Guardian Angel

There was no way I was going to make it in time – I had visions of the bald man getting within arms reach of the guy I was supposed to protect, pulling out a gun, and blowing his brains out all over the other pedestrians in spatter distance before I could get anywhere close to save him. My voice cracked as I began screaming hysterically; I was trying to get the target’s attention, make him see the danger looming so he could take steps himself, at least, maybe buy him a little time until I could cover the distance and do…whatever it was I was going to do.

Hey, I was working off the cuff, here. It’s not like I had a lot of tools in my kit to draw from.

Tires screeched to my right, and I looked up to see a tan Lexus accelerating down the street, blowing through the intersection. I could see the bald man jump back out of the way, shouting a curse I couldn’t make out, and I gave a silent mental cheer at the luck.

Then I realized that the car had veered to jump the curb and bear down on the guy I was told to protect. I picked up my pace and threw myself forward at my guy as the car arrived at the same location.

I rammed my shoulder into the guy’s chest, knocking him backward just enough that the front fender of the vehicle missed him by a fraction of an inch. My legs weren’t so fortunate; they made hard contact with the windshield and I heard a sharp snapping sound as the windshield cracked, or at least I hoped it was the windshield. I could feel gravity pull me down, my lower extremities being dragged along the passenger side of the car, and I twisted my torso to pull my legs out of the way to avoid being dragged underneath when I landed. I felt the back of my belt catch on something as I was jerked left a little, then something snapped and I was falling free again. I landed hard and rolled as best as I could to get away from the hurtling missile. Tires screeched again as the driver gunned the engine. The Lexus shot back out onto the street and accelerated away, leaving a large crowd of gawkers in its wake.

It took several seconds for people to realize what had just happened, and the entire area stood still while they mentally processed their experience. Almost as one, people exploded into action, some dialing their cell phones to call some emergency service, others using their cells to snap pictures with the built-in cameras. Others ran over to me and the guy I knocked down, checking to see if we were injured.

Slowly rolling to my feet, I only had concern for one thing – the bald guy. He had only jumped out of the way and was still a threat. It would look very bad to have saved my guy from a lousy car accident to have him get taken out by an assassin’s bullet or knife.

I shook my head to clear my vision, and saw the man walking towards the growing cluster of concerned witnesses. Someone had their arms around my shoulders, asking if I was hurt, and I shrugged them off violently to lurch at “Baldy” as quickly as I could manage.

Some part of my brain told me that although my legs hurt, they weren’t broken, and I lunged at the man as I got within arms reach. He had just started to pull his hand out of his jacket pocket when I blurted out “Oh no you don’t!” and with all the energy I had left, slugged him hard across the jaw. The people close by screamed as the man went sprawling across the pavement. I saw the object he pulled out of his pocket skitter across the ground, coming to rest a few feet away.

It was a camera.

I exhaled noisily and straightened up. People again stood still for a moment, not knowing what to do in this situation. The bald man shook his head and sat up, rubbing his jaw tenderly, his sunglasses all askew on his head. He looked up at me and asked “No picture?” in badly broken English with a Slavic accent. Great. I just beat up a tourist.

I shook my head and replied firmly, “No picture.” before I turned back to the guy I just got hit by a car to save. He was still sitting on the ground, a handful of people surrounding him. As I walked towards him, people edged out of my way, giving me a clear path. He slowly looked up at me and I asked him “Are you OK?”

He nodded and mumbled “You saved my life.”

I nodded back and looked around at people in the crowd. “Did anyone happen to notice the plate on that car?” I asked loudly.

Everyone quickly avoided my gaze and started to walk away. Now that the fun was over, people didn’t want to get involved. Typical.

The guy on the ground startled me when he said “It was my wife’s car.” I looked down at him and he was just staring at his feet, in shock.

Sirens were heard in the distance, getting louder by the moment, and I knelt down next to the man.

“You’re sure?” I asked, and then followed up with “Why would your wife want to run you down?”

He shrugged, and then said “It wasn’t my wife driving, I know that. It was some guy behind the wheel. But it was definitely her car.” He shook his head in disbelief.

A police car squealed to a stop nearby and the officers hopped out to run over and quickly secure the scene. One of them, a rather tall, dark haired male, crouched down close to us.

“We got a report of a hit and run,” he stated. “I take it you guys were the victims?”

I nodded, mutely.

“Any serious injuries?” he asked.

“I’ll be alright,” I answered. “I just got clipped as the car went past. Him, however…” my assignment simply continued to stare at his feet.

“Looks like he’s in shock,” the officer stated. “I better get the wagon here, just in case he vapor-locks on us.” Then he looked at me as he stood up and motioned for me to do the same. I complied, and warily watched the officer approach me.

“Turn around,” he barked.

I sighed. “Look, I can explain about slugging that guy…” I said as I slowly turned to face the other way, bringing up my hands and laced my fingers behind my head. I felt something tug on my belt again, and I glanced back to see the officer holding a broken side view mirror in his hand.

“You had this attached to your belt – it might help us identify the car that did this.” He quipped, and then looked at me a little harder. “What was that about slugging someone?”

“Uh…nothing. Forget I said anything…” I stammered as a hand clamped on my shoulder. I looked over to see the bald man smiling next to me and holding his camera in his hand.