Shadow scanned the streets, trying to ignore Ina's suspicious glare. So far, he had walked roughly four miles, and still couldn't find who he was looking for. It didn't help he was on the run from the Police, and there was an officer directly behind him.
Shadow suddenly stopped walking. Ina froze, whipping her head around rapidly. Shadow motioned for her to stay put, then walked into an apparently empty alleyway. He stopped again, then whipped out his arm and seized the young boy hiding under the stacks of old garbage.
"Hey, Slatch."
The green haired Vestal scowled at him and tried to wrench his arm free of Shadow's grip. Shadow dug his nails in for good measure. Ina entered the alley, and Slatch immediately began to panic, thrashing powerfully. Shadow dragged him to the wall and slammed him against it.
"Chill, dude! She's tame!"
"You're going to arrest me," Slatch sputtered. "I can't go to jail, I can't!"
"Chill," Shadow repeated. He let go of Slatch's arm, but trapped him in the alley corner. "I just wanna get info outta you. Like any weirdos that've been around here. 'Specially anyone with blonde hair."
Internally, Shadow was very proud that he had identified the mysterious hair color and thought of finding his old buddy, Slatch, completely on his own. Granted, his head was still throbbing from so much recent thinking, but it was better than having to be put in jail. Probably with a white jacket, too.
"Blonde?" Slatch repeated. "Yeah, I saw one. Only one. I just can't quite remember..."
Shadow grabbed him around the throat, then lifted him and slammed him into the back wall of the alley. Ina gasped.
"That help your memory? 'Cuz I can do this all day, 'till I get what I need from ya."
Slatch swallowed hard, obviously remembering the times Shadow had beaten him. He nodded, and Shadow lowered him to the ground and released him. Slatch coughed a few times before continuing.
"It was a lady," he babbled. "Long blonde hair, pulled up in a ponytail. Didn't see her face, but she was wearing all white. And her clothes pattern was unfamiliar. Bought off the intergalactic market, I guess. She walked into one of the apartments, and never came out. Next day, she showed up here again. Same thing, different apartment."
Shadow looked at Ina.
"Write that down. I've used up my memory for today, and I don't want to think more than I have to."
Ina scowled, but did as he asked. Shadow turned back, then crouched to Slatch's eye level.
"You did good," he said. "Next time, don't make me hurt you again. It ruins my reputation with the newb cops."
"What do we do now?" Ina asked scathingly as they walked away. Shadow cocked his head and pretended to think about it; there was no room left for any more actual thought.
"You and Chaze go over evidence and I go home and sleep. My head is killing me."
"If only," Ina whispered. Shadow let her get away with it. This time.