Page 41 of The Girl He Claimed

"She's heading for theexit," Paige said. "Someone must have tipped her off."

Christopher swore under his breath.

They both knew how dangerous thissituation could be. As a guard, Gia was probably armed. And if she was theExsanguination Killer, she wouldn't hesitate to try to kill Paige andChristopher when they tried to catch up to her.

Still, there was no time to lose.The two of them raced towards the exit.

Christopher's expression tightenedas he ran. "We have to stop her before she gets out. I'm not letting herget away. Not after what she did."

It was a sentiment that Paige couldonly agree with. The footage had been clear: this was the only woman in aposition to have committed both sets of murders with Adam and to have let Adamout of his cell. It had to be her.

Paige didn't slow down as she andChristopher ran towards the exit. They passed a few guards along the way butdidn't bother trying to explain what they were doing. They needed to catch Giafirst.

As they neared the exit, they sawGia pushing open the door. Paige sprinted towards her.

"Gia Ramirez! Stop rightthere!"

Gia turned around with a shockedexpression on her face. Then she ran. She didn't try to talk her way out of thesituation; she didn't try to fight. She ran out into the parking lot of the StJust Institute, obviously heading for her car.

Paige and Christopher followedclosely behind. They were both fit and fast, but Gia had a head start and aclear path. Paige watched Gia as she ran. There was a sense of desperation inher movements like she knew she was caught and there was no escape. Paige knewthey had to catch her before she got into her car and drove off.

As they reached the parking lot,Paige saw Gia start to weave between the vehicles parked there, apparentlytrying to throw her and Christopher off her trail. She ducked down between twocars so that Paige lost her line of sight on the fleeing woman.

Paige and Christopher slowed downas they searched for Gia, trying to spot her between the parked cars. They knewthat they couldn't afford to rush forward when there was a chance that shemight try to ambush them. Paige saw Christopher take out his gun, and she didthe same.

"You need to come out,Gia," Paige called out. "Step out where we can see you with yourhands in the air."

There was no reply. It seemed thatGia was determined to keep up her hiding.

"Over there!" Christophercalled out suddenly, pointing towards a car a few rows away. Paige saw a flashof movement there as Gia tried to get in. They both sprinted towards it, hopingto catch Gia before she could escape.

They were too late. She was in thecar then, already pulling out of her parking space.

Paige and Christopher ran towardstheir own car, which was parked nearby. They needed to chase after Gia beforeshe could get too far.

Christopher got behind the wheeland started the car. "Buckle up," he said to Paige as he slammed hisfoot on the accelerator and raced out of the parking lot, along the long roadleading from the St Just Institute back into DC.

"We're gaining on her,"Christopher said, his voice tense.

They were indeed gaining on Gia,but not quickly enough. Paige hit the lights and siren on their car to try tomove any traffic they came up to out of their way. They sped into the city,moving at an almost terrifying speed.

Paige could feel her heart poundingin her chest as they chased after Gia. She knew that there was no telling whatthe woman would do if they caught up with her. They had no way of knowing ifshe was armed, and they couldn't afford to take any chances.

Christopher swerved around anothercar, pushing their own vehicle to the limit. "Be ready for when we getclose."

Paige nodded, trying to keep hereyes on the road ahead.

They were approaching Gia rapidly.Paige could see the car in front of them clearly now. It was a silver sedan,and she could just make out Gia through the window.

"She's taking a left upahead!" Paige shouted, her voice almost drowned out by the sound of theengine. "

Christopher nodded. "I'm onit. It looks like she's pulling into a construction site."

Paige nodded, preparing herself forwhat was to come. They were getting close now, and she knew that they would bein danger as soon as they caught up with Gia.

They skidded into the constructionsite after Gia, just in time to see her brake hard, leaping out of the car andrunning into a half-finished building on foot. She'd obviously decided that shecouldn't lose Paige and Christopher in the car, so she was trying to lose themanother way.

Paige and Christopher got out ofthe car and followed her into the building, their guns drawn. The constructionsite was deserted, with piles of concrete blocks and stacks of steel beamslying around. The clanging of their footsteps echoed through the empty buildingas they scanned the area, looking for any sign of Gia.

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