Chapter 1

Morgan was waiting below the striped overhang of the diner, sitting on a bench just outside the door. A mid-April chill made the wind nippy, but it felt good to bask in spring's first rays of sunshine. Piles of mucky snow melted into the gutters, gurgling in the background of the bustling street. It seemed like everyone was out this morning, taking advantage of the first nice weather in months, just as Morgan was doing. He wrapped his leather jacket closer around himself, wishing his friend would get there soon so they could go inside. He saw Eli down the street, striding towards him, and waved. The young African-American man smiled widely, waving back and walking faster. "My man Eli!" Morgan said, shaking his hand. "How have you been, kid? I haven't seen you in ages?"

Eli grinned happily. "Sup Derek! I've been good. Going to college."

"So I heard! Hey, let's go inside. I've been waiting on you forever." The diner wasn't much warmer, but at the very least it was out of the wind. As they ordered, and Eli pulled out his wallet to pay, Morgan chuckled. "It's on me, Joe College. You're going to lose enough money paying for tuition and board."

"Thanks, man. And you know, thanks for meeting me." Eli tucked the wallet into his back pocket and picked up the steaming mug of coffee, inhaling deeply.

"Eli, I can't say no to my mama. When she told me you were coming down here, to play football no less, I was game. How's Sarah?" Morgan had known Eli's mom since high school, and had kept in touch with her family ever since then.

"She's good. Sad that I'm going so far away, you know, but…" He trailed off as they sat down at a table near the front window, and Morgan finally got a chance to appraise the kid that sat in front of him. Everything about him seemed older than the last time they had seen each other. He was taller, and had gotten a new haircut. His jeans no longer bore the rips and stains of a few years earlier, and his University of Maryland sweatshirt looked brand new. His sneakers were pretty much the same as they had always been, a flashy brand-name pair of basketball shoes.

"So you got some good scholarships?" Morgan asked.

Eli's face lit up. "Yeah, the center's got some pretty good connections. I got a football scholarship. It's not big, but…"

"Big enough, I get it." The hair on Morgan's arms rose when Eli mentioned football. "Did Buford coach you?"

"Just for two years. I was never his…favorite." Eli said. He looked uncomfortable, as if this privilege had somehow caused his friends' pain. "But I was good enough. Once we got a new coach, he trained me and helped me to try out for the University of Maryland team."

"Yeah, I heard he was a good guy. I'll stop back the next time I'm in the neighborhood." Morgan took a sip of his coffee, the hot bitterness zapping his system with it a burst a caffeine.

"You're a legend there." Eli smiled and took a bite of his sandwich. "When I tell kids you were the one to teach me to play football…" He whistled under his breath. "Man, are they impressed. I'm surprised your picture's not on the wall or something."

"Eh, I made them take it down." Morgan teased. "But it's your turn to make a name for yourself. Nobody knows me at U Maryland. Well, I've guest lectured there, but other than that…nobody." He leaned back in his chair, clasping his hands behind his head.

Eli chuckled. "A new start. God, I can't wait to sign."

"It's too bad your mom couldn't be down here this weekend too."

"She took a second job, so she's pretty busy. She's for sure going to be here to help me move in, though. Pre-season starts in July."

"I'll come out to help you move in too; I'd love to see Sarah again. What the…" He had spotted something out of the corner of his eye. At the counter, a customer in the front of the line was jiggling nervously, fiddling with something in his pocket. "Eli, stay here…" Morgan stood up quietly, following his instincts and walking slowly towards the cashier. The man moved to the front of the line and said something inaudible to the red-headed waitress at the cash register, who yelled back into the kitchen. The shabbily-dressed teen appeared to be around Eli's age, but skinnier. His jacket was old and wrinkled, and his jeans were ratty and torn. He looked up as a girl walked out of the kitchen, and smiled in relief.

Her face, though, was less than pleased. Morgan could clearly hear her, though, her voice carried through the diner. "Just get out of here! I'm working, Flak. Please, just go, we can talk later." Suddenly, the boy's face twitched with anger. Before Morgan could stop him, he slid a Glock 19 out of his pocket, shooting her in the chest. Morgan jerked forward, but was too late by long seconds. He heard the shot echoing disjointedly in his eardrums, and saw the girl fall backwards into the espresso machine. Blood and coffee pooled on the ground around her and soaked into her clothes. The bullet had struck her just above the heart, and immediately Morgan could tell that she was dead.

The chaos unfolded in front of him, but Morgan turned his focus onto the shooter. The kid looked confused and shocked by his own actions, and stumbled as he walked back towards the door and Morgan took advantage of his pause, walking towards him. His hand snaked to his hip, finding the empty space where his holster usually was; but he had left his service weapon at home today. "FBI!" He called out, holding up his badge instead. "Drop the gun, sir. No one else needs to be hurt today."

The boy's face lost all color that it had left, and he aimed the gun shakily at Morgan. "No…what? What are you doing here?" He tripped over an abandoned purse as he moved backwards, but kept his balance.

"Just put the gun down, and we can talk." Morgan's presence had unnerved the kid, and he took another small step closer.

"Get away!" The teen sputtered, waving the gun wildly. The gun discharged again, into the wall, but it could have been accidental; Glock 19's were known for their hair triggers. The second shot only incensed the commotion in the diner, and Morgan could barely hear the gunman, even though he was shouting. But Morgan's powerful voice cut through the melee. "Everybody freeze!" People stopped where they were, trying to cower behind tables and chairs. "Please, just remain calm." The gunman walked towards the door, blocking the exit. He fumbled as he locked the door, and as his back was turned, Morgan stepped closer. He felt, rather than saw, Eli sneak behind him.

"Just calm down, sir." Morgan said, capturing his attention again. "I'm sure we can figure this out."

"She cheated on me." The gunman said disbelievingly. "I had to. I…I…she…" His eyes were terrified and bloodshot, roving madly around the room, and Morgan wondered if he was high. "And then she lied to my face! It wasn't supposed to happen this way. You weren't…I didn't…she…"

"What do you want to do?" He kept his voice expertly even, not allowing even a ripple of emotion in. Holding his hands defensively, he inched forward again, within five or six feet of the weapon.

"I just wanted to talk to her…But she…she…" The sobs and whispers in the diner were unnerving the boy, and he turned the gun on a small woman cowering in the corner. "Stop crying!" He screamed, but her sobs only intensified. He held one hand over his ear, the semi-automatic still in his other hand. "Make them stop! Stop! STOP!" He jammed the gun closer, and once again, Morgan felt dread flood through him as saw what was going to happen a second too late.

"Drop the gun!" He cried, running towards him. The boy's finger twitched, and Morgan heard the shot at the same time he saw the stain bloom on the woman's stomach. He lunged towards the gunman, but felt something else as he moved…a sharp pain in his right side and a massive impact that spun him sideways onto the ground.

"Derek!" Eli cried out, running to Morgan. He was lying on his back, excruciating pain building in his side. Morgan could feel the exact point of entrance, like a small molten sun exploding into millions of stars, a supernova in his abdomen. He cried out, finding the small hole with his hand.

"Nobody move!" The gunman roared.

"Eli," Morgan panted, sitting up. "Stay behind me. I'm fine." He could feel blood filling his hand, and pressed tighter against the hot gushes. He turned to the boy, who was only becoming more frantic by the second. "Sir, calm down, please. Put down your weapon."

"No…" The boy muttered. Sirens echoed in the distance, and judging by the boy's twitching and wild eyes, cops were a hindrance rather than a help. "No…this isn't happening." Morgan could see him struggling to make a plan in his tweaked-out mind. "Um…Everybody, get in front of the windows. If anyone tries to leave, I'll shoot." People scurried towards the floor to ceiling windows in the front of the café, standing where Morgan and Eli had been sitting not a minute earlier. The boy ran to check the lock on the door, fear hanging on his thin face.

"Derek, you're shot." Eli whispered. The gunman was distracted arranging his human shield, so Morgan took the chance to look at his side. "It must have ricocheted." Morgan carefully removed his hand, and looked at the single, round hole, clear through his jacket. Another heartbeat sent blood gushing out the wound again, and Morgan quickly replaced his hand. He swallowed the nausea, and calmly looked at Eli's scared face.

"It's not serious." He reassured the boy. "Eli, is there an exit wound?" He leaned forward, but the back of his shirt was clean.

"No, nothing. Is it…it's still in there?" Eli asked, swallowing hard.

"Apparently. That's not good." He thought quickly, but he couldn't see many options. He could barely lean forward without feeling like losing his breakfast. "I need you to get me some napkins or towels. Grab them from the counter." As Eli crawled away, though, the gunman turned back around.

"You!" Eli shrank back behind Morgan. "Stand with the rest of them. Get your friend over to the window too." He pointed with his gun to the last window, which was only partially covered by the skinny, red-headed waitress that had been working the counter. "Do it now!" He yelled.

"Do it, Eli." Morgan gasped. "Everybody do what he says." He called out louder. A couple of people nodded, but most were too terrified to even acknowledge him. Eli helped Morgan stand, and he stumbled over to the window. Eli set Morgan against the wall and stood up next to the girl, who was shaking. She gave him a tiny smile and glanced at Morgan, who was trying stay upright. A puddle of blood was forming beneath his side, the glossy red splotch staining everything it could touch. The floor was dirty and dusty, a coating that hadn't seen a broom in years, and the curling wallpaper behind Morgan's back wasn't much better. "Now what?" Morgan asked loudly.

"Now we wait." The kid said, pacing. "I need to get out of here."

Morgan could feel blood seeping from the hole, and the first seed of doubt crept into his mind. If they waited much longer…well, he didn't want to think about what would happen.