The mysterious woman

Finn hated with all his soul the wait that accompanied the investigation process. Avoiding being detected mean that there could be no source of light, even when he was a good distance away, partially hidden; smoking was out of the question and that mean long hours to no end with nothing more than a lukewarm coffee and low volume music so he didn't gauge his eyes out of his sockets in desperation. The radio was set randomly on a blues station, the tranquil music somewhat soothing his nerves, maybe sometime later he would search more music of this Miles Davis guy. Finally, after waiting for hours, there was movement on the warehouse, a big truck came accompanied of two cars. The night was moonless but Finn could identify ten or so guys pouring out of the vehicles and starting to unload some boxes and packages. Time to get serious, he thought, somewhat bitter.

Getting off his car he maneuvered through the distinct ship-boxes and different cargo that was left there laying in the docks, expecting for the next ship to take them to their destiny. Getting into the warehouse was somewhat easy; obviously these guys were amateurs, as they left the entrances unguarded. Everyone said that with technology the need of field agents would decrease until they were not necessary, but as Finn tried to make sense of the strange scribbling on the boxes and taking photos with a small camera, he knew that to be far from the truth. Everyone could learn how to get dirty, to get into the darkest and foulest pits of the human soul and society, but not so many were disposed to kneel down on the dirt, get their hands blooded and smell the shit first handedly. People like him would always be necessary as long as people as Bonnibel existed.

Finn dismissed those thoughts aside as he peered inside a room in the warehouse. It was dark inside and the door was locked, both great indicators that whatever it was inside was certainly of more value than the rest of unknown packages. Removing his lock picking equipment Finn easily breached the cheap lock and with a satisfactory grin the door opened slowly, as if it was accepting defeat and letting the victor enter unperturbed. Rummaging in his pocket he got his lighter and closed the door after him. Overall the room didn't had anything more interesting, some boxes that read fragile and one or two rare and expensive items that came from very distant lands. There was even a marble statue but because of his lack of artistic knowledge, Finn was unable to identify it. Thinking he was done, Finn absentmindedly checked the last corner of the room and what he saw made him take a sharp breath. There, in the room, was someone tied to a chair with the head covered by a white cloth bag. The ups and downs of the chest made the person alive, and the breast made this person a her.

Not my problem, he whispered, in a vain attempt to delude himself. He would only walk out of this place the same way he entered, review the info he got, search for a lead that connected Lemongrab and this operation, maybe interrogate one or two thugs and he would be enjoying some well-earned cash. This woman was not his problem. The reality was that even if he managed to do those things as smoothly as he wished for, that lady over there would be a goner the moment he leaved the room. She would surely be tortured for whatever reason she was here and most surely be killed once they got the information they wanted. Too much trouble, he though as the scenario in which he freed that woman and escaped that warehouse played on his mind. In the best case scenario she was a helpless squealing girl, the worst case scenario; she was a dangerous person that would stab him the moment he turned his back to her. The latter being more probable as she was clad in blue ripped off jeans, brown boots, a tank top that read "Sucker" and was well toned... and the fact that she was tied, with a cloth bag on her head, abducted by a criminal gang with which she may have some kind of connection.

But Finn was too much of a goodie two shoes.

Reaching out he took of the bag and revealed a woman with sharp features, black eyes and a cascading plain black hair. A very beautiful, muzzled woman and a very angry one, telling by the look she was giving to him. He could practically hear the fuck you she was surely thinking.

-Ok lady, don't worry- It seemed that those were the wrong words as she did exactly the opposite and started trashing in the chair

-Look, I'm a cop- he said, putting his hands on her shoulders and trying to steady her

-That was a poor choice of words, uh?- Finn muttered to himself as he only achieved to make the woman more vicious on her failed attempts to free herself and practically signaling all the thugs of his location.

-Look here lady, I don't like it and you surely despise it more than I do but we are both stuck in here and if you don't stop thrashing and causing a motherfucking ruckus we are both going to end with a nice hole in our foreheads. If I really wanted to hurt you, believe me, you would know by now-

This did the trick as the trashing subsided and the fuck you looks diminished in intensity… if only a little. Taking out his pocket knife Finn made a move cut the ropes that trapped her legs loose but was interrupted when the woman came crashing into him and send him tumbling to the floor.

-That's what you get for being a good guy- he cynically spat – A shove to your chest and a crazy woman crashing on your chest-

Finn threw the woman aside and made a move to get up, immediately realizing the reason why the muzzled woman tacked him. A bullet speed too close to home as he ducked behind some crates, shot by one of three thugs that looked really angry someone was sticking his nose on their operations.

No more need to be sneaky, he though as his pistol materialized in his hand, hammered and ready to shot down thugs…only to be stopped by the sight of the woman trashing on the floor, her hands still tied and her muzzled screams of help, or curses. Probably was the latter.

-Shit- quickly reaching out Finn took one of the chair legs and dragged the woman to safety through the shootout, many bullets barely missing their mark.

-Look sorry I just forgot about you- he half heartily apologized once again behind the crates while removing the piece of cloth that muzzled her and cutting the ropes.

-Well, that is what I get for helping a jackass- she spoke for the first time. Her voice was deep, not so very, but enough to add sexiness to her and a smartass tone that didn't clashed with her looks. The irony of her words was not lost.

-Point taken- Finn answered, deciding to let the matter slip –Do you know how to use one of these? - He said pointing to his gun.

-Are you giving a stranger a gun? Good move Einstein-

-Well is either that or be remodeled to the likes of a rockefort cheese down by these guys- loosing no time Finn took his pocket pistol.

-Yes I know how to use a gun- she said taking it off his hands –But this sad excuse of a gun? Well let's see what I can do with it-

Another witty retort was not allowed as more thugs flooded the room and left them huddling together as to avoid a bullet ripping their arms or legs.

-Any ideas?- he said as shooting blindly to their attackers.

-I though you where the hero here!-

-Well, I didn't expected to find a damsel in distress-

-Shit, I'm no damsel, and no I don't have an idea-

-I can see that. Well I guess we are fucked-

And in a mad dash Finn popped out of cover half of his body and shoot the remaining four bullets of his clip. None hit a target, and Finn was about to curse when one of his shoots hit a crate that read "Dangerous, inflammable" and the place was lighted up by a big ass explosion.

-Fuck! - he screamed as the heat wave hit him fully on the face.

-No time to stay still- answered the woman that took him by the hand and took him running through the debris and disoriented brutes.

-Who the fuck starts a shootout in a warehouse full of explosives!-

-Dumb fuckers- she answered as more bullets came flying towards them- Fuckers that are multiplying-

-So where to now?- she said once they managed to get out the warehouse thanks to the confusion –And don't tell me that you don't have a plan because…-

-Don't get your panties in a knot, my car is over there-

Both ran to the car when the hooligans caught up and started shooting again. This time there were no explosive crates to save them and it was luck that saved Finn of being hit by any bullet as he practically jumped inside his car and ignited it. The woman suddenly appeared beside him and ushered him to get the fuck out of there. Not waiting for another order, Finn step on the gas and both were flying out of there before the shady criminals had time to follow them. Just for precautions Finn took another road to the city, one rarely used and rural that allowed them to lose their persecutors.

-Look where you are going smarty pants-

Finn just grumbled his response as the old chevy stumbled upon another hole in the ill kept road, producing a small hiss to his newest companion and partner in crime, while he drove on the rural road in the dark of the night. Now he realized she was hit on a leg, but was not making fuzz about it. In fact he believed her to have run well over one hundred meters with the wound on her leg as if nothing really happened. Deciding this was not the time to tend to it he focused on the road again. -Watch it; you got a lady in here!-

-Not a damsel?-

She, like himself, grumbled a response. A bleeding lady, he added mentally, taking out a cancer stick, lighting it and taking a long draft of it as it was left hanging out of his mouth. Offering one to this new acquaintance, she accepted it and took a draft of her own.

-Just what I needed- she expressed for the both of them. Although saying he knew little more than nothing was an understatement, he was stuck with this strange chick that appeared out of thin air, unleashed a shootout and hopped into his car. She knew things, dangerous thing of shady people, things that where best left alone and hidden where none could find them. Things that Finn needed to know.

-Could you drive worst?-

-A bleeding lady and an ungrateful one- he added out loud. The raven haired stranger was oblivious to the sarcasm of Finn and continued to pester him with her side remarks.

-Jeez, you drive like a nervous thirteen year old on his first date. This…- she pointed the wound –hurts, you know?-

Well, he knew she had a sharp tongue. That and that she was bleeding on his worn off tapestry; that blood will give him trouble latter but it seemed she would survive.

-Its only a flesh wound- he said referring to the wound

-Sorry I am nagging about being shot and that I am bleeding off in your shitty car but I can't avoid it!- the girl answered with not so little sarcasm, apparently a little ticked off by the remark Finn was giving her –Believe me when I say it hurts me more than it does to you-

-Sure it does-

-By the way, I don't have-

-Have what?-

-You, know, what you said back there-

-What?-

-Panties-

And she smiled; a playful smile that mocked the redness in his face and the spurting of intelligible words and over the awkwardness of that entire situation, before laughing out loud. Both gestures disappeared, drifted away by the next bump in the road that Finn failed to avoid thanks to the previous comment.

-Watch it smartass- she said, clearly pissed off.