Page 44 of Surge

Delaney sucked in a breath and ducked behind a car, praying he hadn’t seen her.

When she braved a look, she found them climbing into the cab.

Frantic, she fumbled with the phone, trying fast to get Garrett.

Shoot. The truck engine revved to life.

She had no idea where they were going, and she couldn’t alert Garrett in time.

“With me, Surge.” With him at her side, she crouched behind another car.

The semi axle groaned and squeaked as it lurched away.

Surge whined.

“I know. They’re leaving!” she whispered.

Americans would die if these silver half-containers made it to the US. Given those box labels, they were certainly full of chem vials with Sachaai lipids, like the boxes in the warehouse.

No time for prayer.

Her eyes caught a taxi stand half a block down. “C’mon, Surge.” They took off running. This was her chance.

She stopped at the cab, opened the back door, and climbed in the back. She patted the seat next to her and Surge jumped in. “Follow that silver semi. Quick. Please.”

The man with thick blue glasses and a stubby nose turned in his seat. “Not with that big black monster dog. Get out of my cab.”

“But—”

“No! Out! Get that mutt out of my cab.”

“He won’t hurt anything.”

“Out!”

She bit the inside of her cheek to avoid what she wanted to say. “Let’s go, Surge.” He jumped out, and she joined him on the sidewalk.

The cab left, practically squealing his tires.

Surge nosed her hand.Yeah, now what?

A young twenty-something with a man bun jogged up to her. “You need a ride? I was waiting for the traffic to clear when I saw that guy throw you out. If you need a ride, I’m a Grab driver. I’ll take you and your beautiful dog. My car’s right there.” He pointed at a metallic blue Hyundai. It boasted a Grab logo sticker, like an American Uber sticker. But that Hyundai was rather rusty.

What choice was there? Garrett would kill her either way, but at least she might be able to help make sure thousands of Americans wouldn’t die. “Thanks. I need to follow that silver semi, please.” The traffic was easing up. The semi was just under three blocks down the road and had a left turn signal on.

He gazed at her, one eye closed.

C’mon, kid. I need Rashid.She didn’t say it; she put on a smile. Her brain dug for a good reason, then she patted her pocket. “My boyfriend is driving that semi,” she said, hating the lie. “He left his phone behind.”

He grinned. “No wonder you don’t just text the driver. I got ya.” He jogged to his car, and she and Surge piled into the back, barely closing the door before the kid zipped around cars and turned left where the silver semi had.

There it was, a couple blocks ahead.Thanks, dude.

She needed to text Garrett.

Delaney

In a Grab rideshare. With Surge. Following a semi full of boxes with the Sachaai logo. Follow his tracker. Please.

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