She ducked the low shop signs. She dodged the upcoming post-box and leapt over the open manhole. The pavement fell away under her feet at a rapid pace, her breathing was hard. Within seconds of hitting the ground she was up again, she just kept on running. They were coming. She wouldn't let them catch her, she wouldn't. With this thought fixed in her mind she continued in her flight from the authorities.

Finally, when she no longer could hear the heavy thud of adult footsteps behind her the nine-year-old girl turned a corner and sank to the ground in the nearest alley. She rested her head on her arms and knees, breathing heavily; she didn't hear it until it was too late. Her arms were grasped and she was lifted up. Struggling to free herself, she heard her capture call to his partner that he had her. Becoming desperate she aimed an awkward kick at his knees, which he easily dodged without loosening his grip.

She only ceased her struggles when she heard his partner's chuckle upon his arrival. Turning, she settled her wide-eyed gaze on him. She summed him up instantly. Good guy, trustworthy, at least for a cop. She then craned her neck to look at her capture. He had an honest face but he wouldn't mind breaking the rules to get his man, or in this his girl. She immediately settled and she set her mind in motion, formulating a plan. She might be a klutz occasionally but there was no denying that she was smart. She had done this all her life, there was no way she would let these two outsmart her. Having decided on her plan of action she put it into play.

The cops who had been arguing over whether or not to put her in cuffs, she was a wisp of a girl after all, were suddenly surprised when they now held a smiling little girl. Her eyes were wide and innocent, her body language was trusting and happy and she seemed to have become positively friendly. The only flaw in this perfect portrayal of childish innocence was the naughty and knowledgeable sparkle in her eyes. They were still taking in the changed child with amazed eyes when suddenly she shouted with a giggle, "THANK YOU FOR THE DONATION OFFICERS!" and she was off again. In their shock they had loosened their grip and she had slipped right through their fingers.Looking down at themselves they noticed that their badges and wallets were missing.

Lieutenant Mommiya heard his partner of three years violently say something under his breath. "What was that?" His partner, Pai, looked at him and repeated, "Next time I say cuff her can we please cuff the little minx?" Mommiya chuckled. "First we have to catch her again." With that they were off after her again.

Three hours later the Chief inspector of the local police force entered the observatory of interrogation room three. There he found Lieutenant Mommiya openly laughing at what he was hearing and seeing from the interrogation room. Glancing through the one way soundproof glass the chief saw a very frustrated and irate looking Pai and what looked like a nine-year old girl who was sweetly smiling at him. Finally noticing the chiefs entrance Mommiya stopped laughing, switched the recorder on and turned to face him. 'What have you learnt so far Lieutenant?" Grinning he replied, "She's young, she's cute and she's smart." "Besides that?" "She can drive a detective mad, dodge questions like a pro and insult someone while smiling.'" The chief inspector felt his mouth twitch as if to smile. Giving up his seriousness he grinned with amusement, this was his ex-partner after all. 'Has Pai threatened to shoot her yet?" Mommiya smiled at te memory of the last time Pai had been in interrogation and having finally lost his temper had threatened to shoot the witness. That little loss of temper had nearly had him suspended. "No not yet."

Suddenly they heard the interrogation resume. The chief and Mommiya watched. For the next half hour they watched as Pai tried to get answers out the girl. How old is she? What was her full name? Where did she live? Who were her parents? Howe long had she been in that gang? Why was she in that car? Had she known it was a cop's car? Through this all Pai received no answers. She simply stared and smiled.

In the observatory Mommiya turned to see the chief frowning slightly as if having trouble remembering something. "Sir?" The chief cam out of his daze. "She reminds me of someone, I just can'y place the memory. Where did you find her?"

"We picked her up trying to jack Pai's car." The inspector raised his eyebrows, and the rest of the force all knew how much Pai loved that jag. It was said that the car was the reason that his last girlfriend had left him. "Well she got in throught6he one open window and she just about had it fully wired when we showed up. The rest of the gang disappeared the moment we came in sight but she had to still get out of the car. It was amazing to watch, she was out pf their within milliseconds. We pursued her. When we eventually caught her…" he paused. The chief raised his eyebrow inquiringly but said nothing. Mommiya grinned but continued. "She stole our wallets, badges and got away." The chief said nothing. "Once again we pursued her. We wouldn't have caught her except for a shopkeeper who heard all the commotion was fast enough to grab her as she passed his shop. She put up a hell of a struggle but once Pai had her cuffed she quieted down. She's avoiding Pai's questions ever since." Just then hey heard something that they hadn't been expecting. "If you don't bloody well answer some goddamn questions I'm going to damn well shoot you!"

Their faces snapped back to watch and listen. But what met teir eyes and ears was not what they expected. The child appeared more amused than frightened. They then found out why when they heard the little girl speak foir the first time since she had entered the station. Smiling cheekily she said the most unexpected thing imaginable.

She looked at the man who had caught her and interrogated her. "You are going to need your gun to do that Detective Pai." She saw him look down where his gun should be. She knew those who were observing were doing the same. What met their eyes was an empty holster. Grinning with great amusement she then held out the gun to him with the point facing her.

As they watched Pai storm out the interrogation room, the two men who had been watching reacted to the scene they had just witnessed. Mommiya burst out laughing but stopped when he saw the Chief inspectors face, he had paled. He remembered. He remember ed why she was so familiar. It was only a short time ago. He knew and now he would have to make her remember, remember something he himself didn't wish to relive.