The streets were quiet, unusual for any part of Sanders at any time of day, but especially in the Pimento District at 11pm. Even on a weeknight, the clubs were typically bustling, and vendors lined the sidewalks, selling their goods to locals and tourists alike.
But not tonight.
The mayor’s sweeps policies had meant that two weeks a month each of the districts would be shut down for the men in blue to make their rounds as a district-wide mandatory 10pm curfew would go into effect. In the first two weeks, police arrested over a hundred people a night who were still out past ten, and then, after that, the streets were filled only with those who had nowhere else to go.
Chirping birds, the whistling wind between buildings, the never-ending chorus of sirens in the distance, and the rhythmic stomp of boots as pairs of officers combed the streets were all that could be heard as Archer and Eddie stood atop an apartment building in the district.
“At least it looks like Carlos and Gabi and their counterparts across the city are doing a good job of alerting people when the sweeps will be so they can stay away.” Eddie shook his head as the two stared down at the dimly lit streets. “I’ve never seen the sidewalks this empty.”
“It’s good for the people who haven’t been abducted, but we still need to find out what has happened to those who have already been taken.”
“I’d love to assure you that Sanders’ finest down there would find their man and give us a lead about what’s going on, but I can’t say I’m their biggest believer. At least while they’re doing morally reprehensible stuff, they have the decency to be bad at their jobs.”
“Hmph,” Archer snorted as Eddie delivered the punch line. “Let’s move. There’s nothing going on here.”
Eddie followed Archer as he leaped from one building to the next, toward the opposite sweep team coming down the road. They hopped from one apartment to another, each with shops on the first floor, and were lucky each building was the same height. One architect had designed much of the Pimento District, and while other districts were trying to have a unique skyline by adding variety and higher skyscrapers, this guy realized the most noteworthy thing he could do in this city was to make everything the same height.
“Thank you, Mr. Designer,” Eddie mumbled as they ran.
“Is that, like, something you call God?” Archer asked as he continued across the rooftops.
“Oh, no!” a voice cried up from an alley as they crossed over it, leading them to slide to a stop. “Oh no. Oh, no, no, no,” the voice continued as they came back and watched him move deeper into an alley.
Eddie had reached the escape ladder to go down and try and help the man when Archer grabbed his shoulder and shook his head. Pointing down, he showed Eddie that two officers were turning into the alleyway and then pointed to the other side of the building, nodding again and holding up two fingers. Eddie watched helplessly as the man hid behind a dumpster, covering his head with his arms, as officers closed in on him from both sides of the alley.
“Got him!” one officer shouted before the sound of blows being dealt filled the alley and Archer strung an arrow.
This time, Eddie put a hand on his arm and shook his head. That’s not why they were here. Seconds later, the sounds faded as quickly as they had come, and two of the cops were dragging the man’s body out of the alley, his shoes scraping the pavement, and into the back of a waiting car as the other pair continued on their way.
“Here’s our chance,” Archer grumbled as the cops pulled out in their car and rolled down the street. “Time to see where they take our friend.”
The two pursued the car as it pulled out, heading away from the Pimento District and back toward their home district, Dupree. They kept pace with the car as it drove slowly, matching it turn for turn as it left. But then they came to a challenge as the car climbed the bridge that helped connect the two districts over the river separating them.
“Well, how are we supposed to keep up with whaaaa—”
Archer wrapped an arm around him as his wired arrow shot out toward the tower of the bridge, connecting and allowing the two of them to swing across the river. But even though they crossed the expanse, they had already lost the car.
But with Dupree being at the southeastern tip of the city, they knew the abducted homeless people were somewhere close to home.
“I’ve got a plan,” Eddie told him as they stared out at the city before them. “But you’re not going to like it.”
“I never do. Give it to me.”
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“You’re right. I hate it.”
“I told you that you would,” Eddie laughed. They sat back atop their normal building, and Eddie had just explained his plan to Archer. “So, what do you have to say?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing? You’re not going to try and talk me out of it?”
“Why bother? You’re going to have to tell Maria your plan before you follow through on it, and she’s going to cover everything I have to say and then some.”
Eddie turned away as Archer talked, looking from the motel below and up at the moon.
“No reason wasting my breath when all those words are already going to be said,” Archer continued. “Should probably fill Frank and Alice in, too. Let’s meet there tomorrow afternoon. Then we can come up with a plan one way or the other before it gets dark.”
“Alright.” Eddie let out a long sigh. “We’ll meet at Frank and Alice’s tomorrow. What time do you—” Eddie turned to find himself alone.
Archer had vanished.
“I hate it when he does that,” Eddie mumbled, trudging to the fire escape to make his way back down.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“You must have completely lost your mind!” Maria yelled. “Absolutely not!”
“Maria, please.”
They were all at Frank’s the next afternoon, and Eddie had just finished pitching them his idea. Alice had taken the kids upstairs after they had eaten some lunch.
“No. You’re not letting yourself get captured and taken away so we can find this place. Knowing where it is means nothing if you’re not out here.”
“Sure it does,” Eddie answered. “You and Archer and Frank can figure out how to come at it from the outside, and I can work on the inside to make something happen. Jefferson is on the inside, so we can work together, too.
“We’re so close to helping everyone who’s been picked up in the sweeps. I can feel it. But we need to know where they’re at. Who knows, I might have busted out and brought everyone else with me by the time you knuckleheads come up with a plan anyway.”
Eddie smirked at them and leaned back in his chair, putting his hands behind his head.
“I’s don’t knows, Eddie,” Frank drawled, scratching his chin. “All seems mighty dangerous to me. You’re sures there ain’t another way to find this place? Can you nots just follow cars a couple more times?”
“Thank you!” Maria gestured at Frank, but Eddie shook his head.
“We don’t have time. I have to get in there now that I know Jefferson has been taken. The man is like a father to me, and half of the city’s homeless population. We can’t keep kicking this down the road. I can’t keep kicking this down the road.”
“What about you?” Maria asked Archer, her hands on her hips. “Do you not have anything to say?”
Archer had been leaning against a wall, listening, with his arms crossed.
He stood straight and coughed once to clear his throat. “I think it’s a bad idea.” He returned to his stance.
“That’s it?” Maria cried. “That’s all you got?”
Archer shrugged, and Eddie hopped into the silence.
“Look, this isn’t up for debate. I’ve made up my mind. Now the choice is this—are you going to help track down where they’re taking people, or are you going to let me sacrifice myself in vain?”
“I’ll be there,” Archer said, eating chips from a bowl Alice had laid out earlier before leaning back against the wall.
“I stills don’t much like this plan and all,” Frank said before letting out a sigh, “but youse knows I’ms always there for ya, Eddie. I’ll do whatever I needs to do.”
“Maria?”
“If you’re okay abandoning me and the boys and leaving us all on our own, then, by all means, do it. But don’t ask me to help you with that.”
She turned and walked up the stairs to where Alice and the kids were, passing Archer as he kept eating his chips.
“Maria, wait!” Eddie called, bounding up the stairs as a door slammed.
“Maria, please open the door,” Eddie said, resting his forehead against the locked door.
“Go away,” she responded.
“Let me explain.” He knocked again.
No answer.
“Please, let me in.”
The doorknob rattled for a second before it stopped just as abruptly as it had started.
“No, Alex, we can’t let him in.” Maria’s hushed voice traveled faintly through the door, causing Eddie to have to fight back a smile.
“Okay, you win,” Eddie said, clapping his hands once. “I’ll just sit outside the door and talk through it.”
He slid down the wall and put his legs out across the hall.
“I’m sorry that I have to go. You know how important all three of you are to me, and I’d do anything to protect you. You’re all my family. But so is Jefferson. And so are so many of the people I lived with on the streets that are gone now. I wouldn’t hesitate to put myself in harm’s way if any of you three were in trouble. But right now, you are all safe, while those other parts of my family are in danger.
“I have to try and help. It’s how I’m wired. It may be stupid, but every person I’ve ever helped or saved has been a result of me making a stupid decision. That’s the business. I make stupid decisions that put others above my well-being, and more often than not, I save the day.
“I get that there’s a good chance that I can’t do that here, but there are so many people who need me right now that I have to try. Because no one else will. I understand you’re mad at me for this, but I really need your help, and so does everyone else. We’re all counting on you, Maria.”
He sat his head back against the wall and waited in silence for a response.
“But,” Maria said, finally breaking the silence as it shook, “what if we lose you? We can’t do this without you.”
“You’re not going to lose me, and you can absolutely do this without me. I’ve already taught you all I know. I’m living better now than I ever did before you three came into my life. You’ve already figured out how to do all of this better than me. I’m just riding your coattails at this point.”
The doorknob rattled. Maria came out, kneeled in front of him, and buried her head in his chest.
“We can’t lose you, Eddie,” she cried into his shoulder.
“You won’t lose me.”
“Of course I’ll help you. I’m just scared. I know you’re always confident, but I’m not. I’m afraid of what could happen.”
“Me too. But this is the right thing, and it’s always good to do the right thing, right?”
“I guess.” She let out a sigh and leaned away from Eddie. She wiped away tears from her eyes as she looked at him. “So, what’s your plan?”
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“You ready?” Archer was standing outside their motel room as the clock hit ten.
“Just about. Just need to say some goodbyes real quick. You can wait out here or come in.”
“I’ll stay here. We need to be leaving soon anyway.”
“Suit yourself.” Eddie shrugged and closed the door.
Alice and Frank had come over and brought their kids so that Alice could watch Tomas and Alex while Maria was out with Archer and Frank trying to track Eddie.
Eddie’s plan was simple: he’d go out and make it clear he was homeless as the sweep happened. Frank would have a phone and be on top of the building above where Eddie would get taken. He’d let Archer and Maria know the direction the car was going and follow along as far as he could. Whoever was closest to where Frank told them the car was—between Maria and Archer–would be the next handoff. Then the remaining person would work to cut off the car again and follow them to the building.
“Alice,” Eddie said, starting on the far end of the room, “thank you for all your help with Tomas and Alex. It means more than you know.”
“You gave me my family back, Eddie. We’ll call it even.” She gave him a small smile as he moved to Frank.
“Frankie, we’ve been through a lot. I’m glad you tried to shake down Alex a year ago. My life is better with you in it.”
“I’s the one who’s life is better, Eddie. I’s’d be dead if it weren’ts for ya.” Frank clapped his shoulder with one of his large hands while he wiped a tear away with the other, turning to Alice as Eddie moved down the line.
“Tomas.”
Tomas had been looking down at his hands in his lap as Eddie walked up and slowly lifted his head to meet Eddie’s gaze.
“Tomas, I need you to step up while I’m gone. You’re the man of the house and have to take care of Alex and Maria. I know it’s scary, but I also know you can do it. I believe in you, and I’m proud of you. I love you.”
“Do you have to go?”
“I’m sorry, buddy, but yes. People need the Street Rat’s help out there.”
Tomas nodded. His lip quivered, but his eyes stayed dry.
“I’ll miss you.” Tomas gave him a hug, and Eddie wrapped him in a tight hug.
“I’ll miss you too,” Eddie whispered back.
“Come on, Alex, tell Eddie bye.” Maria tried pulling Alex out of the corner, but he wouldn’t budge.
He just sat there, staring into the corner, with his arms crossed.
Maria moved aside to let Eddie try. He sat behind Alex and leaned back against him.
“Oh, what a comfortable chair we have here. How have I not sat here before? The lumbar support is great,” Eddie said, looking over his shoulder, but Alex didn’t move. “I wonder if it reclines at all? Let me just find the lever and test it out.”
Eddie reached his arm back and patted around before tickling Alex, but Alex just slapped his hand away.
“Can you all give us a moment?” Eddie asked everyone else before turning and facing Alex, the group shuffling to the other side of the room. “Hey, bud, talk to me. I have to go, but I can’t leave if we’re not good. It’s hard enough that I’m doing this, but I can’t be out there knowing we left things like this. Talk to me.”
“I don’t want you to go,” Alex said. “I don’t want to lose any more of my family.”
“Hey, hey, buddy, it’s okay,” Eddie reassured as Alex turned and buried his head in Eddie’s shoulder. “That’s the thing about family. It doesn’t stop being family just because you’re not together. Even when I’m gone, I’ll be just as much your family, bud.
“And in the meantime, you have to help take care of the rest of our family. You know how Maria worries and Tomas can be stubborn and hotheaded, but you’re a rock, Alex. You have to steady them while I’m gone. Then, when I get back, we’ll go run some more cons and take down the bad guys together. But before we can do that, I have to go set the rest of my family free, okay?”
“Okay.” Alex was still crying into his shoulder, and Eddie rubbed his back, letting him cry for another couple of minutes.
“Better?” Eddie asked as Alex finally lifted his head and nodded.
“I love you, Eddie. Come back soon,” Alex told him before burying his head in his chest and giving him a hug.
“I love you, too, Alex. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Eddie gave him a squeeze and stood. He pulled his pocket watch out and handed it to Alex. “Can you take care of this while I’m gone? I don’t know what their policies are on what they confiscate, and then I’d have to steal it back when I break out. It would all just be a mess. It would be better if you could watch it for me.”
Alex nodded and smiled for the first time all night as he took the pocket watch and held it to his chest.
“It’s time to go,” Archer announced, opening the door and sticking his head in.
“Time for you to go,” Tomas mumbled before getting hit in the shoulder by Maria.
“Okay,” Eddie sighed before turning to everyone and flashing a smile. “Time to write the next chapter of my biography. Remember this moment for when the studio execs are doing interviews for the documentary. The night the Street Rat risked his life to set his people free. They’re going to eat this up.”
Frank, Maria, Eddie, and Archer all left the room and began walking away from the motel. Frank went to scale the building Eddie and Archer started from, while Archer had headed a few blocks east. Maria was going a few blocks north as part of their plan.
“Maria, wait,” Eddie called out as the three of them dispersed.
She stopped and turned to wait for him as he jogged over.
“I’ll see you on the other side. Take care of the boys. Love you.” He wrapped her in a hug and put his forehead against hers as he talked.
“Love you, too,” she whispered back before ending their embrace. “See you on the other side.”
She gave him a brief smile before turning and jogging off to her post. They had to be on the rooftops in the next ten minutes before the curfew hit, so they were all rushing to get in place. All except Eddie, who was just pacing in the alley he chose.
“And now, we wait,” he mumbled to himself as he was left alone. “Guess I can work on the theme song some more. Duh-duhduh-duhDUH-duhduh—no that’s not right.” He shook his head and continued humming along.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“Hey! Don’t move!”
A bright flashlight shone into the alley as Eddie squinted and tried to shield his eyes.
The man with the flashlight turned his head into his shoulder and said something as he and his partner slowly entered the alley.
“What’s the problem, officers?” Eddie asked as he scrambled to his feet when they approached.
“Hey!” the first one yelled again, “I said don’t move!”
“You know what time it is?” the second officer asked. “It’s past curfew. You can come with us, and we’ll drop you off at your home.”
“It’s really not too far. I can walk,” Eddie answered, his voice shaking as he stepped back. “I just lost track of time. That’s all.”
“Stop moving!” the first one yelled again as his hand reached for his hip. “This is your last warning!”
“Streets aren’t safe this time of night, son,” the second officer continued, as though the first hadn’t said anything at all. “We’re obligated by our duty to protect and serve to make sure you get home safe, so just come get in the car with us.”
“I-I-I don’t actually have a home,” Eddie whimpered. “I’m afraid to go back to the orphanage. They hurt you there.”
“Well, come with us, and we’ll get you somewhere safe, somewhere other than the orphanage.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” The second officer grinned as Eddie walked to them, allowing himself to be escorted to the car and put in the backseat.
“Now, see how easy that was?” The second officer’s voice was muffled, but Eddie could still make out everything said. “Pay attention, and you might learn something.”
The first officer shook his head and just got back behind the wheel to start driving.
A performance for the ages. Eddie smirked to himself as the car pulled forward but dropped it quickly as the second cop looked at him in the mirror. Suckers.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
“Alright, theys gots Eddie on the moves ’eading north,” Frank said into the phone as he tried jumping roof to roof, having more difficulty than the younger ones navigating the rooftops. “Coming yours way, Maria.”
“Copy that.” Archer’s voice came through the phone. “I’m heading north, Maria. Let me know when they turn back east.”
“Got it,” she answered as she scanned for the car.
Eddie and Archer had figured out which corner of the district the facility was in, so they started out in the center of town with Maria and Archer taking up spots on the main streets going each direction. Maria would watch for the car and then let Archer know which street it turned back down, so he could follow it the rest of the way.
Now she just had to wait for it to appear.
“I’s losin’ it.” Frank panted into the phone as he landed on another rooftop. “No lights ons the car. Just a—a small black one.”
“Good work, Frank,” Archer’s said. “Head back to the motel, and we’ll regroup when Maria and I get back. Make sure you don’t get caught by the sweeps.”
“Copy.” Frank panted before his phone could be heard slamming shut, leaving only Archer and Maria on the call.
“I can see them now,” Maria said as the black car passed under street lights. “Headlights are off, so you might have a hard time seeing them once they turn off the main road.”
“I’ll be fine.”
Maria rolled her eyes at the comment. She jumped from one rooftop to the next as the car got closer. It only took three buildings for the car to pass her and leave her chasing it.
“It’s turning,” she said, out of breath but not panting like Frank. “It’s going east down Scott Ave.”
“Copy. See you at the motel. Don’t get caught. Over and out.”
“Wait—” Maria said, but it was too late. The line was dead. Archer had slammed his phone shut. “Typical,” she grumbled to herself before taking a deep breath and heading back to the motel, staying on rooftops as long as she could to avoid the sweep but going at a much slower pace than she had been.
***
It didn’t take long for Archer to track the black car. His night vision goggles were perfect for this. He got off to a head start jumping across buildings but then the car took a sudden left turn, leaving him on the wrong side of the road and three buildings too far.
“Crap,” he muttered to himself as he took out a wired arrow to pull him over the road and to the building across the street. Landing and yanking the arrow out of the side of the building, he chased the car again, having to largely guess where it should be based on its previous speed and turns.
He leaped from one building to the next until he finally picked it back up on his goggles two blocks later, almost invisible without any lights on in the dark street.
Archer had caught up to it just in time, as the car turned back east and onto a road with street lights. Archer turned off the night vision and followed the car, watching as it pulled into a loading dock of a building.
He continued on to the front of the building and furrowed his brow as he saw what was written on the side of the facility. Archer turned from the building and ran to the motel to tell the others what he’d found, jumping from one building to the next before stringing his wired arrow again, firing it off into the night, and letting it pull him away toward the motel.
The signage on the facility shined bright in the gray night behind him. In big, purple lights, the single word Avara. And, underneath that, in smaller white lights it read, A Fox Research Center.
The Street Rat will return for Season 3.
For more stories set in this world, buy The White Knight – out now! Subscribe below to be the first to know when new stories are released!
K. B. Kirtley 