Live and Die

[Bob Clay]

I've been a policeman for nearly 30 years which means I've seen things that would have a dinosaur reaching for the 'Dummies Guide to Thick Skins,' even so I got cold sweats as I looked down at the lifeless figure of Carter trying to stare up at me through the bullet entrance wounds that had once been his eyes.

Carazo Police Captain Tucasez looked at me intently and said in close to Oxford English: ‘Is he your man ?’ to which I nodded and he nodded back, the sort of nod only cops the world over give each other. He motioned me out of the room and we picked our way through the yellow and black police tapes in the delicate way a butterfly plans to land on a thistle.

Outside a vast golden Spanish sky looked down impassionately on those who live and die below and for a moment I stood and let the heat sink into me, Tucasez to his credit let the English barbarian from the frozen north enjoy the heat, I’d be back in the cold soon enough.

As we drove across an awesome brown landscape that would have had Sergio Leone screaming for his camera I wondered where I was going now, after all, I’d been chasing Carter for more than 12 years, long days and even longer nights and now someone of his ilk had popped out his brain for whatever reason and left me without a mission.  Not that I’m complaining, I would have blown the bastard’s brains out long ago, but then I’m a policeman, we’re not allowed to do that, especially if someone is looking, but now he’s gone ... where do I go ?

[Joe Gensle]

Agree with Joey's phrase pick, and this too shines: "Outside a vast golden Spanish sky looked down impassionately on those who live and die below"  You've captured the "what next" when one has crested the peak, and done so extraordinarily well. Good on ya biker brother! 

[Crosby Kenyon]

The last four words really do beg the question.

[Dude A Bydes]

"The eyes" have it. Another Man of Clay ringer. -Dude

[Joey Delgado]

So many great lines. Reads like hard-boiled noir and I love that kind of style. 

'...to which I nodded and he nodded back, the sort of nod only cops the world over give each other.' I love that line, because it's so true, true in life and true in movies and TV. There's that nod of understanding when one cop says to another cop something only they'd understand.

Fun six. As the others have said, I would really enjoy more from these characters. 

[Adrian George Nicolae]

Reminds me of '70s police movies.

[Crista Ramone]

This is a nice opening. Continue!

[Angela]

Great story.  I would like to see this character again, when he has found another evildoer to stalk.