Thanks for the feedback. Good, bad, or indifferent, I appreciate the reviews. Feel free to pick apart any chapter if you see something out-of-keeping with the characters. I'm pretty much winging it. The next couple of chapters are going to get a bit technical. I'm going to be relying quite a bit on what I've been learning in class and using my textbooks for reference. I'll try to keep the human element in it as best I can. There are definite advantages to being a CJ major. ;-)

I want to thank the patrol sergeant from Holden Police for his input on procedures and paperwork. I've tried to work those things into the story as well. After all, what fun is a story without some semblance of accuracy?

'Are you sure this is where Mikey will be?'

'Where else would he be? He's probably getting high already.'

'Well aren't you the loving brother.'

Bosco glanced at her. 'What do you want me to say? That it's a damn shame he's pissing his life away, that I should try harder to keep him in line when I hardly ever see him?' He shook his head. 'He screws up, I won't have it coming back on me.'

'Then why are you looking for him?' Faith asked. Her question was met with silence, but she waited for an answer anyway.

'I don't know what else I'm supposed to do. One of his buddies gets murdered, and I'm supposed to say "whatever" and walk away? Uh-uh. Not happening.'

'I can't see you doing anything else.'

Bosco only sighed. A little unnerved by the shift in his mood, Faith gazed out the window at the people moving about. He obviously knew this Staples guy too. Why else would he have gone out right away to look for his brother?

'There's a runner!'

'Where?'

'Heading southbound, just saw him. He's moving fast.' Bosco replied. Faith barely had time to brace herself against the seat, both hands pressed firmly on the dashboard as Bosco whipped the cruiser around in a hard U-turn.

'Easy!'

Bosco ignored her as he activated the roof lights and siren. In the passenger's seat, his partner rolled her eyes. Going Code Three after a guy on foot – who probably hadn't even done anything wrong – was overkill, even for Bosco. 'You gonna grab him?'

'Got it.' Faith unbuckled and curled the fingers of her right hand around the door handle, every muscle tense and ready to react as soon as Bosco stopped the vehicle.

'Go!'

She yanked the handle and sprang out of the seat. Bosco reached across the seat to pull the door shut behind her as she sprinted off after the runner. 'Stop!'

The runner glanced quickly over his shoulder and saw her closing in on him. He was tiring fast. Faith saw the RMP screech to a stop at the end of the block. Bosco would be on the guy in a matter of seconds.

'C'mere punk!' Her partner snarled, sprinting out of the crowd to grab a hold of the man's jacket. 'Gotcha now.'

'I didn't do nothin'!'

'Then what'd ya run for?'

The man stared at Faith with wide eyes. 'I ain't done nothin', I swear!'

'Sure. You know a Keith Staples?'

'Never heard of him.'

'What about a Mikey Boscorelli?'

The man looked at the officer for a long moment, then darted off to the left, tearing out of Bosco's grip.

'Bastard!' Bosco swore as he picked up the chase again. 'Now I know you done something.'

'Get away from me, man! I ain't gonna talk!'

'Wanna bet?' The officer grabbed the man with both hands and gave him a good push into the side of the nearest building. 'You're gonna spill, and you're gonna spill now. Do you know a Mikey Boscorelli?'

'Don't know who you're talking about.'

Bosco pressed the man's face into the brick wall. 'Don't lie to me, punk.'

'I ain't – '

'Bull.' The officer snarled. 'Start talkin', or I'll spread the word you're behind Staples' murder.'

'Wha-what? Staples is dead?'

'So you do know him.' Faith said. 'What else do you know?'

'Nothin' – '

'Ah, no. You start lying to us, we'll have to do things we don't wanna do.'

The man eyed the nightstick that appeared in Bosco's hand. 'Maybe I know somethin'.'

'Do tell.'

'I don't know much, man, just that there's some guy by the name of Boscorelli back in town. Movin' in fast on the markets.'

'What about Staples?'

'No idea – he's an old player!' The man sputtered at the none-too-gentle tap from Bsoco's nightstick. 'Been around for years. I didn't know he was dead, honest. I been in hidin' for awhile.'

'Uh-huh. Let's hear about Boscorelli some more. What's he been up to?'

'Runnin' deals around town. That boy knows what he's talkin' about.'

'Where's he been recently?'

'Here and there between Fifth and Madison Avenue Bridge.'

'You know anything else?'

'No man, that's all. I swear!'

Bosco tapped the man's back with his nightstick. 'I hope so, 'cause Staples' brother's a Marine. Hate to see him come after you for withholding information about his little brother's murder.' He released the trembling man and stepped back. 'Get outta here, jag-off.'

The man bolted, clearly relieved to get away. Faith looked at her partner. 'So now what are you going to do?'

Bosco paused to glance back as he headed for the RMP. 'Find my brother.'