Page 118 of Cross Down
“Oh, that’s fine,” he says. “Glad he wasn’t talking to anyone important.”
Chapter
147
I slip outof Ned Mahoney’s house, carefully move across the fine lawn, and take cover behind the bushes and shrubbery so I can get a clear view of the two DC Metro Police who are trying to arrest him.
From that position, I call out, “You two, freeze, or I’ll blow your damn heads off!”
There are three surprised folks in front of me, Ned and the two cops, and I move a bit more so they’re square in my sights. I say, “Gents, I’ve got a nine-millimeter pistol pointed at you, and you’re both wearing ballistic vests, but I’m a goddamn good shot. If you move or try to come at me with a weapon, I’m going to drop you both. But I don’t intend to harm you. Do I have your attention?”
I hear a strained but murmured “Yeah” from each one, and I say, “Each of you, with your left hand, take your service weapon by the muzzle and drop it to the ground. Your Taser as well.”
They both comply, and the one on the right says, “Big John, is that you?”
“Doesn’t matter,” I say.
“It’s Gus Tinnamen from the Second District. I did backup for you and Alex Cross two years back. You remember?”
He starts to turn and I say, “Gus, when I say don’t move, I mean don’t friggin’ move.”
“I just want to talk,” he pleads. “Can’t we work this out?”
“No,” I say. “And I don’t want you to move, ’cause if I shoot you, I don’t want to see your face. Now. With one hand, unbuckle and drop your utility belts. Good. Now put your hands behind your heads, fingers intertwined, drop to your knees, and cross your ankles.”
As they move, the other cop says, “You won’t get away with this.”
“I just need to get away with this for a couple of hours.”
When they’re on their knees, I go forward, kick away their weapons, strip their utility belts of their handcuffs—two each, perfect—and in less than a minute, their hands and ankles are cuffed and I’ve gently laid them on the ground. Eventually they’ll be discovered by neighbors or the FBI medical team that’s coming, but by then, we’ll be long gone.
“Sorry, guys,” I say. “If this works out, I’ll buy you both beers, apologize, and tell you why I did this.”
Gus says nothing. The other cop says, “You can take that beer and shove it up your ass.”
I don’t answer. Ned joins me, briefcase in one hand, key fob in the other.
“Ready?” he asks.
“Someone coming here for Elizabeth?”
“Less than ten minutes, John.”
“Okay,” I say. “Thanks—one less thing to worry about.”
We race to his black Impala, and I’m thinking,Yeah, but there’s still a boatload of things to worry about out there.
I check my watch.
Twenty-three minutes left.
Chapter
148
They are twoblocks away from their target point at the White House, and Sylvester downshifts and slows the big tow truck as four armed DC Metro Police officers step out from behind their parked cruisers and wave them down.
“All right,” he says to Casey. “Dig out the IDs. We’ll see if they work.”
