When they emerged on the other side Nash realised they were in the carpool. A mixture of civilian cars and black and whites were neatly parked at a forty-five-degree angle. In the far corner, a startled young officer was stationed next to a desk and a board full of hooks containing car keys. Daylight could be seen down the ramp to the street.
As Nash approached, the young man stood rigidly at attention. He gulped before he spoke. “Do you know what’s going on? Is this another drill?”
The man’s badge advised his name was Clements. His rank indicated he couldn’t have been long out of the academy.
Nash used his best gruff voice. “I’m relieving you. You’re to report to Johnson on three ASAP.”
“Who, sir?” His voice practically broke. He gave Eva a sideways glance but said nothing further.
“Are you deliberately trying to kill your career, Probationary Officer Clements?”
The kid’s eyes went wide. “No sir.”
“Well, get to it!”
The kid practically sprinted towards the door they’d just come through.
“Wanna steal a cop car?” Eva asked in a low voice, watching the door close behind the startled officer.
“I think we’ve broken enough laws for one day. How about we just walk out of here?”
Looking forlornly at the rack of keys, Eva mumbled, “Well, this is some weapons-grade bullshit.”
They strode fast down the ramp and were on the street and blocks away in no time. Finally exhaling, they ducked into a side alley and crouched behind a dumpster to gather their thoughts. There were plenty of those.
It was well past nine pm by the time they reached Sophia’s safe house. When Claude opened the door his face lit up, and the beefy man engulfed them in a bear hug like he was greeting his long-lost family. He ushered them in and led them to the back room where they’d planned the raid on Pinchot’s townhouse. To Nash it felt like weeks ago.
Sophia sat on the corner of the table drinking from a water bottle. Bishop was beside her, in a wheelchair, both legs encased in plaster. Neither had seen them come in.
Pushing past Nash, Eva raced to Bishop’s side. He jumped in surprise and they hugged and kissed frantically, both talking over the top of each other. The emotional reunion reinforced Nash’s understanding of how much the two were in love.
Sophia dropped her water and raced into Nash’s arms. She squeezed him tight and he felt her back hitch as she suppressed tears.
“I’m sorry about Baptiste.”
Composing herself, Sophia held Nash tight and spoke over his shoulder. “I am too. I worked with his mother long ago. This will wreck her.”
It didn’t make Nash feel any better. They all sat and brought each other up to speed. Alain was staking out Pinchot’s place; everyone doubted he’d be stupid enough to go back there, but if there was the slightest chance, they were going to take it.
Bishop had fractured both his fibular and tibia in both legs. He’d make a full recovery, although the doctor who’d set his legs had warned he may require some physical therapy once the casts came off.
Eva cradled his face. “Thank you for being a stupid idiot and saving us. I’m so sorry about your legs.”
“It’s okay. I’m on so many drugs right now.”
“You going to share or what?”
Sophia watched the two of them canoodle. “It was a most heroic act, jumping two storeys. They’re calling him The Leaping Man on social media.”
“Not the most original name,” Nash observed.
“He did it for her. I get the impression he’d do anything to keep her safe.” Sophia placed her hand on Nash’s arm and spoke quietly. “I see it now.”
“Sorry?”
“You told me Bishop had a way of sneaking up on you, that he’s more than he appears on the outside.” She jerked her head in his direction. “I see it now.”
Acknowledging her observation, Nash took a moment to appreciate the fact that they’d managed to narrowly escape Tartarus once again. They had been lucky, but that luck couldn’t hold for much longer. This cat and mouse game could only last so long, and Nash was tired of being the mouse.
He realised for the first time how angry he was. Perhaps he’d been angry for far longer than he’d like to admit. He and his little group were always running, always on the back foot. They were meant to be the good guys, they shouldn’t be cowering, waiting for the next blow. They needed to be on the front foot.
Nash stretched his arms above his head and addressed the room. “I have a plan for how to end this.” He made sure he had everyone’s attention. “Once and for all.”
That surprised everyone; Nash included. He’d been mulling over the subject from the moment he entered the police cell. His thoughts had churned and fermented, but until that very moment he’d thought he still needed more time. Apparently not.
“What are you thinking?” Sophia asked, her forehead wrinkling at his sudden change in mood.
Nash clapped his hands together. “Has anyone seen Blazing Saddles?”
Chapter Thirteen
“You lived here?” Sophia asked.
The car threaded through the bright green countryside. It had been a wet winter and the fields were lush and full. Nash realised how much he’d missed it.
“For a time,” he replied.
