Canary

The next day, Ethan's dream was interrupted by an alarm clock that vibrated violently.  After turning it off, he stared at the birds jumping over the branches outside the window for a while and then raised the quilt.  Last night Sugar, Job and he drank at the Savoy Gentlemen's Club until after two in the morning and after they returned home they drank until almost dawn. If he hadn't had to go to work today, he would have slept until the afternoon —yawned, walking into the living room. He saw two people lying on the floor, covered with blankets. Ethan clapped his head and hurried back to the room to put on his pants.— Wake up! —Ethan kicked Job's foot and shook him to wake him up.— Fuck you bastard. — Job said, rubbing his eyes in the dazzling light.—I'm going to work. Remember to close the door when you leave.—Okay, I get it. Go fast and don't bother me while I sleep. Job tugged on the blanket, falling asleep again. Sugar, at her side, had no intention of waking up either and was still sound asleep. Ethan looked helplessly at his wine case. These two bastards almost drank all my whiskey last night, thought. After putting on his uniform and leaving, he looked at the place where the heist's clothes burned last night. Only a few ashes remained. He took a shovel and covered the ashes with a little dirt before leaving. Leaving the police station for breakfast, he unexpectedly saw someone he hadn't seen in a long time. He quickly parked the car.—Hey, time without seeing you. You've been hiding or something. —he said. Rebecca, dressed in a white dress, was leaning against the wall of the police station. He was playing with his fingers, bored, until he heard Ethan's voice. He raised his head happily.—I've been waiting for you, I guess you had fun last night.— What are you doing here? —Ethan pointed to his outfit, surprised — You're not dressed as an Amish, I pay something.—We can talk for a moment. —Rebecca replied, forcing a smile.—Sure, I invite you to breakfast —Ethan said, looking at his watch. He walked with Rebecca to Miles Restaurant. After greeting Daria, who was busy, she sat in her usual place, a quiet corner of the restaurant. Rebecca came up and sat across from him.—Bring me a sandwich with fries and coffee, thanks —asked Ethan casually, looking at Rebecca —. What do you want?—Same as him.—Okay, two then. Dalia nodded, wrote down the order, and headed to the kitchen, flipping her butt flirtatiously.— You and her ...? —Rebecca asked, putting her hands to her chin.—We are just friends. I haven't seen you in a long time. I sent you a message, but you didn't reply. Rebecca leaned back in the chair, her eyes darkening.—My tribe punished me for a time. Yesterday I was kicked out of the house.— Why?—They found my phone, cosmetics and magazines ... —Rebecca lowered her voice — At that moment, Dalia arrived with breakfast. Ethan thanked him and took his food, looking at Rebecca, who was looking at the sandwich with confusion.—When I turned away from my tribe's way of life, I thought they would avoid or punish me, but I didn't expect to be kicked out of the house. Ethan knew little about the Amish community, except that they were a traditional and conservative religious group. They reject modern technology and live in isolation. Expulsion is the most severe punishment.—So what are your next plans? —Ethan asked, taking a sip of coffee.—I don't know. Yesterday I stayed at my uncle's house. Today I came to see you After a while, the glass door of the restaurant opened. Proctor entered directly. Ethan left his cup and greeted him.—Mr. Proctor.—Uncle, what are you doing here? —Rebecca said, surprised, before getting up to hug him. Proctor smiled, hugging her with one hand. Then he took a half step back.—Ethan, this is my niece, Rebecca. Rebecca, this is Officer Ethan Morgan of the Banshee Police Department —introduced Proctor —. But I guess they already know each other, right?—Uncle, sit down. I'm going to the bathroom —Rebecca said, before walking away quickly. Proctor's smile disappeared as soon as Rebecca left. His eyes turned cold.— Have you ever fucked my niece? Ethan did not respond immediately, slowly stirring his coffee with a spoon. Suddenly, a cold light shone. Proctor took the table knife and stabbed Ethan's neck. Undeterred, Ethan blocked his hand. Ethan's increased strength meant that he could not move his hand, no matter how hard the grip tried.— Can you calm down? —Ethan said calmly, after a moment of tension. Proctor took a deep breath. Finally, he nodded. Ethan withdrew his hand and the episode ended without disturbing anyone else in the restaurant. Proctor threw the knife and released his tie. Ethan smiled, pulling out a scarf and handing it over to him.—Thanks —Proctor said, drying the coffee — You are brave to face me.—You are also brave. You dare attack a police officer in public. Believe me, I could shoot you dead.—Oh, you can try it.—Okay, let's stop the threats. What do you want? —Ethan asked.—Get away from my niece from now on.—It will depend on her wanting to get away from me.—Hey, calm down —Ethan said, seeing as Proctor seemed ready to act again —. What, you want to protect her like a canary? She has been kicked out of her family, and now you want to take her away from her friends too.— Friends? —Proctor scoffed.—If you want me to have a normal life, maybe you should try differently. Proctor was silent, slowly leaning back.At that time, Rebecca also approached.— What are you two talking about?Ethan took a bite out of the sandwich and winked at Proctor.—Nothing, I just told your uncle that I know someone who is a real estate agent and can help you find a house.— Why do you need to help me find a house? Now I live well.Ethan gave up his seat and, after Rebecca looked at Proctor, he sat happily. Proctor watched him calmly, not knowing what he was going to say.— Didn't you just say you would start a new life in the future?—So why don't you start with a new place to live and let your uncle buy you a car? —Ethan said, winking at Rebecca.Rebecca's eyes suddenly lit up. Thinking of having a car of his own, he looked at Proctor with nostalgia.—Okay, no problem —Proctor replied.Proctor understood what Ethan meant. What he did, along with the strippers coming in and out of the house, really wasn't right for Rebecca to live there. He smiled and stroked her head.—Thanks —Rebecca said, clenching her fists happily.—I won't bother you with the house. I will help Rebecca find her.—You can do whatever you want.—Rebecca, come on first, we still have something to do.After Proctor gestured to Ethan, he got up and left with Rebecca, who was reluctant to leave. Ethan hit the table and looked at the figures that were moving away.From now on, the two will not live under the same roof, hoping that some things will not happen again.After breakfast Ethan left the food fare and a generous tip, greeted Daria and left the restaurant.Siobhan normally spoke incessantly during the two-person patrol, but today she was unusually silent. Ethan grabbed the wheel and reached out to touch his forehead, but Siobhan annoyed the apartment.— What are you doing?—Checking if you have a fever, you may be sick. Why are you so quiet today?—You just have a fever.After a while in silence, Siobhan cleared his throat. Ethan secretly smiled, knowing there was something he couldn't help but say.—Mrs. Hopewell has moved.— What are you talking about?Siobhan said word for word:—Carrie Hopewell, the wife of District Attorney Gordon, the woman who came with us to rescue Hood last time, remember?—Of course —Ethan nodded —. Where did you move?—To the valley inn.—I saw her when I came to work in the morning and talked to her for a while. Now she and Gordon have separated.Siobhan sighed.—I don't know if Hood is worth it.Ethan knew that she was remembering her own experience of her divorce. He smiled and shook his head. Siobhan, not enduring that attitude, slapped him hard on the shoulder.—If you have something to say, say it.Ethan looked at her and said slowly:—So have you ever thought about whether Gordon's efforts over the past ten years are worth it?After a brief silence, Siobhan sighed.—You are right.At that moment, a car ran out of the intersection. Ethan stopped suddenly, scared. They both looked at each other and pressed the button to turn on the sirens.The vehicle that passed the red light advanced a certain distance and then stopped.—The owner of the Ford in front of you, turn off the engine, put the key on the roof and wait for the inspection —Ethan ordered by the megaphone.The vehicle quickly obeyed. The driver rolled down the window and reached out with the key, placing it on the ceiling. Ethan left the megaphone and got out of the car, accompanied by Siobhan.He did not rush to investigate. He stood behind the Ford truck, watching it, and then stroked the taillights before moving on.Looking at the white woman in the passenger seat, Ethan withdrew his hand from his Glock and stepped forward to take the keys from the ceiling.—Sir, you were driving recklessly a moment ago and you passed a red light. I knew it?—Please show me ...Ethan swallowed what he was going to say when he noticed the driver, a thin white man with glasses, holding various documents in his hands.—Officer, I have my driver's license, vehicle registration and insurance policy ready. I am so sorry. I didn't pay attention at the time. My wife is pregnant and has discomfort. He was taking her urgently to the hospital.The man seemed nervous. Beside him, the white woman in the passenger seat, in a white shirt, put her hands to her abdomen, her face covered in sweat. Noticing Ethan's gaze, he groaned in pain.—Sit first —Ethan said to him, returning with the ID. Siobhan also approached.— How about we let it go? Anyway, there were no cars at the intersection. Just give him a warning —Siobhan said, looking at the woman with concern.—Okay, just a verbal warning.Ethan thought for a moment before deciding to let the driver go. He returned to the car and handed him the documents.—This time I will let you go with a warning. Don't do it again. It is understood?—Understood, thanks officer. By the way, will you give me back my keys? —asked the man with a smile.—Wait a minute, I'll bring them to you.Ethan reached into his pocket to take out the keys, but his eyes froze as he noticed the red heels on the woman's feet and the small black package at his feet.—Madam, can you open your package and show me what's inside?As soon as he spoke, the woman took a cold look. He straightened his back and, in a quick movement, a small pistol appeared in his hand.— Damn! —Ethan dodged immediately.— Siobhan!Ethan screamed as he rolled and crawled into the police car, bullets whistling behind him. Siobhan, upon hearing the shots, quickly pulled out his pistol and shot to cover Ethan.— Shit! The key is still on the roof! —cursed the man, pulling a revolver out from under the seat and shooting.The bullets smashed the police car, smashing the glass. Ethan finally pulled out his Glock and responded to the fire. Siobhan also backed away to the car.Suddenly, a loud sound rumbled. The police car shook, and Ethan took the opportunity to hide better and shoot, managing to shoot down the man with glasses.The woman, seeing this, pointed her gun, but before she could shoot, her head hit the seat, and a stream of blood gushed from her neck. Siobhan emerged with his pistol in both hands.Ethan let out a sigh, storing his Glock in the holster as he watched the woman's lifeless body. Not far away, a column of smoke rose. —Ethan, you're hurt. —I ask.—I'm fine, I just catch myself off guard. — I exclaim shaking the impregnated earth in his clothes.Siobhan also stepped forward with weapons in both hands, to confirm that the two people were dead, nervously asked Ethan:—That noise just now came from the direction of the new casino the Kinaho tribe. What do you think happened?—Who knows, but we'll find out anyway. Let's finish this place first and then talk about it —Ethan replied.He couldn't help but think of Proctor, whom he had met that morning at the Miles restaurant. When he said he still had something to do, a helpless smile appeared on Ethan's lips. He shook his head, wondering why he was thinking so much, and raised his hand to press the radio.—Alma, we are Ethan and Siobhan. We have a shooting on Route 6. Two people were shot and fell at the scene. His death has been confirmed. No officer was injured.—Understood —answered Alma —. I will arrange for someone to go there right now.—Also, we just heard a big bang coming from the construction site address of the new Kinaho Tribe Casino.—I know. After receiving the report, Emmett hurried to go. You and Siobhan should take care of the scene first, until the coroners arrive.—Okay, received —Ethan said, leaving the radio.He approached the girl in the shirt, observing the bloody hole in the woman's neck with a complicated expression. Blood continued to flow from the wound. Ethan looked at the gun on the ground again, a 9mm Hellcat. If he hadn't reacted fast enough, the one with a hole in his neck would be him."This time I was really sloppy," he thought. Although he knew he had a system in his body, that his physique had been strengthened and his healing ability had improved, he was not immortal. He felt the pain like anyone else, and if he was shot, he would die. He had to be more careful in the future.—Siobhan, go check the inside of the car. See if there's anything worth fighting for.Ethan shook his head, returning to the car to place the yellow cord. This place needed to be closed temporarily.— oh holy shit! —Siobhan exclaimed suddenly.Ethan, alert, quickly approached.— What did you find?—Our bonus for this month will be very fat —she laughed.Siobhan approached with a smile, carrying a small black package. The zipper was open and the package was full of $ 100 bills.Looking at the money, Ethan felt renewed interest. No wonder those two people were so upset by the review and in such a hurry. For the amount of money, there must have been between one hundred and two hundred thousand dollars in cash. Now I understood why Siobhan was so excited about the month-end bonus, as under US law this could be considered a "civil confiscation" which is a legal procedure that allows law enforcement, such as Police, confiscate assets of people suspected of being involved in criminal activities, without the need for people to be convicted of a crime, as now this money will stay at the police station and can be used for equipment for officers or overtime pay. Ethan assumed that the origin of that money was doubtful, probably related to drugs. Now that the two people were dead, the Banshee Town police could pocket the money without much paperwork.Once the coroners lifted the bodies, and the necessary paperwork was carried out, they withdrew, the investigation would continue, but for now the agents were free to continue their work. for the rest of the day. Both went straight back to the scene of the explosion, Siobhan was unable to hide the smile on his face. — Are you so happy? Even if they give us a bonus, it won't be much —Ethan said.—You don't understand. With the extra bonus, I will be able to buy many things for myself —Siobhan replied, waving his phone in front of him. Amazon's shopping page was clearly visible.— Do you like to wear black lace clothes? —Ethan asked with a malicious smile.Siobhan instantly picked up the phone, lifting his middle finger at him before happily leafing through.The vehicle began to slow down, and Siobhan raised his head, looking forward.— What happened?He quickly put away his phone, and they both got out of the car. As it approached, the disaster became apparent. The foundations, now scattered rubble, twisted steel fragments protruded like broken ribs from a giant skeleton, and the walls, which were just beginning to take shape, were reduced to heaps of pulverized concrete.The burning smell permeated the suffocating air with a mixture of melted steel and inflamed materials. Fire departments and emergency workers were rushing on the scene, their voices barely audible by the constant buzz of recent destruction. Among the remains, a dust-stained wooden sign still hung crooked, with the words "Casino Kinaho: Next Opening" partially burned, an ironic reminder of what it would never be. The rubble creaked under the weight of rescuers, and the smallest flames slowly died out, leaving behind only faintly blinking red coals.A dozen cars were parked at the entrance to the construction site. In the middle of the crowd, Alex Longshadow, chief of the tribe, waved his hands vigorously, yelling at someone. The veins in his neck were clearly visible. Next to him was the female motorcyclist he had seen before outside the Davis Bar, watching the chaos with a grim expression.—Hey, I heard what Alma said. You guys did a great job —Emmett said, approaching up with Brock.— Are there any injured? —Siobhan asked quickly —. Are they serious?Brock shook his head, causing Siobhan's face to change.— Is it so serious?—Fortunately, no victims have been found —said Brock —. Due to union issues, no one had been working for the past two days.—The people of the Tribe Police Department are also here. This place is outside our jurisdiction. They won't let us interfere.Suddenly, a scream rang out from the crowd:— A body has been found!Several people came out carrying a corpse. Alex, worried, ran towards them.— Who is it? —asked urgently.—It's the Mayor Kendall —someone answered.Everyone at the Banshee police station heard the name and ran to the scene. Brock made his way through the crowd. The mayor, Dan Kendall, lay on the ground, dressed in rags and with a large hole in his head.Seeing the mayor's tragic death, Alex staggered, and his sister held him. At that moment, a gust of wind raised sand and dust, hitting everyone in the place.