“Affirmative,” he replied.
Traffic had stopped in both directions.
I hustled to the Mustang to check on the girls, dreading what I’d find. With bullet holes in the bodywork, and windshields webbed and cratered, I expected the worst.
The two had hunched below the dash and were frosted with bits of glass.
“Is anybody hit?” I asked as I reached the driver’s window.
The girls dusted themselves off and exchanged a look.
“We’re good,” Tonya said, still dazed.
It was a miracle they were unharmed.
JD had called for backup, and the distant sound of sirens drew near.
Oncoming traffic crawled by—people gawking and taking cell phone video.
I gave Jack the thumbs up to let him know the girls were okay.
He looked over the damage to the Porsche. The driver’s window needed to be replaced, and he could kiss the original paint goodbye. He’d need some new interior trim pieces for the door as well.
“Are you starting to figure out this isn’t a game?” I said to the girls.
Squad cars and the EMTs arrived. Flashing lights strobed the night. Deputies managed traffic, and Jack pulled the Porsche to the shoulder.
The girls were evaluated.
When the EMTs were finished, I said, “I need you both to come down to the station and make a statement.”
“Why?” Paige replied. “You saw what happened.”
“I’d like to get your perspective.”
“My perspective? Some assholes shot at us and ran us off the road.”
“Why do you think they did that?”
Paige shrugged. “Deep-seated insecurity and self-loathing? Little dicks? Your guess is as good as mine.”
My eyes narrowed at her. “You’ve got proprietary information that Rory is willing to kill for.”
“Is that your theory?” Paige said, amused.
“It’s the best one I’ve got at the moment.”
She laughed. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“Why don’t you tell me?”
“Are we free to go? Are we being detained?”
A frustrated exhale escaped my mouth. I didn’t have any legitimate reason to hold them. “Yes, you’re free to go.”
Paige smiled. “Good.”
Coolant had leaked from the Mustang. It wasn’t going anywhere. A tow truck hitched it up, and the girls caught a rideshare. They hopped into a white sedan and disappeared into the night.
