Page 78 of Run From Me

“Hey, boss?”

I didn’t turn around. “Shhh.”

I put down one treat after another, heading toward the door where the light spilled in.

“Cats are nocturnal, aren’t they?” I asked.

Rusty stood behind me. “Yeah, boss. My sister’s cat is always up all night like a damn disco party. You need help?”

This was a cat. How hard could it be? I didn’t say anything, just kept dropping treat after treat. Finally a small shadow moved, and I was rewarded with crunching.

“Nope, I’m good. He’s already heading this way.” I listened for the crunch and put another treat down then put the bag down and tossed in a handful of treats.

The distant sound of sirens caught my attention.

“Rusty? Let me guess. Those are headed this way?” I asked.

“Yeah. Zeid sent a text that it came over on the scanners. Someone called in fighting. The bodies are in the dumpster, now we just need to get out of here.”

Fuck.

“Right. Okay. Shit. How much blood is in her apartment?”

I saw Rusty take out his phone and turn on the flashlight, highlighting two little beady eyes.

“Not much. And can you get the cat? We need to go,” he said.

I sighed.

“Yeah.”

What I really meant is that I had no fucking clue as I slowly crawled toward the cat while dragging the backpack.

“Here, kitty, kitty. Nice little demon cat.”

He looked up at me and then went to the treat. The sirens grew louder. Shit.

“You go. Have someone move my bike over to the side. The door locks will buy me time at least.”

Rusty did as told, and as the door clicked closed, I eyed the little shiny eyes in the dark.

“Alright, you shit. I will spoil you. I will do whatever Cali wants, but you have to get in the damn bag.”

This is one of those nights I’d probably reflect on when I was old. For once, I wanted to grow old. That was a new feeling.

I lay on my stomach listening to the sirens, knowing they were in the lot. Well fuck. This was going to suck.

I couldn’t wait any longer. I was going to regret choices later, but I lunged for the cat and got him by the tail.

Thank god those sirens were loud as fuck because so was this cat.

I tried to pet his head as I shoved him in the bag, knowing my riding gloves would be toast. Probably the jacket too. But he stopped wailing as I put the bag on, and I heard him crunch on treats. Running to the side window, I went out on her small rickety balcony.

“Alright, cat, chill out so we can get out of here.”

I kicked my leg over the wrought iron railing and looked down. It was only the second floor up. I could do this.

I slid myself down, holding on with my arms, and then, as my feet dangled, I let go, praying to not land on the cat and not break anything either.

---