Page 103 of Head Over Feels
ShawnandImoved slowly past the cops.Ididn’t make eye contact withCarlosorArtie, not wanting to get distracted.Shawngrew tired of holding the gun against my temple.Nowhe had it resting on my shoulder and pointing at my jaw.Hebreathed heavily in my ear, and the smell of theIPAhe’d had earlier was going to turn me off beer for a good long time.
Atlast we made it through the restaurant’s front doors.Thecops hadn’t been able to completely clear the parking lot, but theBuickwas alone in a ring of patrol cars they’d set up about a hundred feet from the restaurant’s entrance.
Abullhorn crackled. “Shawn, if you letMalcolmgo and surrender peacefully, we’ll work with theDAto get you a lighter sentence.”CaptainDriscollwas a talented liar.He’dbe fun to invite to game night when we were playing poker.
Surprisingno one,Shawnscreamed back, “Fuckyou!”Iwinced, wishing he hadn’t been right next to my ear.
Themuzzle ofShawn’spistol dug into my neck.IhopedFosterwasn’t lettingFelixwatch this.
ItoldShawn, “Mycar’s right there.Thewhite convertible.”
“Fuckinghell,”Shawncomplained. “Youcouldn’t drive anything less conspicuous?”
Hah, if he only knew.
“It’sthe carIhave.Doyou want it or not?”Iheld the keys up to my shoulder likeIexpected him to take them and drive away.
Provingonce again what a numbskull he was,Shawnsaid, “You’redriving.”Heshoved me forward and, rolling with the opportunity,Ipretended my leg collapsed under me.Iwas disappointed whenShawncaught me and held me upright with an arm around my waist.Oh, well.It’dbeen worth a try.
Wemade our way around to the driver’s door.Ipulled it open and acted likeIwas about to get into the car.Shawnmust’ve realized at the last minute how exposed this would leave him, and he said, “Wait.”Hemoved me aside—more carefully this time—and, holding the gun on me, he backed into the driver’s seat.
WhileIwaited forShawnto slide across to the passenger side, a movement in my peripheral vision made me glance into the rear seat’s footwell.HastilyIraised my eyes and pretended to gawk at all the cops around us.
“Okay, get in and let’s get out of here.”Unlikethe last asshole who’d held me at gunpoint,Shawnwasn’t dumb enough to gesture with his gun.Toobad.Thesnipers could’ve ended this whole clusterfuck in an instant.
Islid behind the wheel, stretching my bad leg toward the passenger side.Shawnmade a surprised sound when he sawI’dbe driving with my left foot, but he focused his gaze back on my face too fast for me to take advantage of his distraction.
Iwedged my cane between the seats and put the key in the ignition.Ididn’t bother to tellShawnto put his seatbelt on.
Ipressed down on the gas pedal once, then put my foot on the brake and turned the key.Nothing. “Um, hang on.”IgaveShawna placating smile and assured him, “Sometimesit has to be babied a little.”
“Fuck, man, get on with it!”Hesnarled.Hewas still staring directly at me.
“Allright, all right.”Ipumped the gas again, twice this time, before turning the key.Nothing. “Oh, shit,”Igroaned. “Doyou see any lights?”Iturned the key again, and that’s when he finally glanced down at my hand.
Launchingoff my left foot,Iknocked his gun arm up with my left hand while grabbing my cane with my right.Inan instantIhadShawnpinned against the passenger door, his gun pointing in the air and the handle of my cane digging into his neck, pressing on his carotid artery.
Amystood up from the back seat and pointed her service weapon right atShawn’sface. “Dropthe gun.”
Shawnlet go and the gun clattered to the pavement beside the car.Aswarm of cops surged toward us, andIgratefully releasedShawnand sat back into the seat.I’dput a little too much strain on my bad leg and hip.
Shawnwas dragged from the car and put in handcuffs, spewing curses the whole time.
“Goodjob, hotshot.”Amyslapped my shoulder then holstered her gun and stepped up onto theBuick’sback seat before hopping lightly to the ground.
“Iappreciate the assist,”Icalled to her.
Inodded thanks atArtie, who opened the car door for me. “Ifucking hopeFelixdidn’t see any of that.”
Artiegave me a sheepish shrug. “Ihave bad news and more bad news.”
“Meaninghe saw the whole thing,”Igroaned.Fuck. “What’sthemorebad news?”
“Sinceyou used it to subdue the suspect, we need your cane for evidence.”
Fuckmy life.
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