He jammed his thumb against the eject button, ending Alvin’s list of things he wanted for Christmas. “Not really setting the mood.â€? He tossed the cassette in the back seat and popped the glove box.

Random slips of paper exploded from the small compartment, blanketing the floorboard. Mouth agape, he sat quietly for a few seconds before she interrupted.

“So what’d you find? Hendrix? Zepplin?â€? She rocked the steering wheel violently, darting around slower traffic. Her left hand flung out the window, middle finger fully erect in response to a blazing horn. “Hey. Did you find anything good?â€?

He reached into the glove box and pulled out a .40 caliber Baretta, and a police badge.

“Crap.â€? The words barely escaped her mouth before the sirens blared behind them. Red and blue flashes illuminated the car’s interior. “That’s what we get for jacking a car across the street from the police station.â€? She hunched forward in the seat, gripped the wheel tightly, and focused her eyes. “Probably gonna need that seatbelt now.â€?