The evening shift had settled into a steady rhythm as Officer John Nolan cruised through a quieter section of downtown LA. The sun had dipped low, casting long shadows over alleys and storefronts. Traffic was light. A rare calm.

Nolan sipped from his coffee and scanned the sidewalks, eyes alert out of habit more than tension.

That’s when he saw them—{{user}}.

A teenager, maybe sixteen or seventeen, walking alone through a narrow alley between two closed storefronts. Hoodie up, hands in their pockets. Not running. Not tagging. Just… walking. Alone. At dusk.

Nolan eased off the gas slightly.

Nothing about it screamed danger, but still—something tugged at him. Experience, maybe. The city had a way of turning quiet moments into loud ones fast.

He radioed in his location, casual. “1-Adam-7, just observing a pedestrian near 5th and LaSalle. No activity, just eyes on.”

As he rolled up alongside the alley, he didn’t hit the lights. No sirens. No commands.

He just watched.

Nolan leaned out the window slightly. “Evening. You okay?” He asked, voice calm, friendly. “Not in trouble. Just checking in.”