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FOUNDLING: SOME MARCH BREAK [ part 2 ] Sheryl and Pat were bored. That citizen's complaint regarding a little indiscretion with the Gas station attendant last month had ended up on Mavis's desk. The girl certainly appeared to be enjoying the attention of the two off duty patrolmen, but later her mother convinced her she had not. So they ended up being banished to the outermost reaches of Evans's command. A lonely patrol route out near the scrubby hills, stunted evergreens and deep ravines that cut off easy access, except for the bridges of the interstate leading to the LA outskirts. They were on the outermost leg of their route. Sheryl, half-asleep, as Pat drove down the gravel road. The interstate connection, and the truck stop, was still three miles down the pitted road. And at anything over ten miles an hour bottomed out the cruiser on each rut. As they rounded a turn, three revolver shots rang out. The two patrolmen instantly doused the headlights of their cruiser and pulled off the road. They bailed out, Sheryl with the auto shotgun and Pat the Ruger. Pat attempted to call for backup, but the ravine blocked their signals. Carefully advancing towards where the shots had originated, they were surprised when the shapes of two little girls ran at them down the road.
"He was trying to kill us" The two little girls grabbed Sheryl's legs, sending her sprawling. "Were are they?' Pat asked the two shaking kids. They both pointed down the road were the outline of a new sedan pulled off into the roadside sat. They carefully withdrew to their police car, Sheryl covering them as Pat sequestered the two kids in the back seat. Then the two experienced officers dodged and weived between the bushes and stunted trees towards the civilian car pulled off the road ahead. As they approached an adult form lurched up from behind it and snapped a pistol shot at the approaching Sheryl hitting her in the left arm, spinning her around. Pat, as trained snapped off a shot and the gunman went down. Covering her partner's withdrawal, she knelt and sent three more rounds under the car. Sheryl shouted that it was just a flesh wound and would cover Pat as she maneuvered to get a shot at the perp behind the car. But when Pat was in position to observe the other side, he was slumped down against the car, dead. Pat's snap shot had blown half his head off. Another man lay prone near the passenger door, but when Pat carefully approached, she saw a bloody streak down the car. He had a hole in his chest. Both unknown men were very dead. The two officers walked back to their car and found the two girls huddled together shivering in fear. Pat, retrieved the first aid kit, as her partners left sleeve was red. But Sheryl said they should get out of the low area and report in first. Pat drove off, the squad car bouncing and slamming through the ruts. The two rescued little girls in the back bounced around, clinging to each other for safety. Foundling, hopped they would survive the car ride as well. As they pulled up to the Truck stop tarmac, Pat was able to get through to the dispatcher. They moved to a vacant end of the paved lot, and about ten minutes later police cars arrived from every direction. Four bracketed their car, occupants forming an outward pointing circle of guns. And the rest continued back down the side road to the shootout site. Five minutes later a double rotor helicopter descended onto the blocked highway and the police car occupants were loaded aboard. Melissa's Parents held their rescued Daughter close. A smiling FBI Director congratulating his opposite number from the German anti-terrorist Police. Medics triaged Sheryl's wound as a worried Pat looked on. And Mavis and Evans held Foundling close equally pleased that Foundling had been found again. He maneuvered to where his two police officers sat reached out and shook both their hands. "Good work. I am proud of both of you" He earnestly informed them. "Boy, will I have a tale to tell about my March Break, when I get back to School" Foundling said. |