Page 98 of Three for a Girl

“Trafficking.” Chad whispered. “They might still be alive.”

Ally shrugged. “Might be, but would you want to stay alive being raped and abused by some asshole.”

Chad grimaced and turned away.

“I don’t know if I would…” Ally whispered.

The DI’s voice came though the speakers. “He’s leaving Limes Street, driving away from St Johns close. There’s a patrol car following at a distance.”

“Which street is he going down?”

“Mill Lane.”

“Me and Chad aren’t too far. Tell the patrol car to keep its distance, can’t have them getting too close and ruining the moment. This is our chase.”

“Indeed.” The DI replied.

Chad snorted, thinking back to Zac. He’s called it detective dickishness, an arrogance they gained with their job. They had to play hero, be the hero.

Chad glanced at Ally.

Her fingers were tight on the wheel, and she leaned forward in her seat, craning her neck as if it helped her see further. He’d managed to slip his seatbelt on, but still needed to brace himself on the car door with one hand and cling to the seat with the other.

They raced up Mill Lane, and Ally swerved around the police car before winking at the driver in her mirror.

“Not today, sunshine… Andrew’s driving a Ford Transit,” Ally said, “reg—”

A gasp caught in her throat when she saw the van on the horizon. Chad was just as affected—his heart thumped, knowing they were stalking their prey, catching up with him fast.

It must’ve been the feeling Romeo felt, too, before he struck—Chad shook his head. He couldn’t think of Romeo.

“I’ll get in front of him after he goes under the bridge.” Ally said.

Chad saw the bridge in the distance, at least 500 yards away, and nodded at Ally’s plan, but they were both caught off guard when the van slowed and pulled into a layby.

“Does he know the games up?” Ally whispered.

She slumped into her seat, releasing a steady breath. She pulled up behind the van, and they both readied themselves for a run on foot, but Andrew didn’t leave the van.

Chad leaned toward the screen in the center console. “Suspect has pulled up at the side of the road.”

“Proceed with caution.” The DI replied.

“Do you reckon the second we step out of the car, he’ll take off?” He looked at Ally who arched her eyebrow. Her finger tapped against the wheel as she stared at the van in front of them.

“Only one way to find out.”

She kept the engine going and gestured for Chad to open his door. His heart pounded the addictive beats associated with closing in on a suspect, knowing the buzz of success was near. He unclipped his seatbelt and slipped from his seat, keeping his door open in case he needed to dive back inside.

There was a bank of earth beside him, all the grass had yellowed and died in the heatwave. The bank got higher and higher, they were only two hundred yards from the bridge and Chad could hear the cars on the road above.

The van didn’t blare into life, its engine didn’t start, and Chad got to the back of it, and knew if Andrew looked in his mirror he would’ve seen Chad. He readied himself for the engine to start, angling his body towards Ally for his mad dash back to the car, but nothing happened.

The police car trailing them screamed into life, startling the life out of Chad. He cursed, knocking his shoulder to the van.

The door opened, and a wide-eyed Andrew gawped at the car before finding Chad creeping up beside him.

Chad was close enough to hear his sharp intake.

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