In Search of a Bounty
Kris and Alice stood side by side outside the police station staring at the board.
Kris was a tall and imposing individual. Her dark hair was short and spiked and her face was in a permanent scowl.
Alice was much shorter than her partner. She was all brown curls, olive skin and hourglass curves. Alice put an arm out and rubbed Kris on her elbow.
“This can’t be it,” said Kris. “You sure we’ve not missed one?”
The board in front of them was covered in small tattered posters. On each of them was a photo of an individual along with information about the person, their crime and the bounty for their arrest. Unfortunately for Kris and Alice all of the posters were stamped with Bounty Collected in red ink. “I’m going to talk to someone.”
“Krissy, no,” pleaded Alice.
Kris ignored her plea and stepped around her. She stormed into the police station and approached the front desk where a bored looking man tapped away at a computer.
Kris slammed her hands onto the desk, catching the man’s attention. “Excuse me,” said Kris, “aren’t there any more bounties to go on the board?”
The man looked up at her with a blank expression. “There are no bounties waiting to go up. Come back later in the week,” answered the man.
“Come on, there must be some on the system, waiting to be processed or something.”
The man ignored her and carried on typing.
Unsatisfied but unable to do anything about it, Kris walked back onto the street.
Alice looked up at her. She reached a hand out to Kris and she took it. The two set off down the street. “What about another station?” tried Alice.
“We’d have to go quite a distance to find one with different bounties on its board and we can’t afford to waste the petrol,” said Kris. “Our best bet is to just sit and wait.”
Alice and Kris walked the town’s streets until darkness fell. Clubs and bars were opening, some already full. A group of rowdy men walked past them, holding cans of beer and shouting at one another. Kris groaned inwardly at their testosterone fuelled behaviour and felt a pang of sadness when she realised Alice was no longer holding her hand. Her arms were now folded and Kris shoved her own hands in the pockets of her combat trousers.
“I’m guessing we’re getting dinner from the cheapo place again,” said Alice.
“Till another bounty comes along it’s all we can get,” answered Kris.
“I hate that place, can’t we just treat ourselves for once?”
Kris noticed Alice look across the street at a very smart looking Italian restaurant. Even from where they were Kris could see candles on the tables and a big bouquet by the entrance. She wanted more than anything to be able to take Alice somewhere nice like that.
“If our next bounty’s a big ‘un, I promise,” said Kris putting an arm around Alice. “I will take you somewhere cheaper than that but still nice.”
“Oh how I love your mediocre romantic gestures,” replied Alice with the hint of a smile on her lips.
Kris smiled back and embraced Alice in a hug. Kris groaned again, outwardly this time as she heard a wolf whistle. The wolf whistle was followed by a wolf howl and then, a scream. Kris had her back to the road when it came and Alice was too short to see over Kris’ shoulder so neither of them saw it as the huge creature pelted past them, down the street.
Kris was a tall and imposing individual. Her dark hair was short and spiked and her face was in a permanent scowl.
Alice was much shorter than her partner. She was all brown curls, olive skin and hourglass curves. Alice put an arm out and rubbed Kris on her elbow.
“This can’t be it,” said Kris. “You sure we’ve not missed one?”
The board in front of them was covered in small tattered posters. On each of them was a photo of an individual along with information about the person, their crime and the bounty for their arrest. Unfortunately for Kris and Alice all of the posters were stamped with Bounty Collected in red ink. “I’m going to talk to someone.”
“Krissy, no,” pleaded Alice.
Kris ignored her plea and stepped around her. She stormed into the police station and approached the front desk where a bored looking man tapped away at a computer.
Kris slammed her hands onto the desk, catching the man’s attention. “Excuse me,” said Kris, “aren’t there any more bounties to go on the board?”
The man looked up at her with a blank expression. “There are no bounties waiting to go up. Come back later in the week,” answered the man.
“Come on, there must be some on the system, waiting to be processed or something.”
The man ignored her and carried on typing.
Unsatisfied but unable to do anything about it, Kris walked back onto the street.
Alice looked up at her. She reached a hand out to Kris and she took it. The two set off down the street. “What about another station?” tried Alice.
“We’d have to go quite a distance to find one with different bounties on its board and we can’t afford to waste the petrol,” said Kris. “Our best bet is to just sit and wait.”
Alice and Kris walked the town’s streets until darkness fell. Clubs and bars were opening, some already full. A group of rowdy men walked past them, holding cans of beer and shouting at one another. Kris groaned inwardly at their testosterone fuelled behaviour and felt a pang of sadness when she realised Alice was no longer holding her hand. Her arms were now folded and Kris shoved her own hands in the pockets of her combat trousers.
“I’m guessing we’re getting dinner from the cheapo place again,” said Alice.
“Till another bounty comes along it’s all we can get,” answered Kris.
“I hate that place, can’t we just treat ourselves for once?”
Kris noticed Alice look across the street at a very smart looking Italian restaurant. Even from where they were Kris could see candles on the tables and a big bouquet by the entrance. She wanted more than anything to be able to take Alice somewhere nice like that.
“If our next bounty’s a big ‘un, I promise,” said Kris putting an arm around Alice. “I will take you somewhere cheaper than that but still nice.”
“Oh how I love your mediocre romantic gestures,” replied Alice with the hint of a smile on her lips.
Kris smiled back and embraced Alice in a hug. Kris groaned again, outwardly this time as she heard a wolf whistle. The wolf whistle was followed by a wolf howl and then, a scream. Kris had her back to the road when it came and Alice was too short to see over Kris’ shoulder so neither of them saw it as the huge creature pelted past them, down the street.
