~o~
Tony was on the other side of town blissfully unaware of his mother's predicament. He was also unaware that Emily was breathing on her own again. By now even that piece of vital information would have been unlikely to dissuade him from the course of events that he had set in motion. He was driving along Church Street, officially taking one of the trade-ins to a down-market dealer who would dispose of it to some poor unsuspecting customer. In fact he had a subtle plan of his own to enact. What he really wanted at the moment was a cop and as usual they only seem to appear when you don't want one. He gave himself five minutes and if there was no police car about he would enact his plan with the aid of a hapless driver... the effect would ultimately be the same. Narrowing his eyes he searched up ahead through the line of traffic and finally saw exactly what he wanted, a police car on routine patrol easing out of a side lane into his stream of traffic. He accelerated briskly, forcefully overtaking until he was directly behind the police car. The traffic slowed for a red light, Tony braked just a fraction too late and bumped, at less than walking speed, into the back of the police car.
"Step out of the car please sir."
"I'm sorry officer, It was my fault entirely. I think the brakes on this old banger are faulty. I work for a used car dealership and was just delivering it to another dealer who sells this sort of thing." The policemen was unimpressed.
"Can I see your licence please sir?"
Tony glanced at his watch; five to two. " Shit is that the time, two o'clock..."He said making sure that the policemen was fully aware of the time. "I'm going to get a bollocking over this." Despite having just driven into the back of a police car which may well end in a modest fine, he allowed a fleeting smile of relief to cross his face.
Comatose Page 28