Semester ends in three days! Woo-hoo!

You wanted more, you've got it.

Fifth Avenue was surprisingly crowded for a rainy afternoon. People pushed, shoved, and hustled past each other, trying to hang onto umbrellas and briefcases. Everywhere she looked, she saw a well-tailored suit or dress under a damp overcoat. Expensive cars were parked on either side of the street. Money, apparently, had its advantages. Sometimes she wondered what it would be like to have that kind of money, to not have to worry about being able to afford groceries for the week or make the rent payment on time. Would life be any better than it was now?

Probably not. There would still be work, and long hours away from her family. At least working the night shift, she was home during the day in case somebody needed her. Working down here, amongst the upper-class, would mean day shifts. She wasn't willing to change jobs just for the money. There had to be other benefits offered before she would even consider it. Besides, she loved walking the beat.

'Hey. Earth to Yokas. You there?'

Faith tore her gaze away from the window to look over at her partner. 'What?'

'I just asked if you saw anything.'

'Oh, no. Sorry. I wasn't listening.'

Bosco snorted. 'That's an understatement.'

'Hey, I was thinking. Is that a crime?'

'Problems at home?'

'No, everything's fine.' She replied, a little irritated at the question.

'All right. Just askin'.' Bosco turned his attention back to the road. After a few moments of silence, he said, ''Cause if Fred's been giving you trouble – '

'Bosco, there's nothing wrong!'

'Okay! Sorry.'

Faith shook her head, gazing out the window. Leave it to Bosco to irritate her. He always managed it, one way or another. But he was a good friend anyway. She wondered why he and his brother were so different. They stood on opposite sides of the law and were often at odds with each other because of that. Mikey was constantly in and out of trouble, and it was hard on Bosco to have to choose between his brother and the law.

'Figures that Mikey would be out here. It's the perfect place to do business.' Bosco said. 'I mean, look at all these rich people. Must be a huge market for that crap here. I bet half the city's dealers work out of here when they can.'

'Money draws all sorts of people.'

'Yeah it does. How many of these bigwigs do you think are regular users? Stress of the job and all that. Got to relieve it somehow, so why not get stoned?'

Faith grinned. 'Yeah, they've got it so hard.' Her gaze fell on a small group huddled in the meagre shelter of a doorway. 'Hey Bos, look over there.'

'Where?'

'There.' Faith pointed.

'I'll be damned. How much you wanna bet Mikey's over there.' Bosco reached down for the switches on the console between the seats. 'Looks like a good time to shake up their world.'

'Let me out here, they'll run the second we pull up.'

'Got it.' Bosco pulled over quickly to let her out. Faith made sure her hat was on securely as she walked toward the group. As soon as Bosco showed up in the cruiser, they'd scatter. There he goes, in a blaze of glory as always. She broke into a run as her partner brought the RMP to a sharp halt at the curb. Sure enough, the group in the doorway spooked.

'Nobody move!' Bosco shouted, charging around the front of the cruiser. 'Get your hands where I can see 'em!'

'Get 'em out!' Faith echoed as she arrived on the scene. 'Show me your hands!'

Reluctantly, each person pulled their hands from their pockets and spread out along the wall at Bosco's impatient order. The two officers moved in cautiously to pat down the members of the group.

'You. You look like a badass. What's goin' down here?'

'Nothin', man. Just chillin'.'

Bosco carefully probed the inside of the man's jacket. 'Uh-huh. What can you tell me about Keith Staples?'

The man curled his lip at the question and didn't respond. Faith gave the man a sharp prod with her nightstick. 'You were asked a question.'

'Go to hell.'

'And keep you company? Not a chance. Answer the damn question.'

'I already answered, bitch. I ain't talkin' to no girl 'bout nothin'.'

'Oh yeah? C'mere.' Faith grabbed the man's shoulder to pull him toward the RMP. He lashed out when her fingers tightened on his jacket and used her startled half-step back to attempt to run.

'Not today, tough guy.' Bosco snarled, lunging at the man. His partner took one swing at the man's legs with her baton and the momentary struggle was over.

'You'll be talkin' fast real soon, pal.'

'My leg! You broke it. You broke my leg, bitch!'

Faith helped her partner drag the man upright. 'Grow up, it's just a bruise.' Together, the two officers escorted the groaning man to the RMP. 'Get in there and shut up. We'll deal with you in a minute.'

'Any of you jokers want to talk now?' Bosco demanded, walking purposefully back toward the people still standing along the wall. 'I want to know about Keith Staples, and one of you is going to tell me. Who's it gonna be?'

Nobody spoke.

'C'mon, one of you knows something. You don't speak up, that makes you all accessory to murder. I have no problems at all running each and every one of you into lockup. Let's hear something from one of you, and let's hear it fast.'

At the far end of the line, somebody timidly lifted one arm into the air. Bosco was on him in a heartbeat.

'You got somethin' to say?'

'Y-yeah.'

'So let's hear it.'

The kid looked terrified and kept his hands pressed against the wall. 'I know Staples. Used to go to high school with him.'

'And?'

'Pretty tight with some guy called Mikey or somethin'. Last I knew they was hangin' out down to the Bowery.'

'This Mikey got a last name?'

'Funny-sounding name. Bozorally or somethin' like that.'

'You know where to find this Mikey?'

'No way, man, I ain't no punk. Don't rat out nobody.'

'You just did. C'mon, you're joining your buddy over there in the back of our squad. The detectives will want to talk to you back at the station.' Bsoco pulled the kid away from the wall. 'Let's go, junior.'

'What about the rest of you? Got anything to add?' Faith demanded.

'Yokas, come on. We gotta get these two stars down to lockup.'

'Beat it, all of you. I catch you gathering out here again, you'll all be on your way to Rikers.'

'Sorry we couldn't find Mikey tonight, Bosco.'

Bosco only grunted, hanging up his uniform in his locker. He hadn't said much since the shift ended.

'Want to go out for a drink?'

'No.'

'Are you sure?'

He shut his locker with a bang. 'Yeah. Not tonight. You've got to home to Fred and the kids anyway.'

'Bosco.'

'I'm all right. Really, I am. See you tomorrow?'

'Yeah.' Faith said quietly as Bosco brushed past her toward the door. 'Hey, Bos.'

He paused to look back and she managed a half-grin. 'We'll find him tomorrow.'

Bosco said nothing and disappeared around the corner, leaving Faith alone in front of her locker.