed the gun from Michael’s hand and backed up. He began lifting it to Michael’s chest. Michael didn’t know what to do. “No!” Agent Feldman had leapt from his standing point and ran at Dick.

Dick pointed the gun to Michael’s chest, finger on the trigger. As the gun fired, Agent F tackled Dick to the floor, causing the bullet to miss Michael’s chest, and instead graze his shoulder.

The gun fell from Dick’s hand. He and Agent F began hitting each other, wrestling.

Michael stood, still frozen. His left shoulder where the bullet was burning.

Dick grabbed Agent Feldman’s neck, and began squeezing as hard as he could.

Agent F started to turn purple.

Dick just shot me. That fucker just shot me. Michael couldn’t believe what had just happened.

Agent F’s vision began to blur.

What is going on? Michael said to himself. He looked down, and saw Agent Feldman on the verge of

death being choked by his best friend.

Agent F began losing consciousness, and Dick looked back at Michael. Michael was crying. Everything he’d known had been a lie. This was his moment. His life was leading to this point though he didn’t know it then, this was his chance to make something of himself, but at the cost of his friend? Yes, at the cost of his friend.

Michael summoned all the courage and anger he had. From Jessica harshly rejecting him in high school, to being kicked from the Police Academy, and most importantly, being lied to by his best friend, his only friend. He picked up the gun from the floor, his arm still in terrible pain, and he took a step into reaching distance of Dick. He was standing over him.

Agent Feldman looked with dying eyes to Michael, and Dick noticed. He loosened his grip on Agent F’s throat, and turned to Michael.

He saw his friend standing there. Although he had spent their entire friendship pretending to be someone he wasn’t, he loved Michael all the same. But at this moment, seeing Michael standing there with a gun in his hand, Michael was no longer a friend, but now an enemy. Tears were pouring from Michael’s eyes as he stood over his old friend. He raised the gun high above his head.

“Michael no!” Dick screamed, but before he could move, Michael swung the butt of the gun down and onto his forehead, knocking him out cold. Rickie Packard fell limply to the floor. Michael was sobbing, he fell to his knees and dropped the gun.

Lucas had left the van and come running from behind them. He knelt down by Agent F. And made sure he was okay. They looked to Michael, who was standing now, eyes red, staring at Dick with a bewildered look.

Michael turned to them, “Agent F, call in reinforcements. Let’s arrest this mother fucker.” Agent Feldman smiled

Michael stood in a plain room, looking at the immense research done to try and capture Rickie Packard over the years. And finally the UACA had done it.And it was all because of Michael.

He was on the twenty-first floor of the tallest building in Seattle. The floor dominated by the Seattle branch of the Underground Anti Crime Agency.

Agent Feldman and Agent Richards strolled into the room. Michael turned to them.

“I have something important to tell you.” Agent Feldman said.

The skin on his neck was raw and bruised. He was holding a dark colored folder.

“You have seen too much, and know too much about us. I’m sorry to tell you that the UACA is meant to be clandestine. Ordinary people cannot know of us. And because you showed great promise, and courage in the hunt for Rickie Packard…I have been informed by my superiors to leave you with one choice.” He paused. Then placed the folder that he was holding onto the table. It was labeled with a name— Michael Dawson.

Michael looked down at the folders. Then with his head still down, Agent Feldman continued. “Join us, or die.”

He looked up in amazement, and agreed to join with little thought.

Michael had finally become a part of something important.