By the time Batman and I clear the door and step out onto the crowded crosswalk, Reggie and Gary are walking up the escalator. The confused dude sees them and turns around, heading back up in the right direction.
Problem solved.
Batman and I stop, taking up post on the railing out of the flow on the crowd to observe him.
Suddenly, a man stiffens and stops dead in his tracks. His hand goes up and touches his ear. Then he looks at what is on his hand.
“MOTHERFUCKER!” He shouts as he spins around, pointing his finger, and aggressively striding toward the confused dude. “You spit your fucking chicken on me!”
I tighten Batman’s leash and head toward them. There is nothing like a K9 to deescalate a confrontation.
The crowd of people passing them parts.
The confused dude spits again, but it has no velocity, and luckily lands at the angry dude’s feet.
“Chicken Man,” he threatens, pointing over the railing. “You’re going to find out if you can fly.”
Chicken Man grinning, not the least bit intimated, prepares to spit again.
“Do it, Motherfucker!” The angry dude dares him, just before Batman, straining hard against his leash, pulls us into their line of sight.
Both dudes stop, stunned.
Then Chicken man drops his box of chicken, and turns to run.
Batman lunges wanting to chase him down, willing to sink his teeth in him, but I hold him back.
Reggie and Gary top the escalator, then charge him, shove him against the railing, and handcuff him. Gary takes a spit mask and slides it over Chicken Man’s head.
I pull Batman back. “Sit.”
He eases down onto his haunches, ears forward, eyes alert, and I pat his shoulder. “Good boy.”
The angry man turns to me. “Thanks, man. I’m glad you were close. Otherwise, I would be joining him downtown.”
I nod, as Gary walks by with Chicken Man. Reggie stops next to us. “You just coming on duty?”
I nod. “Yeah, what’s the mood?”
Gary says, “Festive. It’s been quiet. We were going to hit Caesar’s one more time before we went in.”
I nod, “We’ll start there then.”
