Where’s My Car

Crime Fiction by Andrew Ricchiuti 

    

I don’t know whether I heard the noise or felt the vibrations first.  I was in bed. My bedroom is above the garage. The noise sounded like my garage door opened. 

“Your garage door is opening,” the smart device announced. “An unauthorized opening.”

A little late but better than no notice. At least none of the intrusion devices sent any messages. That meant nobody entered the house.

I muttered a quiet thanks for Techy who set up the devices and smart proofed my entire home.

I threw on some clothes, grabbed my phone and hurry limped to the garage. Too late. The door fully opened. My car backed out of the garage.  I watched it move down the street.

Not good.

 I opened the car app, checked and saw the car switched on in the driverless mode. I hit the override to take control. The car slowed for a moment,  then moved again at a slow pace.

 I tried to retake control, but couldn’t. The car increased it’s speed. It turned at the first cross street. I lost sight of it.

I yanked my therapy bicycle from the ceiling hooks. I got on the bike and pedaled after the car. With my injured leg,  I didn’t make much progress. I placed my phone in the bike mount and instructed it to call Techy.

“Donnie! What can I do for my favorite injured detective,” Techy said. “It’s really early to start work, but… “

“I need help, Techy. My car is driving away without me.”

“No big deal. That’s why there’s an override.”

“The override is locked. Not working.”

“Just a sec,” she said. “Let me look in your system.”

I waited. I was in good hands. Techy’s real name was Logie but because of all the computer work she did in the department, everybody called her Techy. We rarely had technical problems. She never said something couldn’t be done. Sometimes it might be little more difficult, but she always managed to what we needed.

While she looked, I pedaled onto the street where car turned . Nothing. I didn’t see the car.

“You’ve been hacked,” she said. “Not only your car, but your entire house. Everything is out of control. It almost looks like you’ve been targeted. Maybe you were.”

“Not good. I’ve got casework and other info in the car. It’s about the car theft gang we tried to catch, You know, the ones who crashed into my squad car.”

“I know the story. Shame on you. You’ve been working instead of focusing on your recovery.”

“Techy.  I need the car back.”

“Okay. I’ve got your location, I’m on my way.”

“Make it quick. I’m on my bike.  I can’t see any trace of the car.”

“Get ready to ditch the bike. You should only be riding for therapy. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

***

Techy arrived as quick as she said she would. She drove her big hybrid SUV that she loved to use.

“Throw the bike in the back. Get in.”

“Thanks for coming,” I said. “I really need the car and the papers in it.”

“Have you reported the theft to the your fellow officers?”

“Not yet. I guess I should.”

Techy adjusted the SUV’s entertainment screen. “I’ve found the car on the locate screen,” She gunned the engine. We lurched forward,  “Why don’t you call your old partner and report the theft. I’m sure he still remembers you.”

Hasley answered on the first ring. “Are you calling to tell me you got that leg fixed?” he said. “Then, you can come back to work. Or, are you calling to tell me you’re leaving and taking disability? Which is it , Don?”

“No, not yet for either,” I said. “The docs are still working on it. I can only use my leg for a short time. Look, I need your help. Somebody stole my car. Techy’s here and we’re tracking it. We’ll probably need your help when we find it.”

“How’d they get it?” Hasley said. “After all, you had the departments best tech working for you. Didn’t Techy set your car and your entire house with smart tech?”

“We don’t know yet,” Techy said. “We’ll figure that out later.”

“Could these be the guys that crashed into you?” Hasley said. “Remember, they were pissed you tried to break their stolen merchandise ring. They said they’d get even with you.” 

“No idea. Only thing I know is someone took my car.”

“Okay. Let me get my new partner and we’ll back you up.”

“Okay. We’ll keep after them.”

“They stopped moving,” Techy said.  “Lot of low buildings there. Do you know the area?”

I leaned over and looked at the display. “Yeah. Most of them are warehouses. The majority are abandoned.”

Techy pulled over to the side and stopped her vehicle. She checked her phone. “Good thing I kept your info on my phone. I’ve activated your car’s 360 camera. The  car stopped in front of a large garage door. Looks industrial. Nobody around right now.”

I opened the SUV’s door. “I’m going up there,” I said. “I’ll see what’s happening. Maybe I can get the car moving and get it out of there.”

“Hold it,” Techy said. “That’s too far for your leg. It won’t get you there.”

“I’ll make it.”

“Wait. The car’s moving again. The warehouse door opened.The car is going in. There’s about twenty other cars in there. Interesting, They all look driverless. “

“I see. There’s two guys there shutting the door. They’re talking to someone else. Behind them, it looks. Sitting in a white cargo van. Too bad we can’t hear them.”

“Who says we can’t? Techy said. She jabbed her finger to her phone. “Listen.”

Techy activated the listening app on the car. We heard their voices.Their voices and words came through clear.

“We should have gone through the house instead of just taking the car,” a voice said. “After all, we could’ve disabled all the safeguards that were in place. That cop lives there. That’s probably why that house was so well protected. We could’ve got some payback too. ”

“Doesn’t matter,” another voice said, “We got what we wanted. Another car. We’ll strip out all the units that make these cars go and get away from this area. It’s getting too hot around here for us. Especially after us ramming that car with the cop in it. I know they’re looking for us.”

“They want the central processors from the cars,” Techy said. “Not just your car, but from all of them. That’s what makes the cars driverless.”

“They’re the auto theft ring we want,” I said. “What will they do with processors?”

“Sell them on the black market.”

“Will they work on other cars?”

“Not difficult. If they’re reprogrammed correct, they will. Turn any car into a driverless one,”

I dialed Hasley. He answered again on the first ring.

“We found my car,” I said. “We also found a bunch of other cars. They’re all driverless. Techy thinks they’re after the central processors.”

“That’s the crew we’ve been chasing,” Hasley said. “Keep watch, but stay out of sight. They might be violent. I’ve got Sanders with me. I’ll call for additional backup.”

Techy interrupted. “Something’s up,” she said. “I just heard it. They think they’ve been followed and are being watched. Look.” She pointed at the screen. “All the cars are starting their engines.”

“They’re turning and lining up,” I said. “I think they’re leaving the warehouse.”

“Guess who’s car is first,” Techy said. “Yours. They started moving. Your car and a couple of others are already out the door.”

“Did you hear that?” I said to Hasley.

“Yeah,” Hasley said. “Look. We’ve hit some traffic and road repair. We’ll be delayed. Even with the sirens on, we won’t get there in time to stop them. We’ll try another route. See if we can improve our arrival.”

“This isn’t good,” I said. “They’re all out now. It looks like a parade.”

Techy tapped on her phone. “I’ve broke into your system,” she said. “I can see the route that’s been programmed. We can intercept it.”

“Then what? Can you stop it? Or reroute it?”

“I don’t know yet. Let’s get there. I’ll figure something then.”

The way Techy drives, it didn’t take long to spot my car. It rolled down the street at a leisurely pace. Techy shot our car forward until we were in the left lane next to my car.

She placed her car on auto and began playing on her phone.  At least I thought she was playing until she laughed and gave a fist pump.

“I got it,” she said. “I can put your car in manual. Then it can be driven the old fashioned way. You know, with a driver. Once we have control, I’m sure I can reprogram the override and it’ll be back to normal.”

“Great. Who’s going to drive it so you can do all that?”

“You.”

“Me? How am I going to get to the car?”

“Watch.”

Techy pulled ahead of my car. She jerked her steering wheel and turned into the other lane. She stopped and blocked the lane. My car stopped. All the other cars behind it stopped.

“How and why did you do that?”

“All these cars have collision stoppages. I knew no matter who had control, they would all stop before colliding. Now, you can get in your car and drive it while I bring it back to normal.”

“Okay.” I  opened my door to leave. My phone rang. I hit answer. Hasley’s voice boomed over the line.

“We’ve got you in sight. ” Hasley said, “We’re a little behind you, And, all the other cars.“

“That’s good.”

“Yeah, it is except, the three guys from the warehouse are closer.to you. They’re probably armed. We know they won’t hesitate to shoot.”

“Okay. We’ll figure something.”

I got into my car. My phone buzzed. The instrument screen showed Techy.

“You’re all set,”Techy said. “The car’s is on manual. You do remember how to drive, don’t you?”

“Yeah,” I said. “Did you hear what Hasley said?”

“Yes. We’ll have to outrun them.”

“Maybe not,” I said. “You said before that all the cars behind me are following my car. Can you lock them so you can control them?”

“Yes, Since they’re programmed to match your car, I can override their instructions and take control. In fact, I’ve just did that.”

“Great. Now slow the speed. I want to give those guys a chance to catch up.”

“Done. Why?”

“Just a second,. I’m calling Hasley.”

Hasley answered as usual on the first ring. “The guys from the warehouse are still ahead of us,” he said. “Why did you slow down?”

“The parade is following me,” I said. “Techy has control of all the cars. I’m going home. Why don’t you and some of the others meet us there.”

“Got it,” Hasley said, “I’ll issue instructions to have cars waiting at your house. I’ll keep following you in case you need me.”

I drove at steady pace. The cars behind me kept the same pace.  The cargo van gained on me. We would arrive at my house in minutes. The van sped up. It was almost parallel to me. I went a little faster. I didn’t want them up to catch up to me yet.    The van kept pace with me.

“I think they’re going to ram you,” Techy said.

I increased my speed again. “Only a little longer,” I said. “Did you hear what I told Hasley?”

“Yes.”

“Good. Keep the other cars under control.”

“Done.”

The van continued to follow me. My house was two blocks away. I hit the gas. The car shot forward. All the following cars did the same. The van lagged for a second, then tried to race ahead of me.

I didn’t let the van get ahead. They weren’t going to get a chance to ram me either,  I turned and sped down the block until I reached my house. I stopped, The parade of cars stopped, The van stopped.

Two guys ran out of the van and yanked my door open. They each pointed a gun at me.

“Get out of the car,” one yelled at me. “Now.”

I got out of the car. The second guy flopped into my seat. He ran through my controls, Nothing changed, He looked at me.

“What’d you do?” he said. “Why can’t I get control of this thing? How do I disengage the other cars from it?”

I held up my hands and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Hasley and Sanders suddenly arrived, “I wouldn’t worry about that,” he said. “You’re not going any where. Get rid of the guns.”

The two warehouse guys looked to run, but saw they were outnumbered. Other police converged on the van. They both dropped their guns and surrendered.

“You got your car back now,” Hasley said to me. “Now get back into your house and finish your recovery so you can get back to work. We’ll take care of these guys.”

---

Bio: Andrew Ricchiuti lives in New Jersey and writes and reads short fiction.
He has had fiction accepted or posted on Yellow Mama, The Yard, Friday Flash Fiction, Pulp Modern Flash and Schlock.

Read more Police Fiction on The Yard: Crime Blog

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