Danger Pay

[CiberTHuG]

I wonder if I can ask the client for danger pay. I just had lunch over a drive by.

It is a four block walk the Subway (sandwhich shop not mass transit, Winston-Salem doesn't have a subway). I grabbed my PDA and strolled down the street to get me a sandwhich and eat while I read. I figure it is a nice day out (mid 80s, relatively low humidity) so I walk back two blocks to sit at one of the tables under the Wachovia tower (which looks like a huge ivory fallus, I'm not kidding).

I'm eating and reading and I hear two bangs followed by the peeling of tires. I think to myself that the bangs were probably not gunshots. That would be too much like in the movies. Besides, I didn't think they were loud enough.

I should note here they my experiences with hand guns has been limited to the larger caliburs; .357, .40, .45. I have very limited experience with .22s and none with 9mm. I'm wondering if that is why I didn't think the bangs were loud enough. Perhaps I was just looking to rationalize.

I figured the squalling tires were just coincidence. I continue eating, unable to see the street because of a fence. A short time later I hear distant sirens. Again, I think... now this is just too much like the movies. But as they get nearer, I can tell they are definately coming this way, and there is more than one.

Three motorcycle cops speed down the street (briefly past the fence's gate). And they stop at the end of the block. I walk out to look, and there are two cars stopped at the green light, surrounded by the cops. They weren't chased, they were apparently already stopped. I would guess one was the victim and the other a witness. I'm not sure, I didn't go ask.

Besides, the abulance pulled up a brief moment later.

I guess I should point out that the county courthouse is the next block over, and there is a federal courthouse a few blocks away.

I wonder if I can get danger pay for eating lunch.