neighborhood
watch the
quota
part two
i run the patrol grid twice and come up empty.
still too early in the night for the easy action.
i find a perch and decide to watch a while.
every night has it's own rhythm. some nights there's an anxiousness in the air, a sort of tangible paranoia that you feel in the gut.
you know something's going to happen, it's only a question of when.
part part two: two:
the night hawk IT IS the dance of life playED out BEFORE MY EYES.
BUT ABOVE THE STREETS, ON THE ROOFTOPS- THERE IS A DIFFERENT STORY....
clerks are closing up shop for the night. cabbies argue with passengers over a fare. college students file excitedly into a new night club. film geeks staND IN LINE WAITING ON THE START OF AN ALL NIGHT FILM FESTIVAL. COUPLES KISS AND LIE, BREAK UP AND MAKE UP ALL BEFORE MY EYES. bingo.
THERE IS VIOLENCE OUT HERE TOO. IT just HASN'T SPILLED OUT ONTO THE STREETS YET.
i drop in from an adjacent rooftop without the punk even noticing.
he's too involved with his work. probably figures he's safe from the cops this high up.
but i'm not a cop. and i go where cops can't go. "now we up in the big leagues...this is our turn at bat..." bum bum bumbum.... i spend 30 seconds evaluating my options before i make a move.
the guy's a scarecrow. his clothes are too baggy, and i can smell him from 20 feet away.
"long as we live, it's you and me baby and there ain't nothing wrong with that...." "cause we're moving on up... (weremovinonup!) ...to the sky..."
he's obviously a junkie planning for the next score. i contemplating waiting...following him to his source.
but that could take all night, and my time is short.
"we finally got our piece of the piiiiiiieeeee!!!"
he starts talking and i figure i've got a fifty fifty of taking this guy without even throwing a punch.
oh...yeah- hey man- look see i can explain this here.... ...'an she sent me out to fix tha window. see, this is my mother's house right 'an....'an.... junkies are usually pretty quick to resign themselves to fate.
i figure i can save myself the energy by giving the guy a choice.
or two- i stick that hammer in a really uncomfortable place...
riiiiight. so. way i see it you have two choices here: and after you get out of the hospital i drop you off with the cops real easy like....
one- you surrender and I drop you off with the cops real easy like....
at this rate i could be done before morning.
man i'd love to see the look on doc's face when he sees i finished his quota in just a few hours.
...could i like- phone a friend?
just keep 'im talkin' marty....
to tell the truth, this hero business ain't that tough after all....
...if only doc could see me now....
the kid is cocky, but we all knew that already.
so what's it gonna be?
hasn't even noticed me on the rooftop behind him, watching over his shoulder. not to mention the man with the gun lying in wait.
we read it in the profile.
the way of peace or the way of war?
he thinks this one is easier than it looks. hasn't even bothered to cover all the angles. hasn't even bothered to look over his shoulder.
he'll be lucky to survive this night.
i should have never left him alone. never given him the assignment.
seven crimes in one night. on his own. he can't do it. he's not ready.
why am i doomed to make the same mistakes all over again?
have i learned nothing in all this time?
i'mma give it to you straight okay?
yeah, you do that pal.
uhhhh.....
thwok thwok
that's it man just keep him talkin'...
thwok thwok
this is your mulligan, kiddo.
...cus look man i don't believe in violence, i'm not a violent person-
uh, daryll?
hey man....could somebody please take this arrow out of my chest?
urk....
oh shoot! darryl man are you-
holy crap man- what happened to himhow did you-?!
is he dead?
can i have his shoes?
shut up.
i look at himthis boy that i have trained.
this boy with so many hopes and dreams pinned to him that he doesn't even know about yet.
doc?
i wish i could open my mouth and cry out to him-
don't blow this, kid.
but by the time he looks in my direction, i am a ghost.
to to be be continued... continued...