Constable Snow rushed up the flight of steps in the hotel staircase. By the time he reached third floor, he gasped for air and stumbled through the door. He waddled across the hallway, as fast as his well aged legs could carry him.

Snow lunged over to slap a button on the elevator – then bolt back into the stairs!

Without waiting he rushed up to fourth floor and barrelled through another door once more. After a swerve, he leapt over to slap one hand to the call button – up down, didn’t matter, both! – and he tripped over his heels as he smacked into the stair doors again.

Finally, he reached fifth floor and rushed over to the elevator. By the time he arrive, he saw the elevator pausing at third, then move to fourth and stopping for a bit.

“Turbo! Turbo! Where are you!?”

[Last camera! Give me more time!]

“Forget about it, get out or they’ll see you!”

[I can’t just leave a gaping hole in the wall for no reason, let me fix things first!]

Constable Snow groaned as he doubled over to catch his breath. By the time he looked up, the elevator was close to five! A blink, and he fumbled to adjust his phone. He put Turbo on hold again, this time he dialed a random number!

The elevator doors open.

Gold Neck started to walk out, with Silver Tooth hopping to his feet off the wall inside and rolling a toothpick around in his lips. Right before they could set their foot out of the elevator, Constable Snow blocked them with his huge body!

“Look. Dollface, I told you I don’t love you anymore.” Snow leaned against the opening of the elevator. It tried to close, but he pushed an arm out to block it from moving. After a few tugs against his hand, the elevator made a beeeeeeep noise. “What we had, was just a one night stand. You calling me now is just gonna make this complicated. Clean break, that’s all I ask for. You can see other guys, I can go back to my wife.”

Gold Neck and Silver Tooth exchanged glances. They both took an awkward step back, waiting out for the bear of a man to finish his conversation.

“Huh? What was that?” Snow craned his neck with a smirk. “You’ll rat out on me? Try me beyaaatch!”

Silver Tooth made an ‘oooooh buuurn’ gesture, hiding his cackle with a slap to his knee. Gold Neck just eyed his watch with a frown.

“You don’t have the guts to tell your BFF, I know it.” Snow gave Silver Tooth a nod in agreement and talked back to his phone. He then lowered his voice, as if cooing. “Hey, hey listen. I know you love me. I know it’s gonna hurt. But it’s for the best. You don’t want to lose your friend, and I don’t wanna lose my family. So get it?”

Snow’s eyes caught movement in the hallway and he looked over.

He could see Turbo pushing his cleaning cart. The constable in disguise was about to turn towards the elevator. Upon seeing Snow clogging the elevator, Turbo booked it in the opposite direction with his cart.

“I know it’s gonna hurt.” Snow whispered. “It’s going to be okay. Find a better guy...got to go, meeting some guys at the pub. I love you too. Take care.”

Constable Snow shook his head and clicked the end call. He looked up, hearing the beeeeep noise and turned to the two men behind him. “..Oh terribly sorry!”

“No no, it’s aaall right.” Silver Tooth waved his hand. “Every guy has a girl problem. Completely understand.” He gestured a palm at the door. “If you don’t mind.”

“Oh yeah! Yeah. Pffffft. Women.” Snow shrugged and cleared the doors by walking into the elevator. In exchange, Gold Neck and Silver Tooth strode out and into the halls, towards their room. Once they were out of sight, Snow quickly slapped the close button.

Swiiiiiiiiiiish, Tonk. Close.

“...Oh god.”

Swoooosh, Bing. Open.

Snow realized he messed up. He forgot to hit a floor number. So it was easy for Silver Tooth to re-open the elevator door with a call button. It was his turn to lean his arm against the closing door. “Sorry. Quick question for you, fine citizen.”

“...Y-yeah?”

Silver Tooth jabbed a thumb to the side. “Curious: the roads are kinda closed up, with hose trucks and street zambonis cleaning everywhere. They shooting a movie or something?”

“Huh?...Oh that. Uh.” Snow took in as careful breaths as possible. By chance, he noticed the handle of a gun hiding under Silver Tooth’s coat. The type of firearm that can pierce through Kevlar. Snow resisted the urge to gulp. “Uh...Parade! Yeah. Heard there’s going to be a parade in a couple of days, big event. Sponsored by our biggest mall, Miracle Plaza. You know, tourists and international press.”

“Riiiight. Right. Makes sense.” Silver Tongue nodded with a roll of his tongue in his cheek. He scratched a finger on his cheek bone. “How do ya, you know, get over it?”

“Ah, L-Lucky Clover Shopping Centre h-has an indoor bridge tunnel, couple blocks next to the hotel. Connects to an investment complex across the street.”

“Oh that would be convenient. Lucky for us we don’t drive. Hahahaha.” Silver Tooth nodded with a slap of his knee. Then he backed away, waving, and left.

“...Fuuuuuuuu—” Snow gripped his chest as the elevator door closed. After catching his breath he reached over to press a floor button and—

Swiiiiiish. Bing. Open

Silver Tooth pulled his hand from the elevator call button to fold both of them into an apologetic prayer. “One more question, ever so kindly.”

“...Shoot—I mean, ask away.”

“My friend here and I are new in this fine town. Know any good place to, you know, have a couple of beers, meet some friends and...well.” Silver Tooth smirked, and he waved his hands in an hourglass curve, resisting his urge to laugh out loud.

Snow paused, staring...then sucked in the air to smile.

“Solar Bar! Yeah, great beer, great music! They also have private room for karaokes, so that’s an added bonus! Company is good and uuh...” Snow waved his hand in an hourglass curve, then added two thumbs up!

“Heey! Excellent! Thank you ever so much.” Silver Tooth saluted to Snow and backed away down the hall to meet up with Gold Neck. He left with a cheery, “Ride free citizen!”

“Yeaaah!” Snow kept up his two thumbs up, until the door closed. He slapped whatever number he could find that wasn’t labelled five. It was only when it started to move in god knows which direction did he slump to the floor of the elevator. Sweat finally burst from his forehead. He pulled out his phone, unpausing the hold. “...Turbo you son of a—”

[Hey! You’re the one who didn’t watch them!] Turbo gave a groan on the line. [I’m back at the car, everything is set. No time for audio, but it will do. Get your butt over here.]

Click.

Snow gazed at his own reflection across the polished elevator door for a minute. After a deep breath, he called another number.

[Ford speaking.]

“Cap...they saw me.”

[...You alright? Any injuries?]

Snow shook his head, exhausted and hair drenched. “They didn’t figure out who I am, but they saw my face. I can’t follow them.”

There was a pause on the other end of the line, tapping noises. Then, Captain Ford spoke again. [Cancel all observations. Return back to the station. Sergeant King and Constable J.J. found where the Jones are hiding. I’ll have Criminal Intelligence Bureau to take over, they’re good as this espionage stuff.]

“Yeah...C.I.B....great guys...yeah.”

[Snow. Are you having a heart attack?]

“Yeah. I called my wife by accident.”