Vigilante Meets Detective

Laide's lungs burned from the exertion.

This wasn't a freaking marathon, dammit! She could hardly catch her breath not to speak of the two, more than average-sized males, well beyond her reach. Her limbs were already beginning to feel rubbery and she knew if she didn't get some kind of upper hand soon, she'd have to give up.

She wasn't about to do that so easily. She used the handkerchief around her wrist to tie her hair out of the way.

Laide turned the corner of a street she'd last seen the men disappear around and spotted one of them rushing into an alley.

She hesitated. Okay so everyone knew alleys weren't the most fun of places, but her personal experiences with them were enough to make her steer clear of them for the rest of her life more than the average person. And it wasn't entirely the fact that alleys are great spots for disturbingly shady acts.

As she was still frozen in the process of debating the pros and cons of delving into heedless possible danger, an incredibly strong grip possessed her arm, whipping her around so fast she almost got whiplash from it.

"Hey kid, what the hell do you think you're doing?" Laide gaped, whatever oxygen remained in her airways fleeing as if they were on fire. The initial protest was smothered down the back of her throat.

The man who'd grabbed her completely dwarfed her, so much so that she had to tilt her head back all the way to get a good look at him.

And what a stunning view it was.

He was so hot. In a ruggedly handsome way that left her chest feeling impossibly tight. Dark hair wind-tossed, vivid blue eyes capturing hers in a sharp, smoldering gaze and a perfectly squared jawline. He wasn't quite happy with her though if the way those beautifully full lips were drawn taut at the corners was anything to go by.

Before Laide could think about how embarrassing it was that she was practically drooling over herself and attempting to grasp at some of her frayed equilibrium, she was yanked clear from the entrance of the alley and back onto the street.

"I asked what you're doing, kid?" The man spoke again, his voice sending shivers up her spine one moment, but she was rudely snapped into reality by the last word from his question.

"What?" Laide bristled, removing her arm away from his grip as if it scorched her. "I'm not a kid!"

"Yeah right," the man drawled drily, with a disbelieving eyebrow raised. "Get back to whatever it is you're supposed to be doing now." He ordered with a stern look.

Laide spluttered, glaring daggers at the intruder. "And who the fuck do you think you are to be telling me that?" She asked in irritation. Trying her hardest to maintain her scowl against his ridiculously attractive appearance. She hoped it was at least convincing.

He gave her an exasperated sigh, glancing around impatiently as if dealing with her was too much bother. He looked towards the alley then at her and reached for something from the inside pocket of the jacket he wore. He flashed a police badge at her.

Laide deflated as the steam rapidly rolled out of her. He's a frigging detective. So what? That didn't excuse him for acting like a complete tool! Now that she squinted at the up-close image of him, she vaguely recognized him as one of the men from the chase earlier on.

Maybe she needed anger management, but she was infuriated all over again.

Laide didn't care if she was audacious or just plain stupid, she managed to move quick enough not to alert the obnoxious jerk as she jammed her knee up into his groin.

The detective grunted in pain, hunching his broad shoulders and clutching himself. She wasn't nearly content but it was the most she could do at the moment so she settled with throwing another curse at him before sprinting the other way.

That should teach him some.

Her cell phone began to ring and a new string of curses flew past her lips. She'd forgotten she had to get to work. Laide grimaced as she remembered what the detective had said about being where she was supposed to be.

Shit!

<<<<>>>>

"Sorry! I'm late, so sorry!" Laide yelled as she flung open the door of the Cafè making the bell above chime erratically and barrelling inside to meet half a dozen pairs of eyes accosting her with varying degrees of confusion and amusement.

Flustered, she bowed in apology and rushed to get behind the counter where her co-worker, Nate, had stopped wiping it down to throw her a smug smirk.

He held out his palm when she reached him. Rolling her eyes in mild annoyance, Laide fished out a twenty and slapped it into his palm.

"What was it this time, Wonder Woman? Who did you save today?" Nate teased, nudging her gently.

"Shut up," Laide muttered but didn't hide her smile. She wondered if it was pathetic that she ended up coming late to work every time because of situations like this morning.

Working at the coffee shop was the best part of her days—after running around playing vigilante that is. It allowed her to be around two of the things she loved the most. Coffee and people.

She was a little distracted today though. It was the anonymous rendezvous and the endless possibilities. The matter was driving her crazy with anxiety and she wished she'd found some answers already

<<<<>>>>

The close of work that day didn't come as soon as she'd have liked and Laide scrambled to get out of her apron the moment it did. She planned on heading straight to the meeting point. But only after being reassured by Nate that it was okay for her to leave.

Some days she couldn't imagine what she would do without him. Nate was an angel. He was her best and only friend from working together for two years now.

Laide prayed to whatever higher power was up there that she'd finally get some, any, kind of clue as to why this mysterious person kept asking her to meet up.

Somehow, today didn't feel like the lucky day either.