Page 99 of In the Line of Ire

Olivercontinued to wave his gun around as he stomped in a circle,apparently torn as to whom he actually might shoot. "It's nottrue," he called. "I'm not trying to kill Joan. I didn't killAlison either. I just wanted to scare her when she said she didn’twant any further part of it and the gun went off and scaredme!"

"Itscared you?" asked Joan. "You shot her!"

"Byaccident!" screamed Oliver, his face reddening. He lowered his gunslightly, mopping his face with the wide end of his tie. Anothercrime was thus added to his list of bad behavior.

"That'smanslaughter, at the least," said Solomon, stepping forwards. "Putyour gun on the ground and we can talk to the district attorney. Weknow you weren't behind the counterfeiting operation, but you havevaluable intelligence you can provide for us."

Oliverraised the gun and aimed it at Solomon. Seeing his fearful attitudeand caged demeanor, I was afraid he might shoot without thinkingabout the consequences. Distracting him could result in an evenworse response as there was no telling whom he might aim his gun atnext.

"Loweryour gun. You're surrounded," ordered Solomon.

Therewas no way I could reach Solomon in time. I glanced at the forkliftparked near me and saw the keys dangling from the ignition. I hadno idea how to operate a forklift but I could drive a car in heavytraffic with the general public so how hard could it be? Before Icould answer that, I’d already hopped into the seat and turned onthe ignition. It started up quietly, the engine little more than agentle purr. I pumped the gas and released the brakes, turningtowards Oliver. Pushing my foot down on the right pedal, I spedtowards him at a speed I never imagined possible for the smallvehicle.

"I don't want to go to prison. I'm not cut out for it. You'llnever take me ali-i-i—help!" he screamed as I scooped him up in the forks. The gunin his hand went off and everyone hit the deck. I pulled a leverand lifted Oliver into the air, his legs dangling helplessly as heclung to the steel forks. The gun dropped to the floor with a tinyclunk and mercifully, didn't misfire. I kept my foot down until wesmacked into the nearest wall. The forks punctured the drywall andplaster crumbled out, sending up a small plume of dust.

Behindme, Maddox handcuffed Joan where she lay flat on thefloor.

Iapplied the brakes, despite the forklift not going anywhere, andturned the ignition off before hopping out.

Solomonjogged over. "Interesting," he said, looking up into the cab. "Thisis a new maneuver."

“It seemed right. Oliver was in the line of ire.”

“You mean I was in the line of fire.”

“Nope. He definitely incurred my ire by pointing a gun atyou.”

"Whendid you learn to drive a forklift?" asked Delgado.

"Thirtyseconds ago," I told them.

"You'rea natural," said Delgado.

I smiledat the praise. "Thank you." After glancing up at Oliver stilldangling and whimpering about his phobia of falling, I asked, "Howcan we get him down? I think the forklift is stuck."

Solomonreached up and grabbed Oliver's leg, which he tugged. Oliver yelpedand slipped through the forks, falling in a heap at Solomon's feet."Like that," said Solomon.

"Am Iunder arrest?" he asked, his jaw wobbling as he stared up at us inwonder.

"No,"said Solomon. "We're not the police."

"So Ican leave?" Oliver brightened. He got to his feet, dusted off hisclothes, and checked his limbs for damage. "I'm going to sue youall. Especially you," he said, shaking his fist at me. "You almostkilled me."

"Youpointed a gun at my husband. You intended to kill him! You're luckyI didn't drive you straight off the loading bay and let this thingcrush you."

Oliversearched the floor. "Where's my gun? I think I droppedit."

"Seriously?" I asked.

"Thisit?" asked Maddox. He held the gun in a plastic baggie. As Oliverreached for it, Maddox pulled it away so that Oliver's handsgrasped the air. "But first, you're under arrest."

"Ithought you weren't going to arrest me!"

"I'mnot. I didn't say anything about the FBI." Solomon grinned as hestepped out of the way.

"Can youget these cuffs off me now you have the real criminal?" calledJoan.

"Nope,"said Solomon.

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