Six more squad cars peeled into the parking lot. Sirens blaring, they motioned to form a circle around the BMW and the three cruisers already in place.
Would've been a good time to have a gun, or some nitrous oxide, for that matter.
Just as he checked his rear view to see if the cops had gotten back into their cruisers, Dr. Grant's mirror exploded into a mess of metal and glass.
Beside himself with excitement, he leaned his head out the window, and at the top of his lungs yelled "I just bought this thing! You're gonna pay for that, coppers!"
He couldn't help but laugh at the whole thing. The others had escaped.
Really.
They were gone.
So for the sheer, ludicrous joy of it, he fishtailed in a half circle, and sped through the only opening he could find between squad cars.
Time for a mad dash to the grave, he chuckled to himself.
He'd had a good life, and it was time to give his for the life of another... Even if that other was a mutant cross between a shark and a boy... Especially if that other was a mutant cross breed of a shark boy!
In salute to the child he was protecting he did another fishtail out of the parking lot.
His phone rang.
He always kept it in the car, so it wouldn't distract him at work. He checked the caller i.d.
His wife.
"Honey? What's going on down there?"
"Oh, just a little mix up with some folks down in the maternity ward." he replied calmly.
"A little mix up?! It's all over the news! They say there was a gunfight on the second floor! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine dear. Nothing to worry about."
"What's that sound? I can hear sirens... You're in your car, aren't you?!"
"Well... yeah. You got me."
"Thaddeus J. Grant," she demanded, "just what in the hell is going on?"
"Well, to tell it straight, I'm kind of in the middle of a high speed chase right now."
His wife paused to soak this in.
"You're serious?"
"Sorry dear, but I don't think I'm going to make dinner tonight."
"Well, that's fine. I didn't want to have to cook anyway."
They shared a tense laugh.
What a woman, he thought. His fearless excitement started to fade, as he realized that more than anything, he just wanted to get see that woman one more time.
"I love you baby." she prompted him.
"And I you, sweetheart."
"Is this about the child?"
"Who else?"
"Well, I'm sure you need all your hands to evade escape," at that, his back window exploded from gunshot.
"Get to my brother's old house."
"Charles? What makes you think he'd even be there? That's crazy!"
"Exactly!"
"Okay... If I can."
"Be careful."
"Me? Never!" he laughed, his fearlessness returning. "Love you, doll."
"And you too hon. Don't get dead on me. You owe me a dinner date!"
"Bye babe."
Alright. Enough sap. Time to turn this situation around.
9 squad cars on his tail, one police chopper in the sky, no guns, and it's broad daylight.
If only he'd watched more action movies, then maybe he'd have an idea of how to evade a mob of cops.
Charles would know what to do.
Chances are, he already does. For a stark crazy conspiracy theorist, the guy was sharp as a diamond.
And just as hard to find.
The phone rang again.
Unknown number.
What the hell, he thought. But this time I'm using speaker phone.
"Dr. Grant's office, how may I help you?" dripping sarcasm.
"Got yourself in a real pickle, eh Thaddeus?"
"Charles?"
"Take the next left, and get ready to burn. We're gonna ditch that car of yours."
"Come again?"
"What? How long did you think that beamer was gonna last you anyway? You know how pissed Angie was when you bought it."
"Alright. But can I blow up some cop cars while I'm at it?"
"That depends how you're acrobatic skills are."
"Yeah... not so good. You don't get a lot of practice in the hospital. They just don't have the space."
"Always the clown. All right, now listen up."
The police chopper started to blair "Dr. Grant, pull over and turn off your engine. We have you surrounded, there's no way out."
"Sorry Charles, what was that?"
The Lonsdale Quay, man. That cars going in, and so are you."
"The hell it is! This cars going up in flames! If I can't have it, no one can. Not even the fish!"
"Suit yourself, just make sure they see you die."
"And then what?"
"Not over the phone, Thad. You just leave that to me."
Cops everywhere. Getting to the Quay was going to be no easy task.
It didn't help that there were cyclists everywhere either. But no time for sympathy. Only calm, calculated movements were gonna save him now.
Coming around the main drag towards the Quay, Dr. Grant could see a road block. He had no doubt that they were everywhere on the north shore. Perfect. This is the fun part.
Time to be an action hero... At age 60. What the hell, Stallone was still doing it, right?
He kicked his car into high gear, 140 k downhill, straight into a police barricade, he could already hear the gun shots.
Crick, crick, crack, Pshhhhh! There goes the windshield. All he could do is duck, hold the wheel, and punch the gas.
Oh yeah, and do up his seatbelt. Wheeeee!
SMASH!!!!!
Right through the cars, and a fire started under the hood. But instead of flying into the lake, the car flipped over the squad cars and skidded to a halt. He could hear the cops running over, but not gettin' too close.
What does a doctor know about explosions? Enough to know that fire and gas make pretty colours.
With the passenger side door open, facing the pier, he unbuckled and crawled to the right side.. or left, as the car was upside down.
But the fire under the hood was dying, and that beautiful BMW wasn't even leaking gas.
Gotta think fast. Gotta look dead, but not get dead.
Fuck it. He made a mad dash for the water, but not without getting shot in the back, the force of the bullets knocking him into the water.
The pain! He could barely even swim. But he dived, for all that he had left in him, he dived.
What I wouldn't give for a pair of gills myself right now!
Oh well, he got the next best thing. An oxygen mask slapped over his mouth.
Charles.
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