flask. He promised himself to get sorted in that department in the morning, assuming he and Jennifer made it out of the warehouse.
Cliff had picked a good spot too. Since the citywide curfew had been canceled six months ago and the once-regular police blimp patrols halted, crooks had been able to spread out across the city, finding a goldmine of disused, empty buildings that nobody else came near and that the police would never find. The city had become a crime-ridden rabbit warren and there was no shortage of work for Rad, although at times it felt like he was one man against a multitude. The gangs were organized, running under the tight leadership of thugs like Cliff, one of the city’s most wanted men, someone Rad had been trying to get a tail on for weeks now. Rad was out of his depth, he knew that; chasing organized crime was liable to earn him a pair of concrete boots instead of a paycheck. Which was why the unexpected call from Jennifer Jones had been something of a relief.
Jennifer Jones. Rad reminded himself once they were home and dry to ask her about what exactly she did, and how exactly she’d gotten his number to ask for his help by name.
The warehouse was the size of a blimp hangar, lined with individual lock-ups, each with a roller door like a one-car garage. The floor space itself was filled with crates that Rad had no clue about at all other than whatever was inside them was packed around with straw. Lots of straw. The stuff was everywhere, all around them on the floor… which meant, Rad thought, that the warehouse was still in use. Perhaps Jennifer had found Cliff’s own little hidey-hole, the place used by his gang to hide illicit goods. Rad was just thankful it was only Cliff who appeared to be home at the moment.
Cliff sniffed and waved the gun, his deliberation over.
“Yeah, I don’t think so,” he said. “If it’s all the same to you, I think we need to bring events to their climax. And you two are something of an obstacle.”
Jennifer gave Rad a look that asked very clearly for the detective to hurry up and do something already.
“I understand,” said Rad, looking at Jennifer.
“Understand what?” asked the thug. For the first time, Cliff moved his head, turning it to look down at his prisoner. It was enough.
Rad kicked out, catching a sheaf of straw on his shoe and tossing it toward the thug.
Cliff ducked instinctively and pulled the trigger, but Rad was already out of the line of fire, Jennifer throwing her chair sideways. Cliff turned at her movement and brought the gun to bear, his attention off Rad for a moment.
Rad’s fist connected with Cliff’s jaw and brilliant white pain exploded in the detective’s knuckles. Rad, surprised at the force of his own punch, swore and staggered backward, but Cliff had gone over sideways. Rad blinked, but Cliff didn’t move.
Rad shook his fist, and tried flexing his fingers. They hurt like all hell. Cliff had lived up to his name: it had been like punching a brick wall. Gritting his teeth, Rad slid down to his knees beside Jennifer’s chair and with his good hand began to work on the rope holding her in place.
As soon as she was loose Jennifer scrambled for her discarded coat. Rad helped her into it and pulled her close to get her warm, the both of them still on their knees.
“Thank you,” she said into his ear with hot breath. She pulled back and looked down at her former captor, then glanced at Rad’s hand. “You OK?”
Rad kept his fingers moving, teeth clenched against the pain. “Nothing a little ice won’t fix. And we’ve got a lot of that in the city right about now.”
Jennifer laughed, but just as she went to stand the warehouse shook, the vibration rattling the roller doors that surrounded them. The pair waited a moment, crouched together on the floor. Then the tremor passed and Jennifer stood and pulled her coat tight.
“My imagination, or are those getting more frequent?”
Rad stood himself, and moved over to where Cliff lay.
“Yeah,” he said. “Stronger too.” He peered down at Cliff. The thug was out cold, his mouth slightly open. It didn’t look like he was breathing, and there was something shiny on his chin where Rad’s fist had landed.
Jennifer joined the detective. “Terrific,” she said, nodding at the body on the warehouse floor. “Out with