"Never hide things from hard-core thinkers. They get more aggravated, more provoked by confusion than the most painful truths."
Tough beta cop, Wang Yibo, wakes up one morning with a hangover and some very vague memories of the previous night. One o...
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ZHAN POV
"Yo, Lei, what's your ten-twenty?”
I stood behind a stack of boxes in the dark, abandoned building. I couldn't see a thing other than a dim blue light that filtered in through the grimy warehouse windows that lined the top of the wall near the ceiling.
“Second floor, right next to the stairwell. Where you at?"
I heard from my cell phone. Yibo and I used an app that allowed us to use our phones as walkie-talkies when we were on out in the field.
"I'm on my way up. I don't think they’re down here. I haven't heard anything for a couple minutes."
"Okay. Watch your back. I’ll cover you from the second floor."
I crept out from behind a metal shelf that was lined with boxes and quickly crossed over to a staircase that disappeared into a dark stairwell. I scanned the cavernous room for any sign of movement, and when it looked like the coast was clear, I started up the stairs. I kept my eyes moving constantly, and my back to the wall, as I slowly made my way up to the landing, then turned the corner to head up to the second floor.
Suddenly a barrage of shots rang out around me, hitting the metal banister and the walls, and sending a rain of concrete chunks down on my head. I heard Yibo yell for me to hit the floor and I didn’t think twice. I trusted him more than anyone I’d ever worked with. No matter how much shit I gave him—and I dished out plenty—I knew that he was the best cop on the force and was always thankful he had my back.
The minute I hit the ground I heard a thud behind me. Then some yelling and footsteps from somewhere below me on the first floor. Within seconds, Yibo was right there next to me, rolling me on my back with his face right in mine.
"You okay, Zhan? Did you get hit?”
"No, I’m good.”
I sat up and looked at a motionless body on the cold concrete landing down below me. There was a growing pool of blood seeping out around the head that was starting to trickle down to the first floor.
"How did you even know he was there?" I asked Yibo.
"I don't know, man. I just had a feeling. When you told me you hadn't seen anything for a while and were on your way up I thought I'd watch your back and make sure you got up here okay. I'm glad I did."
“I’m getting to really appreciate those feelings of yours. They’re usually right.”
I pushed myself up and grabbed onto the railing for support, then stepped around the blood and made my way back down the stairs.
"You think anyone is still in the building?"
"No, there was no one up there. I think they were still on the main floor and took off when they heard the gunshots. Better get on the horn and have someone pick this one up,”
