Page 53 of Critical Mass
“You’re being followed.” Hudson’s voice sounded tight and controlled despite the adrenaline flooding his system. “Dark blue sedan, maybe thirty yards behind you. Don’t look back. Don’t change speed yet. Just listen.”
And please don’t choose right now of all times to be stubborn.
Natalie’s hands tightened on the steering wheel, her heart suddenly hammering against her ribs.
Her eyes flicked to the rearview mirror.
There. Dark sedan. Tinted windows. Maintaining steady distance.
How had she not noticed?
“I’m about a hundred yards behind him.” Hudson’s voice came through the phone speaker, urgent but steady. “We need to?—”
The sedan suddenly accelerated, closing the gap.
Natalie’s breath caught. “Hudson?—”
“I see it. When I say go, you’re going to accelerate hard and take the next right turn. There’s a residential area half a mile ahead. More witnesses, harder for them to make a move.”
The sedan moved closer. Close enough now that Natalie could see two figures in the front seats.
“They’re right behind me.” Her voice rose despite her efforts to stay calm.
“I know. Just stay steady. I’m coming up on them now.”
In her rearview mirror, Natalie saw Hudson’s Lexus emerge from around the curve, moving fast. He was trying to get between her and the sedan.
The sedan’s driver must have seen him too, because suddenly the vehicle surged forward with a roar of engine noise.
“Go!” Hudson shouted. “Now! Take the turn!”
Natalie stomped on the accelerator. Her BMW leaped forward just as the sedan pulled alongside her.
The passenger window rolled down.
A gun appeared, pointed directly at her.
CHAPTER
TWENTY-EIGHT
Hudson watchedin horror as the sedan’s passenger window lowered and a weapon appeared.
There was no time to think. Only to act.
He yanked his wheel hard left, slamming his Lexus into the sedan’s rear quarter panel.
Metal screamed. The sedan fishtailed, the gun discharging wildly into the air instead of at Natalie’s car.
“Turn!” he shouted into the phone. “Turn now!”
Natalie’s BMW swerved right, tires squealing as she took the turn too fast. The car tilted, two wheels briefly leaving the pavement.
Hudson’s heart stopped.
Then the BMW came down hard, bouncing but staying upright. Natalie accelerated away down the residential street.
The sedan tried to follow, but Hudson was already moving. He cut them off, his Lexus blocking the turn, buying Natalie precious seconds.
