Parking

"Well," said the fire captain, "how are you going to get out? Do you want me to back you, or ... ?"

I looked up and down the four-lane highway. Between an engine, a rescue, our ambulance, and two cop cars, we'd completely blocked two lanes. I'd nosed the ambulance up close to a State Police car when we arrived. The trooper was still taking statements from witnesses.

I shrugged at the captain.

"I think I'll just push the state trooper's car into traffic, and then once it's been smashed out of the way by oncoming traffic I should have plenty of room."

"Hey!"

I turned. Oh yeah. The trooper was still taking statements -- five feet away.

"Oh, crap!" I grinned at the fireman. "They have ears!"

The trooper just looked at me and fired up his standard-issue Fifty Megawatt State Trooper Glare. I tried not to wilt.

"Well ... gotta go! You guys take care!"

"Soooo..." The captain was smirking. "I'll back you, then?"