An Early Start

Crime statistics can be misleading, an office finds out

Miller lit both cigarettes and handed one to Hank.

"Did you bring it?" he asked through a haze of a smoke curling up past his squinted eye.

Hank looked around and held up a small .38 revolver from his pocket for Miller's inspection. Miller pushed it away. "You wanna not wave that thing around? It's not a toy, Hank!" He held his hand out.

Hank looked chastened and held the pistol out to Miller, who examined it approvingly. "I don't think it's loaded," Hank said. "But I don't know how to check." He looked embarrassed.

Miller's fingers moved quickly; the cylinder snapped out. "It is loaded. You're lucky you didn't shoot yourself in the ass!" He flicked his wrist, and the gun was back together, compact and deadly. They stubbed out their cigarettes. "Come on," he said in a serious tone. "This is the real thing. You ready?"

Hank thought, Hell no! But he looked at Miller, kept his lip from quivering, and said: "Okay, man; let's go."

The two stood, lurking silently in the mouth of the alley.

Hank blinked, and there was a flurry of activity. Suddenly, Miller had a terrified-looking man pushed up against the wall.

"Wallet and rings," Miller growled.

Hank looked around, nervous. His hand was tense, and—he screamed when he heard the huge explosion in his hand and saw the man crumple.

"What the hell?!" Miller hissed at him.

As they turned to run, red and blue patrol lights splashed across the mouth of the alley.

Officer Dembril shook his head in sad amazement at the boys in cuffs. No ID. Just a chit that read: Wexler Middle School Stadium Entrance Pass. Middle School.

And the TV says the crime rate is getting better, he thought. This is the worst I've ever seen.

NOTES: ▶︎

Word Count: 300
Submitted for "Daily Flash Fiction Challenge" 
Prompt: Use the phrase "Did you bring it"

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