Free Jump the Gun by Zoe Burke

bothered me. I mean, I was willing to let go of the six pairs of shoes I had brought to Chicago, and my new Donna Karan raincoat, and, oh yeah, my laptop with all of my business stuff on it. But I had the distinct impression that Mickey was coming up with reasons to stay, so that he and Luis could face the enemy rather than head for the hills. Me, I was all for running.
    Luis said, “Amigos, let’s go back to the hotel, get your things. I’ll notice if anyone is watching or following us. Then I’ll take you to the airport. I promise. No fare.” I was about to say “What’s not fair?” when I figured it out.
    Luis and Mickey waited for me to give in. I was outnumbered and suddenly exhausted, so I nodded my agreement, thinking to myself, my god, Annabelle, you are an idiot. We left the coffee shop and headed for Luis’ taxi. But when Mickey opened the back door, a dark blue sedan screeched into the parking lot and pulled up next to the cab.
    Two men poured out and yelled, “Police! Don’t move! All three of you! Stop there!” They had guns. So we stopped, with our arms in the air.
    â€œLine up against the cab there, hands on the roof, spread eagle,” one commanded, and so we did, while they patted our legs and hips and sides and arms to see if we had any guns or other weapons, I guess. We didn’t. They pulled Mickey’s and Luis’ wallets out of their back pockets and fished out their licenses. Then they grabbed my purse and rifled through it, finally finding my license. They took a look at all of the IDs and then handed them back to us. They calmed down.
    â€œOkay turn around.” We did.
    â€œWhat’s this all about?” I tried to sound calm while expecting Jake to show up any minute. Mickey apparently had lost his voice.
    â€œWe’re looking for a Mary Rosen, and we got a report that this cab was seen picking her up last night on the strip.”
    Somehow all of this search and seizure had rallied my strength and made me a little—no, a lot more than pissed off. And that anger was feeding my voice. “You mean that we are dangerous criminals because we are using the same cab?” I didn’t like these guys much. Mickey was still silent.
    â€œWe have reason to think the lady was kidnapped. We are taking all precautions. Which is why I would like to hear from the cab driver here if he remembers her, and if any of you are connected to her in any way.”
    I saw Mickey steal a look at Luis, and Luis shook his head, just the slightest bit. I thought about lying and telling them that I had never seen or heard of Mary Rosen in my entire life. But if these guys were good cops and not Jake’s buddies, and if Mary really was a criminal, then that lie could land me in a Las Vegas slammer for obstructing justice. And one rule I live by is that when in doubt, either say nothing or tell the truth. I said nothing.
    Mickey obviously had a different rule book. “We don’t know the woman and we can’t help you. Luis drove us around all night last night, and we never picked up another passenger. In fact, I paid this man a two-hundred-dollar tip for the privilege of chauffeuring me and my girlfriend, isn’t that right, Luis?” With this Mickey put his arm around me and smiled like he and I had been together for years. I, on the other hand, looked at him like he was out of his mind.
    The policemen turned to Luis for confirmation, and Mickey took the opportunity to whisper in my ear, “These guys are not cops.”
    I didn’t know how he knew this, but I had about half a second to decide whether to trust him or think he was crazy, and if I thought he was crazy, or leading me into danger, what would that have meant about our night together? So I trusted him, and before Luis could open his mouth, I said, “That’s right. We’re here on a kind of romantic holiday. Some friends got married on Sunday, and we