Shattered (Michael Bennett #14)(75)

Bobby said, “Cut the shit. I won’t fall for any of your homicide detective tricks. You got nothing. And you know that no one will take you seriously. The FBI already thinks you’re a meddlesome kook. You’ll be laughed out of DC.”

“That could be, Bobby. But someone will look at what I found out.” I held up my phone with a photo of the DVD shard from the Whole Foods security office. “That’s in your car. That DVD had you on video. I’m curious, what had you planned to do if the regular security system had been working? Would you have tried to trash the whole video system?”

Bobby was getting more agitated the longer we sat there chatting. His hands couldn’t keep still as he scratched his ear, then wiped his eye. He also had a twitch in his cheek. He started scanning the National Mall. I knew that look. He was weighing his options and wondering if he should run.

I had one more idea. It was a risky choice. I said, “Right about now they should be executing the search warrant on your apartment in Alexandria.”

That got Bobby to sit up straight. He stared at me. “You’ve been stalling me all this time? Just trying to keep me here? You asshole.” He sprang to his feet.

I eased myself up, trying to keep from alarming Bobby. A group of schoolkids was close by. I didn’t want to cause a scene.

Bobby reached toward his waistband. I said, “Hang on, Bobby. Don’t do something stupid. Look around you.”

That seemed to get through. He noticed the kids and moved his hand away. Then he kicked my right leg out from under me as he shoved me. I tumbled down onto the steps. It felt like someone hitting me on the hip and back with a steel rod.

I grunted in pain, then glanced over at the schoolkids. They were terrified. I scrambled to my feet. This was not the typical experience at the memorial.

I backed away, careful to not give Bobby a reason to pull his gun. I didn’t care if we tumbled down the entire flight of marble stairs, as long as there was no shooting.

Bobby looked confused. Almost like he was lost. I tried to guide him away from the crowds. Everyone was staring at us anyway. I gently put my hand on Bobby’s upper arm.

He moved like lightning. He trapped my hand on his arm. He twisted his body, and the world spun. I moved through the air like a meteorite, then struck the hard stone.

Fucking judo.





Chapter 100



Am I seriously injured? Will I be able to move? These thoughts crossed my mind as I stared up at the ceiling of the Lincoln Memorial. I gasped, trying to replace the air that had just been knocked out of me. Slowly I sat up. The groan I let out at least let everyone know I was still alive. And seemed to startle the schoolkids.

Everyone around me was frantically dialing 911 on their cell phones. A woman herded the schoolkids away from me as if getting your ass kicked was contagious.

I spotted Bobby loping away from the memorial along one side of the reflecting pool. I managed to stand up, my legs a little shaky under me. I started down the stairs as quickly as I could. Pain shot through my hip like someone jabbing me with a knitting needle. I wobbled when I made it to the ground level and tried to run. I limped along, hoping I could get control of my battered legs. Finally I was able to pick up the pace, but it was still not exactly a sprint.

The mall wasn’t too crowded. But I had to face the facts. I was hobbling after a younger man. That was stupid move number one. He was a black belt in judo. That was stupid move number two. And I couldn’t call in a dozen uniformed cops to help me. Stupid move number three.

Somehow I closed the distance on Bobby. Mainly because he didn’t bother to look behind him. He was confident he’d taken me out of action. I was pretty sure he was headed toward his car to get rid of the DVD shard. It may not have been the brightest move to show him the photo, but I’d had to get him talking.

I was almost on him. Thank you, Mary Catherine, for making me ride bikes with you so often. I managed to get a hand on his shoulder.

Bobby skidded to a stop. Once again, I was in the air without even knowing it. This time I hit the concrete path hard. I rolled to my left quickly. I had to do something to counter his judo skills. But what?

Somehow I managed again to stagger to my feet. Now my left leg had just gone numb. There was no one around us here. No one dialing 911 so the DC cops would swoop in and rescue me. I was woozy. How could I counter judo when I could hardly stand?

I turned to face Bobby, then suddenly had a strange sensation. In a split second he had stepped toward me and wrapped his hands around my throat. My air supply just stopped mid-breath. I saw stars immediately.

Damn was he strong.

The sunlight started to dim.





Chapter 101



I flailed at Bobby’s wrists. His hands were still locked on my throat. My training failed me. My brain was so scrambled I couldn’t think back to all the ways I had been taught to get out of a chokehold. I wasn’t having any meaningful effect on Bobby. I just panicked.

What was judo’s weakness?

I desperately needed air. My oxygen debt was growing exponentially. I tried to make my brain work more efficiently. I tried to remember what I knew about judo. Then my mind jumped back to the pain I felt in my neck as Bobby’s surprisingly powerful hands tightened their grip.

Judo was a sport. There were rules. No strikes. No kicks or punches allowed. Jesus Christ, that was it! Bobby might be following the rules, but it was up to me to break them.