Page 48 of No Escape

The police car continued to tail them, and then its lights came on, flashing as it closed the gap between them.

Valerie felt adrenaline surge through her body.

“They’re onto us,” she said. “Hold on!”

She pounded the gas as the police car gave chase.

But Valerie was a skilled driver, and she knew the back roads well. As the sun hung over the sky, casting its bleaching rays across the countryside, she expertly navigated a series of turns, hoping to outmaneuver their pursuers and continue their quest for justice.

The high-speed chase intensified as Valerie put her foot down on the accelerator, the truck roaring as it sped down the winding country roads. Valerie looked at the fuel gauge anxiously, the light on, not knowing when the gas would finally give out. The police car was relentless, staying right on their tail, lights flashing and sirens blaring. Valerie’s eyes flicked between the road and the rearview mirror, her grip tightening on the steering wheel.

She knew she had to do something drastic to shake the pursuing officer. Spotting a narrow dirt road up ahead, she made a quick decision and swerved onto it, sending up a cloud of dust in her wake. The police car followed suit, its tires squealing as it tried to maintain its grip on the uneven terrain.

Valerie’s heart raced in her chest, adrenaline coursing through her veins as she pushed the truck to its limits, the engine roaring in protest. She could feel the truck’s tires struggling to maintain traction on the dirt road, but she didn’t dare let up. She knew she had to lose the cops if they were to continue their mission.

Soon the countryside gave way to another town’s streets.

Up ahead, Valerie spotted the entrance to an underground car park. Her pulse quickened as she realized this might be their chance to escape. She floored the accelerator, the truck hurtling toward the entrance, the police car hot on their tail.

With a skillful flick of the wheel, Valerie screeched into the car park, tires squealing as they hit the smooth concrete. Her nerves pulsing, she quickly navigated the maze of parked cars, taking sharp turns and weaving through the tight spaces. The police car struggled to keep up, its sirens echoing through the confined space.

Finally, Valerie spotted an exit on the far side of the car park. With a final burst of speed, she raced toward it, the truck’s engine roaring in protest. Just after they drove through the exit, she slammed on the brakes and skidded around a corner, the truck coming to a halt in a narrow alleyway.

They waited, breathless, as the police car sped past the alley, its sirens fading into the distance. Valerie let out a sigh of relief, her hands still gripping the wheel tightly.

“We did it,” she whispered, her voice shaky from the adrenaline rush. “We lost them.”

Suzie let out a shaky breath, her body still trembling from the high-stakes chase. “That was… intense.”

Valerie gave her a small, wry smile. “We’re not out of the woods yet, but at least we’ve bought ourselves some time. Let’s keep moving and get to the next name on the list. There are two more.”

She opened the driver’s door.

“What are you doing?” Suzie asked.

“They’ll be looking for this truck,” Valerie replied. “And we’re all but out of gas. We’ll need to commandeer another ride.”

“You mean I need to hotwire one?”

“You say potatoes…” Valerie laughed.

“I never understood that saying,” Suzie said. “I mean, who pronounces it ‘poe tah toes’?”

Valerie smiled. It was good to feel laughter in her belly. But it was quickly replaced by the knowledge and grit that they needed to move or soon they’d be spending the rest of their lives in a jail cell.

They moved along the quiet street, and there it was. As if fate were smiling on them. An old black Corvette, parked and ready to assist.

Suzie just had to work her magic.

CHAPTER THIRTY

Charlie and Will pulled up in their unmarked car a few houses down from Alex Murphy’s residence. Will felt apprehensive, especially at what was ahead of them. They exchanged glances, Charlie’s expression mirroring the concern and urgency Will felt in his bones.

This was their best shot at getting to John Murphy before he could harm any more of his family members. But as Will had often seen during his time with the CPU, a curve ball was making its way toward them.

As they approached the house, he noticed a flurry of activity. Reporters and camera crews were swarming the area, their vehicles parked haphazardly along the street. Police officers had set up a perimeter around the property, their faces tense and alert.

Charlie and Will exchanged a look of frustration. This was not the discreet operation they had hoped for. It would be nearly impossible for them to get close to Alex Murphy and talk to him without drawing attention. The reporters would have a field day.

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