We headed toward the exit, with me in the lead. I'd completely forgotten about the inclement weather outside. I don't know what would have happened if my foot hadn't slipped on the snow as I stepped out of the building, but fortunately that's exactly what happened. As I turned to talk to her, I lost my footing and had to twist my body, to keep from falling. As I did, I heard the sound of a gunshot, and at the same moment a thud, as a chunk of the brick building came flying through the air.
I went down and stayed down, grabbing for my Terrier. The shot had come from the thicket of trees north of the building. I kept still, looking for any sign of the shooter. I was vaguely aware that Jana was lying next to me. Then there were three explosions, loud and in rapid sequence. I jerked my head in her direction. She had her arms outstretched in front of her and had just fired off three rounds from an automatic pistol.
Neither of us moved. I focused on the spot where the shooter had been, listening and looking for any sign of activity. In the distance, I heard the sound of screeching tires.
I scrambled to my feet, just as a car skidded out of the wooded area, onto Santa Fe Drive, northbound.
Jana said, "He's getting away!" She ran toward the street, still burnishing the pistol. For a moment, I thought she was going to start shooting at the fleeing vehicle, but she lowered the weapon when the car pulled in front of another vehicle and merged into traffic.
"It was a Honda Accord," she called out breathlessly as she came over to join me. "White. I'd say 2000 or earlier. He's probably headed for I-25. I didn't get the license number."
"It wouldn't matter, anyway," I told her. "You can bet it's stolen. Old Accords are the preferred target for car thieves." I gestured toward her hand. "What the hell is that?"
She beamed like a child on Christmas morning. "A Glock G20. Forty-five caliber."
"Where were you carrying it?" I said. "It certainly wasn't hiding anywhere on your body. Believe me, I would have noticed it."
"It was in my purse." She smiled wickedly as she gestured toward my Terrier. "Jealous?"
"Yeah," I answered. "Caliber envy. Yours is bigger. I didn't know I was riding with Annie Oakley."
)
