Lawrence Baker was escorted into a room with a large screen TV.  Barb pulled the tape from her bag and slid it into the VCR, then set the lights low for good viewing.  They explained that the suspect was not on the tape at least they had no reason to believe he was included on it.  What they were looking for is someone who limps like he did. 

They rolled the tape at least five times.  When they finished Lawrence wanted to see some of the segments again.  Out of that he selected two.  “Neither one of them is right, but they are both close.”

Penny looked at the numbers, 7 and 8 on the chart the doctor gave them.  Seven was a RAK with a very long stump.  Eight was a RAK with a short stump.

Lawrence shook his head, “Sorry I can’t give you one, and neither of them are right, but they are both close.”

They took Lawrence home and dropped Lisa Martz at her home.  They waited in the car until she was inside.  The fear in the city was running high. 

Barb headed back to the station, then turned and started through the center of town.  “Let’s make a tour through town.”

“You mean like real cops on patrol?”

“We are real cops.”

“Sure, they will let us shuffle papers but they’ll not let us on the street.”

As Barb turned off Queen on Philadelphia a female voice came on the radio. “Unit 62.  Shots fired, both officers down, near Market and Queen.  Get us help fast.”  It was Joyce Camden.  She had been teamed with Gary Senft. 

Penny reached for the mike to respond when Unit 67 responded, “Unit 67, Market and Queen rolling.”  There was a second response, “Unit 71, Market and Pine rolling.”  This meant that there were at least four officers within four blocks and with a straight shot to it.  “Unit 55 covering Philadelphia near Queen.”

“Roger units 67, 71 and 55.”

The dispatcher looked at the chart.  There was no unit 55 on patrol, who was this?

“I have a unit as 55, confirm that number.”

“10-4, this is unit 55.”

“Unit 55, I don’t see you on the roster.”

“Unit 55 here, we are a special for the night.”

“Roger 55, we have you as Philadelphia Street near Queen.”

Barb parked the car behind another car on the street and they got out.  They were in uniform, they were wearing their cosmetic legs and other than a limp they looked like any other cop on the street.  They spotted an alley, went to the corner of it and looked around.  It was clear.  Both slipped around the corner and started back the alley toward Market Street, Penny on the left side, Barb on the right. They came to the alley parallel to Market and stopped at the corner.  They each looked around the corner.  Barb spotted the figure moving toward them in the alley, hugging the shadows on the far side of the alley.  Penny would soon be in view.  She motioned to Penny to back up and join her.  Penny started to move.  When she stepped back the heel of her right shoe caught in a damaged drain grate in the alley.  She tried to free it unsuccessfully.  This had happened to her more than once before when she was wearing tapered heels, but never in a shoe with a full heel.  The shoe was just plain stuck.  She couldn’t pull it out of the grate.  She was pinned in the open.  She tried to release her leg.  As she did Penny looked up the alley just in time to see the muzzle flash of a rifle.

If you wish to read more of this novel click on the link below.  It is the first chapter and it contains links to the other chapters. 

The Night Sniper Chapter One: On the Beat

The Night Sniper: Ch. 034 Joyce Douglas Gets Ready for Work

The Night Sniper: Ch. 036 Penny is Shot Again