1 Prologue: The classified assignment

I was given an assignment. It was an easy one and I am use to much harder assignments, here at Stickman PD. I'm usually undercover so deep that sometimes the police don't know if I've gone rogue or not.

I'll admit, this is a very stressful job so seeing this assignment was actually a relief. I think I'll take it. One more job before I take my much needed vacation? Why not? This one will be done soon anyway. It's just apprehending a thug spraying graffiti all over the streets and question him. Ha! I'm overqualified for this one! Let's get this over with.

Here in the city, things aren't that bad. The PD works nonstop to keep criminals in check and off the streets. My job is usually being their dagger, infiltrating the toughest gangs and defeating them from with in. Situations do arise where things get hairy, but I'm a smart guy with plenty of experience. This isn't my first rodeo.

As I leave the PD, I notice right away, a spray paint graffiti image on the building across from me. It was only half finished and it seemed brand new. Are you telling me that my assignment has fallen into my lap? I head over to investigate the scene. As I suspected, the spray paint hasn't dried yet and there is a an empty paint can on the ground. I carefully grab it and put it in a bag. Maybe there will be finger prints. I go around the corner, into an alley, where I here spray paint being sprayed. This has got to be the guy. Come on vacation, I'm going far away from here and I can't wait!

I walk up to the guy, he doesn't even notice me. He's double fisting spray paint cans and creating Picasso's finest on a building. I take a picture of him working, I wouldn't want his efforts to go unnoticed in the court of law. I finally say, "Hey buddy! Your under arrest. You have the right to remain...." He bolted.

They always run. I'm use to it. It's just annoying. Now I have to chase you, and your not that smart so you ran into a dead end and now I look like a bad ass because I calmly walk over to you. "Hey! Listen. Let's just skip the whole 'You run, you get caught, you try to fight and I kick your butt' scene ok? Just tell me who you work for and you can go. This is a one time deal. What do you say?"

"I don't work for anyone." The guy said after removing his hood. He's a teenager.

"Oh come on buddy. Do you think I believe that? Do you want to go to jail? Look, I'm going on vacation soon and I'm not trying to do a mountain of paperwork. I help you, you help me?

"I told you, I don't work for anyone. I'm not telling you anything!" And of course he rushes me. He swings a wild right hook, I Dodge it, grab his arm and slam him to the ground. I put his arm behind his back and apply a little pressure. It's amazing how talkative people get when pain is involved.

"Ok, ok don't break my arm man, ouch! Look, all I know is that the guy works at a construction site and he told me to tag a couple places around here. he even paid me up front."

"How much?"

"A thousand bucks dude. Now please. your going to break my arm!"

"Shut up." I slap the kid's head. I reach in his pockets and pull out the thousand bucks.

"Hey that's mine!" the kid struggles so I slap him again.

"Shut up! Now if you would have listened you wouldn't be in this situation." I throw 200 on the ground as I get up. "Go home, tell your parents you love them and find a new hobby. Jeez. Freaking brat."

As I walk towards my car finally, I can't help but think there is more to this case. I also don't know why I took the kid's picture when I never planned to bring him in. Call it intuition but he's not the guy I need to interrogate. I can't figure out why this assignment was classified either. Oh well, I'll just file it and build a case with the info I get as I go.

My next move is finding this construction guy and finding out what he knows. Luckily for me, I know a construction worker who happens to deal with shady people all the time. Forget waiting until morning, I'll go find him now! Vacation, baby vacation! Case closed, Vacation opened. I head over to the construction site where my little "friend" works.