Lily paused, bewildered by everything happening around her as Atticus shoved the nearly empty bottle into her hands and rushed out the door. "Family friend?" she whispered, looking around his room, already filled with questions. She decided to check the vent cover where Atticus had pulled the bottle just moments before. It struck her as odd how casually he had downed a fifth of liquor.
As she struggled to pry open the vent, breaking a nail in the process, Lily cursed quietly, thinking about how effortlessly Atticus had managed it. Finally, she opted to slide the bottle under his nightstand when something caught her eye—an antique key necklace. Without thinking, she grabbed it and tucked it into her pocket before standing up.
Just then, she heard Yori's voice as the door opened. "Atticus, there's a cop downstairs. The chef's keeping him busy for now, but there's the crawl space—" His voice trailed off when he saw Lily standing there alone. Frustrated by Yori's sense of timing, she hesitantly said, "He saw the cops; he went that way," pointing past him.
Yori's eyes locked onto hers. "No," he replied. "Please, he didn't…" He turned to peek down the hallway. Lily followed his gaze to a half-open window at the end, where a small sign read 'Fire Escape.' He muttered something about Atticus being just a boy, rash and trying to make sense of everything.
Seeing Yori move surprisingly quickly despite his age, she hurried after him, her boots clicking against the floor as she rushed. The bustling sounds of the restaurant grew louder, and the delicious aroma of hibachi made her stomach churn.
Trying to keep pace with Yori made her feel a little clumsy. She quickened her steps, reaching the lower stairwell just as the door swung shut behind him. She pushed it open and stepped into the kitchen, where staff were busy clattering dishes. Amidst the steam rising from the stoves, Emari turned from her phone, eyeing Lily with concern before hanging up.
"What's going on?" Emari asked, striding over from the restaurant's computer. "My dad looked like he was about to have a heart attack. Where's my brother?" Lily ignored the question and followed Yori's path. As she rounded the corner, she spotted a police officer rushing out of the restaurant, sprinting past the windows and shouting into his radio.
Yori stood behind the counter, looking pale and tight-lipped, making his wrinkles and thinning hair stand out more. Then, he took off after the officer, with Lily on his heels and Emari trailing close behind. "Wait, what's happening?" Emari called as they dashed down the sidewalk toward Elm, where Yori turned left. Lily couldn't help but grumble to herself, wishing she was wearing sneakers. "Man, he's fast for an old guy."
Emari caught up with Lily, looking much less worn out. "Knee-highs while running? That's pretty daring, and definitely adorable!" she said, then zoomed past her, mentally noting Lily's high boots while she pushed herself to run faster. As she veered left onto Elm, something in her stomach dropped.
As she caught up to Yori and Emari, Lily slowed from a sprint to a jog, weaving past an old pay phone and past the mouth of a back alley. She spotted the officer Yori had been tracking, trying to manage a crowd gathering near a concrete entrance to City Hall.
Lily observed as the an officer tackled Atticus, his face contorted with rage while they tried to pin him down by stomping on his shoulders to get the handcuffs on. "Quit resisting!" the officer yelled, and as chaos unfolded, Lily dug into her purse and pointed her camcorder at the intense scene.
The officer dealing with Atticus looked like the overzealous type, decked out in a tight short-sleeved black uniform, his medium-length hair falling in his face as he struggled with Atticus. Lily noted how hard it was for the officer to keep Atticus pinned down. Hitting him with a car didn't seem to deter him at all; she couldn't imagine herself in that situation. The gun being pressed to his head wasn't either.
"Dammit, I need help over here!" the officer yelled as two additional officers rushed over, their footsteps pounding the asphalt. The bigger guy with glasses came running to assist, no longer trying to keep the ever-growing crowd at bay. The sound of sirens grew louder as several squad cars arrived from both directions on Elm Road, horns blaring to clear the intersection before stopping short and blocking the road, officers jumping out of their vehicles.
"We're here, Kevin!" the heavier officer shouted, his shirt straining at the buttons. Lily couldn't help but think he didn't quite fit the typical image of a fit cop. She recorded the commotion as Atticus fought back, momentarily lifting all three officers off the ground in a desperate attempt to escape. "Hold him down! Holy crap!" the third officer shouted. Lily could hear the sound of the cuffs—first the left one biting into Atticus's skin, and then Kevin managing to click the right cuff on.
"Thank goodness!" Kevin exclaimed. "Is he on steroids or PCP or something?" The third cop chuckled, "We'll find out in a few hours. I'll help push back the crowd and then get back to my beat. See you later, Ryman. Good luck dealing with the big guy." He turned and started nudging the crowd back out of the direction of the police station.
"Back off, pretty boy, I'm not on drugs," Lily heard Atticus snarl at Officer Kevin Ryman, then shot a glance at the bigger officer. "You might want to cut down on the carbs; your shirt looks like it's about to burst, and your pants button would probably be screaming for mercy if it wasn't being smothered." They shoved him roughly into the back of a squad car, slamming the door behind him. "What a piece of work," the larger officer grumbled.
A wave of guilt churned in Lily's stomach; the realization that she was responsible for Atticus being there weighed heavily on her. She glanced over at Ryman, who was chatting with larger officer, and made her way over. "I've got it from here, Harry; thanks for your help. Don't let the drunk jerk get to you. That fat cuff on him already probably came from a zoo." Harry, the large officer, forced a smile at Ryman as he nodded and moved toward city hall to join the other officers clearing the crowd.
Lily stepped away from the Sakamotos, caught in their group of onlookers, as they began to gradually disperse, although the Sakamotos stayed put, still watching. "I'll be back in a minute; I just need to see if I can talk to him," she called back to them, striding purposefully toward the cruiser. Yori gave her a small smile, which warmed her heart a bit.
"Is there any chance I could talk to the fugitive for some news, officer?" Lily asked as she approached. Kevin Ryman turned to her, grinning before leaning against the car. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Atticus watching her, brow raised through the back window of the squad car.
"Well, I guess if you were asking me over coffee like last time, I might consider it," he replied with a smirk. Lily swallowed hard, feeling a burn rising in her throat that made her nerves tingle, and managed a tight smile. "But I've got too much to catch up on since my last hospital visit. Maybe another time?" She fluttered her eyelashes, hoping to charm him a bit.
Kevin's expression shifted to one of genuine concern. "I hope you're feeling better," he said, glancing from the car back to her. "Just give me a couple of minutes to catch up with a friend. Once he gets to the station, he'll be monitored and then separated. But the chief can be unpredictable, so make it count." He nodded and walked over toward the officers clearing people away from City Hall, while others moved their cars or left.
Lily slid over to the slightly open window of the cruiser. "What can I do to help you?" she asked, trying to avoid direct eye contact. It was tough to look at Atticus, especially with his hair now cropped short and tidy instead of hanging over his face. His eyes managed to shine even more without those messy bangs hiding them.
The look of bewilderment crossed his face. "Help? How could you possibly help? Why would you want to?" His head shook; his expression, as she expected to be neutral, held a hint of something else. His eyes locked through the brief break in his expression wasn't indifference. Lily watched him sympathetically until he went on. "Listen, girl, I don't know you, and you definitely don't know me, and you don't owe me anything."
Lily shot Atticus a pissy expression as she leaned in, her nose scrunched slightly at the smell of the alcohol radiating from his breath before she snapped back, "You know, for someone on their way to a death sentence, you sure are an asshole to someone offering help." Her arms folded as her lips pursed, her emerald eyes bore into him as the irritation began to grow.
The sound of a cat yowl escaped Atticus' mouth; a hint of satisfied amusement suddenly graced his face. Lily felt the palpitations as the flush settled in her cheeks, her eyes widening as they bore into Atticus'. "Are you serious right now? Is this all a joke to you? How were you in the military? You have to be brain damaged or mentally unstable."
Atticus' brow raised, a faint smirk still holding as Lily berated him, her hands gesticulating before a pointed finger went his way. "I don't know why I bother trying. I was hoping maybe we could help each other; silly me. Silly that I would be so naive considering most men like you are so arrogant, so... so needlessly violent, just... such bastards!"
"Hey now, no need to get snippy with me on account of my mental faculties. If you have a problem with my service, then you can leave a complaint in the letter box, and I'll get back to you in an undetermined number of business days," he said with a smirk across his face, watching Lily's irate expression before rolling his eyes. "There's nothing you can do, although maybe there's someone who can... if he's still in this dump."
Lily watched him thinking for a moment how much she hated that smug smile, his ice-blue eyes scanning in front of him as if he were reading text off a page, his face scrunching before reluctantly muttering "Darius Harper," turning to look her way. "He's... an old... friend; Yori would probably know how to get ahold of him. He's not exactly an easy guy to find, and he likes it that way. I have a friend on the force too, but I don't want him getting wrapped in my affairs. He's got a wife to think about. Just, if you see Darius, tell him I said he was right about everything. He followed me into the military; he's a whiz on computers, but he can be a bit... paranoid—that's about the lightest way I can put it. You could—"
A voice came from behind Lily. "Well, that's all the time I can give ya! Coffee sometime?" the officer Ryman chimed as he walked around to the driver's side, his gaze fixed on her as he did so, opening the door as he awaited a response. The feeling of heartburn hit her, suppressing the urge to gag. "Perhaps sometime next week," she said forcefully. He didn't seem like a bad guy, but she didn't particularly like pretty boys, especially police officers. She'd already had her fill of exes related to a law enforcement career, and she didn't particularly feel like picking up a second job as that's what it seemed from her prior experience—late nights waiting, on-shift visits, then cheating.
The officer nodded, climbed into the cruiser, and closed the door. Lily turned to Atticus in the back seat, hir face a mix of curiosity and amusement as the cruiser slowly rolled down the road toward the police station. As she watched, her gaze shifted to Emari and Yori chatting with a big, broad-shouldered man. Emari hugged him tightly while he looked worriedly at the cruiser, his eyes heavy with fatigue before he turned back to talk to Yori.
Lily made her way over just as Emari turned around and caught sight of her; for a brief moment, it seemed like a frown flickered across Emari's face. Officer Mendez, who had been chatting with Yori, shot her a wary glance as she got closer. Their previous encounter had revealed him to be pleasant but strictly by the book, and Lily couldn't shake the feeling that Emari didn't really like her much.
"Hey, Lily! Sergeant Mike Mendez, a friend of the family," Yori said excitedly, but his expression quickly turned serious. "What did he say?" Lily glanced between the officer, Emari, and back to Yori, feeling a bit confused. "It's alright, sweetheart. You can trust him," Emari added, flashing Lily a friendly smile and a cheeky wink, her tone overly sweet and dripping with obvious condescension.
Mike looked her over with curiosity before continuing, "So, we heard they caught Atto. I was just getting into my car coming from the pharmacy when they called in about a foot chase. I thought they might need an extra pair of hands. But, if I'm not mistaken, you're Miss Vance, right?"
Lily stiffened a bit at the question. "Uh... yes. Why do you ask?" Mike chuckled lightly before he spoke again. "Great, killing two birds with one stone! Dispatch called me; the hospital said you were awake, but you had already left by the time I got there. The nurse didn't even seem to notice, which lately doesn't surprise me. My partner and I just need a statement, even though it's not our shift. Mind giving us your side of things?"
Lily felt confused; she thought the officers who visited the restaurant were looking for her. "I guess that's fine," she said, glancing around at everyone. Yori smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, sweetie. Emari, come on, let Mike and Lily handle this." He led her away, nagging Emari about cleaning up her messes while she grumbled about not being able to stay and chat with Mike.
Mike chuckled as he watched them walk off, then turned his weary eyes back to Lily. "We can stroll over to Mom's Cafe; they have amazing apple pie and know how to brew great coffee. I could really use a caffeine boost before I take a quick nap. Just around the corner from City Hall." Lily followed the direction of his hand, noticing the glint of his wedding band as he pointed toward the park street road.
Feeling a bit lighter, Lily smiled. "Sure, but you look really worn out. Are you sure you're up for it?" Despite the tiredness evident in his expression, Mike returned her smile. "It won't take much of your time. If you prefer, I can always track you down during my shift. I could pop by in the middle of the night just to wake you up," he joked, then added, "or you can just walk to the station, and they can take your statement there."
Lily smirked. "Alright, no need to be so sassy," she said, rolling her eyes with a soft laugh. As they turned the corner by City Hall, curiosity got the best of her. "So, how long have you known the Sakamotos?" she asked.
As they strolled along, Mike kept his gaze ahead, his eyes squinting slightly and his head tilted in thought. "Hmm, it's been a while, Thirteen—no, wait, yes, Thirteen years," he said, sounding contemplative. "Honestly, saying that didn't feel as good as I thought it would. I didn't even get carded when I bought beer the other day. Do I have any grey hairs?" He lifted his ball cap, revealing his slicked-back black hair that complemented his tan skin quite nicely, at least from Lily's perspective. Maybe she hadn't looked closely enough before taking a break from dating, especially since work consumed most of her time nowadays.
Lily let out a little laugh, a gentle and charming sound, as she looked at his head while he leaned closer to her. "Oh, no way! Just some shiny black locks up there—maybe a few thinning spots," she joked playfully. Mike put his baseball cap back on, rolling his eyes in a dramatically exaggerated way as he shot back, "Thanks a lot! I was beginning to think my wife was playing mind games with me again. She claims it's just stress getting to me, but I swear I spotted a gray hair while I was shaving. I'm way too young for that nonsense!"
Lily quickly glanced around, deciding it was the right moment to ask something that had been on her mind earlier. "You called him Atto—how long have you known him?" She noticed Mike's face clouding with confusion, followed by a flicker of realization and disappointment before he answered, "fifteen. Met him my seventh year," his tone flat and his smile fading into a more serious expression.
"This isn't exactly the best place to talk about this," he said quietly, just loud enough to be heard over the bustling city and the roaring cars. He looked up as if scanning the skies, trying not to attract attention while he observed the rooftops of the nearby buildings. Lily mirrored his actions, an unsettling feeling creeping in as he added, "I'll explain later. Just trust me, not here and not in any of your regular spots."
As they waited to cross the street, a car screeched past the light, nearly hitting Lily while another vehicle honked angrily from across the street. Lily turned to see a grey station wagon just shy of colliding with her; in an instant, Mike's solid frame enveloped her, and everything happened so quickly she barely registered it.
The warmth that had shielded her disappeared as Mike slapped his hand on the car's hood. "Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?" he shouted, stepping toward the driver's side and pulling out his badge from his back pocket. "Get out of the car now!" he ordered the driver.
Lily made her way to the sidewalk, quickly stepping out of the roadway as she watched the driver exit the station wagon. A frail, blonde-haired guy with bloodshot eyes and a drawn face stumbled out and grabbed at Mike. Startled, Mike instinctively shoved the guy back. "Oh god, I'm so sorry! I just blacked out!" the man exclaimed, panic in his voice.
Mike narrowed his eyes at him as he stepped closer. "Look up at the sky," he commanded. The man obeyed, revealing the pale clammy skin of his neck as Mike peered into his eyes. "Are you on drugs, or are you just feeling unwell?" he questioned, his eyes sharp as he awaited a response.
"I'm not feeling great. I had to grab some medicine for my wife and kids, and I must have dozed off," the man said, his voice strained. "I swear!" He turned to Lily, tears streaming down his cheeks. "I'm so sorry, miss!"
Lily felt a wave of sympathy as she observed him. Mike raised his hands in a peaceful gesture, moving past the man towards the back of the car. "Hey, it's all right, just take it easy. No one got hurt; just go get those meds for your family, get some rest, and don't forget to see a doctor. Perhaps take a bus or cab and stay off the roadway. Show me your license, and you can head home," he said, peering into the back. Lily couldn't help but smile slightly—he had that friendly, neighborly vibe about him.
As she watched Mike interact with the man and check his license, Lily felt a twinge of sadness for all the questions she wanted to ask but couldn't. After the man got back into the car, Mike looked at her and motioned for her to join him heading towards Mom's Café. "So you were feeling bad for him?" she inquired.
At that moment, a car blared its horn at the station wagon, and a guy yelled, "Hurry up, not everyone's got all day!" In a flurry of panic, the station wagon zoomed away, even blasting through a red light. Mike raised his hands in disbelief, his voice climbing an octave as he exclaimed, "Are you kidding me?"
He glanced at her with an amused shake of his head, still processing what had just happened. "Not really. He's probably on something; didn't smell any alcohol or weed, though. He just looked terrible—clammy. Honestly, I feel rough too. A lot of people seem off lately; this city was already struggling," he said, shrugging and then opening the door for Lily, motioning for her to go in first. "Or maybe he's really just sick like he claimed. He reeked, though, so I wasn't keen on dealing with that."
As they entered Mom's Café, Lily noticed that a few patrons didn't seem very lively—one couple appeared exhausted and drawn, while others looked uneasy, keeping to themselves. The decline of the city had become glaringly obvious over the past year, with things seemingly getting worse by the day.
But the enticing aroma of breakfast food was a welcome distraction, making her stomach growl as Mike opened the door, glancing at her mid-sentence. "Someone sounds hungry," he teased, grinning warmly. "Come on, it's on me. You should try the egg toast and sausage. Simple, but that's just my taste." He held the second glass door open, gesturing for her to step inside.
The first thing Lily noticed upon entering was the shabby floor and a couple of dirty tables. A bright-eyed bronze haired waitress behind the counter finished ringing up a customer and looked up with a smile. "Oh hey, Mike! Sit wherever you'd like, and I'll be with you in a bit!" Her upbeat and cheerful personality stood out against the backdrop of the cafe and the mood of the city.
Mike returned her smile. "Thanks, Sue!" he replied, matching her cheerful that brought a smile to Lily's face. It was a refreshing change, and she followed him as he headed towards a cozy corner of the cafe.
As she passed a few customers, Lily noticed a middle-aged woman devouring a nearly uncooked steak burger. Whatever appetite she had seemed to vanish instantly as she fought to keep her stomach contents down, hurrying to catch up with Mike.
"So, is this a good spot for a chat? It feels pretty out in the open," Lily asked as she slid into the booth, leaning in and eager to ask her questions, her impatience bubbling over. Mike raised a hand, grinning as he said, "Uh, no, this is really just a place for food when you're hungry. But it could work for taking your statement. I'd love a coffee before the paparazzi shows up to chase after this perfect picture of a person," he added with a smirk, eyeing Lily with a touch of satisfaction.
Lily arched an eyebrow, surprised by the sudden arrogance he projected. Mike observed her for a moment, clearly enjoying himself as his smile widened a bit more, and he pulled out a notepad and pen. "Let's start with what happened right before your incident and go from there. What can you share? I really want to emphasize that details are important. All I've got is what the camera caught outside the hospital, which was pretty minimal; it was dark, and the footage was what you'd expect in this city. Then the paramedics brought you in, but they didn't see much either."
The diner felt like it dropped a few degrees, and the sounds around them suddenly felt louder as Lily's eyes glossed over, and the dull ache in the back of her head returned. "I left the news station late; I was going through some missing persons reports that have been piling up—way more than usual. I always try to get home before curfew unless work keeps me late. But with my car in the shop, I don't really trust getting around town. You know how the subways are."
Mike nodded, smirking slightly. "Yeah, I've been driving the old rust bucket. Didn't like the thought of my wife taking the metro—about as dependable as the city's police chief." Lily raised an eyebrow, and Mike quickly cleared his throat, glancing away. "So, uh, you left work late. Did that guy follow you from there?"
Lily shook her head. "I ran into him when I turned off Raccoon Street. He dropped a bottle when I made the turn—" Mike cut in, "Do you remember exactly where you turned or…" motioning for her to go on. The urge to tuck and run hit her; every memory of that encounter twisted her stomach. "The road was Carson Street, just along the bell toward the hospital-Victoria."
Mike nodded, scribbling notes. "Got it, so is that where the assault took place? Any details about your attacker?" Lily looked a bit bewildered. "I'm sorry, but the news said Atticus Slade assaulted me," she replied calmly.
A flicker in Mike's eye at the mention of Atticus caught her attention. His demeanor suddenly shifted as he focused on his notepad, clicking his pen repeatedly. "It's messy politics; they're labeling most of the deaths since his escape as such. My poor partner and I came across two in the park between the park and the plant, a couple found all messed up in the women's bathroom. She's the one who discovered them, actually. I gave her the day off yesterday; I handled my shift alone."
Lily watched as what was left of Mike's smile deteriorated into a solemn frown. Turning his head towards his notepad, she tried to picture coming across such a scene herself. Mike spoke low, "I'm positive my new partner doesn't want to be here anymore, and I don't blame her. Yesterday wasn't much better. I'd like to get my wife out of here, to be honest; she's been quiet lately. Things have been tense at home since we got into a spat. She wanted to leave the city, but I can't just get up and leave. I've put in my transfer request, but the Chief keeps going on about how he'll approve it once everything blows over, though it's not just blowing over; everything just seems to keep progressively getting worse."
With a brief widening of Mike's eyes, he shook his head with a sigh. "The assailant," he repeated. Lily watched him, a repulsive shudder reverberating through her body as she reluctantly recalled the events. The fat, towering frame of the man, with his sickly gaunt face appearing through the darkened shadows, and the repugnant smell of alcohol mixed with something sickeningly foul that had irradiated from his body, her running for her life so desperately.
Mike was watching her, seemingly sensing that she was struggling to recall the events. Lily's hand came to the back of her head; her mouth was dry, and the room seemed suddenly brighter to her for a brief moment, as it did when her head hit the asphalt. "I thought for a moment that I was dead," she said quietly, her voice shaky.
"We can take a moment, Miss Vane," Mike had said softly. His smile to her was warming, like a blanket wrapping itself around her; she hadn't felt like this since… she was being carried, the worried expression of a ruggedly handsome face with ice blue eyes barely visible in the night.
Lily shook off the thought. "I was being dragged into the alley; the man got on top of me before Atticus came up from behind and wrapped a chain around his neck. They fought for a bit," shuddering at the replicated memory of the knife embedding itself in Atticus' leg, the details even harder to say.
She paused at the memory of the cracking, the man's neck cocking back at the unnatural angle that it did. As Lily recounted the memories, she paused before mentioning the arrival of Yori. Perhaps best not to mention it; omitting details wasn't technically lying. For all he knew, Atticus could have stolen the car. Then again, he seemed to know more than he let on, even with the couple slip-ups. Perhaps talking is how he gets all his information; he was certainly good at that.
"So, this was the alley that connected Yaya and Raccoon?" Mike was skimming his notes. Lily fidgeted for a moment with her fingers. "Yeah, I think so," her voice was quiet; the memories had seemed within grasp but foggy, straining to piece the puzzles together in her mind.
"Well, I can swing by there. No dead bodies were reported there that I know of, but I can check with dispatch. Although I'll probably just swing by there on the way home. I'll have to get a detective there to verify. If you did have the time, now would be best while I have you," Mike finished his notes and closed the pad before it slid into his vest pocket. His smiling gaze didn't leave her own.
The waiter strolled over with a friendly smile, balancing a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and a wrapped item in the other. "The usual, coffee and a breakfast burrito?" Sue inquired. Lily couldn't help but notice how opposites seemed to attract; Sue's cheerful demeanor was like a warm glow in the rundown diner, a flicker of sanity in a decaying city.
With a smooth motion, the waiter slid the coffee and wrap across the table toward them. Lily began to think she might visit this place more often than Emmy's; Sue's positive energy was certainly worth the trip. Despite being the only server in the busy diner, Sue managed everything with a bright smile.
Mike grinned widely. "Sue! You always manage to impress!" He pointed to a pre-folded twenty-dollar bill and slid it across the table. "The rest is yours, of course. Things have been pretty slow lately; I hope that's not getting you down."
Lily noticed Sue's cheeks flush slightly, and she bit her lip, but Mike seemed unaware as he took a sip of his coffee, breathing in sharply with his tongue out to cool it down. He was too eager to let it sit—kind of charming, really.
Sue fidgeted with the hem of her shirt. "Well, I'm almost done paying for college, just like you said, Mike. I turned down the Umbrella grant, but ShieldSafe offered me a paid internship." She looked pleased as Mike nodded along, half-listening.
"Can I get you anything?" Sue then asked Lily. Shaking her head, Lily replied, "I'm good, thanks." Sue beamed back at Mike. "I'll catch you later, Mike. Stay safe out there. Things have been tense with the curfews, and it's not much better with the checkpoints." She turned on her well-worn sneakers and headed to a booth at the far end, where a thin guy in a black coat and dark glasses was casually reading the paper.
As minutes ticked by, Mike took his time sipping his coffee, his eyes flicking over the newspaper he'd grabbed on his way into the café, though Lily thought he was mostly skimming it. She found her gaze drifting outside towards City Hall. She really needed to clear her head.
Everywhere she looked, more questions popped up: Why were public services so lacking? Trash bins overflowing, rats visible scavenging in broad daylight, and potholes that were long overdue for repair. And the birds—where had they all gone? She hardly ever saw cats roaming around like she once did.
After finishing his coffee, Mike stood up, towering over the others while nodding. "I really should get going. I can't leave my wife waiting for too long, or she'll have my head. The sooner we sort this out, the better." Lily got up to join him as he continued, "If you're free, you can come with me to the scene. I'd rather not arrive after the detectives do."
Lily turned to ask something but got distracted by the local news on the TV above the service window, where Julie McClaire was reporting live outside the Raccoon Police Department.
Following her gaze, Mike also looked at the TV and saw Atticus being brought into the station. Julie approached Officer Ryman, microphone in hand. "Reports say you hit the suspect with your squad car to detain him. What do you have to say about that?"
Officer Ryman paused, flashing what he probably thought was a charming smile. To Lily, though, it seemed forced, especially compared to Mike's genuine smile, which looked effortless even when he was tired. It made her a little envious of whoever had the second ring on his finger.
Ryman continued as Sue turned up the volume on the TV. "Well, I just heard the report over the radio when I saw him coming out of an alley and crossing the road in front of me. Our reports indicated he was extremely dangerous, especially if approached alone. So, I figured it was best to detain him and assist my fellow officers by hitting him with the car."
Two officers arrived to take Atticus away, and Julie rushed past one of them, chasing after Atticus. "Atticus, what do you have to say about the murders of Brenda Long and Nathan Greeves? What about Corporal Mitchell Kanson's death or Private Tyler Stanson's disappearance? Is this connected to your breakdown at the Raccoon Orphanage back in—"
Atticus quickly turned towards Julie, the force of his movement causing the two officers to stumble. They both leaped to pin him down to the ground roughly. Atticus glared at Julie, his nostrils flaring and upper lip curling as the camera zeroed in on his ice-blue eyes, which were filled with hatred. He didn't speak, but the intensity of his gaze was clear, while the officers struggled to keep him on the ground.
Julie seemed surprised for a moment before turning back to the camera, the officers continuing to wrestle with Atticus, who was shouting obscenities. "I think that's all we'll get from the Arklay Butcher—a clear glimpse into his psychopathy. Hopefully, Raccoon City will feel a bit safer with one less criminal on the streets. This is Julie McClaire with the Raccoon News Network, back to you, Cliff."
The scene switched to the news station, where a handsome anchor with bright white teeth smiled into the camera, his slicked-back blonde hair gleaming in the lights. Lily noticed Mike shaking his head at the screen. "He totally fell into her trap; that's exactly what she wanted, and he walked right into it. Hook, line, and sinker." He turned to Lily with a genuinely warm smile and tilted his head. "Something on your mind?"
Lily's eyes were wide. "You know, Julie, what did you mean by that?" she asked, like a child discovering something new, bouncing on the balls of her feet at the idea of having some gossip on Julie for a change.
Mike looked at her; his smile had faded as his jaw tensed. The question had him disgruntled, as if recalling something unsavory. "Perhaps a bit more than I'd like to," he replied curtly. His eyes studied her for a moment; his lack of a smile, even if not written with contempt or anger towards her, was still unnerving. She tried picturing him genuinely angry; it was hard, though being judged by his eyes alone was intimidating.
Clicking his tongue, Mike glanced away. "How about we get moving, yeah? I hate standing around for too long, plus I feel uncomfortable for some reason. Like something's off. Then again, this whole city is off lately. I practically wake up these days feeling it. This isn't the same place I grew up in. It feels like it's rotting, like it's a city of decay, you know? Although everyone looks at you like a madman when you bring that kind of thing up."
Mike glanced around the Café as he went on "It's like we're in one massive basket that we can't leave, more than a few rotten apples in the group and nobody is removing them. The rot spreads, it's been spreading since I was a kid. If you've been around it long enough you see it or ignore it, most have just been ignoring it.
Nodding to his question, Lily straightened; she felt the same. Not just about the city, but about the feeling she'd get in her gut when something was off, and she just hadn't pinned down what it was. Lily smirked at him. "I think I know what you mean, I suppose. Don't think I haven't noticed the tiptoe; I still want juicy details."
Mike smirked. "So what, are you Julie's rival or something?" His thumb hung from the keys secured to his belt loop as he turned and strode across the café, giving Sue a radiant wave before holding the door for Lily to exit.
Quickening her pace, Lily rushed past the patrons and husks alike to exit onto the sidewalk of Raccoon yet again, turning her head as Mike led the way back towards the direction of Koi's. "Rival? More like mortal enemy," Lily answered.
A brief, throaty howl of laughter broke free from Mike as he turned to look at Lily. "You make it sound like she's a comic book villain; I kinda like your spirit. If you hate Julie, then I suppose you can't be all that bad." Turning to nonchalantly brush his shoulders, Lily noticed his eyes scanning around them before he turned back to her. "Well, she's Atticus' ex. Pretty vile one at that."
Making the turn back around City Hall, Mike pointed towards the alleyway from earlier. "The dumbass ran right past me; I didn't even know it was him until that new kid started screaming on the radio. Dude put on some muscle since last I saw him. I can legally park here off duty since Yori allows me. One of the perks of being lovable. Saves a buck on the parking." He slid his keys out of his belt loop as they cut across the street.
Keeping close as they hit the mouth of the alleyway, Lily was brushing up against him with ample room to maneuver. Mike glanced Lily's way as her hand came up to support herself as a sudden wave of nausea hit; his smile twitched slightly before he broadened it and gave her a nod.
Mike eased up his pace a bit as he walked over to an old Toyota sedan. He waved towards the passenger side and said, "Feel free to hop in if you want. I need to give my partner a call to let her know to clock in early and bring the cruiser to the scene. I'm just trying to test a theory I've got, so bear with me, I'll be right back."
As Lily approached the passenger side, she noticed the lock through the window while Mike clicked his keys to open the driver's side. He hesitated for a second, his face scrunching up before he shrugged it off. Leaning in to unlock the passenger door for Lily, his big frame momentarily filled the space. "I'll be quick. I just need to stop by Koi's for a sec," he said, straightening up and heading towards the old, beaten metal door of Koi's.
Once settled in the snug interior of the car, Lily looked around, surprised by how well the car was maintained despite its age. She admired someone who took care of their belongings, and for a brief moment, she felt a pang of regret about what she had said to Atticus. Just then, her stomach growled.
Lily sighed, wishing she had grabbed a bite to eat at the café earlier. Her eyes landed on Mike's food resting on the driver's dash. She wondered if he might be willing to share a bite, and the thought brought a little relief. But then she shook her head, realizing it wasn't fair to ask him.
In her quick head shake, her brown hair parted momentarily, revealing a face peeking through the driver's window. Lily let out a startled yelp, pressing her back against the passenger door. It was Yori, sporting a smile that was both charming and unsettling at the same time.
Opening the driver door he spoke "Hey, Lily! Sorry I took off earlier. I was just curious if you'd want to swing by when you have some free time. I'm a huge fan of your work and have read pretty much all your articles since you start." Yori was grinning, and Lily couldn't help but smile back as the uneasy feeling in her stomach faded away.
As she relaxed back into the passenger seat, her tone a bit shy, she said, "Oh, um... thanks. I stopped replying to letters after the death threats." The details of those threats were especially alarming after her articles on Umbrella, which, given that it's a company that employs two-thirds of the city's workforce, was sadly predictable.
Yori gave her a warm, understanding smile. "I never really wrote anything; I just saved a few clippings. It's so great to see you strong and moving forward. Don't let fear hold you back! Just wanted to put that out there. By the way, do you have any questions about my son?" He raised his eyebrows a little, gauging her reaction.
It was definitely on her mind; she'd been thinking about it ever since they brought her into the hospital, and when Emari referred to him as her brother, it just made it more obvious. They clearly weren't related by blood. "I'd really love to know more!"
Yori's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Oh, really?" He chuckled softly before Lily could reply, making her blush a bright shade of red. "No, no, that's not what I meant!" Her voice pitched higher as she stumbled over her words. Yori laughed again but quickly got himself together as he reached out a hand. "Just messing with you! Hope to see you soon?"
Before Lily had a chance to respond, Yori began to stroll away, his left hand closing the door in the process. As he walked past Mike, who was just stepping out of Koi's and kindly held the door for him, Lily noticed a subtle limp. Yori flashed a bright smile and expressed his gratitude before entering the restaurant.
After Mike shut the back door of Koi's, he made his way over to his small sedan, jumping into the driver's seat with the same quickness he had opened the door. Suddenly, the car felt a lot tighter, the space shrinking around him as he settled in and fastened the seatbelt snugly across his lap.
"Do you really drive this every day?" Lily asked, surprised. Mike threw her a sheepish glance as he started the car, shifting it into gear as he slowly rolled toward the alleyway's exit. He looked both ways before saying, "So… fire away with your questions before we get there." The car edged forward before he picked up speed, shifting to second gear as he turned.
Questions… Lily realized she had forgotten what she wanted to ask. "How do you know Julie?" That was the first thing that popped into her head, although she felt like she needed to clarify.
A quick, deep sigh escaped Mike as they hit a stoplight. "Well, she was a friend of... Atticus' first. Things changed, and then he started dating her during his senior year." He focused on the light. "Yeah, I think that's right. Anyway, I really didn't care for her. She reminded me a bit of Atticus' sister; anyone who's anything like that is a total red flag."
As the light turned green, Mike slammed his foot on the clutch and shifted the car into gear. "I can see why you wouldn't like her. Manipulative, a cheater, all high-and-mighty, two-faced, underhanded—" Lily interrupted him as his voice got louder, and his grip on the steering wheel tightened like he was about to snap it in half.
"Yeah, a bitch," Lily finished for him, letting out a warm laugh, feeling sure now that Mike was genuinely one of the good guys. The number of people she knew who weren't influenced by Umbrella or the mysterious "S.I." on the bank statements was slim—she could probably count them on one hand. But that's all she could think about since she found her apartment lock broken a couple of weeks ago.
Mike smirked, glancing at her as he nodded. "The biggest one in Raccoon City." His expression softened as he turned to look after taking a left on Euston. "So, what did Atticus say?" he asked, his eyes returning to the road as a sickly woman jaywalked right in front of him. "Seriously, can't she see? Does she not have a brain?" Mike muttered as he stepped on the gas again.
Lily took a moment to think before turning back to Mike. He had to be the friend—they were talking about Atticus, after all. But if he wasn't the right friend, things could get messy. "Are you the friend he doesn't want helping?" she asked cautiously. As they reached a stoplight near the STAGLA gas station, Mike slowed down, shifting the car into neutral and staring off into space. "That jerk better be talking about me. No calls, no birthday cards, nothing. For a guy who claims not to have many friends, he sure doesn't do socializing or gift-giving," he grumbled.
After a brief pause, the light turned green. Shifting the car into gear and waiting for the pedestrians to clear, Mike made a left turn onto Warren Street heading towards Raccoon, passing the River Avenue park. "I don't think he wanted me to get you involved. Honestly, he can be a real ass sometimes. But why are you friends with him?"
Mike shot her a longer look than she expected before steering the car back into their lane, almost colliding with a speeding truck. "Well…" he said, pausing as they stopped at the stop sign at the end of Warren where it crossed Raccoon Street. "He can be a bit rough around the edges. He's one of the few people I think I would trust, honestly. I get where he's coming from; he's loyal to a fault, so you never have to doubt him on that. He'll match what you give him. Although he tends to get into trouble pretty easily; he's like a magnet for it. Admittedly, he is a pusher. Doesn't like letting people in his head."
A car behind them honked, and Lily turned to glance back before focusing on Mike again. Ignoring the honking, he continued, "I know he doesn't want me involved, but I'm already walking a thin line with my boss. If I can help him avoid a death sentence, I'm going to do it. Besides, I'm already hiding someone, and I have a feeling the chief is onto me."
Accelerating onto Raccoon, Mike immediately slowed and brought the car into an alley. Lily's gut wrenched as they entered the mouth; she could see blood streaks across the ground by a dumpster, the events already playing back in her mind from another perspective. Mike turned the car off, reaching over to a police scanner mounted under the dash, and grabbed the walkie.
"Dispatch, it's Mendez from unit twenty-nine. My partner's driving the cruiser to the scene now. I need the closest detective at the alley between Yaya and Raccoon; we've got a homicide reported. The body's gone, so I'll need any reports from today up to the nineteenth. Over." Mike returned the walkie to its holder and checked his watch.
It was 2:55 PM. Mike nodded and said to himself, "1455," then opened the car door and sat there for a moment, waiting. Suddenly, a woman's voice came through the radio, "Copy that, Unit twenty-nine. A detective is on the way; there haven't been any reported disturbances in that area. Dispatch out."
Mike stepped out of the car, stretching as he did before moving forward to survey the scene. At least he was taking her account seriously; most officers would have brushed her off like they had so many times before.
Lily followed suit. "He gave me a name," she chimed, noticing his eyes weren't fixed on the scene anymore, but up, scanning along both roofs before pausing on a camera at the far end, aimed directly at them. Mike's eyes narrowed as he spoke, "Let's put a pin in that for now." Mike moved forward, stopping at the spot where Lily last saw her assailant lying face down.
Approaching Mike, he dropped down on one knee, his head turning and following the faded blood spots before coming to rest on the knife that had been embedded in Atticus's leg. Rising again, he looked to Lily, gesturing with his head towards where they came.
The sudden pause and lean-in took Lily off guard as Mike's towering frame came close. "You're positive the man was dead?" he asked her, though his voice wasn't accusatory. His head was upturned rather than watching for her response. The moment of doubt that had eased in quickly dissipated; she knew what she heard and saw his unmoving body when Atticus helped her to the car.
"I swear the man was dead. I heard his neck," Lily said quickly. Mike glanced her way again; his hand came to her shoulder, his smile broadening. His voice softened, "I believe you; I'm just making sure you believe you. This wouldn't be the craziest thing in the past month; to be honest, not finding a body is kind of refreshing."
Bodies don't just disappear; they don't up and walk away; they're moved by people. Perhaps Yori disposed of it. She'd have to ask him later; perhaps she could go by her apartment and change before heading back to Koi's and ask if he'd returned to the alley after.
Mike looked to have been contemplating, his mouth scrunched to the side, eyes narrowed, glancing around the alley as his arm came back to his side. He opened his mouth to speak as a car's engine cut through the alley, both turning to see a squad car pulling up behind Mike's small sedan. Lily caught the short, cut blonde hair that framed a face.
Mike flashed another grin before shifting his gaze to Lily. "That's the partner. She's a little green, adorably fun sized, but totally reliable. I thought about teasing her like I do with the other newbies, but honestly, I think I'm starting to really like her. Not a conversationalist like myself." He then leaned in closer, his voice low locking eyes with her. "So, what name did he give you?"