I'd passed the cop about a mile back. He'd been standing there, arms folded, next to his police regulation Harley in a pull-in at the side of Route 10. Now he'd reappeared in my rear view mirror, getting closer by the second. Every now and then, the sunlight caught on his dark glasses and dazzled me. He followed for a couple of miles while I kept an eye on the speedo. Then he came up alongside and made a circling motion with his hand.
Shit! What was his game?
I pulled over to the breakdown lane and watched him in the mirror as he followed in behind me, stopping about ten metres away. I saw him dismount, take off his gloves and walk slowly toward my car.
He leaned down to look through the window and again made a circular motion, smaller this time, with his index finger. I ran the window down and he looked in. His helmet bore the emblem - California Highway Patrol. The patrolman adjusted his glasses, but didn't remove them. His steady chewing revealed glimpses of even, white teeth.
"Good afternoon, sir. You havin' a nice day?"
"I am, officer. But I get the feeling you're about to change all that." He didn't answer, but I knew he was giving me the once over behind those shades. I could feel it, feel him playing with me, keeping me guessing.
"You know what speed you were doing back there, coupla miles, sir?"
I reply that I didn't, although I was pretty sure I had been driving well within the speed limit. And I'm damn certain he didn't know for sure. He was only guessing, because when I passed him he had not been holding a speed gun.
"You know the law of this State, sir?" I didn't answer. He continued. "When I clocked you back there, you were doing fifty-five. Did you realise you were in a fifty zone?" His dark glasses stared at me, got me fidgety. From what I could see of his face, he was nicely tanned, good looking, mid to late twenties.
"I'm sorry, officer, but I feel sure you're mistaken."
For the first time he actually smiled, showing those perfect teeth. It was a smug grin.
"You saying an officer of the law's not competent enough to judge the speed of a passing automobile, sir? Is that what you're saying, sir?"
"How the hell could you know? You didn't clock me back there."
"You think a court of law would believe your word over an officer, that what you're saying here, sir?"
"No, of course not. I..."
"Sir, can I see your driver's license?" I complied and handed it to him. He casually flipped through it. "Sir, can I ask you to step out of the car, please?"