Running Hot - Jacob long (classic book list txt) 📗

Matt went for a pass because his car had slowed down so much. Reed ducked back into the trunk and reloaded the rifle. Angela was coming up on the intersection at Cooper and North 7th street, and travelling south was a 1971 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser; who had the right of way.
Devlin noticed the situation and lost his nerve. “Angela look out!” he screamed.
“We’re not gonna make it!” Laurel joined.
“Yes we are!” Angela screamed back.
Simultaneously they all screamed in utter fear. The speedometer was maxed out at 180 miles an hour as the Hemi Cuda blew past the front end of the Oldsmobile; missing by no more than two inches! The driver of the Oldsmobile had punched down the brakes and slowed. Reed poked his head out of the trunk prepared to fire just in time for the Oldsmobile to tear the gun out of his hands!
“Woah!” Reed shouted.
The force at which the gun was taken out of Reed’s hands caused the hanging clip to trace a large gash on his left palm.
“Jesus!” Reed groaned through his teeth as he squeezed his hand.
The car that passed Matt smashed right into the side of the Oldsmobile and shoved it into the Cuda’s back end. Metal tore, glass shattered and the seat-belt-less driver’s face smashed into the windshield. Reed retreated back into the trunk and covered his head as the Oldsmobile bumped the Barracuda forward. Matt’s driver quickly slammed down the brakes and swerved to the right; avoiding the accident.
The chase was over. Reed peeked over the shield and watched the pursuit cars disappear into the distance. He turned around, leaned over the trunk door and said, “We need to regroup.”

Matt got out of the car and ran over to the smashed squad car. The front end was completely crumpled in on itself and blood was smeared on what was left of the wind shield.
“Oh my god,” Matt cried.
Almost a mile up the road, Nitch was waving a jacket at the fire spraying out of his engine. “Goddammit!” he growled.
Matt glanced at him for a brief moment, and then rushed over to the Vista cruiser; having decided already that he’d need the Jaws of Life to open the squad car. The side of the Vista Cruiser was smashed in but it looked like there was a legitimate chance that there were survivors. Matt rushed around and looked through the windshield, suddenly letting out a breath of air. Inside the car was a family of four; a husband, a wife, and two daughters. Luckily, they were all wearing their seat belts and the dad was already checking if everyone was okay.
Suddenly Nitch’s voice came from behind. “We’ll get him, Brice. Count on it.”

7)
“Two wrongs…are only the beginning.”

Pine Poynt Park
1:52 pm

Angela and Laurel had gotten acquainted and were now strolling through the park, talking about many things; but mostly about Reed.
“So you’re like his..?” Laurel left the thought hanging.
“Sister,” Angela inserted.
“But, I thought you said your last name was Cook?”
Angela bobbed her head from side to side in a moment of consideration, “Well, we’re not relatives genetically. It’s this whole thing with his mom.”
Laurel took this moment to ask about something that had been eating at her for hours. “Hey um, when I first met Reed, I asked why he carried a gun on him, and he said,” Laurel shook her head at the thought, “… condom.”
Angela began laughing hysterically. “Yeah; he carries a gun on him at all times because it’s the same ethics as a condom. He’d rather have one and not need it, than need it and not have one.”
Laurel nodded at the logic. “So, does he have a condom?”
Angela thought for a moment; looking at the sky as if searching for an answer. “Ya know, I don’t think so.”
The two laughed together.
“Anyway, is that how you two met; through his mother?” Laurel asked.
“No, we just grew close because of her, I suppose.” Angela nodded. “Reed and I grew up in Harlem; which was about as bad as it sounds.
Laurel shook her head. “I didn’t-.”
“No, no. It’s okay.” Angela waved her hand at Laurel. “It’s not racist to think the thought I know came into your head first. We were two white kids growing up in the meanest, black dominated neighborhood you can imagine.”
“Must have been rough, “Laurel said.
Angela widened her eyes in a mocking fashion and nodded. “My parents were forced to move there due to serious lack of money. One time, I was being harassed by a bunch of kids; telling me I didn’t belong and such, thinking I was the only white kid in the school. That was when Reed found me. He was getting a drink at the water fountain and he noticed I’d been cornered at the end of the hall. As you probably know by now, Reed has sort of an imposing way of getting a point across. He stomped over to them and just started grabbing them by their collars and shoving them away from me. Once he was standing between me and them he started this spirited lecture about tolerance and acceptance. Of course, it didn’t take too well. The kids were already pretty P.O.’ed about him manhandling them and were fixing to beat on Reed five-to-one; but then Reed flicked out his switch blade and they hesitated. It was in that moment when a teacher actually came around. Reed was suspended for like, two months for having a knife in school. They confiscated it but Reed broke in that night and took it back.”
Laurel let out a short laugh. “But what did his mom say?”
“Oh, the letter never got to her.” Angela said. “Reed took it out of the mailbox and burned it.”
Angela smiled. “Well anyway, my parents died in a car crash when I was about fourteen. Reed’s mom had already met me by that time and, being the saintly woman that she was, let me live with them as opposed to living in a foster home.”
“Neat.” Laurel smiled.
“Yeah, she was the best.” Angela stopped and sat up against a tree.
“If Reed’s mom was such a good woman, how did Reed end up a criminal?” Laurel asked.
“That was one of the biggest surprises of my life.” Angela started. “Reed’s mom didn’t have the highest paying job and Reed’s dad had split on them before Reed was even born; but they still managed to keep the house and buy food and have presents at Christmas and everything else. One night I couldn’t sleep and noticed Reed sneaking out. I jumped into my shoes and followed him. I was real sneaky but I was still surprised he didn’t notice me. He walked down the sidewalk without stopping. It was eerie the way he just had his hoodie on like some common criminal; me catching glimpses of him as he passed under the streetlights. And he was so quiet! I couldn’t even hear the sound of his sneakers hitting the pavement. We walked for what felt like hours; but he kept a constant, droning pace the whole time.”
“Yeah, even I had to deal with that.” Laurel laughed.
Angela didn’t join her this time. She just continued her story. “Finally he came to this expensive looking house and bent down in front of the door. Quickly he picked the lock and pushed it open. Then he just sat there for a moment; peering inside. No alarm went off; no one came running downstairs with a baseball bat. Then he moved into the house…into the darkness.
“And what did you do?” Laurel asked.
“I ran home,” Angela said simply.
“Was that the first time he stole?”
“Apparently not.” Angela shook her head slightly. “I asked him about it the next morning; told him about everything I saw. He just said, ‘I figured that was you following me.”
“And?”
“I guess one day, before I ever came into the picture, his mom was looking over the bills and said that this was it. Finally they were going to lose the house. She had a little money to pay but the bank said it wasn’t enough. Suddenly Reed came home the following morning with the whole thing.”
“And she didn’t think that was weird?” Laurel asked.
Angela was silent for a moment; then said, “Reed’s mom was amazing but by no means a miracle worker; and she knew to just accept how it went down. She asked no questions, and Reed told no lies.”
“So you were the only person he ever hung out with?” Laurel asked.
Angela shook her head furiously. “No, he had another friend.”
“What happened to them?”
Angela shot Laurel a very angry look. “Don’t ask about her. Okay? Ever.”
They both were quiet for some time after that; finally Laurel asked, “So, where is Reed?”
“He’s over by the car, moping.” Angela whipped her hand in the direction of Reed.
Laurel walked away without another word.
“Oh, don’t mention any of this to Reed,” Angela pleaded. “He’s sensitive about the subject.”
“Sensitive?” Laurel asked.
“You know what I mean.” Angela rolled her eyes. “He probably just wouldn’t want to talk about it.”
Laurel nodded and continued on her way.

“I’m telling you Reed, it’s no problem,” Devlin said. “I’ll have it fixed in no time once we get back to the garage.”
Reed was knelt down at the back end of the Barracuda; eying the damage thoughtfully. His hand was already bandaged by cotton and gauze from his extensive roadside survival kit.
“How could they do this?” Reed squinted hard at the area.
“It’ll be fine. Let’s just get back to New York, huh?” Devlin tapped Reed on the shoulder.
“No.” Reed stood, shaking his head.
“What? Why not?” Devlin squeaked.
Reed looked him dead in the eye with a cold, calculating stare. “Running back to New York is good enough for me but not for Laurel. I’m going to help her.”
“But why?” Devlin screamed. “Why is she so important?”
Just then, Laurel stepped into view and Reed didn’t answer.
“Where are we going next?” she asked.
“Cooper University Hospital,” Reed muttered. “Your coroner might be able to help us out with his report. Maybe he found something weird.”
“Well, we can’t drive the Cuda around,” Devlin put in. “There’s no way they haven’t put an APB out on it by now. And that taillight damage will give us away in an instant.”
Reed retorted. “There’s a good chance they think we’re running for it right now. Besides, I’ll take the chance.”
“This is insane,” Devlin breathed.
“Devlin, shut up,” Reed finally said. “Go retrieve Angela. We’re leaving.”
Devlin sucked in a large amount of air; and then just huffed it back out. He turned and walked into the park.
Laurel watched him leave, then said, “So why are you helping me?”
Reed looked at her for a moment. “Because you don’t deserve to be a victim.”
Reed moseyed over to the front of the car and hopped into the driver’s seat.
Soon Devlin returned with Angela and they left immediately. Angela was happy to hear that they were going to continue to aid Laurel. Laurel and Angela talked in the backseat the whole way to the hospital. Many times they passed police cars and many times they did not turn on their lights or give chase. As Reed believed, many of the police officers still did not know what they were looking for.
The gang arrived at the hospital without a hitch; not even red lights stopped them. Despite Reed’s composure; the air reeked of urgency.
Reed pulled into a parking space and turned the car off. He turned around in the seat and said, “Alright, Laurel and I will go