"You need to go."

☆

The shouts from Rio to stop weren't enough to halt whatever was going on inside Remi's head. 

The noise split the air like a knife as the bullet left the gun. The action was so fast that it didn't allow enough time for Chanelle to think of a strategy. In that moment, it wasn't her head doing the thinking at all. It was her heart, as if by a reflex action,  she instinctively moves, just enough to shield the detective. She stares into Jojo's eyes as something hits her from behind. Chanelle falls into Jojo's arms as her body weight becomes heavy. 

Remi instantly drops the gun. Her hands shook at the realisation of her actions. She looks at her brother and Carlos. Sheer panic filling her bones. A shrill scream of emotion left her lips. She crashes to her knees. 

“Chanelle…. Chanelle…. Stay with me.” Jojo lowers herself to the ground, taking the weight of the bleeding woman in her arms.

Chanelle, breath shallow, looks up at the detective. She emits a weak chuckle. “You wish.” She mumbles as her eyes slowly close. 

“Chanelle. CHANNIE!” Jojo shouts. “No you don't.” She tries her best to stem the flow from the bullet wound in her back as Jojo holds her close. She looks up at the three people, all helplessly watching the scene. The sound of the sirens could be heard in the distance “Go… all of you.  Go!” It's cause Carlos to hesitate. His sister had been shot. After everything, she was still his sister.

He feels Rio pulling on his arm. “We have to go. We can't stay.” 

He looks at the detective as she pulls her phone from her jacket. “Ambulance….” 

“She will be alright.” He again tugs at Carlos’ hand as they head towards Remi, who was still sobbing uncontrollably. “Get up. We have to go.” Rio pulls his sister to her feet. 

“No. I need to stay. I shot someone!” She shouts. 

“You need to go!” Jojo shouts. “No one knows you're here. Go or I'll shoot you myself.” 

Rio pulls at his sister's arm as they head to the black van. They all pile in as Rio turns the key already in the ignition, and they race away from the scene, leaving a cloud of dust in their wake.  

Jojo continues to hold Chanelle tight, rocking her in her arms. “You are not leaving me like this. That's cheating. You hear me?” She feels the tears want to fall but manages to push them back as the blue lights come into view. She carefully lays Chanelle onto the ground, quick to pick up the fallen gun in question. Holding it in her hands. 

“Detective Kim. What's happening? Why are you here?” Detective Wilder hurries from his car as he dashes to the scene. 

“Finishing what she started.” Jojo swallows hard. Not letting one tear fall as she created her version of events. “What are you going to do now?” 

Detective Wilder ushers a uniformed police officer toward his side. “Jojo Mai Kim. You are under arrest for suspected misuses of a firearm, with intent to harm. You do not have to say anything unless you wish to do so, but anything you do say will be taken down and may be given in evidence.” 

Jojo smiles at the words spoken. She felt oddly at ease as the outcome unfolded. Maybe it was always destined to be this. Their lives intertwined. Not being able to live with or without each other. But at least Chanelle Matheson was not going to ruin anyone else's life. “It seems you do your job by the book after all. I'm proud of you.” She half smiles at the detective as she is cuffed and is led away. As she is guided into the back seat of the police car, the ambulance arrives. The blue lights flashing bright. That glimmer of hope that Chanelle had a second chance in more ways than one. Not only a chance to be pulled back from the brink, but a chance to make new choices. Time would tell. As for Jojo, well, just or unjust, she had made her choice.