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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.”