Sam ran knowing that Little was out to redeem himself. He figured he knew the streets better than him, so finding a small nook to hide out in should have been easy.
Sam took a left, then a right and headed back toward the crowded street, but before he got there his path was blocked by a cruiser. He glanced at the buildings either side of him and noticed the fire exit on the one on his right was open. He was about to break for it when he looked at who was behind the wheel.
Andy was sat in the driver's seat of the cruiser and nodded her head that he should get in. Hearing Little getting close to turning the corner, Sam ran at the cruiser, jumped on the bonnet and slid to the other side before wrenching the passenger door open and throwing his body in.
The door has barely closed before Andy set off.
"Do I want to know how?" Sam asked her when he got his breath back.
"What is it Gail says? 90% luck 10% timing."
"You swiped the keys?"
"Of course. Right off Little's belt. He should really think about putting them in his pocket."
Sam laughed and fastened his seatbelt.
"I can't believe the dumbasses left you alone."
"I can't believe Anderson told me to stay."
"Yeah, like that was ever going to happen. So now what McNally? We can't keep driving around in the cruiser, we'll get caught."
"I was thinking of taking it to Basset Hills, you know that section under the flyover and calling Oliver to come and get it."
"We should tell him for the purposes of the game it's burned out and the shotgun is missing."
"Before I forget, here's your soda." Andy said, handing Sam the can, but dropping it so it hit her bare leg.
"Holy CRAP! That's cold." Andy squealed as Sam removed it from her skin.
He cracked it open and took a couple of long, deep gulps.
10 minutes later Andy pulled into the vacant lot that was dubbed Basset Hills and killed the engine.
She opened her door and climbed out, just as an unusually strong gust of wind blew the door shut, trapping her leg in it.
"Aaarrrggghhhh" she cried out as Sam shut his door.
"You ok?" he called, rushing to her side.
"I'm fine, the door trapped my leg is all." She said, pushing the door away from her and limping from the car.
Sam slammed the offending door closed and watched as Andy went to sit on the hood. Sam pulled the phone out of his pocket and dialled Oliver while walking over to join her.
"Hey Ollie."
"Sammy, McNally pulled any more Johns?"
"No, we were moved on when two rookies showed up. We do need you to come to Basset Hills, and bring Peck with you. We have kind of acquired a vehicle and could do with disposing of it."
"Which vehicle?"
"Little and Anderson's Cruiser. We need you to tell them it's been burned out and the shotgun is missing too."
"That is cruel man, just cruel. I understand you did a runner from a rookie and managed to stay on your feet?"
"Very funny Oliver. Basset Hills."
"Sure, we'll be there in half an hour, we're just dealing with a disturbance and then we'll be with you."
He hung up the phone and turned to face Andy.
"They're going to be half an hour." He told her running his hand down the side of her face, while propping himself up with his other hand.
He slowly brought his face to Andy's and covered her lips with his own. This shift of Sam's weight moved the hand that was propping him up to a wet patch. His hand slipped completely allowing his entire weight to land on Andy and push her horizontally onto the hood, trapping Sam's other hand underneath her torso.
Once Sam had lifted his weight and extracted his hand, he used a nearby streetlight to look at his hand. He saw it was smeared with something dark.
Looking at the cruiser, he could see a trail of the same dark substance on the hood, just below Andy's leg.
"You're bleeding!" he told her, concern in his eyes as he prodded her leg with his hand.
"It's nothing Sam. Just a scratch."
"There's blood all over the cruiser, it's more than just a scratch." He told her, walking to the trunk of the car and pulling out the first aid kit.
He was securing the bandage with tape when Oliver and Gail arrived.
"Jesus McNally! What did you do?"
"Trapped my leg in the door. It's fine."
"The cruisers covered in blood." Gail said, spotting the red smear and small pool.
"It'll wash off." Sam pointed out, holding his hand out for Andy to take so she could jump down.
"So what's the plan?" Oliver asked.
"Here's the keys, now you tell Anderson and Little their cruiser has been found and is on fire."
"Are they stupid enough to buy that though?" Oliver asked.
"There's a report of a car in flames over on Columbia. We could make it plausible." Gail told him.
"You better call Frank before you broadcast that over the radio." Sam advised him.
"Good point." Andy confirmed.
"I've already told him you two have the cruiser, so there's no need."Oliver told them before pressing the button on his radio.
"Despatch, this is 10-16, we have located the missing cruiser."
"10-16, where?"
"Despatch, you know that car that was called in because it was on fire?"
"10-16, rodger."
Within seconds Olivers cell started ringing.
"It's Epstien." He said answering the call. "Hey Epstien, how can I help you today?"
"I am stood looking at that car Oliver and it sure as hell isn't our missing cruiser. What are you playing at?"
"Well, I am stood in front of our missing cruiser staring at Sam and Andy sat on the hood of it. As much as they would love to burn the actual cruiser I highly doubt either of them are that stupid."
"I got you. Does Frank know about this?"
"I told him who stole it in the first place, so he should."
"I've got to go, the hose monkeys want a word."
Oliver hung up the phone.
"We'd better go. People being idiots everywhere. Peck, you take ours, I'll take this one and we'll meet back at the Barn. Don't worry, I'll hide it well."
"Wait, before we go. I have an idea that will make everyone's night." Gail said, eyeing up the party goers that were ambling past the lot.