A Shy Breeze: 02

Under the train tracks there was no sign of life, only the sound of distant waves slamming the concrete breakwater below us. On the other side of the sea small sparking dots marked the tip of another city surrounded by bright billboards in the sky. At our side, the car headlights were the only source of light.

- It is indeed. - she kept looking beyond the water, to the lights far away, before looking at me.

- Would you like some spaghetti before throwing me into the sea?

- Why not?!

With one tap on the panel she turned on a blue roof light allowing me to get a better look at her. It was definitely her night off, she was wearing a pair of dark jeans, a plain white tee and a fierce red jacket, matching her loose hair that dripped over her shoulders. I definitely wouldn't mind getting killed by her in that outfit.

Holding a meatball with the fork, she raised it up to her mouth starring at it intensively before taking a piece. As she began to chew the flavors spread on her mouth, making her hold a smile while covering her mouth with one hand.

- Still wanna kill me? - I had to brag, her expressions were of pure delight.

- Where do you find these things? First the coffee, now this?! - she said between fingers.

- I used to make deliveries for the restaurant.

- Now you're just a customer? - she finished chewing before talking.

- Yup. - I watched her take a napkin out of my lap where I left my part of the spaghetti - But you didn't bring me here just to eat spaghetti.

- No. I brought you here… - she cleaned off the sauce on her lips before meeting my gaze with a more serious expression - Because I need your help.

Of all the scenarios I imagined, this did not cross my mind. what was going on inside that woman's head? How could I possibly help her and, most importantly, why would I? I was not going to help those pigs infiltrate the slums, or take down the Trinity. She got it all mixed up, just because I took her in didn't mean I would rat out all my people.

- No! - I answered promptly but she didn't seem surprised or changed her expression at all.

- It's not what you think, I won't ask you to help the Force invade the lower tier. - The woman had the power to show stay emotionless to my firm refusal. She knew I would react this way.

- I'm not helping the Force do anything. Period.

- You're gonna be helping innocent families get justice for their loved ones. - Her monotonous tone became a little more passionate but she still held herself.

- What!?

Eye to eye we faced each other trying to see beyond our intentions. No matter how good she was masking her emotions, she couldn't hold it for too long. The cracks on her facade were visible to me, her whole act since the very beginning. Officer Abrom was pretending to be a cop, she wasn't one of them, she cared too much about doing the right thing. That was stupid of her, the organization she worked for was corrupted and she probably thought she could change it all by herself with honesty and small acts of justice.

- I want you to help me find out who's killing harmless farmers.

- Farmers? - that took me by surprise - Why would you need me for that? - For once her eyes escaped mine.

- Because the Force won't. - her words were a mumble said behind the hand she had brought up to massage the gap between her eyebrows.

- Won't what?

- Help. - the word was practically spat out - They were all simple people, most of them seniors. Nobody paid attention to their deaths.

Officer Sun wasn't really talking to me, she seemed lost in her thoughts, making me question how did I fit in that story. There was nothing I could do to help her, I wasn't a detective or any thing of sorts and we barely knew each other. I tried to get rid of her

Our relationship started wrong, she had no reason no trust me or even like me for that matter.

- I need someone to help me see what I missed. - her gaze came back to me along with a train that crossed the tracks above us, making the car shake.

- I'm not some... private detective.

- I know you're a hacker.

- So what? - my spontaneous reaction was to smirk briefly. If it was supposed to be a threat she didn't mean it.

- You can find online what I couldn't on those walls.

- I can't… - my head was spinning with questions and the whole conversation seemed pointless - I'm leaving.

Without hesitation I picked up my backpack and left the car.

Outside the wind hit me with a blow, bringing the smell of salty water mixed with sewer up to my nose. Housing close to the sea was cheap because of the smell and the train noises. The tracks circled the edge of the city following the coast. Terrible place to get an apartment.

- Sato, you don't understand… - her voice was carried by the wind to my ears.

- This has nothing to do with me! - at this point I was angry and I didn't know why. Something about how she asked me for help didn't make sense.

- I'm not asking you to join the Force, I'm asking you to help me find who killed innocent people… - what started firm and decided, ended in loud desperate words said between teeth - Good people... My neighbors.

I didn't get far, only a couple of steps away from the door, even though her tone went down significantly, I could still hear her. The car was covering half of her body, all I could see was above the shoulders.

- They had just recently moved in from the countryside, an elderly couple. The farm work got too heavy for them to manage alone. They rented their land to some company and came to the city to be closer to the hospitals. - from where I was I couldn't see much of her face, she kept her head low while speaking - I helped them get their stuff upstairs, so they invited me to dinner. I had the best homemade ramen of my life, the soup was the best part… - the second she noticed she was off topic, something stopped her - Their son lived in another city but they didn't want to leave the farm behind. Every weekend they traveled to the countryside to check on the animals, especially their horse, Polkadot. I even gave them a ride sometimes to the port. - she paused, it seemed like she was smiling behind the curtain of hair, I wasn't sure - One day they simply didn't come back. I went to the farm to see if maybe they lost the bus…

Suddenly she punched the roof, sinking her head even lower, now completely out of my sight. Slowly, I made my way back to the car, stopping at the passenger's door.

- I found them inside the house. Sitting on the couch with two bottles of pills on the coffee table. - with a deep breath, she continued with her usual firm tone - They made it look like a suicide.- another punch, this time weaker like her strength fainted halfway through - They were happy, genuinely happy and in love. They were planning a trip to visit their son since the money of the rent was good. - she looked up to me, to check my reaction and I just stood there not knowing what to feel - I know how it sounds, but they weren't suicidal. They were sad for leaving the farm but they wouldn't do that! Not without finding a home for Polkadot first.

Her green eyes went dark from the pain she carried so we'll hidden until then.

- Somebody killed them, I know it.

- I don't know what you want from me. - with a shrug I let my arms fall on my sides heavily.

- I saw you hacking into my armour, I know what you can do.

Honestly, I wasn't afraid of her. At that point, Officer Abrom had left her pride somewhere else and was practically begging me to help her. It wasn't the cop that searched me that night. Before me stood a different person, someone in deep pain and confusion. Most of her body was hidden but all I needed to see were her eyes. She wasn't threatening me, her words were encouraging, as if she admired what I did.

- And you just let me?

- I wasn't carrty anything compromising. - she knew I wasn't gonna buy that. An officer would never give out information regarding the Force, not even the smallest thing - I was in a very delicate position, couldn't afford being thrown out into the open fire, so I trusted you.

- Wrong call.

- I know you care!- Her voice struck me like thunder - If not you would've thrown me out of that building when you had the chance. - slowly she moved towards the front of the car, making her torso more exposed to me. My conscience didn't let me look at her directly. - If you don't give a shit, then why did you spare me?

There, under those train tracks, surrounded by the sound of the sea, words choked me from the inside. I had no answer. Ever since it happened I avoided the subject even to myself, always pushing the memory deeper. She was a cop just like the rest of them if not worse. Her loyalty and clear faith in the Force made me wanna throw up. Still I didn't do it. I gave her shelter, clothes and coffee, then sent her back to them when there could've been one less.

When she came across my silence her tone changed. It softened, an appeal to my good side as her last resource.

- I'll pay you as much as you want and your name will never get near the Force…

The waves were agitated. Crashing on the concrete with all their strength, both scared and loud, battling each other in an endless effort to conquer more ground. I wished I could stand there. Right on top of that barrier and get hit by the water, just to know how it feels.

- I'll do it. - I mumbled to myself while staring at the sea.

Mid-step she stopped by the passenger door. Her entire figure was now visible to me, so did her eyes. They attracted mine as magnets attract metal. One big wave crashed, splashing drops up high. I waited to see if they would get to me, I wanted to feel the cold droplets of water on my face.

- But it has to be on my terms.

Right there I felt it, a shy cold breeze.