lition.Theirjagged,soot-stainedrooftopsofthesecrumblingstructureshuogetherinthecrampedskyline,dwarfedbythesapphire-blueskyscrapersglitteringiaheirgssmonolithsglitteringlikegemstones.

    TheapartmentitselfwaslikearottingbamboosliptossedamongapileofDVDs.Outofpce,fragile,quietlywhisperingitsownhistory.

    Andreally,whocaredabouthistoryanymore?

    Thosewhocouldaffordabetterlifehadlongsincemovedawaywiththeirfamilies.Mostunitsinthisbuildingwerehollowshellsnow,inhabitedonlybystraycats,dogs,ortheoccasionalchildbraveenoughtosneakin.Homelessdrifterssometimessquattedfhtortwo,buthemstayed.

    OnlyLu,thehomicidecaptain,remained.

    Hehadnomoney,nofamily.Sowhatdiditmatterwherehelived?Thisoldapartmeohimbyhisparents,wasstillstanding.Aslongasthepowerstayedon,theroofdidn''''''''tleak,andnoonecametoevicthim,hewouldstayhere.Maybeuntilthedayhedied.

    Itwasn''''''''tthatLuhadhoughtaboutsettlingdown.Itwasthatnowomaninherrightmindwouldwanthim.

    Moxioftenteasedhim:"Ifyou''''''''dbeensmart,youshould''''''''vegorafficorpatrol.Anythingbuthomicide."

    Sure,younggirlswouldgushoverhim,callinghim"BrotherLu"withthatmixofaweandgirlishfantasy.Butthatwasallitwas—fantasy.Noonewasfoolishenoughtothemselvestoamanlikehim.Womeoosmartforthatnow.

    Whenhewasyounger,Luhadhalf-heartedlytrieddating.

    Weird,hethought.Evensecurityguardsflirtingwithnannieshadbetterluckthanhim.

    Hefoughtcrime,upheldjustice,hadadetfadrightastheycame.Sowhycouldn''''''''thendagirlfriend?Atleastifhediedinthelineofduty,theywouldburyhimiyrs''''''''cemetery.Thegoverwouldcutaheftycheck—forthefamilyhedidn''''''''thave.

    Eventually,hegotusedtoit.

    Noattatsmeanthewasalwaysfree.Noparents,ives,nopressuretocarryonthefamilyline.hometoworryabout,sohecouldthrowhimselfintoeverycasewithouthesitation.

    Luhadclimbedtheranksquicklyinhisearlyyears,butaftermakingcaptain,hiscareerftlined.Everyoneknewwhy:noes,nobag.Thiswasasfarashewouldevergo.

    Beingahomicidedetectivewasdangerous,exhaustingwork.Butsomeoodoit.Hisoldcoll

lition.Theirjagged,soot-stainedrooftopsofthesecrumblingstructureshuogetherinthecrampedskyline,dwarfedbythesapphire-blueskyscrapersglitteringiaheirgssmonolithsglitteringlikegemstones.

    TheapartmentitselfwaslikearottingbamboosliptossedamongapileofDVDs.Outofpce,fragile,quietlywhisperingitsownhistory.

    Andreally,whocaredabouthistoryanymore?

    Thosewhocouldaffordabetterlifehadlongsincemovedawaywiththeirfamilies.Mostunitsinthisbuildingwerehollowshellsnow,inhabitedonlybystraycats,dogs,ortheoccasionalchildbraveenoughtosneakin.Homelessdrifterssometimessquattedfhtortwo,buthemstayed.

    OnlyLu,thehomicidecaptain,remained.

    Hehadnomoney,nofamily.Sowhatdiditmatterwherehelived?Thisoldapartmeohimbyhisparents,wasstillstanding.Aslongasthepowerstayedon,theroofdidn''''''''tleak,andnoonecametoevicthim,hewouldstayhere.Maybeuntilthedayhedied.

    Itwasn''''''''tthatLuhadhoughtaboutsettlingdown.Itwasthatnowomaninherrightmindwouldwanthim.

    Moxioftenteasedhim:"Ifyou''''''''dbeensmart,youshould''''''''vegorafficorpatrol.Anythingbuthomicide."

    Sure,younggirlswouldgushoverhim,callinghim"BrotherLu"withthatmixofaweandgirlishfantasy.Butthatwasallitwas—fantasy.Noonewasfoolishenoughtothemselvestoamanlikehim.Womeoosmartforthatnow.

    Whenhewasyounger,Luhadhalf-heartedlytrieddating.

    Weird,hethought.Evensecurityguardsflirtingwithnannieshadbetterluckthanhim.

    Hefoughtcrime,upheldjustice,hadadetfadrightastheycame.Sowhycouldn''''''''thendagirlfriend?Atleastifhediedinthelineofduty,theywouldburyhimiyrs''''''''cemetery.Thegoverwouldcutaheftycheck—forthefamilyhedidn''''''''thave.

    Eventually,hegotusedtoit.

    Noattatsmeanthewasalwaysfree.Noparents,ives,nopressuretocarryonthefamilyline.hometoworryabout,sohecouldthrowhimselfintoeverycasewithouthesitation.

    Luhadclimbedtheranksquicklyinhisearlyyears,butaftermakingcaptain,hiscareerftlined.Everyoneknewwhy:noes,nobag.Thiswasasfarashewouldevergo.

    Beingahomicidedetectivewasdangerous,exhaustingwork.Butsomeoodoit.Hisoldcoll