Pop Music & Beanbags

The Abandoned Cannery was a rust-bucket fortress on the edge of the river. Rain lashed against the corrugated metal roof.

Inside, Ryan Graves was pinned down behind a forklift. Bullets chipped away at the concrete floor around him.

He was outgunned. Vinnie and six armed thugs were closing in.

"Give it up, Detective!" Vinnie shouted from the catwalk. "Your partner isn't coming to save you! She cashed the check!"

Ryan reloaded his clip. His hands were steady, but his heart was ash. Zoe played him. He was going to die here, and the worst part wasn't the death. It was knowing he had been right about the world all along. It was cruel, and hope was just a lie used to sell juice boxes.

He took a breath, preparing to stand up and fire.

Suddenly, a sound cut through the gunfire.

Music.

Loud, thumping, bubblegum pop music. *“Walking on Sunshine”* by Katrina and the Waves.

It was getting louder.

*ROAR.*

The loading bay door exploded inward.

A police cruiser—Zoe’s cruiser—smashed through the metal sheeting, airborne for a split second like a majestic, siren-wailing whale. It landed with a bone-jarring crash, drifting sideways, scattering crates and gunmen.

The music blared from the PA system. *“I’M WALKING ON SUNSHINE! WOAH!”*

The driver’s door kicked open.

Zoe Chen rolled out. She wasn't holding a pistol. She was holding the riot squad’s beanbag shotgun.

"Class is in session, boys!" Zoe screamed.

*BOOM.*

A beanbag round hit a thug in the chest, knocking him flat.

*BOOM.*

Another one down.

"Zoe?" Ryan stared, forgetting to shoot.

"Get in the car, Graves!" Zoe yelled, racking the shotgun slide. "I'm aggressive when I listen to 80s pop!"

Ryan scrambled from cover. He ran toward her.

Vinnie appeared on the catwalk, aiming an assault rifle.

"Zoe!" Ryan tackled her.

They hit the wet concrete just as bullets chewed up the spot where she had been standing.

Zoe scrambled up, aiming the shotgun at the catwalk. "Sit down, Vinnie!"

She fired. The heavy bag hit Vinnie in the shoulder, spinning him around and sending him toppling over the railing. He landed in a pile of fish nets, groaning.

Silence fell, except for the cheerful music still blasting from the crushed cruiser.

Ryan lay on top of Zoe, shielding her. He lifted his head.

"You came back," he wheezed.

"I told you," Zoe smiled, though her lip was bleeding. "I'm turning over a new leaf. And saving your butt."

Ryan laughed. It was a breathless, hysterical sound.

Then he saw the blood on her arm.

"You're hit."

"Just a graze," Zoe looked at the tear in her uniform. "It stings. Like a papercut. A really big, hot papercut."

Ryan ripped off his tie and wrapped it around her arm. His hands were shaking.

"I thought you sold me out."

"I would never," Zoe said, looking into his storm-colored eyes. "You're my partner. And you forgot to water Herbert."

Ryan looked at her like she was the only light in the entire dark, gritty city.

"Let's get out of here," he said. "Before the song loops."

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