More gunfire was coming from the east side of town. It had not yet occurred to Leah that one of the things on the east side of town was the road to the prison. She said, “We’d better go get those rifles from the bandstand. And any ammo lying around. Are you up to it?”

Gutierrez said, “I’ll go.” He moved to the rear of the police car, looked and listened for a moment, and then ran toward the bandstand. Leah rested her M4 on the hood of the police cruiser to cover him, but she saw no targets.

Willenz reached into the broken car window and took out the microphone. “This is Three Zebra One. We’ve been under rifle fire at the city park. Lieutenant Hawkins shot two of the suspects, but a third is running up Calloway Street to the north. He is armed with a semiautomatic pistol. He’s wearing dark clothing, probably blue jeans and a work shirt. Average height and weight, dark hair.”

Instead of the soft reassuring voice of Emma Giles, the night dispatcher, the voice of Chief Roberts came over the speaker. “Is the lieutenant still with you?”

She took the microphone. “Yes, Chief. I’m here.”

“The whole prison is out. I’m not sure how it happened yet, but there are at least hundreds on foot coming toward town. A lot of them have been seen with guns.”

“I can verify that, Chief,” she said. “Gutierrez is recovering two rifles from the men I shot.”

“They’re coming into town from the east, from the prison highway. We’re going to try to set up a barrier at Main Street. I think we can hold them at Main and keep them from getting to the west side of town.”

“We’re on our way, Chief,” she said. “Out.”

Gutierrez returned from the park carrying two M4 rifles just like Leah’s. He had stuck eight loaded magazines in his jacket, his belt, and his pockets.

Mark Ballard came around the corner of the street, where he must have gotten by cutting through Leah’s neighbors’ yards. When he appeared, the two uniformed cops raised their pistols. “Hold your fire,” he said. “It’s only me, Mark Ballard. I thought I heard shots.” He was walking toward them, but his hands were in the air.

Leah’s jaw clenched, but she ignored him for the moment and talked to the two uniformed cops. “You two get these rifles and your Glocks reloaded while I get the car. Come with me, Mr. Ballard.”

The two cops released the magazines and inserted full ones while Leah ran to her driveway to get her unmarked black police car. Ballard got into the passenger seat. She saw him and said, “You’re really being stupid. You’re not paid or trained for this, and you’re going to leave Marcia a widow.”

“I can’t watch these guys take over the town.”