Jace thought that Magnus Bane was a fucking asshole. Why? Because not only was Alec carted off to God knows where by his douche police friends, but the police also took the money and cocaine from the deal.

That was a lot of fucking money.

Jace pulled the gray beanie over his blonde curls and wrapped the coat tighter around him. Keeping his head down, Jace walked towards the police station with confident strides. He had a pair of sunglasses on, which for some reason made Jace feel inconspicuous. He took a right when he got to the front door of the looming building and walked around back.

There were a few dumpsters and abandoned beer cans out back, but Jace wasn't interested in dumpster diving. He was focused on the back door that was used to toss garbage bags from.

Jace leisurely reached into his pocket and pulled out his tension wrench and a paper clip. With an almost lazy demeanor, he used his tension wrench to turn the lock and fiddled with the pick inside the lock until he had all of the pins set. Then the turned the lock back and placed his tools back into his pocket.

Jace walked into the building, head high, strides confident. He knew that if he acted like he was supposed to be there, no one would question him.

Having never been inside the police station before, it took a lot of winding through hallways until he found the room where evidence was kept. On more than one occasion, Jace had bumped into a few officers and, when they mentioned having not seen him around before, had to make up some lie about being there to collect the trash.

The door to the evidence room was tricky, considering it was locked with a key card lock. With a little time and effort, Jace could break into those as well, but he figured it was easier to pick a key card off one of the officers he'd passed.

Jace fingered the card for only a moment before sliding it into the lock. The light flashed green and Jace opened the door with his sleeve over his hand.

Leave no trace, Jace reminded himself, amused that a motto from his early Boy Scouts years could help him break into a police station. Except now, the 'trace' he couldn't leave was his fingerprint, not trash.

Humming "Pillowtalk" by Zayn, Jace hung his head low, hoping it was blocking his face from the security cameras. It only took a minute of searching to find the box he needed, which was filled with a baggie of cash that belonged to Alec, not the police, and Guzman's cocaine. Jace plucked the bag out of the box and, careful not to touch his bare fingers to anything, slid the box back into place.

The way out was easier than getting in. Jace was even kind enough to leave the key card on the floor a few hallways away from the evidence room, after smudging all of his fingerprints, of course. Grabbing a bag of trash from one of the empty offices, Jace headed to the back. He even nodded to a passing officer.

I'm such a good citizen, Jace mused.

Once outside the station, Jace didn't feel comfortable until he was a few blocks down the street. Even then, he felt sick to his stomach. He was glad to have his money back, but it was Alec that Jace was most concerned about.

"Okay, okay, wait," Chief snapped. "Let me just go over everything and you can tell me if I've missed anything."

Magnus gulped. Reynolds, another cop who'd been at the station during the break in, practically fainted.

Chief leveled his finger at Magnus' nose. "You're tellin' me that the criminal not only picked his cuffs, but he managed to do it without leaving any trace of fingerprints and he snuck out the window? And he did it with a bullet in his arm? And then, when you," he pointed at Reynolds, "clocked in for your shift and mosied on over to the Evidence Room to grab some files for Ragnor," he glared at Ragnor, "you found the evidence box missing the shit ton of money from Light?! Did I miss anything?"

Reynolds cleared his throat. "Uh, no sir."

Reynolds looked positively constipated. The Chief was just that scary when he was mad. He looked like Tom the cat from Tom & Jerry whenever he got so mad his face turned red.

Magnus smirked, suddenly assaulted by the mental image of Chief-Tom running around with a frying pan trying to squash Jerry-sized Alecs.

"Bane!"

Not the best time for his brain to act like it was tripped out on acid.

"Yes, Chief?" Magnus asked.

"I want you to go to Ragnor now. Figure out the next steps you're taking in this case. Go interview the nurses, do something." Chief used one hand to rumple his short brown hair and stalked off, huffing and puffing.

Reynolds exhaled. "Jesus Christ. That man is terrifying."

Magnus shrugged. "A little. I'll see you around Reynolds, I've gotta go. You heard the man."

Reynolds nodded mournfully. "Good luck."

Magnus appreciated that.

Alec heard his brother's girlfriend rapping before he entered the apartment. No one ever accused Clary of having a lovely rapping voice.

"-Philip / I am a poet / I wrote these rhymes just to show it / And I just-"

Alec pounded on the door, cutting off her singing. "Shut up, Isabelle!"

The door swung open and Clary appeared, all wide smile and wild, ginger hair. Behind her, Izzy and Max had jumped up from the couch, all different kinds of emotions flashing on their faces.

Annoyance, most likely directed at Clary. Worry, for Alec. And relief, too. That one was most prominent.

"Alec!" Max's feet thudded on the hardwood floor and he latched himself onto Alec. "I'm glad you're okay!"

"Hey, Max." Alec ruffled his little brother's hair and Clary frowned, probably wondering what the big deal was.

Izzy used Clary's distraction to quickly shut off the radio. "Alec?"

Alec stepped in and Izzy was by his side in an instant, wrapping her arms around him. Alec did the same, gritting his teeth when his wound protested. He needed Advil ASAP.

"Why wouldn't Alec be okay?" Clary asked.

Izzy shrugged. "There are bad people out there, you know? I'm happy he wasn't jumped by an evil drug lord or something."

Alec nodded earnestly. "Good thing."

Clary laughed. "Gotcha. So, when's Jace coming home? I thought I'd surprise him by hanging out before I had to go to work, but it's getting kind of late and he's still not home."

Izzy met Alec's questioning eyes before glancing at Clary. "Running errands."

A deal? Alec met Izzy's eyes again, but she seemed to be willing him to accept it.

"I hope he remembers to buy me popsicles," Max mumbled. Alec looked at Max and Max gave him a sly smile, which only widened when Clary laughed.

"I'm sure he will."

Yeah, Max knew that the 'errand' that Jace was running had nothing to do with grocery shopping.

Clary glanced at the clock and frowned. "I have to go to work or I'll be late. Tell Jace I was here when he gets home? He won't answer his phone."

Izzy nodded. "We will, don't worry."

Clary left with a wave and a smile.

Once the door shut behind her, it seemed like tension completely left the room. Izzy appeared at Alec's side again, checking him for injuries.

"You were walking funny when you came in," Izzy said. "You were stiff. Either you were just fucked up the ass nice and hard or a police got to you." She grinned. "Or both."

Alec shook his head and gestured at the black wifebeater that he'd bought before going home. He'd been shirtless at the hospital, so he'd needed something to make him not look like a weirdo. "I was shot."

Izzy's eyes widened and she pulled at his shirt until it revealed his wrapped chest. "Holy shit. By who?"

"Guzman."

"But you'll be okay?" Max asked, blue eyes wide.

Alec nodded. "I need painkillers, though. It's bothering me again."

Max raced over to their medicine cabinet and Izzy scoffed. "I'd imagine I'd be bothering you."

"Yeah, yeah. Where's Jace? I assume he's not shopping for popsicles."

Izzy chuckled. "No, but he's probably on his way home by now. He broke into the station to get our money back. That was a lot."

Alec nodded. He was a little worried, but Jace was good at what he did. It would be a piece of cake for him. After all, nobody could outsmart the Lightwoods. Not even Magnus Bane.