From Texas to New York
Page 10
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A week later Jim pulled over on the off ramp of the South Washington Blvd. Pulling out his jack and lug wrench he jacked up the left rear of the rental pickup. He removed the bald tire there and stuck the nail in and then rolled it to the rear of the truck. Dropping the tailgate he bounced the tire one last time with the nail on the bottom and hefted it into the bed. As he climbed in behind it he undid the valve stem so the air would leak out. Glancing around and then down at the range finders he made the final adjustments. The three bricks with Jim painted on them were ready and aimed at three top floor windows. Glancing around for a last time he tripped the releases and grabbed the good spare tire. Rolling it to the rear he kicked the pins from the support brackets collapsing them. When he got to the rear he grabbed the flat the laid it on top of the collapsed launcher. Jumping down he grabbed the spare and rolled it around and stuck it on the hub and had no sooner put the first lug nut on when a cop pulled up behind him and turned on his lights.
Walking up he said, “I ought to site you for not pulling off the pavement, but I know the jack would have just sunk in and then you would have then called for a tow truck and tied up more traffic.”
“Thanks,” Jim replied, “I'll be done in a few minutes.” Lowering the jack he kicked the spare tire and turned to throw them in the bed. “Well, look at that bunch of soldiers running around their parking lot over there, wonder what they're doing?”
“Don't know,” replied the cop, “but you better get moving.”
Wiping his hand on his shirt, “Have a good day,” Jim said as he turned and headed for the drivers door.
Watching his rear view mirror he watched the cop follow him down Southgate Road to N Pershing Drive where he turned right. After two more turns he was on I66 headed west. Climbing into the mountains 66 ended and I81 south took him out of Virginia into North Carolina. Parking the truck in a truck stop he carefully wiped down every surface inside the truck and then the door handles after removing the license plates. Picking up the jack, and lug wrench he transferred them with the launchers to his pickup and drove around front and parked. After a good dinner he headed south and then west.