The Narrows

away? A rage as strong as the river built inside me. I didn't want to put Backus on the ground, cuff him and watch him driven away in a patrol car to a life behind bars of celebrity attention and fascination. I wanted to take from him everything he had taken from my friend and all of the others.
    "You killed my friend," I said. "For that you-"
    "Harry, don't," Rachel said.
    "I'm sorry*" Backus said. "But I've been kind of busy. Who might your friend be?"
    "Terry McCaleb. He was your friend, too, and you-" "Actually, I wanted to take care of Terry. Yes, he had the potential of becoming a stone in my shoe. But I-"
    "Shut up, Bob!" Rachel yelled. "You couldn't carry Terry's lunch. Harry, this is too dangerous. Put him down! Do it now!"
    I broke off my rage and focused on the moment at hand. Terry McCaleb retreated in the gloom. I stepped toward Backus, wondering what Rachel was telling me. Put him down? Did she want me to shoot him?
    I took two more steps.
    "Get on the ground," I ordered. "Away from the weapons."
    "Whatever you say."
    He turned as if to move away from where he had dropped his weapons and to choose a spot to get down.
    "Do you mind, there's a puddle here. Leaky fireplace."
    Without waiting for an answer from me he took a step toward the window. And I suddenly saw it. I knew what he was going to do.
    "Backus, no!"
    But my words did not stop him. He planted his foot and dove headfirst into the window. Its framework softened by years of sunlight and rains like this day's, the window gave way as easily as a Hollywood prop. Wood splintered and glass shattered as his body went through. I quickly ran to the opening and saw the immediate muzzle flash from Backus's second gun. Plan B.
    Two quick pops and I heard the bullets zing by and hit the ceiling above and behind me. I ducked back behind the wall and fired off two quick returns without looking. I then dropped to the floor, crawled beneath the window and came up on the other side. I looked out and Backus was gone. On the ground I saw a little two-shot derringer. His second had been a little vest gun and he was now unarmed, unless there was a plan C.
    "Harry, the knife," Rachel called from behind me. "Cut me loose!"
    I grabbed the knife from the floor and quickly sliced through her bonds. The plastic cut easily. I then turned to Thomas and put the knife in his right hand so he could free himself.
    "I'm sorry, Ed," I said.
    I could give him the rest of the apology later. I turned back to Rachel, who was at the window, looking through the gloom. She had picked up Backus's gun.
    "See him?"
    I joined her there. Thirty yards to the left was the river wash. Just as I looked I saw the overflowing torrent carrying a whole oak tree on its surface. Then there was movement. We saw Backus jump from the cover of a bougainvillea and start to scale the fence that kept people away from the river. Just as he was going over the top Rachel raised a gun and fired two quick shots. Backus dropped down onto the gravel shoulder next to the channel. But he then jumped up and started running. Rachel had missed.
    "He can't get across the river," I said. "He's hemmed in. He's heading up to the bridge at Saticoy."
    I knew if Backus made it to the bridge we would lose him. He could cross and disappear in the neighborhood on the west side of the channel or the business district near DeSoto. "I'll go from here," Rachel said. "You get the car and get there faster. We'll trap him at the bridge."
    "Got it."
    I headed for the door, getting ready to run through the rain. I pulled my cell phone from my pocket and threw it to Thomas as I went.
    "Ed," I called over my shoulder. "Call the cops. Get us some backup."

CHAPTER 42
    Rechel ejected the magazine from Backus's gun and found it had been fully loaded until she took the two shots at him. She slapped it back into place and went to the window.
    "You want me to go with you?" Ed Thomas asked from behind.
    She turned. He had cut himself free. He was standing, holding the knife up and ready.
    "Do what Harry said. Get us backup."
    She stepped onto the sill and jumped out into the rain. She quickly moved along the bougainvillea until she found an opening and pushed through to the river fence. She put Backus's gun in her holster and climbed up and over, snagging her jacket sleeve on the top and tearing it. She dropped onto the gravel shoulder two feet from the edge. She looked over the side and saw the water was only three feet from the overflow. It was