[FONT="]He gets out of his cruiser, adjusts his hat, then his belt, and struts towards me. Definitely into fitness, and more the weight building-type and not the lean runner. About thirty, it’s hard to decide whether his head is shaved or the crew cut is that short. On his right forearm, I notice “Semper Fi,” with a Marine anchor tattoo. “You know you can’t hitchhike here,” he barks.[/FONT]
[FONT="]No politeness and definitely a guy who likes to bust people, probably not caring whether it’s a real charge or not. He’s going to ask for my ID and he’s going to run it through the computer. When the Feds start searching for me, which is going to be sooner rather then later when they realize they’re not getting that two million, they’ll be within a three hundred miles of where I don’t want them to be. That’s a lot closer then I want. I want them to think I fell off the ends of the Earth. In real terms, I can use any site within an eight hundred mile radius of DC, but I’ve got a very good location already, and I don’t want to waste time scouting a new location. [/FONT]
[FONT="]I can feel the tension rising in me, and struggle not to show it. Cops pounce on stress like a cat on a mouse, and I don’t want to be a mouse. “Oorah, Sir!” The Marine battle cry. “I’m sorry, I thought I was okay here.” I stand at attention.[/FONT]
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“Marine?”[/FONT]
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“Yes, Sir. Four years. Second Marine.” Yeah, no way was I in the military. But if he buys that I’m a fellow Marine, then maybe he’ll forget to ask for my ID. No salute though. He doesn’t look like officer material.[/FONT]
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“Sorry about that. My Chief doesn’t want people hitch-hiking in town. Says it creates the wrong image. So I have to hassle anybody hitching.” He looks around like he’s worried his Chief is glaring over his shoulder. “Mind riding in the back? I’ll take you up to the next exit. Solves my Chief’s issue. Guy is a want-to-be Marine who was a zero chair jockey in the Army. He’s a dick to work for.” The cop is holding the door open to his cruiser. [/FONT]