Second Chance

He strode into the room with the grace of a rooster at dawn. The bar vibrated with energy. Drinks clashed in joy, laughter drowned out the excited voices as friends came together. He approached the bar and leaned over it to better hear the bartender. The big man nodded and the new arrival went to take his seat at the far end of the bar. The newcomer’s eyes darted around the bar expectantly, only to be distracted by the sight of two scantily clad women walking past him.

“They’ll kill you before you have a chance to hit on them,” announced a sultry voice from the seat beside him.

“Oh, I don’t know about that. I’m fairly charming once you get to know me,” he replied confidently while swiveling around on his stool. His cheeky grin fell at the sight of his potential drinking companion. “Anna, good to see you,” he huffed dejectedly.

Anna smirked at the sight of his hot air escaping. “Killian, how’s retirement?”

“Fantastic, there’s a hundred percent less chance of being shot, stabbed, or kicked in the groin.”

Anna raised her eyebrows skeptically. “Fine, it’s more like fifty. Still decent odds in my book. What do you need West?” he asked getting back on track.

“I need a forger,” she informed him.

“Well, good luck finding one,” he replied with an impatient look in the direction of the bartender. The drink-slinger was currently chatting up a perky blonde whose breasts were spilling out onto the counter.

“You’re the best.”

“I’m re-ti-red,” he stated, drawing out each syllable.

“It pays well.”

He paused. “How well?”

“That depends on if you take the job.”

“Do I have to go anywhere dangerous?”

Anna shook her head.

“Will I be in any danger?”

“None. Just get us the credentials we need, and that’s it.”

He pondered it for a moment. His drink sloshed down in front of him abruptly, startling him enough to nearly knock him off the stool. Anna smiled amusedly.

“Alright, so what’s the job?”

“I need you to get me two Agent level credentials.”

Alcohol spewed from his mouth onto the brute seated beside him. Killian looked at Anna wide-eyed.

“I thought you said this wasn’t dangerous,” he hissed.

Suddenly, the large man seated beside him hoisted Killian from his stool. Beer dripped down his swollen, bull dog face. “Apologize,’ the brute commanded.

“Of course, just let me finish talking with my friend here and…”

“Now, runt.”

“Now I think it’s you that needs to apologize to me for insulting my stature.”

The big man’s face peeled back into a snarl, he raised his fist but stopped at the sound a stool scraping the floor. The crowd hushed as everyone noticed the brewing confrontation.

“I’m afraid I have to request you put him down.”

The big man growled.

“I don’t blame you for wanting to punch his teeth in, his face is very punchable, but I need all of him intact to help me out.”

“He just needs to apologize.”

Anna looked at Killian expectantly.

“Right, um, what was it that I did?”

The meaty fist reeled back once more. Anna sprang into action, kicking the stool into the man’s lower body. Killian was instantly released as the big man roared in anger. The forger quickly skittered away, Anna chased after him only to be grabbed from behind. Her back slammed into the bar. She gritted her teeth and lashed out at her attacker. She landed a handful of blows before being tossed five feet into a nearby table. Her head spun slightly as she got up, but she managed to narrowly avoid an oncoming strike from her opponent. The big man’s momentum carried him forward enough that Anna was able to turn the tide of the fight. Her boot impacted the back of his legs, dropping him to his knees. Before he could recover she cracked a chair over his head that sent him sprawling to the ground.

Salty blood lingered in her mouth, and she could already feel the ache in her muscles from the fight. As she looked around the room she saw no sign of Killian anywhere. Instantly, she raced outside hoping to catch sight of the forger. Faces passed by, but none were the person she was looking for. In the distance she heard sirens coming to investigate the commotion at the bar.

“Braden, tell me you got the tracker on him.”

“This isn’t my first runner you know. He is currently moving down Grace Ave., if you head down the alley to your left you can cut him off.”

Anna immediately bolted down the dark corridor. The sirens grew louder behind her. The path seemed to go forever, like a nightmare she couldn’t escape. As she got close to the end a familiar shape darted past. With a curse of rage, she picked up the pace. She got just around the corner when she noticed Killian veer off the street and into a building. Weaving her way past the confused bystanders, she heard the sirens growing louder once more. Another curse passed her lips. She raced past the person exiting the building. Her steps thundered up the stairs two at a time.

“Which room?” she inquired once she reached the second floor.

“Third door on your left,” Braden announced into her earpiece.

She took a deep breath to calm herself, but the flashing red and blue lights from outside urged her forward with a bit of haste. She knocked on the door heavily. There was no response. She knocked again. She heard voices from down stairs. She knocked again, a bit faster.

“Open the door, or you’ll wish that guy had smashed your face in.”

Footsteps began to climb the stairs carefully. She turned to face the officers only to be pulled in to the now ajar doorway.

Killian quickly closed the door once she was inside. Both remained quiet, listening to the footsteps outside, and the knuckles rapping on the neighbor’s door. Killian pointed towards a small room at the back of the apartment. Anna obligingly rushed towards it. As soon as she entered it, Killian closed the door behind her. As soon as the door clicked shut a blue light clicked on illuminating the room. Data-pads and badges were strewn across the small table. Not as retired as he let on, she mused.

Outside the door she could hear Killian conversing with the officers, but she had no way of knowing exactly what was said. She took slow breaths and readied herself for what could come next.

“Everything alright?” Braden asked into her earpiece.

Anna pressed the bracelet on her wrist to give him a silent confirmation. Footsteps moved closer towards the door. She held her breath. The door clicked open, a moment later a red-faced Killian grimaced at her. “I hope you didn’t touch anything,” he announced.

“When can you get started?”

“That depends on the price,” he answered slyly.

In a flash, her forearm was pressed against his throat. His back slammed against the wall, rattling the art hanging there. Fire burned in her eyes.

“I’ll get right on it,” he choked.

Anna released him, he immediately massaged his throat as he crossed the room to the diminutive kitchen.

“Good,” she announced, sitting on the sofa. The cushions sank uncomfortably under her weight. A huff of frustration escaped her lips.

“I’ve been meaning to get a new one, but funds are tight,” he stated defensively.

Anna glanced at the advanced entertainment system set on the far wall.

“They weren’t always tight,” he said sheepishly.

Anna opened her mouth to chastise him just as something flew through the nearby window. She turned to see a perfect hole in the glass. Her eyes widened, without hesitating she hurled herself over the broken sofa. Two more projectiles zipped through her previous location. She looked up just in time to see Killian racing out the door. A profane shout flew from her lips. Several more rounds penetrated the outer wall in rapid succession. The ornate, albeit cheap, paintings were riddled with holes. Then everything went quiet. When Anna looked up again, two cops were pointing their guns directly at her.