Renee let her guys know about the mooks we'd just beat up and we made another break for it. We grabbed a squad car - it was not particularly difficult - and set out. The radio on the dash kept squawking at us so I tore the mic out and flung it out the window. The dash kept beeping and gargling so I put my fist into it a couple times. There was an AR-15 and a Mossberg in a rack between the seats. I pointed to the shotgun.
"Check it out, Montoya, your favorite."
She spared a glance and turned back to the wheel. I popped open the drawer in the dash and found a Walther. Shitty little thing. On a hunch I reached over and flipped down the hinged sun visor on Montoya's side. A compact Glock variant came out and fell into her lap and the car swerved.
"JESUS!"
"Hub Cops, Montoya. Want first dibs?"
She took another glance.
"We're not going in guns blazing, Sage."
"Who says? It's the most effective way to do it. Put down his cronies first and ask our questions."
"It's a public park and it's the middle of the afternoon. Collateral damage."
"Are you calling me a bad shot?"
"I'm calling you stupid."
"More than fair. So no long guns."
She paused.
"Fine. Give me the Walther."
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. Less likely to be lethal."
I stared in only-half-mock horror.
"What are you gonna do? Aim for their knees?"
"Maybe."
"I call that ineffective."
"I call it useful."
"You know, maybe you should go learn vigilantism under that asshole with the ears. He's about as good as maintaining a secret identity as I am and he won't do guns."
"You told me who you were."
"Exactly."
She took her eyes off the road again.
"You know who Batman is?"
"Hunch. I'm a detective."
"I am too. Spill."
"That'd be telling."
"That's the point."
"I know. So I won't."
"You don't really know."
"I do too. There's even a little thought process there. Take it from me, crime fighting is expensive."
I would've continued, but she braked hard outside the Square and turned to me.
"Shit. Do you know what Diego looks like?"
"Don't need to. We can ask politely. If it comes to it. You know I don't like to make a mess."
I got out of the car. Palisade Square was so named because it was a square surrounded by a palisade. A park, essentially. Luckily for us, apart from a sprinkling of trees, the terrain was mostly flat, allowing us a quick glance over the park. There were two clusters of people. A small family of three and a group of boisterous men in large overcoats. I glanced at Renee as she got out of the car. She slipped the Walther into her pocket. It wasn't a big gun.
"Any idea which one of these two are the gang of vest-wearing criminals?"
"Wiseass."
"Yeaahhhh."
