Josie and Bender were driving around the popular hangout spots, while Ferrari had gone to meet up with the other detectives from RHD.
As they passed by the locations, he showed her areas controlled by gangs, and pointed out frequent haunts of regular kids.
“Let’s go check out the bowling alley over on Balboa. It’s a distance away from where I’d expect to see the missing girl, but sometimes a hunch will pay off.”
While they drove, they listened as the dispatcher broadcast the information identifying Eloy and Chloe, and the description of his vehicle.
She jotted the car info and license plate on the scratch paper on the front of her clipboard.
Minutes later, Sergeant McKenzie’s voice was on the radio.
“17L30, I’m Code 6 on the wanted Jeep. There are two occupants. Requesting backup and an airship.”
Her partner flipped on the lights and siren to their black and white. “Advise we’re backing.”
She keyed the mic. “17A67, show us backing 17L30.”
“Tell ‘em we’re responding Code 3.”
She followed his instruction and listened as several other units advised they were en route as well.
Josie’s heart was beating so hard she thought it might burst through her body armor.
“17L30, I’m in pursuit southbound Hayvenhurst from Sherman Way. Black Jeep, male driver and female passenger.”
“All units stand by. 17L30 is in pursuit of a black Jeep, male driver and female passenger. Southbound Hayvenhurst from Sherman Way.”
As they came to an intersection, he would slow enough for her to check to see if there was cross traffic or not. She’d yell “clear” when it was safe to proceed.
“17L30 southbound Hayvenhurst to eastbound Vanowen.”
“All units, continue to stand by. 17L30 is in pursuit of a black Jeep, southbound Hayvenhurst to eastbound Vanowen.”
As they passed other cars, he said, “Good thing we’re already on Balboa. They’re just a few blocks south and east of us. Maybe they’ll head our way. If we wind up secondary, you’ll take over the broadcast.”
A fresh wave of anxiety washed over her. “Okay.”
She listened as McKenzie continued on the radio.
“17L30, southbound Balboa to eastbound Vanowen.”
Bender stomped on the accelerator. “Vanowen is the next major. We’ve almost caught them.”
“Southbound Woodley from Vanowen.”
“Air 11 to units on the pursuit. Be advised there’s an unrelated minor T/C at Woodley and Victory. Vehicles are at the curb westbound Victory.”
The sergeant broadcast again. “Westbound Victory.”
“I’ll try to cut them off at Hayvenhurst,” Bender yelled over the siren. Their black and white fishtailed as he made a sharp right onto Hayvenhurst.
As they screamed through the neighborhood, they saw the Jeep pass the street they were on, and seconds later, McKenzie flew by, going Code 3.
Bender accelerated out of the turn while the tires on their vehicle squealed as they joined the pursuit.
“Advise we’re secondary and we’ll take over the broadcast.”
She repeated his directions and hoped no one else could hear the shaking in her voice.
The dispatcher restated her message to the other units.
“17A67, southbound Balboa.” She grabbed the dash as they made a left.
Eloy’s car suddenly veered across the northbound lanes and took a side road.
Panic enveloped her. She didn’t know their location…something cops were supposed to be aware of every second.
Her partner must have sensed she was in trouble. “Suspect vehicle entered Balboa Park, taking the main entrance toward the golf course.”
Into the mic, she repeated everything he’d said.
The sergeant was still on Eloy’s tail, and they were six car lengths behind their supervisor.
After rounding a curve, Eloy clipped a jogger who was crossing the roadway. The runner fell to the ground.
McKenzie’s voice came over the air. “Suspect hit a pedestrian. We need an RA. I’ll stop to help the ped. A67 will be primary.”
“A67, roger,” she said.
“All units in the pursuit, A67 is primary.”
Bender closed the space between them and the Jeep.
The car entered a circular roundabout parking lot.
She broadcast the change of direction.
Then the vehicle turned onto a wide sidewalk that led to a concrete path that surrounded a lake. He sped along the pathway, causing walkers, joggers, and other pedestrians to leap out of the way or be run over.
The driver had to slow for a sharp turn leading to the water’s edge.
She watched in horror as the tires of the Jeep slid off the pavement, and the SUV slipped into the water.
Bender skidded to a stop before the dangerous curve.
“17A67, the suspect vehicle fell into the lake. We’re Code 6.”
Her partner keyed his mic as he got out of their unit. “A67, send an RA, get fire and water rescue rolling.” He stripped off his gun belt and threw it in the trunk.
She followed his lead, then slammed the compartment shut. In the distance, she heard sirens coming their way.
They ran toward the Jeep, which was angled with its nose down in the water.
She sprinted, yelling as she got closer. “Roll down your window, take off your seatbelt!”
Bender stopped to rip off his shirt and body armor and throw them on the ground.
Several other officers dashed to the scene and began to strip off equipment.
One officer gathered the officers’ gun belts, boots, and protective vests and stood over them to keep someone from stealing their gear.
Realizing the car was being submerged, Josie jumped into the lake, boots and all. She made her way to the passenger side of the Jeep.
She could hear Chloe screaming from inside.
The teen’s face was close to the window. Tears streamed down her cheeks. “Help me,” she screamed. “Get me out! Get me out!”
“Undo your seatbelt!”
Josie reached beneath her T-shirt and grabbed the car safety glass hammer that she carried on a chain around her neck. The device was three inches long and weighed less than a pound.
Her partner splashed over to the driver’s side.
Eloy had rolled onto his back with his feet facing his window. He kicked at the glass without success.
Bender was trying to open the SUV’s driver door with negative results. “Somebody bring me a baton.”
She pounded on the passenger window. “Chloe! Turn away from me!” With the water covering almost the entire glass, she placed the hammer against the pane and pressed. The force of the spring-loaded tungsten steel head shattered the barrier.
She grabbed her officer’s notebook from her pocket and scraped the remaining broken window shards out toward her as the water flowed inside the interior. “Put your upper body out first. I’ll help you. Hurry!”
The girl thrust her upper body outside the opening and Josie, who was struggling to stand, grabbed the waist of Chloe’s pants and yanked her the remaining way out.
With the influx of the murky water, the car started to roll toward the driver’s side.
Two pairs of officers plucked both of them away from the Jeep.
As the vehicle rolled over, Bender swam forward, out of the way, to the front of the SUV. He had a horrified look on his face. “I couldn’t get him out,” he gasped. He took a few steps, then dove into the water again.
A couple of other cops jumped in to help him.
A fire engine arrived, and a group of firefighters and police officers returned to the dirty gunk in an attempt to free Eloy.
Josie guided the girl to the shore where the RA waited, and paramedics tended to both of them.
One of the rescuers surfaced. Then another, and another. Finally, Bender also appeared along with the firefighters.
Sergeant McKenzie appeared and started toward her and Chloe.
Josie held up four fingers indicating they were all right.
He moved down to the shoreline.
An officer yelled, “The car’s not stable. It’s on a shallow ledge. We need a tow truck.”
“What about the suspect?” McKenzie asked.
A firefighter shook his head. “He’s wedged in there, stuck under the steering wheel on the floor. We’re gonna have to remove the vehicle from the lake before we can extract him.”
She listened to the radio as the sergeant called for a tow.
A fire engine came toward the shore and a firefighter, who’d been in the water, provided chains to put on the SUV to keep it from rolling further into the lake.
Chloe was having trouble holding a blanket around her because her hands trembled so much. “Is Eloy still in the car?”
“I don’t think he made it out.”
The girl stared at the lake. All that was visible of the Jeep was the undercarriage and the four tires. “Thank you for rescuing me. I thought I was going to die.”
“It was like my worst nightmare coming true,” Josie murmured. But this time, no one died.
The grave impact of what she’d just been through left her stunned, jubilant, and ready for more.