Page 39 of Look for Me

“There! The van just turned down that street.” Pilar pointed with a trembling hand.

She still seemed to be shaken up.

Watching her pull out a handgun freaked out Martin. “What are you doing?”

“Just drive.” Her voice was calming down.

And drive, Martin did. He wished he hadn’t painted his car bright tangerine. Now it was hard to hide in the night.

The van accelerated and so did Martin.

“I can’t see the plates. Can you?” Pilar asked.

“I’m doing well not to lose control of my car.” He could push ninety or maybe ninety-five miles per hour, but he had never gone beyond that on this poor old car, an original Shelby.

A bright light in his rearview mirror caught Martin’s attention. “Someone’s tailing us.”

Pilar glanced back. “I wonder who.”

The SUV didn’t try to pass them. It came dangerously close to Martin—so close that he could see the passenger’s face.

“Looks like the same guys from this afternoon.” Martin kept his hands on the steering wheel.

He had told Pilar about the drive-by at lunch, and sent her the photograph of the license place he had taken.

“I’m still waiting for information,” Pilar said.

“Don’t let them see your gun. They might get trigger happy,” Martin warned.

The SUV suddenly swerved toward Martin’s car. He overcorrected and his Shelby screeched into the emergency lane. The SUV came at them again and rammed the side of Martin’s car.

“Are they on our side?” Martin asked, flooring the accelerator.

“I don’t know—”

The SUV hit the Shelby again, and this time Martin lost control of his car. One more push, and the car was in the ditch by the side of the road.

The airbags deployed.

“Not again!” Pilar’s voice was muffled.

New lights appeared in Martin’s rearview mirror. “What now?”

Blue flashing lights.

He heard some sort of whoop whoop sound.

Up ahead, the SUV and black van disappeared into the night.

Martin was too stunned to pray.

Chapter Nineteen

After giving their statements to the Monroe County Sheriff, Martin was allowed to leave the side of the road, but he waited for Pilar, who stayed behind to talk to the law enforcement personnel.

Martin figured it would be a long night for them.

He texted Pete to come get them since both his car and Pilar’s SUV were out of commission. Pete gave him the number of a local tow truck and a mechanic in Miami who could repair his Shelby.

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