Falling Back to One by Randy Mason
www.randy-mason.com EXCERPT FROM CHAPTER 20
H
e pulled up short. It was both super-real and dreamlike standing there under the dark, grey sky—cars intermittently whizzing past, headlights ghostly in the cold, misty air. Safe and warm inside their vehicles, the cars’ occupants were totally separated from the scene playing out on the shoulder. He could feel the chill seeping into his open jacket. “Micki, you get back in that car right now.” “No.” “Don’t you tell me ‘no’! You get back there right now!” “Or what?” They were about five yards apart, and he could see it in her eyes: she didn’t give a shit about anything. Reaching across his body, he pulled his service revolver out of its holster and aimed it at her with both hands. “Get back in that car,” he repeated. She didn’t move. “NOW.” Chin tilted up slightly, she said, “Or what? Y’gonna shoot me?” The large gun steady in his grip, he sighted down the barrel. But her eyes were laughing at him. “So go ahead… Shoot.” After a few seconds, when he did nothing, she snorted, turned, and started walking away. He remained where he was, still pointing the revolver: a healthy, six-foot-six adult male holding a loaded gun on an underweight, five-foot-six teenaged girl. And he was powerless. Weapon reholstered, he started after her, and she began to run. But he overtook and tackled her, twisting his body as he did so, taking the brunt of the fall on the edge of his back. Covered in snow, he rolled over, pinning her beneath him. She heard the ratcheting of the handcuffs as the cold metal closed around her wrists. She laughed at him. “D’ya take those goddamn things with y’everywhere?” He pulled her up by the back of her jacket collar. Published by Rare Bird / Archer. © 2017 Randy Mason. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
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