I call a cab in the morning. It’s going to take a while to get here. Jackson suggests we head across the street to a diner. He orders a large breakfast and coffee. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep any food down, so I take long drags on my cigarette while he eats.
We don’t say much to each other during the meal. I’m sure he has questions, but he really doesn’t need the answers. I see the cab pull up outside waiting for me.
“Hey Jackson, can I get your number in case we need to talk about anything?”
He looks for some paper, settles on the menu.
“Look Jackson…. Thanks.” I wish I had something more to say, but were strangers in a diner and I’m so tired. “I mean really.” Jackson nods acceptance, but still doesn’t speak.
I leave money on the table for Jackson’s food. It is the least I could do. He doesn’t say goodbye, just watches me go. I exit the diner, and head for the cab. I’ve got to get out of this town.

Jackson is his name. He tells me this as we pull into a hotel parking lot. I probably would object, but Im lost in my own nightmare. He gets us a room and I stagger to the bathroom like a zombie. The blood on my clothes is seeping through, sticking to me, and I can’t wait to get it off. I notice my wound as I slide my pants down. It’s not too deep, and somehow the bleeding has stopped. I fall into the shower and watch as red fills below. The hot water eventually fades forcing me to reach up and stop the shower. I lay in the tub, cold and alone. I can hear the television. They are talking about us. My mind sees the clerk.
His face will follow my line of vision for the rest of my life.
The TV stops. Jackson knocks on the door. I want to say wait, stop, don’t enter, but none of it comes out. As Jackson enters I just look up at him, pleading for any kind of warmth, any drug to wash away what the shower can’t.

I need some sugar to keep going. I head for the staple of the weak, the slurpee machine. I’m pumping blueberry goo into my cup, when things change.
“Hey. Aren’t you Sparrow?” the clerk rings out in jilted english. I ignore him continuing to fill my cup.
“It is you. Tommy Lee was looking for you. I’ll give him a call.”
No. Not now, I’m so close to leaving this town, escaping his grasp. My mind filters to our last night together. Tommy stands above me, belt in hand. I watch as it descends towards my face, helpless.
“NO,” is all I say, and then things blur together. I act as a cornered animal, unable to see my enemies clearly. My slurpee spills over onto the clean floor. I’m not sure when I went for the gun, but the clerk drops the phone in fear. I hear three shots that sound like they come from within me, watch the fear turn to emptiness in the clerks eyes.
The impact of the gunfire knocks me back into a row of display beers. One smashes to the ground, and as I slide to the floor it sticks its’ jagged teeth into my leg. I’m numb. I look at the gun, warm to my touch, and toss it aside in disgust. What the hell did I just do? It wasn’t me I think, try to tell myself. Tommy Lee did this, but I know that’s a lie.
I’m a caged beast. This is what happens when the pet bites back.
The chime from the entrance wakes me from my shock. I notice the glass in my leg, and pull the broken bottle from it, spraying my pants with blood. It’s the guy from outside who enters. I think I’m crying, as he bends down to me.
“Sparrow” He says my name gently, like we are old lost friends. “Sparrow, Come on we need to get out of here.”

Soon enough, this stranger is driving my Corvette, me paralyzed in the passenger seat, as we race away from the 7-11, in a horrific night of senseless murder. Murder and freedom.

This will be the last ride in this city, my last trip down these streets. I have ended my life here, need to make a break, from Tommy, from everything. My band will carry me away, keep me protected from the road ahead. Sparrow Sprite will not show the world how broken she is. I refuse to. My blue Corvettes’ engine purrs at the traffic light. I need to finish one last thing.
Set the wheels in motion, make my escape. I pull into the 7-11. There’s a guy on the curb staring wide eyed.
“Hey got a smoke?”
I ask cause I could use one. He doesn’t. Still looks like he’s in shock at seeing me in front of him. WHATEVER. Let’s get this show on the road.
Into the neon store I go, a little bird about to fly away.

I’m running out of options. I head back to the 7-11. As I enter a young boy greets me from behind the counter. I wonder if they told him what happened here when they hired him? My mind sees the dead clerk, blood on the counter. It could have been this kid.
“Anything I can help you with sir?”
“Nah, I’m good. Just going to get a drink.”
I start heading back to the drink cooler where I found Sparrow. I reach in to grab a drink, close my eyes trying to recreate the images I saw that day. Dead clerk, Sparrow leaning against this cooler, broken bottle in her hand, blood on her clothes. I remember my heart racing, the sounds of sirens, the smells of disinfectant, and…….. the shine of the gun a few feet from Sparrow. It’s just laying there on the floor.
“Sir…” the kid is standing beside me. “Are you alright?”
I pull my hand out the freezer.
“Yeah I’m fine.” The kid looks at me like I’m crazy, probably wondering if I just enjoyed opening freezers. Maybe I am nuts. I leave the store without buying anything. How did I miss the gun before?

I’m at Gracies, a little hole in the wall across town. I’m looking for someone in particular, but I have to take my normal turns with the courtesy hello’s and how you doings?
Mack is at his usual table near the pinball machines. A bright light swings slightly above his head, casting a glow on his otherwise drab look. He sees me coming and motions for me to sit.
“Hey Jackson.”
“Mack. How are you.?”
Mack takes a pack of playing cards out, shuffles them and starts dealing. I take my hand, playing the game.
“Better than you I suppose. You know Lee was looking for you.”
Two threes, and nothing but trash in my hand. I fold.
“Yeah, you know why?”
“Had something to do with a little bird, what I heard.” Mack takes the cards, deals again.
“Yeah, Sparrow Sprite. What I’m trying to figure out is why he’s involved.”
“You really don’t know? Man Jackson, when you fell off the map, you fell off.”
I shrug my shoulders. I left this scene for a reason, and while I was gone, I stayed gone.
“He was dating her man. While you were in the slammer for Rahkim’s thing, they were a hot item.”
That explains a lot, but makes me wonder about one thing.
“Well shit. I guess I’m lucky I don’t know where she is. One more thing Mack, you know anything about that 7-11 holdup a few days back? The one that went sour?”
Mack eyes me curiously. “The one on Lexington? Heard it was some gangbangers. Didn’t end well for the clerk at all. Funny thing about that robbery. Nothing was missing.”
“What?”
“Yeah, when the store did the inventory, everything was accounted for. Kids must have scattered when the trigger went off. Something must have spooked them.”
Do these ‘gangbangers’ have Sparrow? Are they afraid of her being a witness? Would they have the ability to pull her off stage in front of a crowd of fans? It wasn’t Lee. I doubt it was some kids with guns. Something doesn’t add up. But I’m at a loss for answers.

I’m in my closet getting out my pistol when I hear Daisy behind me.
“Jackson?” She looks so small standing there, eyes watered. “Jackson, what kind of trouble are you in?”
“I’m not sure Daisy. Sorry you had to get involved.”
She moves up to me in a familiar motion, wrapping her arms around my neck, holding me close.
“It’s alright. Nothing I can’t handle. I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
I let her hold me for a take, and then pull her back locking my eyes into hers.
“You can stay here for now, O.K?” She nods, and a part of me feels good about her being in my apartment. In my range of life again. I check the safety on the gun, sliding it into the back of my pants.
“There’s food in the fridge, but avoid the eggs. I’m heading out, see if I can get some answers.”
Daisy comes close, and kisses my cheek. I take another look at her, and there’s some resemblance of my lost wife there. I give her a small smile,
“Alright. See you soon.”

Tommy Lee is standing there, long jean coat, his hair pulled back behind blue shades. Two of his men on each side, almost swallowing him in their protection.
“You must be Jackson. Do you know who I am?”
I nod.
“May we enter?”
I look behind me, towards the bathroom where Daisy is showering. It’s a signal to his beasts that I’m hiding something and they brush past me towards the bathroom.
“Hey” I start to stop them, but Lee lays one hand on my shoulder,
“Calm down Jackson, they’ll be gentle.”
I hear Daisy scream as they burst in on her, and then silence. Moments later the thugs exit out, shaking their heads.
“O.k. Sorry about that Jackson.” He pulls out a photo of Sparrow Sprite. “Heard you may know where I can find her?”
So he doesn’t have her. Which means, I benefit nothing by lying to him.
“I wish I did. Last I saw her she was playing on stage in DC. Next moment she’s gone.”
“Hmm. I heard the kidnapping story. Funny thing is you told Rahkim you didn’t know her at all”
Damn, dug the hole a little deeper.
“I lied.”
Lee mulls on this for a bit, lifting his eyeglasses to show me his deadly serious eyes.
“Alright, tell you what, she turns up, you call my bodygaurd Marcus at this number. You do that, we aint got a problem. Choosing to play it solo won’t win you anything on this Jackson. We got an understanding?”
I look at the card he hands me with Marcus’ number on it, still wondering what the hell is going on.
“Yeah I understand, one question though. Which one’s Marcus?”
Thug 2 flinches a bit of anger at my ignorance, and I nod his way as thanks for the information. Tommy Lee just smiles.
“Jackson, call him if you see her, and sorry about your lady friend in the shower. We had to be sure.”
I nod, putting on my most polite act possible as they leave. As soon as their gone I run to the bathroom, to find Daisy, already a complete mess, sobbing on the floor.
I’m going to need my guns.

My head spins as we walk down the street back to my apartment. Daisy follows behind quietly. Tommy Lee being involved means things are not going to end well. I wonder if he has Sparrow? I know its something I will have to pursue in a bit. I turn to Daisy. Her eyes are full of tears.
“Jackson… I’m so sorry.”
I could scream at her. Could make a scene on this shuttered street and nobody would notice. But I’m tired. Daisy’s tired. I put my hand on the back of her head, run my fingers through her hair, and pull her close. Her head leans into my shoulder, and I hold her there, wanting to protect her from her demons, even if just for a moment.
“Come on Daisy, lets get you some food.”
Were back at my place, Daisy is taking a shower, and I’m cooking some breakfast for the both of us, when the knock comes from the door.

I’m back in Rahkim’s lair sooner than I want to be. He’s sitting in his office smoking some oversized cigar. The air reeks of bad perfume and hairspray. I think I smell disinfectant as well, and I’m sure I don’t want to know where it’s coming from.
“What’s up?” I try to have some energy for this, but in truth, I’m physically wasted.
“Hey Jackson,” Rahkim barely looks up. “I thought I should call you.”
He motions to one of his thugs who heads into the other room. After a moment of silence, the thug returns holding Daisy by one of her thin, slender arms.
She is squirming to get free until she sees me. Her eyes freeze then, just for a second, and then she stops completely, her head down.
“Your wife..”
“Ex-wife.”
“Right. Whatever. Anyway, Daisy here came by looking to score,” Rahkim says with little emotion.
I shoot her a look of anger, but it’s tinged with pity. “I assumed with our history Jackson, the proper thing to do was give you a call. Let you handle it.”
Wonderful. Now I’m in Rahkim’s debt again, and for what? An ex-wife who just can’t help herself?
“Thank you Rahkim.” Daisy is now by my side. I grab her to go before Rahkims’ voice stops me.
“One more thing Jackson. You know a Sparrow Sprite?”
I turn back to him quickly.
“Who?”
“I don’t know. Tommy Lee’s goons were asking around about her. A bird told me you might know something.”
I stare at Rahkim for a few seconds trying to see what cards he’s holding. I take a chance.
“Nope. Can’t say I know her. Thanks for taking care of Daisy. Again.”
He nods, and I get the hell out of there, my head screaming with how deep this is getting.