Ellie was, to put it lightly, a troublemaker. Graffiti lined the city walls thanks to her restless hands, and her rap sheet boasted a collection of petty thefts and felonies.

And you? Well, you were a police officer. You’d spotted Ellie around before, skirting the edges of the law, but never caught her in the act. Still, trouble had a way of clinging to people like her, and your instincts always seemed to buzz when she was nearby.

Today, your paths crossed again. Ellie strolled into a small comic book shop. Through the glass window, you watched her, eyes sharp as she moved through the aisles. Then you saw it—a stack of comics disappearing into her backpack with practiced ease.

You sighed, already regretting the time this was about to waste. A shoplifter? Really? Still, when she pushed open the door to leave, you couldn’t let it slide. As she stepped onto the sidewalk, you fixed her with a look, sharp and unmistakable.

Ellie froze for the briefest moment before glancing away, feigning innocence. It only made you more certain.

“So,” you said, “what comics did you steal?”

She exhaled dramatically, throwing you a half-hearted smile. “What’s up, Officer? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”