Viktor Lih

[Jacinda]

Costa was surprised at Lih's action. Still, he was grateful. He was getting intel now. He was a good kid. Always tryin. Poor bastard prolly thot this was all his fault too. Always trying to do more. Costa had to get out of this for his wife and kids. But for the kid too. Guilt from thinkin he'd gotten his partner killed would paralyze him forever.

He shoved forward. Well ok. He shifted leaning on Lih. Stim or no, he'd taken it hard. Lost a lot of blood. Still, he moved on.

Soon they were outside. He was watching for backup. The doc. Anyone.

And then he saw her. "Stop." He wispered to Lih. Girl was a wreck. He tried not to see she was only a few years older than his daughter. Was getting tougher, tho, as Sabrina grew up. The burden of knowledge and all that shit.

She saw them and ran back the direction she musta come. An old club. He used the jewel comm to indicate where they were goin. Carefully he stood on his own, ignoring Lih's concern. "I got this kid. You just have my back." 

Weapon in hand, he headed down the direction she went. The stim did its job. He felt good. Body wasnt as responsive, but it was enough. A look at Lih, then in one direction, kid the other. Clear. He paused, listening.

Then he indicated where to go. Down a hall, likely to the back room of a manager. They passed restrooms on the way and had to clear them too. Finally, in front of the door, he looked at Lih. "Ready?"

Door flung open, weapons raised, he froze.

The girl and another were there, hair all wild, bodies dirty and faces filled with fear. And at least two children, maybe 2 years old.

"Fuck" was all Costa could say.