.............

   "Dang it", I muttered under my breath. Rising slowly, the bullet in my leg kept me from running. The cops were catching up. Still, the adrenaline was still rushing through my body. With all my strength, I struggled to sprint to the fence. Loud shouting signified that the cops were on my feet. Putting some pressure on my bad leg, I jumped over the fence and hid in the shadows of the night. Just my luck.
   From a corner, I could see the two cops flashing their lights in the distance. They were the same old stupid ones. Never could catch a thief at night. My heartbeat slowered at bit. Pain hit me from head to toe. Blood was still dripping out the side of my pants. Staggering, I made my way home.
   Emptying my sack, I organized the contents into piles. One was full of wallets, another was jewelry, and another was other crummy stuff. Smiling, I found the one I was looking for. It was a big caret diamond ring, probably worth about 50,000 dollars or so. The rest, I hid under the wooden floor while the ring I pocketed for myself.
   Feeling a bit weary, I rested on the blanket spread out in the grubby apartment. My eyes closed slightly for I was a very light sleeper and had to be on the look-out at all times.

   Morning came and once again, I step out into the fresh breeze, only to be succumbed by the day ahead of me. Still lingering in my pocket was the diamond ring. It clinked against the other items I had. Strolling across the street, I head over to a small restaurant and stole a few items they had there. After eating my fill, I return to the apartment and take out the items from the night before. Stuffing them in a black bag, I hurried over to my pal's place.

   Once I arrived, he was already there waiting for me.

   "Whatcha got?" he inquired.

   "Nothing much. Just a few tips here and there", I answered carefully. I had no intention of telling about the ring. Surely, he would take it as his own.

   "Nothing else?"

   I shook my head.

   "That's all I got. People nowadays are careful about what they keep with them. Couldn't grab much before the cops started chasing me."

   He inspected all the items very carefully before casting the bag to a corner of the room.

   "Yeah, it's not much but that's pretty good for a scum like you. Dallas, someday you should come with me to see how the professionals work at this. Stealing ain't a crime but an art."

   I rolled my eyes. This was the third time he was lecturing me about some dumb piece of crap.

   "I get it, Petinsky. Do ya always need to lecture me? I can steal my own way."

   He chuckled before circling his arm around my shoulder.

   "Dallas, you crack me up. Just because you're a quick tiny fella doesn't mean you have all the brains." He tapped his hand on my head.

   The desire to tell Petinsky about the ring grew inside me. But I didn't want him to take it away. After all, he was a big guy and could easily tackle me down or even worse, kill me. Whatever is was, you had to stay away from him once he runs out loose.

   "Yeah. Hey look, I need to go now. Time's about up and the folks are about to head in. I need at least a few more catches before I make my day."

   Petinsky loosened his arm and let me exit out the door. Before I left, he called out, "Watch your back, Dallas. You never know who might come out and steal you."

   I shuddered at his comment but continued to walk. Right when I got out, I spotted an old woman with a purse in her hand. Eyeing the purse greedily, I started walking towards her.

   As I got closer and closer, my feet had the sudden urge to run. My pace became quicker and quicker until I raced pass the lady and grabbed the purse. She let out a scream but I was already out of sight. With one strap broken, I hauled the purse over the brick wall before jumping over it. Hidden behind a building, I heard people coming out from their houses, shouting to others to go on a look-out for the thief. I smiled. They'll never catch me.
   Stuffing the purse underneath the layers of my shirt, I approached a nearby park as if I was an innocent bystander. A man walked pass me and didn't even notice my unusual lumpy shirt. People never notice.
   Suddenly, I had a feeling something was missing. Reaching into my pocket, I couldn't find the ring. Searching every single pocket, I still couldn't find it. Dropping the purse, I scrambled to search for the ring. Every crook and every corner of the park and still no sign of the ring. I then began retracing my last steps and went back over the brick wall. Still no sign of anything. By now, my face was sweating hard in the heat of panic. The ring was the most precious thing I had ever stolen and now it was gone.
   Suddenly, the same man I met at the park approached me. He grinned widely and extended his hand. Confused, I shook it.
   Needless to say, the minute I touched his hand, hand cuffs were already clasped on me. As I struggled to escape, more men surrounded me. I realized that they were all wearing blue uniforms. Crying out, I hopped to the nearest gap but they soon closed it.
   The same man extended out his hand once again. His palm was closed as if he was holding something.
   "Are you looking for this?" he asked. And right in his palm was the diamond ring I had stolen and lost.