Alan Lee [Lee - Wild Card

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I am the storm.

Ethan Hunt, Mission Impossible - Fallout

M anny Martinez reached sixty miles per hour in a thirty-five on Patterson Avenue. His Camaro was accelerating in increments without permission, the engine eager and the drivers mind wandering.

When I worked homicide in Richmond, said the guy riding in the back seat, and he paused to yawn. We didnt get up this early, sir.

Manny glared in the rearview

Hed forgotten the guys name again. The kid was new.

Youre a marshal now, amigo, said Manny. Maybe. America gives you the keys to freedom, you get up early.

Maybe? New Guy looked a little like Peter Parker on steroids. A baby. He did his best not to stare at the back of Manny Martinezs head. The Manny Martinez. Sir? Maybe Im a marshal?

Theres a trial period or something, right?

No, sir, Im a full-time red-blooded deputy marshal as of last week. Like you. I got the shirt to prove it.

They give those shirts to anyone.

Collin Parks rode shotgun; he often did with Manny the last two years. From this angle, Manny thought his cauliflower ears unbearable. Collin tilted his head to address the backseat. Dont listen to Manny, Boone. Wear the shirt with pride. And we dont all get up this early. Just our resident crazy-ass Puerto Rican, Captain America himself.

Boone! That was it. Boone.

Boone chuckled. Our Captain America is Puerto Rican?

Nothing more American than a Puerto Rican. Manny jerked a thumb at himself. And were up early to catch this guy while hes asleep. Fewer problems that way. Usually I like a good fight, but maybe we should get this guy napping.

Whys that, sir? New Guy scanned his iPad, the targets dossier on screen.

Manny liked being called sir.

This guy, his names Donald. Donald is a former MMA fighter, said Collin Parks. He rubbed his eyes and blinked against the late summer sun peeking through trees. Two hundred and fifty pounds. Hes a Neo Nazi, hates everyone. And Mannys scared of him.

Scared? I beat him before, amigo.

Collin kept talking over his shoulder. Two years ago were sent to bring Donald in for battery. Catch him at a bar and hes drunk. Watching a football game or something, and this guy is big. I mean, he looks biggern two-fifty. And Manny cant help himselfhe sees a challenge. He wants this guy to bolt or fight or something. Cause Mannys an ass.

Manny snorted. Word youre searching for is hero.

Anyway, Manny goes to cuff him, right at the bar. Takes his time. A little rough on the guys shoulder. Makes fun of the guys Neo Nazi tattoos. And Donald decides to resist. He flips out. Catches Manny off guard.

I was giving him a head start.

Donald whacks Manny good, and hes wearing one of those watches. You know the kind, big fat watch, looks stupid. The watch rips Mannys eyebrow off, or at least half of it. I got my stun gun out, ready to drop him, but Manny wants to do it the old-fashioned way. Fights the guy, middle of All Sports. Came away looking like ground beef, and thats why hes scared of Donald.

Who won the fight? Did I win? Cause I thought I won.

Collin said, Then whyre we catching Donald sleeping this early, Manny? Cause you remember last time. And youre getting older.

Hes four weight classes above me. I do not feel age; I feelprudence. Manny smiledprudence. That was good.

He turned right on 21st Street and braked in front of a yellow one-story house. The carport had caved in and was used as a lean-to shed for bikes and rusted grills. The small front porch needed replacing and the screen door hung askance, the bottom hinges gone.

The three men got out of the Camaro and New Guy asked, Whats this place?

My favorite girl, said Manny. Shes an informant named Kelsey. I heard she knows where Donald is. I ask politely and then we go get him. Wait here.

He shrugged into a khaki sports jacket and fastened the top button and walked up the cracked sidewalk. Boone glanced down at his cargo khakis and blue U.S. Marshal shirtCollin Parks was dressed the same and wondered what rules of dress code hed missed.

Manny Martinez bordered on being an urban legend in the Richmond office. A larger than life character the size of Paul Bunyan. Or Wyatt Earp. While the stories couldnt all be true, Boone had to admit the minor details were accurate so farfast paced, well dressed, and the glistening hair.

Manny reached the front porch and raised a fist to knock.

On the interior side of the door, Donald the Neo Nazi watched him through the peephole. In his hands he held a cheap Stevens shotgun. The woman behind him, Kelsey, had been crying. She grabbed at Donald and shouted, No! Manny! but Donald threw her onto the couch. He stepped back, leveled the barrel waist high, shut his eyes, and fired.

The gun roared, a sonic starburst, and the round caught Manny just above his left hip. The impact, mitigated from ripping through the hollow-core front door, spun him around and threw him off the porch into the dirt.

Kelsey had purchased the 20-gauge for self-defense years ago at Walmart. A smaller gauge, and shed loaded it with birdshot because she didnt know better. It had never been fired before.

Collin Parks and Boone ducked behind Mannys Camaro and drew their sidearms.

Shit!

Manny! shouted Boone. Manny! You hit?

Collin punched numbers into his phone, calling for backup and an ambulance. Shots fired, Martinez hit! Officer down, 21st off Patterson!

Manny scrambled to his feet with a groan and lurched for his car. The vivid world throbbed, syncopating with his heartbeat.

Jee-zus, Manny! She got you. Boone stared wildly at the ragged hole in Mannys jacket. Get down!

Wasnt Kelsey. Head ringing, abdomen throbbing, Manny popped the trunk of his Camaro. His voice sounded like a growl to his own ears. Shot me with cheap Chinese junk, I bet. He used American, maybe Id be dead. Go around back. Parks will cover the door. Ay caramba, that hurts.

Maybe you should lay down, sir.

Maybe shut up, New Guy.

You think its Donald? Guy were after?

Dogs barked up and down the street. From inside the house, Donald shouted through the perforation in the door, You got ten seconds, Spic, to go back where you came from! Then I come after you!

Thats Donald. He doesnt deserve this country. He was about to skip town. Guys like him, thats why we get up early.

Okay I get it, sir.

Manny took a deep breath and glared at the door, a moment of evaluation. He said, Donalds not coming out front. Not against three of us. He doesnt want to die today.