Page 143 of Hidden Tide
“How narrow?”
“Six feet.”
Ben looks at Ward. “He can jump that.”
“So can the police,” Mom says.
Ward glances at her. “I like your confidence.”
“I raised five daughters. Six feet isn’t far enough to escape a determined woman.”
The roof camera comes alive.
The intruder runs toward the eastern wall, still carrying the tool case.
He reaches the edge and jumps.
His boots strike the next roof.
For one second, I think he’ll make it.
Then his foot slips.
He drops the case.
It crashes onto the roof below and bursts open.
Tools scatter across the concrete.
An old black camera skids into view.
“He has it,” Ivy says.
The intruder catches the edge with both hands.
His body slams against the side of the building.
Officers reach the roof behind him.
“Don’t move!” one shouts. “We’ll pull you up.”
The man looks down.
Three stories separate him from the alley.
“Take their help,” Hazel whispers.
He tries to swing toward a fire escape instead.
His right hand slips.
One of the officers throws himself down and catches the man’s wrist.
A second officer grabs his other arm.
Together, they drag him onto the roof and handcuff him.
I release a breath I didn’t know I was holding.
