QR Code Murders: Fresh Cup

Outside, a bleak cloud of tear gas fell over the streets. The powerful stench did not seep through the department doors. Yawkisha sat next to the window. She continued to shoot. A black bandana obscured her face as she went live.

“The best way for you to do this is to capture everything you can,” Tamil said to her.

“What do you think I’m doing?”

“Good point.”

Yawquisha returned to her perch. The video she captured fueled her imagination for when she would edit this. Kim sat with her legs crossed. Captain folded his arms. Tamil paced.

“Have a seat, babe,” Kim suggested.

“No. I want a cigarette.”

“No you don’t. Cop a squat.”

Captain went into his office.

“If we have to stay cooped up here, we might as well make the most of it.”

“I already am,” Yawquisha retorted.

“It’s something that is weighing heavy on my conscience. I make the distinction between the nastiness out there and our boredom here,” Tamil said.

“I think we can still weather this with great insight and wonder into this whole situation. We can all see to it that we are still on the side of those uniforms,” Yawquisha mentioned.

Kim grabbed her keys. “C’mon. We’re going back out there.”

Captain just stayed in his office while the three of them piled into Kim’s car.

“This will definitely be a moment where we will be able to get right in the action.”

“That’s the idea,” Kim replied.

“If you take your art seriously—” Tamil started.

“It’s not art. It’s a documentary,” Yawuisha corrected.

“Yes, I see. I want you to be the number one videographer behind all of this. There will be an unfiltered nature to your execution and presentation of facts. Given that you will keep the same momentum, you should be able to find the crevices of this particular action,” Tamil added.

With the advent of the new technology, Yawquisha extended her idealism and thinking about the multitude of ways she could get into the heat, the teeth of the action.

At a red light, she barrelled out of the car.

“Goddamnit!” Kim shrieked. “Go after her!”

Yawquisha started booking it with the intention of evading the detective and her boyfriend. She raised her camera and shot as much footage as her camera could hold. Her battery life, however, was another story. She ran low on the bars for LTE as well.

Yawquisha found a coffee shop to use her charger…at least she thought. The owner boarded up the store. She kept it pushing. When she looked at her smartwatch, it showed her how close she was to the nearest charging station.

The rioters charged through the streets like a flowing river of chaos. What had started out as a peaceful demonstration had devolved into out and out anarchy. Street signs were torn from their posts. Sidewalks saw splashes of paint and graffiti.

With all of this going on, Yawquisha had no camera but fought every inch to get to a place to juice up her phone. She kept going as fast as she could, outpacing the other people in the streets.

Her long stride made her like a gazelle in the urban environment. Every step she took meant purpose and reality. She knew that she had to keep running. Another glance at her watch produced a green light that illuminated.

She went into the restaurant and plugged up her phone. The little red battery was still blinking on her screen. She exhaled. The restaurant wasn’t taking orders but she asked for some ice water. The owner obliged and handed her a fresh cup.