“Bella Marie Truman….” I’m tearing up. “Do not stop. You’re in danger.”
“Weird. What’s Bill doing standing in the middle of the street?”
Turning to Chase, I’ve got tears starting to pool in my eyes. “Please.” My voice is scratchy. “Bella? Do not stop for Bill. He’s the one who destroyed my house.”
I can hear the shock in her voice. “No way.”
“Yes. Way.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“That cock-sucking motherfucker.” Her voice is a growl. I recognize it because she gets like that whenever anyone’s mean to me.
“Bella?” And that’s when I hear her car rev and tires squeal. Bella’s voice sounds far away, but it’s loud enough for me to hear. “Yeah, you’d better run, you pathetic piece of shit. I’m about to put my foot up your ass. And by foot, I mean my car.”
“Bella?” I’d laugh if I weren’t scared to death.
“I’m here. He ran away. I was a yard from him—almost got him.” There’s satisfaction in her voice, until there isn’t. “Oh, shit.”
“What?”
A popping sound. Glass breaking. Then silence.
“Bella?” I’m whimpering into the phone. I feel it being taken from me and then the car moving. Fast.
“Hang on, sweetheart.”
I do. I hold onto the strap above my head as Chase drives like an Indy racer. If I weren’t completely in a daze, scared out of my head, I might enjoy the ride, but all I can think about is Finn hanging up on me, my dad not answering, the sounds of gunfire, and Bella. A guttural sob that I can’t control takes over. “Hurry,” I choke out. “Hurry.”
On our way out of Excelsior, Chase takes a sudden right turn. “Where are you going?”
“You’ll see.”
Several turns later, we’re at a bus station. The main bus terminal for this part of Nebraska. “What…?”
“Let’s go. They’ve got lockers.”
“Oh.” Pushing open the door, I jump out, slam the door, and run. “Hurry, Chase.”
Inside, there’s a short line at the counter. Even a short line is too long. Chase must feel the same because before I know it, he’s pulled out his badge from somewhere. “Police. Let me through.”
The people part like the Red Sea. At the window, Chase asks and pays for a locker. Key in hand, we run to the far side of the terminal to a long row of metal doors. Finding the one whose number matches the key, he opens it, takes the box from my arms, and shoves it inside. Slamming the door, he makes sure it’s locked, then he hands me the key. “Donotlose that.”
“I won’t.” Clutching the key in my hand, we race back to the car and jump inside. With my seatbelt in place, I slide the key into the front pocket of my blue jeans and hold on for dear life.
* * *
By the timewe pull into town, it’s obvious all hell has broken loose. Even though Chase broke land speed records to get us here, there are already law enforcement vehicles parked up and down Main Street. Lights are flashing on every one of them, so much so, it’s hard to tell what’s happening. Chase drives up the street, slowly, as far as he can, before someone in an FBI jacket moves in front of us, holding up his hand. “Stop,” he says, in a commanding way.
Chase pressed the button to lower his window. Sticking his head out, he holds up his badge. When the guy sees it, he waves us through. We don’t get far, however, because the road is blocked by more police cars, sheriff’s vehicles, and an ambulance.
“An ambulance?”
I jump out of the car and ignore Chase’s voice telling me to stay put. I need to know what’s happening and if Bella, Mom, and Dad are okay.
When I reach the edge of the perimeter, I see paramedics working on someone in the street. I’m about to run in that direction when I hear my name. “Lou Lou?” Looking to my right, I see Bella then my dad with his arms wrapped around Mom. “Dad?” I look at the women. “Bella? Mom?” I jog until I’m in front of them. “Are you all okay?”
