text: Dark Angel. &#x200B; As she climbed the stairs up to the third floor, Staci glanced at her watch. It was 3:00 am, and she was tired from playing since ten at the club. She unlocked the apartment door and there was Benny, happy as always to see her. Benny was Staci's Jack Russel terrier. &#x200B; "Hey, Benny. What are you doing up so early in the morning?" &#x200B; Benny jumped up and down, waiting to be picked up. Staci stood her guitar case against the wall. She removed the purple wig and the Glock from her belly band, then turned to pick Benny up. &#x200B; "I suppose you are hungry? What say, we both have a snack before bed?" &#x200B; Benny’s response was to lick her face from top to bottom. She put him down in the kitchen, cut open a packet of dog food and emptied it in Benny's bowl. She poured a small bit of milk over his dog food. She filled a small dish of cereal for herself and sprinkled some blueberries on top. &#x200B; She stood by the open window staring down at the empty street. There was always something so calming about the early morning darkness. Her eye caught a disturbance at an apartment across the way. A man and a woman appeared to be fighting about something. &#x200B; The man was handsome, wavy brown hair and well dressed. It made Staci feel happy that she was not involved with anyone, except Benny. Suddenly she saw the man grab the woman, a large knife was in his hand. It was over in a few seconds as the man let her drop out of sight to the floor. &#x200B; At that same instant, the man looked out the window, across the way and spotted Staci standing at the window. Staci quickly stepped back away from the window. All the lights went off in the other apartment. Staci knew it wouldn't be hard for the man to find her apartment. She whispered softly. &#x200B; "Shit! I don't believe this happened to me." &#x200B; Staci grabbed the black case from the closet and tossed it on the bed. Benny knew what that meant. He immediately took shelter under the chair. She opened the case, picked up the M9A2 and the silencer. She slid the clip in and cycled the slide. &#x200B; Benny cocked his head and looked out from under the chair. Staci smiled. &#x200B; “Yes Benny, we’re going to move again.” &#x200B; The man made his way up the stairs and onto the third floor. He could see light coming from under the door of Staci's apartment. Slowly taking a knife from his pocket, he silently made his way toward the door. Suddenly, the lights in Staci's apartment went off. &#x200B; Now the man was faced with a choice. Break into an unknown apartment in the dark, with someone waiting inside, or wait for a better time. He chose a better time. &#x200B; Staci had to move, and move quickly before the killer came back. She couldn’t allow him find her. She called a friend in the band, and he located a place for her to stay temporarily. &#x200B; She quietly moved in with everything she had, including Benny. Benny was used to moving from place to place, he had no problem familiarizing himself with his new home. &#x200B; Staci switched the television to the 12:00 o'clock news while she fixed Benny his afternoon meal. &#x200B; “*In local news, county commissioner Jerry Nelson announced, he will be running for reelection*.” &#x200B; There he was, plain as day. Staci stared quietly at the television screen. &#x200B; “*Mr. Nelson told this reporter, women’s rights would be his top priority in this election*.” &#x200B; Staci switched off the television. It was time to give him a call. &#x200B; "I saw you kill that woman. I go to the police, unless you bring $100,000 to the old cannery on Mason street, tomorrow midnight." &#x200B; Staci remained in the shadows out of sight. The door slowly creaked open. It was commissioner Nelson, with a hand bag. He stopped and put the bag down on the small table. &#x200B; "I have your money. You can come out now." &#x200B; "Back away from the table." &#x200B; Jerry stepped back. &#x200B; “You have a lot of moxie lady! Extorting me for money, then meeting me out here alone in this old warehouse.” &#x200B; Staci remained in the darkness behind the crates. &#x200B; “I have no use for your money. It's my cover I care about.” &#x200B; Jerry laughed. &#x200B; “You think I was stupid enough to come here alone? I just buzzed my body guard on the phone.” &#x200B; Staci stepped out from behind the crate, with the pistol in her hand. &#x200B; “Don’t bother, he's not coming.” &#x200B; \#### &#x200B; Staci was coming back from the kitchen when the phone rang. The clock on the wall was at ten after two. A man's voice was on the other end. &#x200B; “Is your little setback handled?” &#x200B; Staci rubbed Benny’s belly as she sat down on the bed &#x200B; “Yes. We can get on with our business now.” &#x200B; “Good. The Jet is at the airport waiting for you. Say hello to Benny for me.” &#x200B; End.