'Officer Burke! In my office now!' the curt orders sounded and before I could reply the steady beep of a cut call resounded from the other end.

Slamming down the receiver, I glance at the wall clock.

1.05 am.

It's freaking past midnight and I hadn't slept for more than a couple of minutes since I entered the house. I rubbed my swollen eyes, groping for my mobile under the covers.

Officer Devian has the weird habit of using the landline during an emergency. He thinks mobile conversations aren't safe and I don't actually try to convince him that telephone conversations can be tapped more easily.

I didn't want to be at duty right then. A lot of things had been going on in my mind lately and I was out after shift time, using all my contacts to try to trace Serein but I had failed for the third day in a row.

The girl couldn't have disappeared from the face of the earth, could she?

But then having a Mafia father who has international connections, I guess it's easy for you to vanish without a trace.

I frankly wasn't worried for her safety since the day I knew who she is. Being a badass woman who can use a gun with equal prowess in both hands and a body as agile as a cheetah, she can take care of herself. My work is to try and keep her out of trouble without losing my job in the process.

I've been covering for her ever since I met her, not because I was head over heels, maybe yes, but I was protecting her, waiting for an opportunity to get her father behind the bars.

I had caught her trying to peddle large amounts of cocaine, but when she had broken down and told me all about how miserably trapped she was, I decided to let her go.

Serein isn't a bad person but her father uses her for all his underhanded business and she's way too intelligent to risk her life, trying to defy that bastard of a father she has. She has been acting as undercover informant for me, so basically we had been risking our necks for each other. With her help, I had busted a few drug rackets, but never found an evidence again the Mafia boss.

If he comes to know about us, it'd be the end of us, literally, not figuratively because neither of us would live to see another day.

We don't call or text each other. We just meet up at some location and decide the time and place for the next day. But this mysteriously alluring woman whom I had developed unknown feelings for in the past one year is missing and I don't have a clue how!

——————

'Look. Do you know her?' Officer Devian flicked a photograph at me.

It was hazy, but I got a sudden jolt. Staring me right in face was Serein.

'Umm — old offender?' I tried to dodge the question.

'No, a new face and well — a wanted face. We've put a price on her head.' he drew his pipe smoothly and exhaled a rush of grey smoke.

'What?' I slammed my palm on the table, my heart skipping a beat.

He looked at me from the corner of his eyes, 'You seem to be very concerned. Do you know the magnitude of the crime she has committed. She was seen in the CCTV footage of the shop at Park Avenue, leaving a suitcase near the opposite shop, just minutes before that deadly blast happened.'

'The blast.' I slumped into my chair, 'Yes, I remember that. We knew the Don Mafia was behind it.'

'But seems like she is the one who acted for him.' he pressed a button on a small remote as the CCTV footage started to play on the big LED TV.

There was no doubt about it. It was Serein for sure. That gait, those hands, the posture, all of it.

I closed my eyes trying to drive away the throbbing headache.

'You all right?'

'Yeah! Just tired. What do I need to do?'

'Trace her and arrest her. And also if you feel like she's a threat to your life, you have orders to shoot at sight.'

'Doesn't she deserve a trial on humanitarian grounds?' I tried to argue.

'Terrorism is something we consider very seriously and indulging in that is almost being an anti national and death is the only justified punishment.' his voice had an icy edge.

I had two options at hand. Either I could take the job myself and arrest her, or I could let someone else do it. Either way it was death for her.

But what if I could tip her off and keep her moving? Then she could evade capture, but how long?

They'd catch her sooner than later, set up a trial just for show as all evidences are clear, declare her guilty and award the death sentence. Then they'd publish it on all media showing how effective the government is, while the real criminal goes scot free.

'I'll always find you wherever you are,' I mumble, looking at the photo in my hand.

—————

'Girl! Where are you?' I mumble to myself, tapping impatiently on the map with my pencil. The crime deals I had busted were clearly in a weird octadecagon pattern that I had traced out by joining the dots.

Serein had told me about a drug deal earlier, but had never revealed the precise location. All the drug deals were spontaneous, but they made a pattern of involving various pubs in the area.

'So that leaves PANDEMONIUM' I circle on it roughly.

I have to take a chance on this one and hope she comes out of hiding. I need to face her, but how? How do I tell her to stay safe when I know it impossible?

—————

'Stay where you are!' I growl and the figure stops mid stride and drops the bag. She whips around deftly pulling a gun, pointing it right at my chest.

'Oh! It's you.' she exhales in relief and puts the gun down.

I flinch.

'Don't trust me that easily, Serein. After all I'm the cop.' I say.

'And I am acting under cover for you.' she smirks. 'I'm way too valuable to be handed over, ain't I?'

'Did you cause the blast?' I ask.

'Yes, and you know he forced my hand. He still has mum at his mercy.' she averts her eyes.

'He isn't human, Serein. Why are you guarding his location? He's using you,' I shout, moving a step closer.

She stills and then visibly relaxes, 'Because my mum is there and she is more wanted than him. He had used her as his shield before I started doing his dirty job.'

'I promise to you that if you reveal his location, I'll personally ask the minister to take away the charges on your mother. She was not at fault after all.' I offer.

'How do I trust you?' she hesitates.

'You have my word for it.' I look into her eyes and those piercing cobalt look back into mine, as if reading the depth of my soul. I've never felt so intimidated in my life.

Her lips curl into half a smile, those lips that I could kill to get an access to.

'Look. You have been caught on CCTV and they have a shoot at sight order. So I think you should actually ask your dad to offer you better protection if he continues to want you as a shield.' I say.

Fear contorts her features as her vision goes blank. I can see her lips trembling.

'No, it can't be. Tell me you're joking. A CCTV footage will never let me win at court if I get caught. So that means —' she gasps.

'Death sentence. Yes.' I say, trying to keep my voice from shaking.

'Stephen's tower, 7th floor. Don't get fooled by the posh enquiry area and be prepared for any danger.' she confesses.

'Thanks,' I say stiffly. 'And now you'd better go underground.'

'Don't you realise? My dad won't protect me anymore. My use is over for him. I'm just as disposable now like his other men.' she gives a pained smile. 'So it's death either way.'

She takes out her pistol again, toying with it. 'Sometimes I think, I ought to take my own life rather than live in fear.'  She moves to the exit.

I don't utter a word.

She turns around, giving a last glance at me.

Her hands are at the door to leave.

Two shots shatter the stillness of the night.

My pistol drops from my hand, just as her limp body crumples to the floor, her pistol  landing with a clank.

And blood is pouring out from two holes, one in her skull and the other in her chest, pooling onto the floor. I can't bear to look at her death pale face.

I drop on my knees beside her.

'Why?' she whispers.

'Why you?' my voice trembles.

'I had to do what had to be done.' her breath is heavy. 'Because just I had said, it was death either way.'

'I just tried to save you from the humiliation which was in store.' I admit.

'Just like killing a animal which is in pain. Mercy killing, was it?' her voice fades to a stop, a ghost of a smile still lingering.

I'd never know which bullet actually killed her.

1591 words. Written for the contest by mystery and Romance