'A new year without the tailors who mend the town's terrors.'

The words rang in my head and flashed every time I closed my eyes. My first death threat, I thought. So this is the feeling.

I shuffled along with my HHPD colleagues. We all made our way from the station to the town square for the end-of-the-year fireworks show.

Apparently, the residents of Harrowing Hills spent New Year's Eve gathered at the ultra-spacious town square located in the center of the town. The space was more circular than square and all the tents and shops had been cleared as usual to give space for the few hundred citizens. Unlike the interlocked floor almost everywhere else, the town square was distinguished by brilliant green grasses and overhead wirings that had little light bulbs lined across, giving a stylish illumination in the nighttime.

As I rounded up a corner, I could finally spot the town square a few meters away. A crowd of people had already gathered to watch the eccentric fireworks that usually followed the Mayor's speech.

A stage had been set up at one end on top which, high ranking officers from the HHPD flanked the recently elected Mayor, Crane Matthews.

If only I told Chief Allanso that I was also a potential target, then my heart could rest easy with a security team watching my back. But I had weighed the matter and surmised it was better I only told him about the mayor so that I wouldn't be perceived as proud or arrogant by my colleagues.
And that was exactly what I did; making Chief Allanso replace the mayor's security team with HHPD's finest.

However, something still didn't feel right. Mayor Crane had men at his back and both his sides but none in front of him, making him visible to the crowd he was to address.

He wore khakis and a tropical shirt tonight, and the lights attached to the stage made sure he was the center of everyone's attention. People stretched their necks from behind to get a look at him.

His front was exposed, and if someone wanted him dead, it'll have to be a ranged attack.

My brain processed by the trickling seconds. Seeing as the rooftops of surrounding buildings were really low, I came to a conclusion. "A clear shot in such a setting can only be gotten from the front row."

As Mayor Crane began speaking over the microphone, I squeezed my way through the sea of people, hoping I could reach the front before it was too late.

At last, I popped out in front and took a whiff of fresh air. With a swift jerk of my head, I noticed a particular man who stood out from the rest. He looked like he was in his late forties, dressed in a faded shirt that looked like barf and faded camo shorts. His hands were shoved into the pockets of the shorts as he subtly shuffled sideways to stand directly in front of the mayor.

"Freeze! Police!" I lashed out my gun and pointed it at his forehead.

Shock flooded his expression for a moment but he quickly pulled out his handgun and locked me in a standoff. Fear can lead a person to make several rookie mistakes.

The officers beside the mayor turned the tables around by whipping out their handguns. Slowly, the mystery murderer dropped his gun and raised his hands in surrender.

Shrieks and gasps erupted from the crowd and more officers came forward to restore order.

It took a while, but everyone eventually calmed down and the suspect was driven off to the station.

Mayor Crane, after recovering from the shock, called me up to give me a big handshake and a word of thanks. I wasn't one for the attention but I guess I couldn't refuse the mayor's request.

Then after, he ordered the fireworks to begin early. The first one popped with a green dispersal of light in the sky and others followed the beautiful pattern showcasing a mix of colors.

As I smiled up at the fireworks, my hair and t-shirt flapping in the wind, I thought to myself "Maybe I should ask Danielle out sometime."