Paranoia (Michael Bennett #17)

CHAPTER 103

KEVIN DOYLE FELT a run of nerves up the back of his neck as the Nissan parked tight in front of him, boxing him into his parking spot. He focused his attention on his target. He had to get out of the spot quickly without drawing attention to himself.

Then he saw someone walking on the street alongside the parked cars behind him. It took him only a moment to realize it was Bennett’s partner, the young Army Ranger, Robert Trilling.

“Shit,” mumbled Doyle. “So much for karma.”

Then he saw the long, lanky figure of Michael Bennett himself step out of the Maxima parked in front of him. Doyle did a quick scan of the area. He wanted to avoid collateral damage if at all possible. He figured that was Bennett’s goal as well.

Doyle’s mind raced with possibilities. He felt the Beretta 9mm in his belt holster. That wasn’t the answer. Not here with families picking up chicken for lunch. He tried to think of a better option. He had roughly two seconds to come up with something and all his choices were bad.

He threw the rickety SUV into reverse and stomped on the gas. The motor raced as Doyle felt the crunch of the Mercedes’s bumper behind him. He had an idea, but he wasn’t sure if it could work. Goddamn physics.

Then he felt the rear tires catch and the back of the SUV start to lift. He was going to use the Mercedes like a ramp to get his SUV out onto the road. He no longer cared about Nantes. His only goal was to get out of town fast.

As the Trailblazer started to roll backward, he saw Bennett make his move.

That guy had balls.