Page 90 of Among the Innocent

He headed for the house and knocked once. The patrolman inside obviously hadn’t heard the commotion. He flung the door open. “Everything okay out here?” He looked around to the patrol car. “Where’s your partner?”

“He was checking around back but it’s been a while.”

The alarm on the cop’s face was obvious. “Have you checked on him recently?”

“No, man, I thought I’d get you to help me look for him.”

The cop stared back at him. “I don’t recognize you. Is this your first time here?”

He gave his best cheerful laugh. “Yes. Why?”

The cop frowned at his hastily buttoned uniform.

“I’m calling this in.” The cop started to shut the door in his face, but he stuck his foot in. The cop whirled toward him, and he jabbed his knife in the cop’s side. Blood soaked the uniform immediately. The officer grabbed for his knife. He held it against the cop’s side.

The truth dawned quickly on the officer’s face.

“Nice and slow. Hand me your weapon.”

“I’m not giving you my service piece.”

“I’ll get it myself.” He grabbed the weapon and tossed it into the bushes. “Now, go.” He shoved him hard. The officer stumbled inside. He almost lost his footing but somehow kept his feet under him.

“Get in there.” He pointed the knife into the living room and kicked the door shut with his foot. “Sit down.”

“Look, brother, you don’t want to do anything you’ll regret.”

“You think I care about killing cops? You wouldn’t be the first or the third for that matter.”

The cop shrank away. “All right, well, I can still help you. Tell me your name.”

“Shut up. I’m not here to make small talk with you.”

“She’s not coming anytime soon.”

The smile on his face had the officer swallowing repeatedly. “But she will. And you know why. Do you want to die now or wait until the show is over?” He couldn’t contain his glee. The cop appeared to realize there would be no negotiating for his life.

“I don’t plan on dying tonight or any other.” The officer held his hand to his side. It was covered in blood.

He shoved the knife against the cop’s throat. “That’s not your choice. Give me your cuffs.”

“You want them, you’re gonna have to take them.”

He backhanded the officer, and his head shot sideways. Before the cop could shake off the effects of the blow, John grabbed the cuffs from his belt. He shoved the weakened officer to the floor and jerked his hands behind his back, securing the handcuffs in place. “Stay there until I figure out what I’m going to do with you.”

The officer watched him pace the room.

“Where’s your phone?”

“In my pocket.” The words were slurred. The cop was losing consciousness. “If you want it, you’ll have to come and get it.”

Enraged, he charged. When he was almost right on top of the cop, the man kicked him hard. He stumbled across the room. The cop scrambled to his feet.

He slowly smiled. “You want to fight?”

Like a wild bull, the cop came for him. He slammed into him full force. The knife flew from his hand and across the floor. He scrambled for the weapon while the cop struck him again, lost his footing, and hit the bookcase, sending books flying everywhere.

Still, the wounded officer didn’t give up. The cop made another move to take him down. He grabbed a bronze bookend from the floor, and the cop’s eyes widened. He slammed the bookend against the officer’s temple. He dropped to his knees. A second later, he fell to the floor unconscious.

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