Closing in

Running to the captain's office, Joe knocks on the door.

Seeing his detective in the entryway, the boss motions him in. I hope he has good news for a change, he thinks. With Joe's stoic face, it's often hard to tell. Tossing his glasses aside, the captain rubs his tired eyes. The one thing I won't miss is the paperwork that goes with this job. He scans the documents scattered across his desk.

"Sir, I got word that a State Trooper spotted our suspect on a back road heading toward Missouri.

"I hope they can stop the car before it crosses the state line." Less paperwork that away. He eyes the clutter covering the top of his desk.

"That's not going to be a problem, sir. Our suspects wrecked, and their car went up in flames."

Leaning forward, the captain asks, "Did the women make it out alive?"

"The officers don't believe either had a chance to escape but decided to search the area just in case."

The captain rubs his eyes again. "And they haven't been able to find them."

"That's correct, sir. Said they're waiting for the fire department to arrive so they can check the car."

"They've escaped all the other times, so they probably escaped this." He pauses a second, then adds, "Tell Jerry and Jeff to get out there and take the canines too."

"What would you like for Rachel and me to do?"

"I want you to notify the Mission state troopers and the Sheriff's Department. Make sure our BOLO goes nationwide in case my hunch is correct."

Jeff knocks twice and then steps inside. "Sir, the Missouri Sheriff's Department called. They said they found human remains inside the car."

"Did they say if it was our suspects?"

"They say the bodies are too charred to tell, but their ME believes he'll be able to get a positive ID once he gets them to the lab."

"They're probably using their latest victims as decoys."

Joe recalls some of the things they've done in the past, shakes his head, and says, "That's a good possibility, sir."

"Jerry and I will assist with the search." Jeff volunteers.

"Take the canines too."

Jeff nods. "Copy that, sir."

***

Scanning the road, Jackie glances at her partner, smiles, and says, "It should be smooth sailing from here on out." Setting the car's cruise control, Jackie relaxes in her seat.

"I'm glad to hear that because I don't think my insides can take much more of that jarring crap."

Jackie rubs her stomach. " I know what you mean." She pauses and then adds, "I wouldn't have suggested this road if I'd known it's gotten that bad."

Granny sighs. "At least we made it out alive."

"Luck is definitely on our side."

"I hope it stays that way."

"Me too."

Jackie catches something from the corner of her eye. She glances in the mirror and sees it again. "No," she yells, straightening up in her seat.

Noticing her partner's reaction, Granny looks back but doesn't see anything. "What is it?"

"B …Behind us," Jackie stutters, her eyes glued to the mirror.

Granny turns around but still doesn't see anything. "What did you see?"

"I thought I saw a cop." She glances in her mirror to find no one there. "My eyes must be deceiving me." Jackie nervously chuckles, still not convinced they're safe. She glances in the mirror a few more times but doesn't see anything. After a few tense minutes, Jackie says, "False alarm, I guess.'' she relaxes a bit.

Jackie is thinking about her and Granny's upcoming adventures when she spots red and blue lights behind them again. "That wasn't my imagination."

"I...I saw it too." Granny's face turns ghostly white.

"Hold on." Clutching the steering wheel with both hands, Jackie punches on the gas.

Granny scans the area, hoping she can find a place to turn. She soon realizes there isn't a side road to be found. "What are we going to do?" she cries.

"Get the hell out of dodge." Jackie pushes the pedal down more.

Putting a death grabs the dash. With a horrified look on her face, Granny turns and says. "You're not going to try and outrun them, are you?" Jackie fishtails around a corner. Gripping the dash tighter, Granny hangs on for dear life.

"Just until we cross the state line." Jackie pushes the pedal down more.

"They still can arrest us, you know."

"Not if we escape." Jackie hears a high-pitched dinging coming from inside the car. She glances at the dash to find the power is reduced light flashing on the screen. "No," Jackie yells, slamming her hands against the wheel.

"What's going on now?"

"We're being shut down remotely."

"How?"

Jackie points at the screen on the dash. "Probably from this On Star thing."

"Fix it," Granny screams.

Jackie glances over, gulps, and says, "I don't know how."

Granny points to her right and asks, "Why don't we trade the car for that truck?"

Jackie glances over to find a pickup in the field. It looked like a rusted-out junk heap of a truck, but what other choice did they have. Jackie slams on the brakes. The car skids a few feet and then stops. she turns toward her partner and says, "I'll meet you there."

Reaching the pickup, Granny hoists herself inside. Glancing over, she discovers the car is engulfed in flames. Looking closer, Granny sees her partner darting across the field. Eyeing the rugged road, she finds the cops are closing in. "She'll never make it in time."

Granny is searching for the keys when the driver's door flies open. Startled, she springs back in the seat.

"What do you think you're doing snooping through my things?" a tall rounded man growls.

Granny first notices the way his dishwater blonde hair is thinning on top. She then sees his wrinkled, sun-kissed forehead and the deep creases along his face. He looks to be in his late sixties, but his bib overalls and other apparel suggest he's older than that, as does the layer of thick gray stubble across his bronze face.

"I asked you a question, woman. What are you doing in my truck?"

His large stature and hostile demeanor frighten her so that Granny scoots further back. A rifle, once propped against the seat, falls to the floor. She looks over to find the cops are moving in. She then sees her partner is still a distance away. I have to save her. Reaching down, she scoops the gun off the floor. Its unfamiliar dimensions feel strange in her hands. It's a lot different than my cane, she thinks. Adjusting for the awkwardness, she swings the weapon around. "Give me your keys, or else," she demands.

The man sees the rifle shaking in her hands. He then notices the terrified look on the lady's face. It reminded him of the day his wife tried to shoot his gun. Millie's plump butt landed on the ground. Laughing, he says, "Put that thing down before you hurt yourself."

Granny lifts the weapon to her shoulder, taking a big gulp of courage. She glares at him and says, "The only one who will get hurt is you."

Rolling his eyes, the man shakes his head. "You obviously have never shot a rifle before."

"I've shot plenty." Granny lies. She's never shot a gun in her life. Not one with lead bullets anyway.

Humor dances in his eyes. Chuckling, he says, "You don't say?" He takes another step toward her.

Granny adjusts the gun. "Either hand over your keys or get gunned down, your choice."

The man laughs. "You don't scare me."

With a stern look on her face, she clenches her jaw and says, "Give them to me, now."

He takes a step closer. "No."

In the firmest voice she can muster, Granny says, "I'm not telling you again."

"Is that so." he reaches for the gun.

Granny squeezes the trigger only to find the small metal piece is locked.