The cop didnt see Curtis until she got in close because of the tinted windows.
Theree no need for that,?the cop said.
James assumed Curtis had the magnum pointing at the cop, but he glanced in the drivere mirror and realised Curtis was pointing it at himself.
Curtis, dont,?James shouted.
James heard the gun click.
A white light and a deafening blast flashed as a stun grenade exploded in the wheel hub of the front police car, ripping apart the tyre. Four more grenades exploded along the roadside, followed by a final blast that took out a tyre on the cop car at the rear.
James, Curtis and the two cops were temporarily deafened and blinded by the pulses. A few passing drivers had wobbly moments, but the traffic was mercifully light and the only harm done was a couple of tyre squeals and a car almost swerving off into the desert.
Lauren had buried her face in the sand after laying the last grenade. She counted the explosions with her fingers plugged tightly in her ears. After the sixth blast, she jumped up and ran towards the male cop. Before he regained his sight, Lauren gave him a 90,000-volt nip with Scotte electric stun gun.
He collapsed in a shuddering heap, where he would remain paralysed for the next couple of minutes. Lauren snatched the gun from the cope limp hand and fired it harmlessly into the air above the Ford. The lady cop had regained enough hearing to duck, as Lauren closed her down and zapped her with the stun gun.
Lauren dropped the ammunition clips out of the police pistols and hurled the guns into the desert, then opened the drivere door next to her brother.
Lames,?Lauren shouted.
James could barely hear Laurene voice over the high-pitched whistling in his ears, but the white smears in front of his eyes were starting to clear.
Now many stun grenades was that??James asked.
Ill of them,?Lauren grinned, as she clambered over her brothere legs and back into the passenger seat. Can you see to drive??
ite getting better,?James said, as he reached forward and turned the key in the steering column to restart the engine.
James rubbed his eyes, while Lauren looked back at Curtis. He was lying across the back seat with a tear running down his face.
Lhat the hell just happened??Curtis asked, staring at the end of the gun.
it not keen on guns,?Lauren explained. i didnt load the magnum because I didnt want anyone getting shot. Ite for fright value only.?
Houte nuts,?Curtis screamed. The cops keep bullets in their guns you know, little girl.?
Only so idiots like you can shoot themselves,?Lauren screamed back.
i wish I was dead,?Curtis whined.
Lill you two shut up,?James said anxiously. it trying to concentrate.?
He waited for a gap in the traffic, before manoeuvring out between the two disabled police cars and pulling through the gap in the metal barrier, on to the side of the road that headed towards California.
As James put his foot on the gas, the steering wheel shuddered violently out of his hands. He nudged the pedal more gently and the car picked up a little speed.
Lhate wrong??Lauren asked.
Ro idea,?James said, as he fought to keep the car going straight. But I did hear something go crunch the last time we passed over the barrier.?
They were doing less than thirty miles an hour and a truck was closing up behind at double that speed. The driver blasted his horn as he swung into the middle lane to overtake. James tried giving the accelerator another dab. The steering wheel almost ripped his arm off as the car veered dangerously towards the side of the passing truck.
ite OK when ite slow, but I cant put any power down.?
Lhat are we gonna do??Lauren asked.
Lod knows,?James said, shaking his head. Lete certainly not gonna get anywhere near Los Angeles in this box of bolts.?
24. TRUNK
The interstate ran through open desert where their abandoned car would rapidly be spotted, but every few miles there was a cluster of outlets: drug stores, diners, fast-food joints; and at this time of the morning they were all closed. James pulled off at the first batch he came to, arms aching from his battle with the steering wheel.
He flipped off the headlamps, put the car in neutral and coasted into the empty parking lot of an ice-cream store, navigating by the light from a giant pink sundae dangling over the highway. He pulled around to the back of the store, stopped beside a row of dumpsters and flipped on the vanity light above his