Chapter - 299
The silence in the ruined, smoke-filled, toilet-water-soaked bathroom was total. The hiss of the broken pipe and the distant, fading wail of sirens were the only sounds.
Rick, his hands raised in a classic gesture of "this-is-not-what-it-looks-like," was bathed in the blinding white beams of two police flashlights. He was covered in blood, filth, and soot. He looked like the final boss of a post-apocalyptic movie.
Officer Miller, the older of the two cops, had his revolver held in a shaky two-handed grip. "HANDS IN THE AIR! HANDS... what the hell?"
His partner, Officer Davis, who looked like he was barely old enough to shave, was visibly trembling, his Glock wavering. "ON THE GROUND! NOW! HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK!"
"Officer, I understand this looks bad," Rick said, his voice a mask of calm, reasonable concern. This, he knew, was just making them more nervous.
