I left the brothel through the back door, being careful to avoid the main roads. I stuck to alleyways and back streets and kept my eyes and ears on the alert for suspicious noises, not wanting to chance getting jumped again. I seemed to be alone, except for the rare scraggly tomcat, when I heard a clatter and a crash behind me. I spun around, Magda drawn and glinting in the night light of the city.

"Who's there? Come out with your hands in the air, I've got a gat and I'm not afraid to use it!" I growled. There was an awkward shuffle of movement from behind some trashcans and I focused Magda's barrel there, squinting out from under the brim of my fedora. A blonde head poked out from the shadows, followed by a lanky body and a sheepish face.

"Hey, Mr. Lensherr." The boy- he was barely older than eighteen- muttered. "What's up?"

I groaned, lowering Magda. "Alex, what are you doing here?"

"I heard from Angel that you were on a new case, and I wanted to help out." He shuffled closer, shoulders hunched guiltily. "I mean, you're always complaining that you don't have enough hands, right?"

Alex was a kid I'd met a few years back on a job in the Bronx. He had just been released from jail and was the prime suspect in a murder case Moira and I had been working on- together we had proved that he was innocent and saved him from the hotsquat. Ever since he had been begging to work with me, and he seemed to think he was my unofficial partner. He was a good guy, and smart, but kind of a pain in the ass.

"Alex, go home. I'm busy, kid." I patted him on the shoulder awkwardly and steered him towards the mouth of the alley. "You're great, and if I need any help I'll call you, 'kay? But tonight I'm working on something big, and I can't have you distracting me or getting in trouble because of me."

He frowned petulantly. "Aw, c'mon man! I can help out, for real! Just give me a chance!"

I had given him a few chances before. He was good for odd jobs and sending messages, but give him too much responsibility and chaos followed. It wasn't his fault- he was just a natural walking disaster area.

"Sorry, kid. Sit this one out." I shoved him lightly onto the street. "I'll see you some other time, alright?"

"Fine." He shrugged defensively. "I'll see you later."

I sighed as he left, moving back into the alley. I was glad I'd been able to get rid of him; Alex was stubborn as anything and it could be hard to dissuade him once he got an idea into his head. The last thing I needed now was someone tagging along behind me, no matter how keen he was.

I grimaced as pain shot through my side suddenly. I had almost forgotten about where the guy from earlier had been kicking me, I had been so caught up in the excitement of the case. Now that the adrenaline was starting to wear off, the pain was starting to get to me.

I limped out onto the street. It was pissing rain, and I could barely see a foot in front of my face. I stumbled across the road, trying to get to the next block, when I was suddenly blinded by headlights. The roar of an engine bore down on me, and I threw myself to the side, trying to get out of the way of the oncoming car. It clipped my side as it sped past and I fell to the sidewalk, agony spreading through my body. I lay there, panting, as my vision started to go black at the edges. That was no accident. Someone had meant to run me down. Someone had tried to kill me.

And they had almost succeeded.

A car pulled up beside me, slowing to a stop with one wheel in the puddle by my arm. Someone got out, muttering nervously as they hefted me by the arms and half-lifted, half-dragged me in the open door. It was too dark for me to see their face. I was too dazed to do much of anything but lie there as they spread me out on the backseat, stripping off my coat and balling it up under my head like a pillow. A warm hand brushed my soaked hair off my forehead, patting my shoulder awkwardly.

I kicked out almost reflexively, catching the person in the shin. They cursed and tried to pull me back as I struggled towards the door, attempting to get out. They pushed me back against the seat, slamming the door closed and locking it.

"Please. I know how much this means to you, but you're going to hurt yourself. Just calm down."

I recognized that voice. But from where? Another jolt of pain went through me, and before I could piece together what was going on I sank into unconsciousness.