Here's to the second season, it can't come soon enough!

}{}{}{}{

Soon the stars would be dropping to make room for another lemonade sunrise. That's what Darna liked to call them; everything carried a poet's tint with her, as if her many tattoos didn't hold enough color. Ulan was only interested in the one along her side, always peeking at him from under her shirt. It taunted him about the rocking body underneath it all. But there was no peeking tonight. Ulan felt the sweat, like he knew they all were in their dark pants and sweatshirts.

"He's getting ready to leave." Benjie alerted from the front seat, calling their attention to the gate they had been watching since 1am. Longer than that because that's what good plans were made of; preparation. Ulan smiled as he counted the seconds until the car, carrying the guard's replacement, passed them. "Told you. This is a breeze."

"Like that'll turn me on." Darna tucked her hair further into her ski mask. Ulan got the door and they slid down the street, taking quick breathes to meet their rising heartrates. Ulan hadn't expected the salty taste in his mouth; the adrenaline, maybe? It tasted good.

The guard was pausing as he always did. And counter to protocol, his partner had opened the gate to wave him on through. Their mistake would be their insurance. There was one spotlight hovering over the guard's station, but the corner gave them enough cover until they were right behind him. Darna tased his neck, leaving the second for Ulan. He felt the energy enter, then leave the taser, propelling the guard against his car door. He caught the man's ID badge, letting it rip as he sank to the ground. He held it, watching the jitters through his hand. They made him smile.

"We've got eight minutes." Darna reminded as Benjie drove on through. Ulan nodded as he swiped the card into the little outpost. He closed the gate, so everything would appear normal. He ran out alongside Darna, trailing Benjie's slow pull in front of the warehouse.

"Eight minutes." Ulan repeated, tapping her shoulder. "Then, all the time in the world."

}{}{12 Hours Later}{}{

"You said you would, Mr. Alex." Rita chased him between the racks, handing him the shirts that had just come in. Alex shook his head, a motion he'd been repeating for the past five minutes. Each time however, only turned Rita more determined. "You practically promised."

"Noooo, I said I need to help you out one of these days." Alex reiterated, trying to get the hangers to stay straight. "The, mow-your-lawn, clean-your-gutters kinda help."

"We live in an apartment." Rita stated at him, brow cocked.

Alex breathed deeply through the nose. "Water your plants then."

"Mama's allergic-"

"I'm not chaperoning!" Alex grabbed the next to last shirt from her.

"We get to see an amusement park!" Rita scooted to block his way to the cash register. "Please!? Mama has to work, and if there aren't enough adults, we can't go."

"Your teachers will find someone." Alex readjusted a shirt on its hanger. It fell off.

"But..." Rita stretched her voice and widened her eyes. "I want you to come."

That grabbed his heart strings, which annoyed Alex further. He put the shirt back on the hanger. "What about Ernesto, huh?"

Rita's hands and face fell. "You... don't want to come?"

"It's not-" Alex froze before the shirt could slip off is hanger again. How to word this? The girl had made herself a fixture to the gift shop over the past year and yeah, anything she wanted, she got. For all her exploitation skills, she worked hard. But this- of all the things he regretted missing in Evelyn's life, field trips were not one of them. His own kid he could handle. Other people's... Alex's bracelet rang out as the shirt dropped back off the hanger. He walked past Rita, placing the hanger on the counter before he threw it. He looked back, finding her still staring with those big eyes. "I've told my teacher all about you. That you were responsible, reliable- and chivalrous."

Ugh, was she good. Alex breathed out, his bracelet shutting up. "I'll... think about it."

"It's next Monday." Rita broke into a smile, a permission slip pulled from her jean pocket. "I need to let Ma'am Gloria know by tomorrow."

"Heeey," Alex looked down at the paper helplessly. "No such thing as a free lunch. I've got the rest of my inventory-"

"On it." she pressed the paper to his chest, speeding for the boxes on the porch. "I knew you'd want to. I already let Miss Corey know you'd be taking that day off."

"Ummm." Alex's head jerked up. "You what!?"

}{}{}{}{

Kai edged around Ernesto's desk, spotting the same email that had just pinged her screen. Her partner looked up and she shrugged. "What's he need from us now?"

"It's a briefing." Ernesto rose and they started the familiar path to Ocampo's office. Kai's brow peaked. "Not in the bullpen and just the two of us? Let me break it down for you." She stopped them just outside the door, using the time to mask her animosity. "He'll use up all the oxygen, building up false grandiose. Assure us we're the only ones that can do this." she quoted the mission Ocampo would dish to them. "And all it will be, chasing run away farm animals from here to Mambaling."

Ernesto took in her rant- one of many admittedly- eyes amused behind his glasses. "You're still mad about the towing detail he had you on last week."

Kai was glad she could brighten up his morning. "Just when I think things are getting better-"

"They are." Ernesto massaged a tense shoulder. "But this is Ocampo we're talking about."

"Ah, detectives." Ike Ocampo swung the door open. "You got my email. Very efficient... please, step in."

Kai walked in, eyes narrowed on their boss' back. The shoulders were hunched, hands were hidden in his pockets, and sweat along his neck. If he was looking to pander their confidence, that was the wrong stance.

"Yes, um," Ocampo turned in front of his desk, waiting till Ernesto closed the door. Why wasn't he talking already? Kai's offences inched away, instincts rising in their place. "Everything alright, sir?"

Still silent, Ocampo shook his head. "That is, I'm not certain. But something has happened and I need it investigated- as discretely as possible." He lifted his chin, eyes hard. "Only you two, no reports, no warrants... until some facts have been confirmed."

Ernesto and Kai shared an uneasy look. "Chief, there's protocol-"

"Yes, yes, I know." Ocampo raised his hands; they shook. "Please understand..." he drew a breath, as though reining his thoughts in. Then he spun his computer around, clicking keys to bring up a video. Kai was quite thrown at the sporadic behavior; not to mention curious.

"There was a theft at Aviation early this morning." Ocampo spoke softly and they both froze.

"Aviation?" Ernesto repeated.

"This morning?" Kai blurted. "And we only know about it now?"

Ocampo raised his hands to keep their voices down. "The call came directly to me and... I know how that looks."

"What does it look like, exactly?" Kai challenged, stepping closer. Ocampo gave her a lot of grief, but she had never argued that he was an unfit boss. Was he about to prove her wrong. Ocampo's eyes held disappointment and uncertainty. "I... possibly know who did it."