The sun rose on a new day. The roars and buzzing from airplane engines swirled through the vast sky. Many different makes and models of aircraft came and went from Black Hawk Airfield. The field was like a well-oiled machine, working at its full capacity, allowing operations to run quickly and smoothly. However, there was one departure on a private airstrip that stretched on for what seemed like an eternity as the two saying goodbye struggled to release one another.

  Norio and Charlotte held each other in an iron grip as time went by. Still, Norio slowly glanced forwards, looking at the small plane they had prepared and the pilot standing by it, waiting to be used. And with a deep sigh and groan, he finally released his wife.

  Norio gently placed his hand on Charlotte's cheek. "Honey, it's time to go."

  "I still don't understand. Why can't I stay with you here?"

  "Charlotte, look what happened. We barely managed to save you. And you know they'll try something like this again."

  "Norio, I don't care," Charlotte shouted.

  "Charlotte, you could die." Norio tightly grabbed his forehead with his free hand. "We all could die. We aroused the wrath of the Big Man of crime."

  Charlotte placed her hands on both sides of Norio's face and made him look her in her crying eyes. "I would be happy to die with my husband."

  "I'm sorry, but I just can't let that happen." Norio pushed Charlotte away towards the plane. "Please go."

  Charlotte kissed Norio. "I love you so much."

  "After what I've done, I don't think I deserve your love." Norio wiped small tear droplets from his eyes. "I wouldn't blame you if you left me for a different man."

  "There will be no one else for me. I'm beyond happy and satisfied, knowing my partner is a man of such integrity that he would take on this ungodly task. If necessary, I will wait for the rest of my life until we're reunited."

  As Charlotte kissed Norio again, she at last began walking to the plane. Tears dripped from her eyes as she moved incredibly slowly towards the aircraft. But a few painful moments later, she finally reached its door. And as she opened it, she gave her husband a final wave goodbye before entering the vessel.

  The pilot quickly took his seat as Charlotte was inside the plane. As the vessel's engines roared to life, it began moving away from Norio, going down the runway and taking flight as it sent out a wave of air in its wake. And the police chief watched every second of its departure with teary eyes as the aircraft took his beloved away, becoming a speck on the horizon.

  The valiant knight sluggishly walked to Norio. "Chief?"

  "Did you catch all that, knight?"

  "I saw a good chunk of it, yes." Daniel cracked his neck. "Listen. I know this is a difficult time, but I have a few questions."

  "Shoot."

  "First off, where is your wife going?" Daniel pointed at the departing plane on the horizon.

  "The pilot is an old friend who owes me a favor. He'll make sure she gets to some family I have outside the country. Hopefully, she'll be safe there for the foreseeable future."

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "Okay, fine." Daniel took a deep breath. "Now for my second question. Are you okay?"

  "No, but thanks for asking." Norio lightly tapped Daniel on the shoulder as he walked away.

  The valiant knight met with Norio and his police officers in the Falcone Warehouse for another meeting as the afternoon drew closer.

  Norio breathed in sharply. "Firstly, I would like to thank you all for coming. It means the world to me that you still respected me enough to listen even after all this."

  "Of course, boss," Elena said.

  "Yeah. We'll always respect you, Chief Fa," Tommy added.

  "Too true, Tommy," Francoise said in French.

  "Thank you all." Norio took another breath. "Now, with that out of the way, let us discuss the raids on the gangs in the northern neighborhoods."

  "Wait a second." Daniel ran over to Norio. "Chief, do you still want to keep this all going?"

  "Well, yes. We've come too far to turn back now."

  "You're Looney."

  "How do you figure?" Norio asked.

  "How do I figure?" Daniel dramatically slapped the sides of his legs. "Chief, the jig's up. It's only a matter of time before the big man leaks what's been going on to the courts. Every arrest I helped you make will be invalid. All the crooks we caught will walk."

  Norio rubbed his chin. "I really don't think so, knight."

  "What are you talking about?"

  "Think about it. Why did they go through all this."

  "To get rid of you."

  "Exactly." Norio snapped his fingers. "But it would have been much simpler and easier if they just did what you described rather than arranging our assassinations."

  Daniel took a few steps back from Norio. "Now I get it. You think they don't actually have the evidence to prove anything. Or else they would have done it already."

  Norio nodded slowly at Daniel as confirmation.

  "That still doesn't change the fact that they'll be coming after all of you way harder than before. And I don't know if I can protect you for twenty-four hours a day."

  "Don't be too proud of yourself. We don't need you to protect us," Elena said.

  "What she means, Mr. Knight, is that we all knew the risks going into this. So, we're not afraid," Tommy said.

  "I agree with the others. We merely have to be more careful from here on out," Francoise said.

  "You have our answer, knight." Norio pointed at Daniel. "But we don't have yours. Do you still want to continue our deal?"

  Norio's words hit Daniel with the force of a mighty blow, making him tremble ever so slightly. He looked across the room from right to left, scanning the faces of the police officers before him. The group's eyes were calm and resolute, devoid of any fear. As Daniel witnessed them, his mind ran faster and faster, trying to construct an answer. But he at last did as a heavy breath left his mouth.

  "I hate all of this, but I'm in too deep. I have to see it through to the end."

  "Great to hear." Norio extended his arm to Daniel for a handshake.

  Daniel sluggishly accepted the handshake as he saw it.

  Daniel prepared to go to his job at Dynamo Comics the next day early in the morning. As usual with matters, involving his dream job, Daniel was caught in a storm of panic. He stood infront of a mirror in his business suit, struggling to manage his long, black neck tie. And each time he failed to tie it properly around his neck he could feel his heart pound harder against his rib cage.

  Daniel glared at the tie.

  "Damn this tie," Daniel shouted.

  Karen came and tied it around his neck with ease.

  "Happy, love?" Karen asked.

  Daniel's expression softened as he looked at Karen. "You really are my guardian angel."

  "Oh the flattery." Karen handed Daniel a metal lunchbox. "Inside, you'll find my fried sausages and your favourite beer, love."

  "Thanks, angel." Daniel took the lunchbox from Karen. "Now I got to go."

  As Daniel motioned toward the the door, Karen cleared her throat loudly and shot him a sideeye, getting his attention.

  "Whats wrong?"

  "Were you going to leave without giving me my good morning kiss?"

  "Sorry, angel." Daniel kissed Karen. "Now may I go?"

  "Of course."

  Daniel ran over to the door with his lunch box, grabbing a brief case off the couch. As he opened the door, he subconsciously looked back for another glimpse at Karen before leaving. However, as he did, numerous uneasy thoughts plagued his mind. He couldn't help but think about Norio and the pain he must have felt losing Charlotte. A horribly cold chill ran down his spine as he wondered if a similar fate would ever befall him and Karen.

  Daniel, using his superhuman speed, ran back to Karen. He kissed her with far more passion than before, pushing her against a wall.

  "Not to sound ungrateful, but what was that for?" Karen asked.

  "Nothing. I just love you."

  "I see." Karen kissed Daniel again.