There was a twenty-four-hour drugstore across the park and he sat on the bench staring at it. A few customers went in. There was an armed guard standing close to the entrance. He didn’t look like the type to risk his life for his employer. There were also multiple security cameras.

If he went in there, the police wouldn’t be long in following. He’d have to get in and out quickly. He’d need a car as soon as he left. There was a reasonable amount of traffic on the street outside, but he wasn’t at all confident of his ability to drive.

It was a bad plan. Messy. Someone might get hurt.

But as he looked down at his leg again he knew he had no choice.

He got up from the bench and dragged himself across the park. The initial burst of adrenaline from the accident was wearing off. He stumbled into the drug store, pistol drawn, and had to use one of the plastic shopping carts to support himself. Blood dripped in a pool around him and he clearly made a frightful sight. As soon as the customers saw him, they stopped what they were doing and backed away.

The security guard reached for his gun but Lance shook his head.

“Don’t,” he said. “No one’s getting hurt. I’ll be gone in a minute.”

The guard was conflicted and Lance limped toward him and took his gun from its holster.

“What’s your police response time?” he said.

“Five minutes,” the guard said.

Lance nodded. He knew it would be slower than that, but he was in no state for a shootout. He needed to get what he needed as quickly as possible, and he needed to leave. He looked around the store.

Everyone stared at him, cashiers, customers, the pharmacist, their eyes wide with shock.

“All right,” he said. “Everyone remain calm. I need some help and then I’m going to leave.”

He pointed to one of the cashiers. “You,” he said.

She looked at him like he’d just handed her a death sentence.

“I need medical supplies. Bandages, alcohol, painkillers, whatever you have. And a needle and thread.”

She stared back at him blankly.

“Go,” he said. “Now.”

She ran to the aisle and began filling the basket haphazardly. He hoped she’d manage to get him something that might be useful. He pointed at the next cashier. “You. Give me cash. Big bills. Whatever’s in the till.”

She passed him the cash and he took it from her, keeping an eye on the guard the entire time.

Next, he turned to the pharmacist at the dispensing counter, a woman in her twenties with a white coat and glasses, and said “Come here.”

She didn’t move.