Chapter 1

The Meeting

It was two o'clock in the morning and I was dragging my ass. I was so beat; I don't even know why I volunteered to do the overnight shift. Oh, that's right; Angela and Ben went out to celebrate their engagement. Hopefully, the lovesick fool proposed to her like he told me. Now I was sitting at the bar in our little run-down restaurant on the Westside of Chicago on a Friday night staring out the windows wishing I was at my other job right now serving alcohol to the crazy drunken souls for a lot more money than I'm making here. Out of the pouring rain came three figures running in the door. They were our regular detectives who took their break early tonight.

"The normal guys" I queried as I headed toward the kitchen to wake up Jake.

"You know it's beautiful" I blushed as I went through the double doors.

"Chop, Chop Jake, get a move on, our usual detectives are here and hungry."

"Sure sure Bells I'll get the burgers started while you get their drinks."

"Alright gentlemen, I got two cokes and a diet even though a regular has fewer calories than our food" I rolled my eyes at Detective Riley.

"Yeah, but the Mrs. can smell the food from a mile away, and with the pregnancy hormones she may eat my face" he smiled and the others laughed at him.

"Jake, I'm running the trash out before I leave; I want to get out of here on time this morning."

The rain had let up just enough I could run out and throw the trash in the dumpster without getting too wet. The rain didn't bother me much; growing up mainly in Washington state where rain was plentiful. Just as I was making my way back to the door, I noticed a shiny glint of something that looked like the muzzle of a gun lying on the ground next to the dumpster.

"Who's there? I have three detectives waiting for me inside, all I have to do is scream!" I half yelled in the direction of the gun.

A silky voice sounded out followed by wheezing and coughing. Oh god, someone was seriously hurt, I thought to myself. I was half tempted to run inside the restaurant to get the detectives when the smooth voice called back out.

"Please help, no cops just you please." He begged.

I started slowly towards the gun.

"Push the gun toward me so I know you are in serious need of help if you don't want no cops"

The gun barely made it a few centimeters after I called out. I went around the dumpster and nearly lost my dinner when I saw the man hunched over with his hand on his right shoulder.

"Oh, god are you ok? Do you need a hospital? Just let me get the detectives, we can get you to a doctor faster."

"No, please, I just need a phone. I'll be ok. I need to call my brother, he'll help me." He answered.

"Fine, no doctor or the cops, give me the number and I'll call from inside. I get off work in 15 minutes. My truck is over there. If I help you do you think we can get you in? It's a lot dryer and safer in there than out here. I cursed myself for not having my phone on me and just wanted him safe and more comfortable.

He agreed almost instantly to get out of the rain and hide from the detectives who were still inside. I helped him the best I could and tried not to get blood all over me I knew that would be a clue someone was hurt. I walked back in with the number in hand and checked myself in the bathroom to make sure there was nothing on me.

I went to my locker got my cell phone out of my purse and dialed the number.

"Tell me your hidden the cops are everywhere looking for everyone involved I can't come get you"

The whispered voice was strained with heavy breathing on the other side of the receiver. I didn't know what else to do with the detectives and the guy in my truck bleeding. I knew I had to work quickly.

"Meet me at 765 West Main Street at the apartment building on the corner in ten minutes."

"Who the fuck is this and how did you get my number." He was beginning to get aggravated.

"From the guy bleeding out in my truck, I have a roommate who's a nurse meet me there and I'll have her stitch him up. If not I'll just let the three detectives have him." I hung up my cell and proceeded to the counter praying that Angela was there to relieve me. I turned the corner and noticed the three detectives had left, fuck hopefully dumbass was still laying across my seat out of view.

"They got called away to a shootout in the warehouse district. They told me to bag their food and they will swing by to get it," Jake explained as he was putting everything in containers.

"Angela showed up she's getting everything ready to take over in the office you can get out of here until Monday morning"

"Thanks, Jake." "I'll see you Monday, hopefully, having Sundays off throws me off. I may be a little late."

"Have a good night, bells" yea like that was going to happen with a final wave I took off out the door and hurried to my truck. Once to the door, I sighed in relief that the green-eyed man was still lying there with his eyes open and breathing finally smoothing out. I jumped in and hurried to mine and Alice's apartment six blocks from work.