Hey my lovely readers! First off, I want to answer a question that was asked in a review. Yes, this is several years before Roarke Jr turns into "The yellow bastard". I made references to this by writing that Hartigan had twenty-odd years of experience, when in T.Y.B, he states he has 30 years to his name ( A small detail, I know, but I just wanted to clear that up for you.)

Chapter Two

After my long night with Hartigan, I retired to Mimi's motel. Not too fancy, but it gets the job done. I hit the sack after a bottle of gin, and a failed attempt to locate my fathers name in the national directory. Where are you, Aiden Tinsley? Fuck im', like he would give a damn if I died tonight.

The itchy excuse for a matress that was in the room kept me up most of the night. I figured it wouldn't do me much good to sleep anyways...No one else in this city does. I leave the Motel at 4:30 A.M. No one's in the offices yet, so I take a joy ride in my rented caddy. You can't say enough good things about a drunken joyride in a caddy that you could total right there, and not give a second thought. I just drove around the city until the department opened. I expected to see a bright sunrise, but the smoke, fog, and clouds blocked all light. Seems like this place is dark forever.

I walked into the building with a firm hangover...Hell of a way to start my first official day on the force. Hartigan was at his desk holding his head while leafing through the same files Bob had looked through the night before. "Hey Hartigan!" I said while grabbing a styrafoam cup of coffee.

"Hey Ben, get any sleep?" Hartigan said while putting the files into a drawer.

"Not much, is it ever sunny in this place?" I asked while sipping on the black coffee.

"Not really...kinda depressing really, but, you get used to it...Listen, I was looking through the files again, and I came across the name Jack Gafferty. He's an arms dealer somewhere outside Old-Town. I was gonna take Bob along, but that man doesn't get up earlier than 2:00 PM...Wanna go check it out?" Hartigan asked me while downing a glass of water with some sort of pill.

"Sure John...but can I drive?...Shit, you drove so fast last night, I nearly lost my lunch." I said with a smirk.

"Uh...no, you can't handle my car." John said while grabbing the keys to his hot rod. We got in the car, and what do you know...he didn't pull out like a maniac...maybe because I mentioned it.

We had to drive around the border of old town. The streets were covered with mud, and blood. Girls in leather, and lace stood on the corners giving me the sweetest looks I had ever seen. They must think I'm too young to be a cop...too bad really. I'm not that kinda guy, but shit, I've been alone for three years. Maybe a night with a good woman is exactly what I need. We get to what looks like an abandoned warehouse. Hartigan stays in the car as I start to get out. "Ben...take this radio, this guy knows what I look like...he knows I'm a cop. Go in there, and try to get some info, just call if you need backup...alright?" Hartigan said after handing me a small walkie-talkie.

"Yeah...be ready." I said as I pressed the hammer on my gun...you can never be too careful.

I walked into the building to see a figure sitting on a stool facing away from me, watching some old cartoon on a handheld T.V. "Hey...I was wondering if you might know where I could find some 'tools' " I said to the bushy haired figure a few feet away.

"What kinda 'tools' you lookin' for stranger?" The man said in the middle of random corny cartoon sound effects.

"Tools that one might use to hurt certain people." I said with a steady wit, and strength I didn't even know I had in me.

"Why in the hell would you think I might be in possesion of the items you seek?" He asked without taking one glance at me.

"I'm friends with some little birdies...I hear alot of things...I was wondering if maybe I could...lets say purchase some tools." I said while brushing some strands of dark brown hair from my view. If you think I'm not nervous, you're about as wrong as wrong could be.

"Well then...I have a number of certain tools for your purchasing pleasure...follow me into the showroom." The enigma of a man said while getting up out of his chair, and not facing me for a second. I followed him into a back room with rows of weapons which were made visible by light blue neon shelves.

The man finally turned around, and I could see why he wasn't anxious to reveal his face. The guy had a nose the size of a ballpark hot dog...ugly son of a bitch.

"Well...you're a regular Willy Wonka my friend...is that...a Ber..." He cut me off.

"Beretta mustang...250 of these things in the world...I have about 50...You can have one for a pretty penny...Interested?" Jack said while letting me hold the gun...I'm here to put this sucker away...but god damn is that a fine gun...I'll get one on the way out.

"Now...I'm not trying to pry jackie-boy...you mind if I call you jackie-boy?...Good. Anyways, I want a list of your happy customers...just to see if what you have stocked here is the real shit." I asked with a smirk. Jackie-boy...catchy.

"That's an odd request there stranger...You think I'm a fake?"

"That's why I need the list Jack! I don't want to be wastin' my cash on a "Beretta Mustang" only to find out it's fuckin' trash..." I said with a stable, firm tone. I'm such a lame-ass.

"I can't do that kid...Now, if you aren't gonna buy any merch, I think it's time to leave the candy shop." Jack said motioning for me to walk away...Well...here goes nothing.

I pull out my gun, the hammer already pulled back, ready to kick. He looks suprised at first...then it hits me...I just pulled a gun on a man who could grab, cock, and shoot a gun before I could pull the trigger. "Listen Jackie-Boy...The act is up...My name is Ben Tinsley, Basin City Police...Listen, I'm gonna need your client list..."

"Stupid fuckin' kid, do you know who I am? Do you have any idea who my friends are?" Jack said, clearly unphased by the gun at his head.

"From what I've heard, you have a lot of friends...ages 8 to 14." Bad move kid, now he's pissed off. Now he has a reason to kill a cop...I sure as hell hope John isn't caught up in a book right now.

"I see how this is gonna be...you know what, I actually thought you were cool for a second there...too bad huh." Before I could think, he had one of the mustang's in his hands, and fired a shot that grazed my shoulder. It hurt like a bitch, but it didn't catch any meat. John, from just inside the door, fired a shot that, through some act of god, hit Jack right in the knee.

Jackie-Boy was on the ground in a second. I gripped my shoulder tightly, but never took my eyes off of him.

"Listen Mr. Gafferty, I thought maybe we could do this in a civil manner, but it got ugly quick. Here's what's gonna happen. You, are gonna run off a copy of every single person who bought a gun here in the last three months. You will keep your mouth shut, and you will clean up your act.

"This is my last dirty job man, I'm trainin' to be a cop right now actually...I'll give you the list...but you better fuckin' hope I don't run into your little boy wonder here ever again...so help me god I will cut y...AHHHH...SHIT!" He screamed as John shot him again in the hand.

"The list...NOW Jackie-Boy!" John said before taking a shot gun off the wall, pumping it, and shoving it in his face.

"Fine...Fine...help me up...I'll give you the names." And a few seconds later, we had the name of everyone who had purchased a gun in months. It wasn't a bulletproof approach, but it was definitely a start. I grabbed one of the beautiful mustangs off the wall, as well as a gold plated revolver...for John...I figure the man has an appreciation for a good handgun.

We got back to the station, and wrapped my arm up real good. "First time you've ever been shot Ben?" Hartigan asked while looking over the names on the list.

"Yeah...I knew it would hurt, but damn!" I said with a smirk as I walked around the office, and looked out the window. "Maybe this city ain't right for me John...Maybe I'm better suited for somewhere on the coast...somewhere with actual sunlight."

"Maybe...but then, I'd be stuck with Bob six days a week. It's good to have some new blood around...especially a good kid like yourself...You did good today Ben...You're a little quick on the draw...but hell, who isn't at your age." John said while drinking a tall glass of water.

"Hey...I'm gonna go try to get some rest John. Give me a call if something comes up. Kay?" I said as I grabbed my coat, and headed towards the door.

"Uh...yeah sure...You can't let this place consume you all the time. You spend all your time in here, you'll end up like the rest of us...Old, and miserable...Later Benjamin." I heard John say as I walked out of the offices.

I walked through the dark, wet streets for the first time. My motel is a few miles on the other side of Old-Town...My luck huh? Halfway through the whore infested streets, I hear a scream...Hell, anyone within a good five mile radius could hear that scream...maybe I'm just the only kid foolish enough to go lookin for the screamer. I ran on the sidewalks, dodging the hookers, and whores until I could hear the deep breathing of a woman that was ready to die. I looked around the corner, and saw something I never expected.

A woman was on the ground, curled into a ball of flesh, and red satin. A man I couldn't describe stood over her, taking his time to calculate the right spots to kick her in. "Hey, leave her alone!" I yelled on the other side of the alley. The man looked my way, but didn't move. "Hey, I said leave her alone." I said again a little louder. My good arm was positioned at my side, ready to whip out my new toy if needed.

The figure walked towards me, his features becoming more, and more clear as he got closer. His pale blue eyes, and jet black hair set him apart from anyone else I'd seen so far. "Who in the blue hell do you think you are kid?" The man asked, I could tell he was lookin' for a fight.

"Ben Tinsley, leave the woman alone, or I'll call the cops!" I said threatening him. I figure it was best not to reveal myself as an officer...I've heard stories about Cops going into Old-Town and not coming back out.

"Cops? Are you fuckin' braindead child, Cops have no power here! What are you gonna do...Huh? She's a whore, she ain't worth shit, why are you her guardian angel?"

"Maybe because I believe people don't deserve to be beaten for something as stupid as this...let her go man."

"Heh...Fuck you kid." And before I could react, the S.O.B nearly knocked me out with a hard left to the face. I hit the side of a building hard, and fell on my ass. He started to choke me with his fat, greasy hands. I pulled out my gun, and hit him in the head with the butt end. He collapsed to the floor like a wad of flesh colored jello. He wasn't dead, but he'd have a nice little mark when he came to.

I ran over to the still balled up woman, and helped her back to her feet. She stood up on her own soon, and when I looked at her for the first time, I was amazed.

Long Brown hair, Caramel skin, green eyes, lips to kill for, and a body to die for. "Hi..." She said in a shy, light voice. She wasn't a whore, she just took a wrong turn, and went straight into hell.

"Hey...you ok?" I said as I rubbed her shoulders to stop her quivering. I soon took off my coat, and put it on her. "I'm Ben...You got a name?" I asked as she covered herself with my coat.

"M...Maria...Maria Cole" She said with a shocked stutter, and a quivering lip.

"Why are you in this place anyways?" I asked as I led her to a stoop, and helped her sit down.

"I...I'm new to the city. I got lost, and all of a sudden that man came up to me and pushed me around."

"Yeah...well, walking around Old-Town in a red dress may not have been the smartest choice...Let me take you down to the station...get you some coffee."

"Station?" She asked with a smile, and a southern drawl so beautiful, she makes the mona lisa look like trash.

"I'm a cop, and I want to make sure we get you to where ever it is you call home alright? Follow me."

She grabbed my arm, and we walked back through Old-Town, and back into the heart of the city. Maybe it was the cool evening air, maybe it was the lilac smell of her perfume, maybe it was all in my imagination but right then, this place didn't seem so bad.

Hey again, hope you liked Chapter 2. I hope you don't find it too violent, or too romantic, and I sincerely hope you truly enjoyed it. I cannot tell you how much I love reading your reviews, so please, please, PLEASE take the time to write down your thoughts. Chapter 3 will be on the way soon, so keep on reading!