It was just about 4 when I pulled up in the driveway at the university where I had dropped off Holly a few hours earlier. There were a few more cars sitting at the curb, obviously other folks waiting to pick up someone from class. But the hair on the back of my neck was telling me not everything was as it appeared.
I think you have heard me mention, when you're a cop, private or otherwise, you have to learn to trust your instincts. My instincts were all keyed-up about something, they were trying to tell me something. I had to take a few minutes to listen to what they were telling me.
I scanned around the area, paying particular attention to the cars parked around me. That's when the bells and whistles went off. "Why would a white unmarked police car be sitting at the curb, just a few vehicles up from me?" It sure looked like a plain wrapper, but the university's police only had two unmarked cars, both of them dark blue. The city police have a lot of unmarked cars, but none of them obviously look like a white unmarked car. This one had the spotlight on the corner of the windshield, a couple extra antennas, and what appeared to be lights on the rear deck. There were two guys sitting in the front seat. It looked like it was a couple of years old so maybe it was a used police car. It sure looked clean if it was. Repainted? Maybe. A couple of the county departments use white unmarked cars, maybe one of them are picking up a wife or kid. Every answer I came up with, I'd come up with a half dozen reasons why it wasn't.
I called Holly's cell phone.
Holly whispered, "Hi Mick."
"Holly, just listen to me, you don't have to answer. Wait inside the classroom until I tell you to come out. I'm outside now, but just wait until you hear from me."
Once again she whispered, "Okay," as she disconnected.
I called the university police and asked for Phil. The operator told me he was on patrol, so I asked her if she ask him to stop by and see me. She asked me to hold on for a minute. When she came back, she told me he was on his way. I had no sooner hung up with her when Dead-eye pulled up behind me in the dark blue unmarked car. I got out and walked behind my truck. He got out of his car and met me.
"What's up, Mick?"
"Did you see the white unmarked car a few up in front of me?"
He peeked around the corner of my truck. "I do now. Who is it?"
"I was hoping you could tell me."
"It's not one of ours. I don't recognize it. I'm going to drive past it and get the tag. Let's see who it is."
"Okay. I'll keep an eye on them."
Phil got back in his car and casually drove past the white car. A minute later he pulled up behind me again. He was snickering. "You ready for this?", he asked.
"Don't tell me."
"It's your friendly local TV station."
"They don't give up, do they?"
"I guess not."
"Anything you can do to help me out?"
"Sure thing, Mick. They're trespassing. They have no legitimate reason for being here, unless they lie to me and tell me they are waiting to pick up someone. Then I'll have to verify that. After all, they've been told to stay off the university property."
"Okay. Is there another driveway on the other side of that building?"
"No. But there is a driveway for service vehicles. Why don't you tell her to meet you at the loading dock for that building? I'll keep them busy for a while."
"That's great Phil. I owe you one." I patted him on the shoulder as I went past him. I handed him one of my business cards that has my cell phone number on it. "Call me." I got in my truck and called Holly.
"I'm waiting by the doors," she said as she answered.
"Do you know where the loading dock is on the back side of the building?"
"Yes. But only from outside."
"Okay, but don't come out the main doors. There's a car out here from the news. I think they are waiting for you. Go out and to the left towards the other side. I'll meet you at the loading dock."
"Okay. Be there in a flash."
I was backing into the loading dock as we disconnected. In about a minute, Holly came out a door right next to it. She smiled at me as she walked to the passenger side of the truck and got in.
"Hiya, Mick." She leaned over and kissed me as she climbed in.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah, fine. Where are these guys?"
"Right out in front. The police are checking them out for us. We should be able to make a clean getaway." I drove slowly up the driveway from the dock. As I got to the main driveway, Phil had his police car in front of the white car. He had all of the pretty red and blue lights going and a second police car was just pulling up. Taking advantage of the situation, I departed the area post haste. I really would have like to have known if it was the two guys I led on the wild goose chase this morning.
"So," I said, "How'd you find the loading dock?"
"Well, using my college noodle, I went to the basement and followed the signs that said, "loading dock".
"Very good. I think you may want to tell Mr. Schaffer that they are still stalking you. Make sure you use the word stalking. If he asks if they scare you, tell him yes."
"Okay."
Holly called the attorney and told him exactly what I told her. I could tell by her replies that he was pissed. Good! Next to a woman scorned, a woman on PMS, and a pissed off cop, not necessarily in that order, comes a pissed off lawyer.
It was almost five by the time I got back to the office. Being that late, I was able to park out in front. Holly and I walked in. Carla was finishing putting away everything for the weekend.
"Hey Boss. Call Mr. Schmidt. He finally returned your call. He'll be in his office until around six."
"Good, I've been wanting to see how he's doing." By that my cell phone rang.
"Pheury."
"Hi, Mick. It's Phil. I just wanted to let you know how things went."
"So, how'd they like getting thrown off campus again?"
"Actually, this was their first time getting thrown off campus today, but... Did you see the news today? The camera crew that got mugged at the biker bar on the south side?"
"Don't tell me, that was them?"
"It sure was. When I took their information, the camera man made a comment about it not being their day. When I asked him what he meant, the reporter told me all about it. I hope you don't mind, but I told them that, too the best of my knowledge, Holly Armacost was in classes all day. I told them I say her earlier, which I did. They don't have to know it was after their little ordeal."
"Nice job, Phil."
"Was she really stripping down there?"
"No, Phil! When all of that was going on, she was in my office. Those idiots followed the wrong person."
"Damn, I was hoping she was. I'd like to see her show some time."
"Oh well. Sorry Phil. Can you give me their names?"
