Sui Generis – 1

 

(This story was previously published, twice, over ten years ago. Both publishers are now out of business.)

Brandon 'Brand' Huxley whirled around when he heard footsteps behind him. A man stood at the top of the fire escape on the far end of the roof, silhouetted by the ambient city lights. Given that Brand was wearing tattered jeans and a well-worn, sleeveless black T-shirt, he had the feeling he knew what the man was and why he was there.

"Move it, kid. It's illegal to sleep or store personal possessions on public or private property without permission. I'd really hate to have to arrest you."

Hissing in a breath between his teeth, Brand nodded. "I know, officer. I was just enjoying the view." He pointed to the flare of a firework as it lit the night sky.

"Uh-huh. Well enjoy it somewhere else. Okay?"

The officer stood there, obviously waiting for Brand to get moving. So Brand did, hiking his battered backpack over his shoulder then walking quickly past the cop and climbing down to the alley.

"Psst."

Brand looked around, spotting a kid about fifteen, maybe sixteen, peering at him from between two dumpsters. Brand held up one finger, pointed to the cop who was on his way down the fire escape, and then touched his lips to warn the kid to be quiet.

Moments later, the officer walked by Brand, saying, "Find a shelter. It's your best bet. That or hike it out of the city."

Brand nodded, resisting the urge to tell him the shelters were always full. He was certain the officer knew that.

When the man was out of sight around the corner, the kid stepped into view. "I know a safe place," he said.

"Thanks, but so do I. I was just having a little R&R up there watching the fireworks." Brand pointed to the roof of the building.

The kid shrugged and wandered away, calling back over his shoulder. "Don't say I didn't offer."

Brand chuckled. "I won't," he muttered, while going down the alley in the opposite direction.

Five minutes later he was on another rooftop. From his vantage point, he had a clear view of the alley running off in either direction between Fourteenth and Twenty-second. A pair of bicycle cops came down it, checking darkened doorways and around dumpsters, shooing off any transients they found. That didn't sit well with Brand. Not because of why they were doing it, although he found the law repressive at best. Even the homeless had the right to find somewhere to sleep, if they could—like the rooftop he was on at the moment. He pulled back as the cops got closer, not wanting to be rousted again.

When they had passed, he checked the alley one more time, cursing the cops under his breath for clearing it of its human denizens. "Go after the rats and the stray dogs," he muttered. "They're more dangerous than a street kid or a man who's lost his job and his home."

He chuckled softly. "Maybe I should get a job as a homeless advocate, handing out food and advice to those who need it. God only knows I'm out on the streets every night myself. Might as well do something useful while I'm looking for Fedor." He pondered that idea for all of a minute. No, I need my freedom to move around when and where I have to. I'll never find him otherwise.

Resting his hands on the low parapet at the back of the roof, he leaned over again, his gaze searching the length of the alley. The bright flash of another firework eerily lit it up in shades of green and blue. It was—as far as Brand could see—empty, except for the ubiquitous mangy dog sniffing around a dumpster two blocks down. 

Time to move on. Fedor's not going to come down here. Not when he'd be the only person in the alley, thanks to the cops. I'd see him before he saw me. That is not his intention, I'm sure.

Slinging his backpack over his shoulders, Brand made short work of getting off the roof. From there he moved to the alley between Lawrence and Larimer. It was quickly apparent the police had been along it as well, so he kept going. Three blocks later he found an alley that had either been missed in the cops' sweep, or where the people who regularly used it as their 'home' had returned once the cops were well away from the area.