I stepped of the N38 and began walking to the corner. As the bus pulled away, the lights faded and I was left in darkness. I groped around in my pockets and pulled out my Maglite. I knew I carried it around for a reason. The intense little beam of light showed the path about twenty feet ahead of me; I set out carefully, avoiding the many ditches between me and the sidewalk.
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After an hour of walking I reached the main town, only considered that because it had the only streetlights in the neighborhood. I switched off the flashlight and tucked it in my pocket. I saw the meeting place, a little place called Joe's Tavern, two doors down. I picked up my pace and ducked inside. Inside, there were a few ratty looking booths. At the far end of the room, in the last booth, I saw the guy I came to see. I discreetly checked my wire, and walked up to the table.
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"Frank, I wasn't sure you'd show. Take a seat."
"Of course I came, I've been watching you for months. You ready to turn yourself in Jimmy?"
"Ha! Fat chance. I'm just giving you a chance to back off before I do something we'll all regret."
"Alright Jimmy, talk. What do you want."
"Peace, Frank. I want peace for once in my life."
"Are you crazy Jimmy? You killed someone! I can't walk away from this one."
"Just hear me out Frank. That's all I ask. Okay?"
"Fine. Make it quick though. I can't hold off the other cops for long."
"You won't have to. Five minutes tops."
"Well, start talking Jimmy. I'm keeping time."
"Look, Frank, it was self defense. I didn't mean to kill him, he went too far."
"Bullshit. That's bullshit Jimmy, and you know it!"
"Fuck you Frank, you came to me! At least let me talk."
"FINE!"
"Good. Anyway, he forced me to do it. He was gonna kill me. He came at me with a knife, so I had to shoot him. It was supposed to be fake, just to fool everyone so we could escape with the money. He wanted it all for himself, so he tried to kill me."
"Funny, he's the one who's dead, isn't he?"
"I know this looks bad Frank, but I'm telling the truth."
"Really, then why run?"
"It looked bad, I had to run."
"And how bad do you think it looks now?"
"I know, I know. Please Frank, help me."
"I'm sorry Jimmy, I can't do that. I've spent so long tracking you down, to give up now would be dumb."
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the small black and yellow tazer. I pull the trigger and watch the metal pins pierce his jacket. I pull the trigger a second time and send electricity through his body. He moans and crumples to the floor, unconscious.
"Sorry Jimmy. It's over."
Suddenly, I hear a gun being cocked behind me.
"Leave Frank. This is none of your business."
"Captain? You're the one who pursuaded me to catch him in the first place."
"Well Frank, that was before he offered me part of the money."
"But you're a good cop, you never accepted bribes in the past!"
"I do now."
Then he shot me. That bastard I looked up to for so long, shot me. My captain, one of the brass. He was dirty all along.
The world started to fade, and I closed my eyes for the last time.
