Page 76 of False Sins

“Take the ramp to your left. The target got on the freeway heading west about five minutes ago. I’ll try to track him through traffic cameras, but coverage gets sparse once you hit the interstate.”

Bridger spun the wheel, blinking as the harsh mid-day sun penetrated the windshield. He tried to hold himself in check as he headed down the crowded strip. The instant he made it past the last of the casinos, he floored the thing, making the magnificent V-8 Hemi roar. The tires screeched as he merged onto the freeway. He weaved between cars, focused solely on the road ahead. This was the first moment he’d had to think since seeing the dynamite strapped to Jane’s waist.

Terror clawed at him. He slammed the steering wheel in frustration, fighting to rein in the tempest of emotions. This was so much harder than facing down armed extremists––or even seeing teammates in danger. At least then, he could act. And his crew were all professionals. Now he was reduced to driving in circles, with Jane’s life in the hands of a madman.

He shook his head sharply, as if the physical gesture could dislodge the dark thoughts. He had to have faith. The Lord would provide an answer. He just had to trust and keep moving forward.

“Any chance of picking him up again on the cameras?” he asked Paige tersely.

“I’m trying,but traffic cams disappear once he’s outside the city limits,” Paige responded. “Tai’s drones haven’t reached him yet. Your best bet is to stay on this freeway. It’s the most direct route towards LA.”

Bridger grimaced, hating the lack of intel.

The freeway stretched on ahead, a river of endless metal and concrete. He forced himself to box-breathe. One slow breath in. Hold. A slow exhale. Hold. Rinse and repeat. Few people outside Special Forces knew it, but elite soldiers had long been trained in mindful breathing techniques. He’d have to use every tool he had to get through this. Losing control now would only make things worse.

His jaw was clenched tight as the Charger hit the city limits, with no sign of his quarry. How had it gone so wrong, so fast?

Fear for her gnawed at his gut. He couldn’t lose her. Not now, just when things seemed to be falling into place between them. There was so much unsaid, so much undone. The thought of never having the chance to make things right squeezed his chest like a vise.

“Talk to me, Paige,” he ground out. “There’s gotta be something.”

“I’m blanking on cameras so far,” she responded tersely. “But I’m retasking a NASA satellite to get coverage of the freeway. It’s a long shot but maybe we’ll get lucky.”

Bridger nodded even though she couldn’t see him. It was something at least.

The sun glinted off the classic car’s chrome details. Static crackled over the comlink, then Paige’s voice. “Bridger, you there?”

“Talk to me.”

“I’ve got Pegs on the line. Patching her through.”

Bridger’s pulse quickened. “Pegs, what have you got?”

“I know where Garrett’s headed,” she said.

Road noise cluttered the background on her end. “Are you driving?”

“Testing my hunch,” she said. “If I’m right, I can head him off.”

“Don’t go cowboy on me, Pegs,” Bridger warned. “We do this together.”

“Not a chance. This one’s on me. But don’t worry, I’ll keep you posted.” The line went dead.

Bridger cursed and slammed a hand on the dash. Why wouldn’t she let him help?

The Charger’s engine roared as he pushed it faster. Up ahead, the sun slipped toward the horizon, bleeding red across the sky.

Paige’s voice crackled over the comlink again. “That was weird. Pegs didn’t encrypt that call. I’ve got a track on her phone.”

Bridger grinned fiercely. “That’s vintage Pegasus. Where’s she headed? The interstate?” He calculated quickly. Coming from the Central Coast, she’d catch up to Romero in a couple hours. Assuming the man was heading toward LA.

“Negative,” Paige responded. “She’s heading north. Hang on.” Silence filled the link. “She’s on a dirt road. It dead ends at an airstrip.”

“She’s going to take her Citabria.” He should have known. His old mentor was a crack pilot. She’d keep a means of escape ready at all times. Wherever she figured Romero was heading, he’d need to get airborne to reach the rendezvous point in time.

Spotting an exit up ahead, he swerved off the freeway and down the offramp. The tires screeched as he pulled a quick U-turn and headed for the opposite onramp. “Tai, prep the helo. I’m going after her.”

Tai’s deep voice answered. “Copy that. One problem. How are you planning to sneak up on Romero in a helo? Not exactly a stealthy way to make an entrance, dude.”

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