AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 13
The big anarchistpulled the most basic move known by every kid who’s ever been in a fight: he wrapped his arms around me in a giant bear hug. Holy shit was he strong. He squeezed the breath out of me instantly. The sound I made when the air rushed out of me was not particularly dignified. I was immediately immobilized in a cocoon of muscle and fat. He lifted me off my stool like I was a child. As he walked toward the back door, the others just followed his lead. The young woman even opened the door for us.
Pugh called over his shoulder to the barista. “Just taking out the trash, Cheyenne. Nothing to worry about.”
I decided to go with it until we got all the way outside. I was lucky he hadn’t noticed my gun on my hip. He was too intent on crushing me. There was no reason to expose who I really was yet. If things got much worse, I wouldn’t have a choice.
Even though I was being physically carried by a remarkably strong giant, I kept my head. I thought out a few different scenarios. None of them involved pulling my duty pistol. The barista clearly hadn’t called the police and didn’t seem to care that that might work in my favor. Then again, she didn’t care what happened to me.
When we were out of view of the parking lot, things got worse. Quickly.
Jeremy Pugh released his arms from my ribs and dropped me roughly on my feet. My right ankle twisted on the loose gravel scattered along the walkway. The pain felt like an electric shock as it worked up my leg to my brain. My teeth clattered so hard I was afraid I chipped one. I gulped some air quickly.
I was about to say something witty when Pugh hit me with a hammering blow. His forearm connected with my back, snapping my head back and forth like whiplash and knocking me to one knee. Semiconscious, I realized that these guys were serious. And certainly Jeremy Pugh could be a good suspect in the disappearance of Emily Parker.
My worry turned to embarrassment that these morons had escalated this to a level I hadn’t anticipated. I stayed on one knee, motionless, trying to clear my head before I stood up again. I did flinch at a kick that wasn’t thrown. Then I felt something else. First on my leg and then on my back. Then I realized with a sickening feeling what it was. Piss. Jeremy Pugh was peeing on me.
I’d like to say it was the first time I’d encountered the use of urine as a weapon. But as a uniformed patrolman in the Bronx, my team had all been showered with jars of urine from the upper floors of apartments. This just seemed so much more personal and disgusting.
By the time I was upright, Pugh had zipped up his fly and his friends were all laughing. Then they just wandered away like I wasn’t worth another thought.
I watched them. I knew we’d see each other again. Maybe soon.
