Three people stood huddled on the sidewalk, eyes wide, breath visible in the cool night air. The hum of the police cruiser grew louder before it stopped just a few feet away. The headlights cast long shadows behind them.
The officer stepped out calmly, his hand resting near his holster—not threatening, but ready.
Officer Ramirez: “Evening, folks. Got a call about some suspicious activity in the area. Mind telling me what you’re doing out here this late?”
Jamal, the oldest in the group, stepped forward. His voice was steady, but his eyes flicked between the officer and his friends.
Jamal: “We just got off work, sir. Took the long way home—didn’t think it’d be a problem.”
The officer glanced at them, then toward the darkened alley they’d just come from. His flashlight clicked on.
Officer Ramirez: “You always take shortcuts through alleys with broken cameras?”
One of the others, a younger woman named Tasha, folded her arms. She didn’t like the tone, but she stayed quiet. Jamal didn’t flinch.
Jamal: “Not usually, no. But the main road’s blocked. Construction.”
Ramirez studied their faces. No visible signs of panic, no twitchy movements—just tired, wary people who looked like they wanted to go home.
He sighed, nodding slowly.
Officer Ramirez: “Alright. Just doing my job. Stay out of that alley—city’s marked it as unsafe. You’re free to go, but next time, stick to lit streets, yeah?”
Tasha: “Noted, officer. Thanks.”Three people stood huddled on the sidewalk, eyes wide, breath visible in the cool night air. The hum of the police cruiser grew louder before it stopped just a few feet away. The headlights cast long shadows behind them.
The officer stepped out calmly, his hand resting near his holster—not threatening, but ready.
Officer Ramirez: “Evening, folks. Got a call about some suspicious activity in the area. Mind telling me what you’re doing out here this late?”
Jamal, the oldest in the group, stepped forward. His voice was steady, but his eyes flicked between the officer and his friends.
Jamal: “We just got off work, sir. Took the long way home—didn’t think it’d be a problem.”
The officer glanced at them, then toward the darkened alley they’d just come from. His flashlight clicked on.
Officer Ramirez: “You always take shortcuts through alleys with broken cameras?”
One of the others, a younger woman named Tasha, folded her arms. She didn’t like the tone, but she stayed quiet. Jamal didn’t flinch.
Jamal: “Not usually, no. But the main road’s blocked. Construction.”
Ramirez studied their faces. No visible signs of panic, no twitchy movements—just tired, wary people who looked like they wanted to go home.
He sighed, nodding slowly.
Officer Ramirez: “Alright. Just doing my job. Stay out of that alley—city’s marked it as unsafe. You’re free to go, but next time, stick to lit streets, yeah?”
Tasha: “Noted, officer. Thanks.”
The group moved on as the cruiser pulled away, its lights fading into the distance. For a moment, the street fell silent again—just footsteps, city wind, and the unspoken relief of nothing going wrong.
The group moved on as the cruiser pulled away, its lights fading into the distance. For a moment, the street fell silent again—just footsteps, city wind, and the unspoken relief of nothing going wrong.
