“Roger that,” Di confirmed. Beta Team was approaching from the opposite direction, the original plan to box the meet in. Looked like they’d be boxing in their target instead.
“Reid’s spotted us,” Jamie said, and Cam’s gaze whipped up, just as the Camaro sped forward, weaving across lanes of traffic, aiming for the exit a mile ahead. “Moving that fast, he’s jacked the engine.”
“Can we catch them?”
“From this close, hell yeah.” Jamie swerved over onto the shoulder, speeding ahead.
“Alpha in pursuit,” Cam radioed, then hit the lights and sirens. No use hiding now and better to get the civilian traffic out of the way.
Jamie drove the Mustang faster, and Reid shot the other direction, no longer aiming for the off-ramp they’d planned to intercept him at.
“Shit!” Cam cursed.
“There’s a left exit two miles ahead.” Jamie cut back into the scattering traffic, narrowly missing a bumper.
“Alpha, Beta, this is Charlie.” Nic’s voice came over the radio. “Shannon’s not at either location.”
“Copy that,” Cam replied. “Alpha still in pursuit.” He flipped the radio off. “She could be in the car,” he said to Jamie. “We have to be careful.”
“We need to get in front of him, then. Tell me where I can make a move.” Cam surveyed the road ahead while Jamie remained focused on Reid’s Camaro and dodging the cars between them.
“There’s another exit a half mile up on the right, before the left one.”
“On- and off-ramps? Lights at the intersection?”
“If I remember correctly, yes to both.”
“You make the call,” Jamie said.
If anyone could thread that needle, it was Jamie. And they couldn’t lose Reid again.
“Do it,” Cam said.
Jamie zoomed back onto the shoulder, laid down metal, and they sped past the Camaro and onto the exit ramp, Jamie blasting the horn. Cars were already braking and moving out of the way, which was a good sign. The steep incline, however, was not. “I can’t see if it’s clear up ahead,” Cam said.
“I’m gonna go right. More room to cut across the intersection, and less likely to hit a car turning across.” Jamie pressed and held down the horn, speeding up as they approached the crest of the intersection. “Hold on!”
Cam grabbed the oh-shit handle and squeezed shut his eyes, Sooner, Price drifting through his head. Praying that it wasn’t Later instead.
Tires squealed and horns blared all around.
But there was no crunch of metal. And no deceleration.
He opened his eyes, and they were headed back down the on-ramp. “We’re not telling Aidan about that,” Jamie said, swerving back into traffic.
“Or Nic.” Cam twisted in his seat. “Camaro’s four cars back on the left.”
“Plenty of time.” Jamie cut across lanes of traffic, zigzagging in police maneuvers to keep other traffic back. Reid had nowhere to go. His only option was to try and outrun them, a race he was never going to win.
The Camaro jumped into the left median, and Jamie hurtled ahead. At the last second, he swerved left, drifting and sliding the Mustang so that it perfectly blocked the ramp. Reid jerked the Camaro right, trying to get back onto the freeway, but he couldn’t maneuver fast enough, ramming sideways into the rail.
Cam prayed Reid and anyone else in the car had on a belt or was otherwise secured. He shoved open his door, weapon drawn, and hustled to the driver’s side of the Camaro.
“FBI! Hands up, Porter!”
Cam didn’t see anyone else in the car. Just Reid, his headful of straggly blond hair lying on the steering wheel, the rest of him shaking.
Jamie circled around the back of the car. “Clear.”
