Yin’s Protection (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha)

1. Alisha Quinn

ALISHA QUINN

“Do you know him?”

The voice was like a roll of thunder scraping over a hallow void—dark and rough.

I looked away from the man who wouldn’t take no for an answer to the newcomer leaning against the opposite wall. He set a purple lollipop between his full lips, waiting for my answer.

Scared and a little turned on, I shook my head.

“That settles it then.” The newcomer sighed. “Don’t speak English? Because I’m pretty sure no looks the same in every language.”

“Mind your business.” The assailant frowned, reaching for my arm.

The man set the lollipop back into his mouth. I shuffled away causing my back to hit the wall.

My saviour smashed a large palm to the back of my attacker’s head.

“Eh!” He exclaimed. “The lady said no.”

That didn’t help as my attacker swung at my saviour who came at him like a freight train.

The sucker he’d been nursing on fell to the ground, the candy smashing off the marble.

It wasn’t much of a fight.

I blinked and my attacker was face down on the floor, bleeding from his nose and the left side of his mouth.

I wasn’t sure if the hit took him out or the fact his head bounced off the floor like a basket ball. But he was unconscious

His left leg was still twitching. It was as if his brain had yet to register the fact he was unconscious.

“You alright?”

I couldn’t find the words.

“Hey!” He called a little more forcefully but still softly.

“Huh?” I blushed, stepping over the body.

“Are you hurt?” He eyed me.

“N-no.” I managed. “Thank you.”

“No worries, Kitty.” He replied.

“Me-ow?” I grinned, unsure.

He grinned at me and shook his head.

“You should call the cops.’ He recommended. “He may try again. If he does there will be a paper trail.”

I nodded.

He winked at me, stuck his hands in his pockets and exited the hallway leading from the bathrooms and back to the main area.

So much for treating myself.

I just wanted a night out to myself—good food, a few adult beverages, a good atmosphere.

How did it turn into a misdemeanor?

I sighed.

It took some time before the cops dragged my attacker away. He was silent as a grave, and I wasn’t sure if he was hurting or if it was because he had the right to remain silent.

His right eye was swollen shut, a couple fingers of his left hand seemed to be broken, and something was wrong with his right leg.

I kept my saviour’s name out of it—not like I knew it anyway.

At the end of the excitement, I looked around to buy him a drink, at least, but he was gone. A sinking feeling filled my chest, but I had to let it go.

No worries, Kitty.

He’d called me Kitty.

If anyone else had called me that nickname I’d pop them in the mouth. But from him, I couldn’t stop blushing.

With a name like Kitty, did it mean he thought I was cute?

I giggled softly.

Even now, as I sat in bed trying to read my book, my cheeks were on fire.

But seriously, that man trying to get me to go with him wasn’t normal—it didn’t feel normal. Till take

Deep down, it didn’t feel like a man hitting on me.

This was different for he had waited until I was alone, in a place without cameras.

What normal man did that?

The week before someone had let the air out of one of my tires.

My mother had taught me the basics of cars—knowing when my tire was flat came in handy.

They were new tires.

I realized immediately. After walking into a nearby convenience store for safety, I called a cab.

A few days before that, someone had called from my dream company to offer me an interview. The strange thing was, I hadn’t applied to it yet. I was trying to build up my resume before I attempted.

And while I was suspicious, I went but with my best friend Sam.

It was a parking lot.

Someone was fucking around.

After the issue at the restaurant, I was scared and rattled. Using the bathroom, I called Sam who came over with take-out and my favorite wine.

A cheap generic bran I could only find at a corner store on Roncesvalles Avenue.

And for a while, I basked in the warmth and safety he always made me feel.

“I was at The Bellevedeers with my brothers.” Sam moaned. “If I’d known, we could have helped.”

“Don’t blame yourself.” I patted his back. “Men are dogs everywhere. And besides, I had help from this gorgeous, delicious, brick wall of a man.”

Sam laughed out loud.

“Is that right?”

“I definitely have a crush. But I won’t see him again. The world is not that small, right?”

“You never know. If it’s meant to be?—”

I rolled my eyes and sucked my teeth.

“Meant to be my ass.” I muttered.

“Cynic.” Sam accused.

I glared at him.

“But still, none of this can be a coincidence.” Sam added. “All these things happening around you—not funny anymore.”

“I mean?—”

“Look.” His voice was serious. “I know you said not to worry about it. But even you have to admit this is weird.”

His worries were valid.

But the last thing I wanted to be was hysterical about the whole situation,

“Just let me talk to my brother.” Sam closed the box holding the chicken wings. “Yin has connections that might be able to look into things—to be sure.”

Sighing, I nodded.

Sam stayed the night.

Thankful for that, I was able to sleep well.

I felt safe knowing he was down the hall. Even though sometimes he slept like the dead, his presence left me feeling secure.

In the morning, I woke early to make him breakfast. Though I wanted to make him something from his background, I stuck with a Jamaican breakfast. He was always talking about his mother’s cooking.

I wouldn’t hold a candle to her.

I spent the day after he was gone creating new lesson plans. The school had given all their teachers what we needed to test our students on. It was my job to make it fun for them, to make them want to learn.

Though I wasn’t sure how long I’d been sitting there, I fell into what I was doing.

Focussing deeply.

When my phone began ringing, I literally fell out of my chair.

“Fuck.” I swore.

My phone was still ringing.

Groaning, I glanced at the phone and tilted my head.

—unknown.

Irritated, I declined the call, set the phone on my sofa and pulled myself to standing position. Gripping my hip, I waddled down the hall, swearing at every step.

It’d been two weeks of those calls. Each time I picked up it was always the same thing.

Dead air at first.

Then heavy breathing.

Then static.

A pain in my ass.

Sunday, I spent it alone and Monday morning found me marvelling at my students’ thoughts on Romeo and Juliet.

“Listen Miss Q.” Oshain Travers spoke when I pointed at him. “Romeo is an idiot. We in these streets not checking pulses now?”

The other students agreed.

“That’s all well and good.” Gloria called. “He was love dazed—not thinking straight.”

“So, he is an idiot!” Oshain doubled down.

I laughed.

“He was a teenager.” I replied.

“Same thing!” A student in the back called and the others laughed.

I couldn’t hide my snicker.

“Hot blooded,” I said. “Rebellious and checking for a pulse wasn’t really a thing back then.”

“But dying like that?” Oshain asked. “Nah, that’s dumb and he’s a punk. I’d have another shorty by tomorrow.”

“You pick your boogers and eat it. So—.” Gloria folded her arms. “No one wants you anyways.”

“Ohh.” The class chorused.

“Burn!” A voice hollered from the very back of the room.

I literally face-palmed.

“Y’all, come to order.” I was trying not to laugh. “Now, let’s talk about the assignment.”

The students groaned.

By the end of my day, I needed a nap.

And since my car was still in the shop, I headed toward the bus. I was crossing the lot when I saw Sam leaning on his car, a maroon-coloured Maserati that would turn heads.

Tilting my head, I smiled and jogged over to him.

“Samuel Tan.” I greeted him. “What are you doing here?”

“Picking you up.” Sam replied, opening the back door for me to put my bag on the seat. “You gamed to meeting my brother? I bribed him with food.”

I laughed and nodded.

We met with Sam’s brother at a Tim Hortons on Queen Street. It was where the financial district met the legal world. Where even their coffee shops smelled like money.

We arrived before him and I wandered off to the bathroom to freshen up.

When I returned the man with Sam turned to face me. Those eyes that saw through me like a shimmering mirror were familiar to me.

Those lips?—

“Kitty.” He laughed softly.

“You!” I greeted him.

“What—wait. You two know each other?” Sam wanted to know.

“Not know each other.” The man replied.

“I mentioned the man—I told you about him.”

Sam blinked for a few seconds before his eyes widened. He pointed at the newcomer with a shaking finger.

“This is the gorgeous, delicious brick wall of a man?” Sam asked.

I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

The man smirked at me.

“Well, Kitty.” He lowered his voice to a deep octave. “You were talking about me? I suppose being called a brick wall is an improvement.”

My face was on fire.

“Alisha Quinn.” Sam straightened his back then cleared his throat. “Meet my brother, Exodus Tan. Ex, meet my friend, Alisha Quinn.”

I shook his hand, but I had so many questions.

Sam was Chinese.

This man wasn’t.

“The questions can wait.” Exodus told me as if reading my mind. “Let’s find a table.”