Badges

tracked him through two states, finally ending up in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

    It appeared to the Marshal Service that their fugitive was planning on staying put in tourist mecca Ft. Lauderdale and attempting to blend in with the local population that ebbed and flowed. Though they knew he was in the city, they didn’t have an address where he was staying. Their only option was driving to the city and staking out of various locations that men of Bush’s type would be sure to frequent.

    “I’m tired as hell of driving around this place and seeing the same ole shit we’ve been seeing since we got here,” bitched twenty-eight-year-old Deputy Maxwell.

    His partner was exactly one year older but had a year less on the job. That didn’t stop him from speaking his mind. “The alternative is to set up at check-cashing places and bars, watch the hookers and see if he picks one up, or walk the beach checking out the homeless. The problem with this kind of weather is that it makes it possible for someone on the run to sleep outside in relative comfort.”

    “You got a good point there about the beach. I’ve got an idea,” Maxwell said as he popped open his cell phone and made a call.

    As they drove on, Banter’s head moved constantly from left to right, searching as much as he could while driving and eavesdropping. When Maxwell got off the phone, his partner knew what his idea was and that it was going into action.

    “So, they’re gonna do it?”

    “Yep. Starting at three a.m., a Broward County Sheriff’s Department chopper is going to fly about a three-mile stretch of beach with a thermal camera and see if they can spot our guy sleeping rough. Let’s hope they find him; it would be so easy to take him in those surroundings.”

    Maxwell’s cell rang, and he answered it quickly. “Maxwell,” he identified himself.

    “Deputy Maxwell, this is the Broward County Sheriff’s Fugitive Squad. We’ve information from one of our snitches that your target intends to hold up a convenience store tonight. Are you in your vehicle?”

    “Yes!”

    “Sending to you now all of the information via your encrypted laptop link. If you have any questions, get back with me. Do you want backup?”

    “No, we’ve got two other guys on standby that we’ll call in. How reliable is the information?”

    “Well, this one’s never been wrong before, so I’d count on it going down.”

    “Thanks, the info just came in,” Maxwell said.

    “Good luck!”

    “Thanks.”

    “Eric,” Maxwell said to his partner, “pull in somewhere so we can go over this information.”

    “Okay, what’s it say?”

    “It states that our boy likes to case joints both inside and out before striking and that this is how he’s been living in every state he’s ended up in. Further, he’s expected to strike the 7-Eleven at 456 Main Street after midnight tonight. We got all our gear with us?”

    “The trunk is full.”

    “Okay, head on over there, make a pass first, and if it’s clear, swing back around,” Maxwell said before he dialed the other team and filled them in. Backup would do outside surveillance while Maxwell and his partner were inside the store.

    After arriving in the area and making a careful pass, they determined that it was safe to park, get their equipment, and get into the store. They pulled the manager to the back and told him what was going to go down.

    “Where can we hide so that he doesn’t see us? We want the drop on him,” Maxwell said.

    “Well, the only place is up there above the freezers. If you pull that screen down, you both could squeeze in there and be able to see the entire store. You’d have a direct line of sight to the cash register.”

    “Okay, if we knock off that screen, you hit the floor and stay there until it’s over with, you understand?”

    “Yes, sir!” responded the manager.

    They brought out a ladder and dropped one side of the screen, and the two deputy marshals crawled into what had once been an air-conditioning duct. They had to climb in feet first, as there was no room to turn around, but no one could get out of their line of fire from that position. They could see the entire store, and there was literally nowhere for the suspect to hide.

    Once situated, they phoned the other team and told them the setup and to stay awake. If the suspect cooperated, he would remain still until the arrest team could take him down while Maxwell and Banter held their weapons on the