Page 70 of Paranoia

“I didn’t think I was that obvious, but it surprised me to see him so quickly.” I risked a quick glance up the street to make sure that moron, Jaime Nantes, wasn’t already walking toward the bodega. Although watching that scumbag get splattered by the SUV would make it an easy case against our suspect, Doyle.

I took a turn around the block, and as I came up the street, a Volkswagen Jetta in front of Doyle’s Trailblazer pulled away from the curb. I slipped the Maxima into the spot and backed up until I was almost touching the Trailblazer’s bumper. I’d noticed a Mercedes parked directly behind Doyle and knew he had no room to get out quickly. If the Mercedes moved, Trilling would get into place behind him. That way we’d have him trapped between us.

The dark tinting on the Maxima’s windows kept Doyle from seeing me clearly. I hoped my car didn’t look too much like what it was, an unmarked police car. I considered the pros and cons of calling for backup. I settled for getting on the radio and calling the dispatcher. “Manhattan North Homicide is going to attempt to make an arrest. Any marked units in the area can call me direct on the radio.” I gave them our exact location and the suspect’s SUV description.

I saw no reason why we couldn’t sit quietly for a few minutes until a couple of burly patrol officers stopped to help us. As long as we took Doyle into custody, there wouldn’t be many questions. It would be an interesting few minutes in the long, usually dull day of a patrol officer.

I called Trilling and let him know the plan.

CHAPTER 103

KEVIN DOYLE FELT a run of nerves up the back of his neck as the Nissan parked tight in front of him, boxing him into his parking spot. He focused his attention on his target. He had to get out of the spot quickly without drawing attention to himself.

Then he saw someone walking on the street alongside the parked cars behind him. It took him only a moment to realize it was Bennett’s partner, the young Army Ranger, Robert Trilling.

“Shit,” mumbled Doyle. “So much for karma.”

Then he saw the long, lanky figure of Michael Bennett himself step out of the Maxima parked in front of him. Doyle did a quick scan of the area. He wanted to avoid collateral damage if at all possible. He figured that was Bennett’s goal as well.

Doyle’s mind raced with possibilities. He felt the Beretta 9mm in his belt holster. That wasn’t the answer. Not here with families picking up chicken for lunch. He tried to think of a better option.He had roughly two seconds to come up with something and all his choices were bad.

He threw the rickety SUV into reverse and stomped on the gas. The motor raced as Doyle felt the crunch of the Mercedes’s bumper behind him. He had an idea, but he wasn’t sure if it could work. Goddamn physics.

Then he felt the rear tires catch and the back of the SUV start to lift. He was going to use the Mercedes like a ramp to get his SUV out onto the road. He no longer cared about Nantes. His only goal was to get out of town fast.

As the Trailblazer started to roll backward, he saw Bennett make his move.

That guy had balls.

CHAPTER 104

I TRIED TO look casual opening the door of my unmarked car. There was no reason to believe that Kevin Doyle knew what I looked like.

I didn’t know what it was, but something spooked the shit out of Doyle. I wouldn’t say he panicked. But he made a bold decision. He threw the Trailblazer into reverse and hit the gas.

Initially, the sound of the roaring engine made me jump away from the SUV. Then I realized he was trying to make some room behind him. All I knew was the vehicle moved backward and started climbing up onto the hood of the Mercedes parked behind it.

I was so shocked by the maneuver, I wasn’t sure what to do. I went with my initial instinct. I ran forward and jumped onto the hood of the Trailblazer. I glanced over to my right as I gripped the top edge of the hood. Trilling had darted into the middle of the street, away from the Trailblazer.

My knuckles rubbed against the windshield wipers as I held on to the hood like I was riding a bull. I hooked my feet on the front and side of the vehicle to give myself some stability. When I looked through the windshield I could see Kevin Doyle’s face clearly. He looked just as astonished as I did.

I removed my right hand for just an instant, trying to reach my pistol. That was a worse idea than jumping on the hood in the first place. Now Trilling was starting to approach the vehicle from the side on foot. I saw him catch Doyle’s attention.

Then I felt my world start to tilt. It took me a moment to realize what was going on. I could feel gravity tugging on my right side. I could see things like paper, pens, and a comb inside the Trailblazer start to fly.

The SUV had ridden up over the Mercedes’s hood, but now the driver-side tire was sliding off the roof of the Mercedes. The SUV rocked, then flopped onto its side in the street. My first fear was that Trilling had been caught underneath the tumbling vehicle. That thought lasted only a moment as I was tossed onto the asphalt and narrowly avoided a Kia as it swerved to miss the rolling SUV.

I somehow came up onto my hands and knees and looked over at the Trailblazer as it lay on its side with the wheels still spinning uselessly in the air.

This had not turned out anything like I had hoped.

CHAPTER 105

I STAYED ON my hands and knees in the middle of the street for just a few moments. I had to shake my head just to clear my vision. Where the hell was Trilling? I leaned down low and tried to look underneath the SUV on its side. There was no sign that Trilling had been crushed in the street. That made me breathe a little easier for just a moment. Then I saw a flash of movement and heard Trilling’s voice.

It was very clear and strong. Trilling shouted, “Police, don’t move!”

I struggled to get to my feet but still felt a little woozy. Then I heard the unmistakable sound of a pistol clattering onto the sidewalk. I hoped it was Doyle dropping his gun. A second later I realized that was one hope that was not going to be fulfilled.

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