Page 25 of Stilettos and Outlaws

Three firemen escorted us over to a bus stop. “Were either of you hit by a car?”

“No. My injuries happened earlier in the day. Bobby has some nasty road rash and bruises.”

The fire captain demanded, “Are you on any kind of medication, ma’am?”

“Seriously? I don’t have time for this shit. Some asshole kidnapped the kid and threw him in the roadway.” I reached into my pocket and pulled out my badge and ID.

“Sorry, Deputy.”

“His name is Bobby, and his teacher is at Cerreta’s. Guard him with your life, I need to help my partner.” I chased after Julie. She was about a block ahead of me and closing on the suspect.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of a silver truck. Huh, kinda looked like Dad’s, but that wasn’t possible. He was still dealing with the explosion.

The suspect hopped over a five-foot-high block wall and started screaming.

Julie boosted herself up and straddled the fence. “I’ll be damned.”

“Dog?”

A laugh escaped Julie. “Jumping cactus.”

“That I have to see.” I peered over the wall.

The kidnapper was face down on a three-foot-tall cholla cactus. Dozens of the porcupine-like joints were attached to his face and body. It would take a visit to the emergency room to remove the fish-hook spines.

“What in the bloody hell is going on?” Dad barked.

I gaped at him. “What are you doing here?”

“Answer the question,” Dante snapped.

Yeow! Someone was in a bad mood. “We needed some chocolate, stopped at Cerreta’s and that asshole stole a kid. When I gave chase, he threw Bobby in the roadway and jumped over this fence. Which turned out to be a really bad idea,” I replied.

Dad glanced at the paramedics treating Bobby. “How badly is he hurt?”

“Road rash and some bruises,” I answered.

The kidnapper shrieked, “I’m stuck. Get me some fucking help.”

“Not a chance,” Julie snarled.

Dante looked over the fence and grimaced. “I’ll go get the paramedics.” He jogged down the sidewalk.

“Those hose jockeys thought I was high on something,” I groused.

Dad examined my battered face. “When you’re in your warrior’s mode, you do come across as a bit crazy.”

“So? I had to save Bobby.”

Dad hugged me gently. “I know.”

A Glendale PD patrol car pulled up and a Hispanic officer built like a tank got out.

“About damn time you got here, Mario,” Julie grumbled.

Mario’s eyebrows shot up. “Lost another fight, did ya?”

“Har. Har.”