"No, I shot at him. I think I missed." It was the same voice that had shouted at me.

"Jesus, Willard, what were you thinking? He was just running."

"Running from a felony crime scene you mean."

"We don't know that!"

"I know that. If he wasn't guilty why was he running?"

"Great logic Willard, just fucking great. Say, do you still have a day job in case this cop thing doesn't work out for you?"

"Just help me look for some blood or something alright."

"Man I'm telling you, you don't want to find this guy at least not if he's shot."

"Just help me will ya. He ran down this alley."

I cradled my heel with my right hand and thought invisible thoughts as I lay curled up underneath the garbage. The alcohol was wearing off and I began to shake with fear and shock. I had to urinate very badly and it was all I could do to remain motionless and control myself at the same time. I tried adjusting my foot to ease the pain, but any movement I made, no matter how slight, made it worse.

I heard them pass over me and imagined them scouring the alley with flashlights and pistols drawn. My hands were slimy with blood.

"He's gone, you missed him. Let's get the hell out of here, I'm hungry."

"I bet you five bucks that fire turns out to be arson," said Willard.

They were walking back to the car and getting closer to me again.

"He got lucky," continued Willard

"Him lucky? Shit, if you'd have hit him he'd have really been lucky. This is California man, he'd have sued the department for millions. You got lucky Jack."

"That's bullshit, it’s arson. You'll see." They were right on top of me.

I peered upward through a crack in the garbage and saw the bright beam of his flashlight as it darted quickly over me then disappeared. My foot throbbed in time with my racing heartbeat. I felt lightheaded and desperately craved a cigarette. I heard their voices grow more distant over the sound of my own breathing, which now came in staccato huffs along with violent shaking. Both car doors shut, but it was five long minutes before it drove away, five minutes of more bleeding and fearful shaking.