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Skarda got into it right away "Unmarked cop car, a blue sedan, two blocks behind us," he said

I hung another left followed by a right I actually put the Explorer on theels, which was insane SUVs have a higher center of gravity--do you kno easy it is to flip over one of those suckers? It shook me up sointo the turn and accelerating out of it Skarda kept looking behind us and didn’t see?" I asked

"No, yes, a white van"

I took a right followed by a second right, followed by a left, so the Explorer up to sixty The streets were quiet, thank goodness, although I did have to lean on the horn to keep a Toyota fro out of a driveway in front of us I took another turn, this onein thesouth, the other north, and hbors chatting with each other, not worrying about clogging the avenue because only neighbors used it Skarda didn’t see it that way

"It’s a roadblock," he shouted

I hit the brakes, slowing just enough so that I could safely turn down an alley

"The cops are everywhere," Skarda said "What are we going to do?"

"Hang on," I said

I ed a few more quick turns until we ju production out of weaving in and out of traffic at high speed until we crossed Interstate 694 The Maplewood Mall was on our right I pulled into itsthe cars there I turned off the engine All we could hear was the ticking as it cooled

"I think we’re all right," Skarda said "I think we lost theination running on overdrive As for the white Colonial, it actually had belonged to a girl I once dated, an actor ent to Hollywood to try her luck about fifteen years ago

"Oh ht he was safe, he was breathing hard and clutching his heart as if he were afraid it would leap from his chest "That was close When I saw the roadblock--I still don’t believe you got us out of that"

"It was nothing," I said

"You’re a helluva driver, ht happen," I said "Still … this makes it difficult"