Under The Bright Lights [Mickey]

[Vaughn Logan]

"Listen bub, I'm a college Professor. So unless that man is bent about a poor grade, I don't know why he'd be tailing us." Vaughn took a large drink of his beer and looked around the pizzeria. It had an old-school brick theme that Vaughn highly enjoyed. It was an authentic (or at least American authentic) Italian pizzeria with sharp aromas that tickled the hairs in his nose.

"This case--You should drop it while you can. A lot of people get hurt and dragged onto a path they don't want. Rethink yourself and be ready to make sacrifices." Vaughn took another drink, this one larger and glanced up at Mickey.

After a few moments the fat-Italian slob of a chef waddled over and dropped a very large cheese pizza on the table. Vaughn could feel his mouth water and he quickly dug his dirty fingertips into a fat slice of pizza, inserting it into his mouth quickly. The cheese was smooth but strong tasting. Grease dripped from the dough into his mouth and onto his tongue.

"Damn this is just what I needed."

Vaughn looked at Mickey who still seemed to be bothered by the man who was apparently following them. "Forget them, eat some pizza."

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[Malcolm Gaines]

Vaughn spoke, but Malcolm wasn't interested in what he had to say unless it involved his killers. "Whatever you say, Mr. Logan."

Logan was going on about how Malcolm should quit the case, and that most who tamper with these things are in for trouble. "That isn't an option, Mr. Logan." Malcolm replied coldly, slightly annoyed and continued to gaze out the window, sipping his Coke, but ignored the steaming pizza that taunted his nose.

As Vaughn devoured his pizza Malcolm focused on the alleyway across the street. The man was still perched against the eroding concrete wall of the now closed bank, watching them. What for, Malcolm didn't know and it was time to get some answers.

Malcolm fumbled in his coat pocket for a moment before pulling out the Smith & Wesson Model 60 and dusted it off, holding it before Vaughn. "You know how to use one of these?" he would say, eyes fixed on Vaughn as he pulled out two speed loaders of .38 special ammo from his inside jacket pocket and set them on the table before the cheesy plate of pizza.

The sights and sounds of the pizza parlor had begun to give Malcolm a headache. His stomach aching of hunger, the fumes of the Italian made goodness taunting him. But outside the window was what very well could be the key to this case.

Deciding the food could wait for later, he glanced out the window, ensuring the man was still there and set the Smith & Wesson down on the table, removing his Colt MKIV Series 80 from his holster and tugged on the slide just enough to check the weapon was chambered. "Alright, Mr. Logan, I'm going to go and ask our mystery guest a few questions. Whether you join me or not is entirely up to you."

Outside the window, a large 4x4 truck had pulled up and blocked Malcolm's view of the alleyway. Not noticing at first, Malcolm waited impatiently for Vaughn, checking his wrist watch before glancing up to look out the window, staring right at the side of a rigged up 4x4. "Fuck!"

Lunging from the chair, knocking the table over and sending his glass shattering to the floor Malcolm headed for the door, gun drawn and almost collided with the chef himself who was yelling frantically and gesturing to the broken glass, blocking the exit. "Police officer, asshole!" he would say, shoving the fat man out of his way, knocking over another table as he collapsed to the floor.

The bell above the door jingled as he swung it open almost hard enough to break it off the hinges. Now standing on the sidewalk Malcolm scanned the streets, moving so he could view the alleyway only to see it was now deserted. "Shit!" Hoping Vaughn was following behind him and not stuffing his face, Malcolm darted down the alleyway, hoping the man hadn't caught wind of them and booked.

[Vaughn Logan]

If by extinct Vaughn bolted from his seat in pursuit behind Mickey. He eyed the alleyway and ran, keeping a fair amount of distance between him and Mickey, as to cover him. Vaughn looked around as they ran across the street. Vaughn put his arms out towards an incoming car and hit the hood, "Woah buddy, calm down!" Vaughn said as he continued to follow Mickey.

Leaning against a brick wall in the alleyway besides Mickey, Vaughn let out a scoff, "So we lost him?"

Looking around for a trace, Vaughn scratched the back of his head. "Maybe he hid himself in a dumpster...The kid couldn't have gone far. Look for any disturbances. Ripples in a puddle, knocked over trash cans..Any sign of where he could of gone."

Vaughn took a few steps in towards a clearing in the alleyway. Brushing through a clothes hanging on a clothesline, Vaughn looked for hiding places, or any sight of the kid.

Suddenly he heard the clashing of metal. Darting in that direction, Vaughn saw the young man creeping through an opening in a rusted fence. "This way!" Vaughn yelled as he ran after him, pushing himself through the fence opening and chasing the kid down a busy main street. 'Damn I wish I had my gun', Vaughn thought as he paced his breathing and continued to run.

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