16

ESCAPING THE FEDS

I followed Rafferty to Wiltshire and Elm Drive, when suddenly he got out of his car, locked it, went to the street corner and just stood there.

I sat there for a few minutes, car turned off, watching him like a hawk, thinking to myself, What the hell is that bastard waiting for?

I didn't have to wait that long after that.

A shiny black Honda convertible pulled up next to him. It's driver was a women that could pass for a model, she was extremely pretty with dark curly hair that fell past her shoulders, big brown eyes, great skin, and angelic features. She was wearing what looked like a navy blue dress.

Even from a distance I could see her smile at Rafferty as he got in the passenger side of the car. Rafferty smiled back.

"Well, well, well, Rafferty," I said turning on my Cadillac, "wait 'til your old vice buddies find out you paying for it."

I had shifted gears as Rafferty and his "date" where pulling away. I made it around several feet, when a voice called my name.

"Hold it, Kang!"

In the blink of an eye Johnson was in front of my car, arms spread, creating a roadblock.

"What, the hell, do you want?" I called to him bitterly.

Didn't that idiot realize I was working here?

I peered past Johnson to see Rafferty and his beautiful driver disappear around the corner. There was no way I'd find them now with Johnson pulling this.

Damn it!

I leaned back in to my seat with an unhappy groan.

"Sorry man," Johnson said in apologetic tone. "The Feds want you brought in. Something about 'Obstruction of Justice' charges."

As if on cue two jet black BMW Beamers appeared. I guessed that they had to be FBI since their windows where tinted and they where blocking my rear and my left.

I couldn't go with them, not when I was so close, not only cracking the case. But finding out what really happened to my dad. If I went with the Feds like a good boy then they'll never let me go.

And I was in too deep to back down now.

I glanced and my rearview mirror at the Beamer behind me, then at the Beamer to my left, then to the pedestrians gathering at the sidewalk (one with a video camera). It looked like I was blocked on all sides.

Well, maybe not all.

I stared forward at Johnson, jaw set,determined.

He must have noticed that I wasn't getting out of my car in surrender. He also must of noticed that look on my face(it was famous among the LAPD).

"Come on, Kang!" Johnson said, not wanting any trouble. "Just cooperate, for once will ya?"

"Sorry!" I called to him, not really meaning it, shifting gears. "But you make a lousy roadblock."

I had the Cadillac drive forward, at once Johnson was on my hood yowling in pain. I quickly took the first turn that I came across and sent Johnson flying into a bunch of trash cans.

I hit the NOS, Feds hot on my ass. They started shooting at me. I took a quick left turn the a quick right turn, then another left turn, they where still on my rear.

I swung around and shot a few rounds at them, all it did (besides put bullets in their hoods) was really piss them off. They where now firing at my sparingly. I pulled then took off for a major highway.

As soon as I did I saw the traffic jam.

But that didn't stop me, quickly I pulled a car trick that got my Cadillac on it's two right side wheels (definitely worthy of Starsky and Hutch I think). I weaved between cars (I could hear pedestrians exclaiming things like, "Did you see that!"). And, quickly, landing on all four wheels, and went to pulling the first left turn I ran across. I glanced at my rearview to see the Feds still behind me.

"Horseshit!" I muttered.

How the hell did they get out of the traffic jam?

But I, quickly, decided not to dwell too much on that.

One of the Feds got real hot on my ass and started hitting my back bumper.

I pulled another switchblade and went to shooting at them with one of my Desert Eagles. I managed to take out two of their front tires before the other Fed showed up.

I pulled a backwards switchblade and hit the NOS.

Only one left now it seemed.

I took a fast left turn, surely enough the Fed followed. But this time I was ready for him. I slammed on the brakes suddenly making the Fed drive ahead of me.

I quickly shot out his back tires, making the car bounce like it had back hydraulics. I then plowed forward. I guess I must of hit it in the right way cause suddenly the Beamer flipped over onto it's hood and went sliding into a shopping center, sparks flying on the way.

"Have fun shopping," I called to them.

I hit the NOS and took a few quick turns. Hoping that if they had any pals with them I'd lose them too. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about that.

My only bummer is that I lost Rafferty and his date.

For all I know they could be halfway out of the city by now.

---

Afew hours later,I found myself going up to a Hot Dog vendor and was asking how much he wanted for a hot dog (what? I was starving) when I got a call on my cell.

"Hello?" I said.

Who is it now?

"Nick," spoke an exasperated voice that I recognized.

"Rosie?" I asked.

"Acaba de sales qué el infierno estas tú por esto!" Rosie yelled in Spainish. She also started saying more (I only recognized the cuss words) but I cut her off.

"Uh, Rosie," I said, handing the hot dog vendor my change. "My understanding of Spanish is limited."

"Fine then!" Rosie yelled into the receiver. "I'll say it in inglés for you! Just what the hell are you doing?"

"Buying a hot dog," I answered simply.

"Not that you loco," She said. Then she dropped her voice down to a whisper.

"Masterson's searching the entire city for you," She said. "He seems to think you're in with Rocky now."

"He thinks-!" I growled.

"Look, you need to get back here, set things straight with Masterson," Rosie suggested.

"You know if I did that then there's no way I'd be able to solve this case," I told her, as the vendor pulled out a hot dog. "Look Rosie, it's personal now, I can't just stop, okay. Not when one of my informants told me that Rocky may have something to do with my father."

Rosie paused for a while, in the meantime the hot dog vendor handed me a hot dog on a bun. I nodded to my thanks to the vendor and he started to push thecart down the sidewalk.

"Nick, I understand that this must mean a lot to you, but the Chief and I can't help you this way," Rosie said.

I took one step to my car and about jumped out of my skin.

Passing me at that exact moment was Rafferty and his date!

"Whoa!" I exclaimed.

Now I got a better look at Rafferty's date. She was even prettier close up.

Who is that? I wondered.

"Fine," I told Rosie on the phone. "Forget it, I don't need anyone's help."

Quickly I hung up the phone (I know that was rude but could you blame me). turned on my car and went to eating my hot dog as I followed Rafferty and his date.