“I did not speak to them. They flashed lights at me and took my fluids.”
“Good, that means they?—”
A loud siren cut off her words seconds before blue and red lights began to flash. She swore as she looked in the rearview mirror. “We’re being pulled over.” She looked around the car in a panic. “Put on your seatbelt. Hurry. And don’t say anything.”
She grabbed her seatbelt and made a show of latching it, so he could see what to do. It took him a moment, but he did it.
“Let me do the talking,” she said as she rolled down the window. It stuck a little and she had to pull down on the glass.
“License, registration, proof of insurance.” The cop leaned over and peered into the car. He shone a flashlight at Elle then Ice.
“Ah, sure thing,” she glanced at the man’s nametag, “Officer Beckstead.”
Elle reached into her back jeans pocket where she’d stuck her cards. When they were leaving the facility, she hadn’t been able to take her purse with her. She handed him her license and smiled. “Is there a problem?”
“Is this your vehicle, ma’am?” The cop was unaffected by her smile.
“No. I borrowed it from a friend,” she said.
“Wait here. I’m going to need that registration.” He walked toward his cruiser.
“Just stay calm,” Elle told Ice.
She reached for the glove box, hoping whoever owned the car had the right paperwork. Otherwise, she wasn’t sure how she was getting out of this one.
When she opened the glove box, a gun slipped out and fell on the floor at Ice’s feet.
She gasped, glancing back to see if Officer Beckstead had noticed. He hadn’t as he was walking back from his car while talking into the walkie-talkie on his shoulder. She couldn’t hear what he said.
A packet of white powder remained in the glove box. She didn’t need to know what it was to know there was no explaining her way out of driving with a gun and narcotics. Panic filled her. She slammed the glove box shut. “Looks like she doesn’t have any registration in the car.”
“Please step out, ma’am,” the officer said.
She motioned at Ice to stay where he was.
“Is there a problem?” she asked again as she complied. Had he seen the drugs?
“Janet Darcy?”
“No, I’m Elle?—”
“This car is registered to Janet Darcy, wanted for drug possession by the state of Utah. I’m going to need you to come with me until we can clear up the matter of why you’re in this car.” Officer Beckstead placed his hand on his gun and turned his hip away from her as he motioned she should walk to the front of the car.
Her eyes met Ice’s through the window. He unfastened his belt. She shook her head in denial.
“Sir, I’ll need you to stay put,” the officer ordered.
“I think there has been a mistake. My name is?—”
“Unfortunately, the computers don’t sync up too well out here. We’ll need to take you in to verify who you are. Place your hand on the hood of the car, ma’am.” Officer Beckstead didn’t wait for her to do so before he gave her back a small push. She fell forward. He began tapping her waist with one hand. “Do you have anything on you I need to know about?”
An alien from outer space?
“No, I?—”
Her words were cut off as Ice threw open the car door. “Unhand my woman.”
“Sir, get back into the car,” Officer Beckstead ordered, stretching out his hand and taking a step back. He unlatched his gun holster in warning. She turned to watch him but kept her hands on the car.
