He'd rammed me. At 120 miles per hour.
The earring flew. My wings launched into orbit. Everything went airborne—soda, dipping sauce, and the few surviving fries. It all crashed to the floor in a greasy, tragic mess.
My tires screamed as the car slid sideways. I caught a glimpse of the driver in my mirror—hoodie, dark glasses. Honestly, it could have been anyone old enough to drive.
The blue sedan kept pushing, trying to force me completely off the road. My wheels hit gravel, losing traction—
A third car came out of nowhere and slammed into the sedan.
All three of us careened off the highway, over the berm, and into a grassy meadow. My car bucked and jolted before lurching to a stop, straddled over a fallen log. Headlights cut through the twilight, illuminating tall grass and tree line.
The other two cars sat about fifty meters back.
Shots rang out.
Sharp crack—9mm. Heavy thud returning fire—.45, probably. Two shooters going at it.
I assessed my situation. No weapon. Car stuck on a log. Max Mara coat covered in Hell's Whisper Wings, dipping sauce and Diet Coke.
My fate now rested in the hands of whichever gunman had better aim.
I closed my eyes and muttered a prayer with mostly—kind of—complete earnestness. “Saint Michael, please don't let me die in this outfit.”
Chapter 22
Quentin
It had only been two minutes since Julia left my office, but Stone’s voice continued to echo in the back of my mind. “I told you so!” It wasn’t a premonition as much as my subconscious warning me. A warning that would remain until we solved this mystery.
I dialed Stone.
He answered in a whisper. “Yes?”
“I wanted to go over a few things but I can tell it’s a bad time.”
Stone kept his voice low. “I’m on a stakeout, a good hour’s drive outside the city. Can it wait until morning?”
“Yeah, not a problem.” I hung up.
The intercom on the desk phone buzzed. Security. I hit the button. “Go ahead.”
“Pull up camera twelve.”
I maneuvered my PC’s mouse and clicked a window. The screen showed me a grid of small boxes and I selected camera twelve. “What am I looking at?”
“Julia’s been sitting in her vehicle. Nothing unusual there, but notice that blue sedan about ten spots down?”
“I see it.”
“That guy seems to be keeping an eye on her. He’s just sitting there. I figured if she pulls out, and he follows her, you’d want to know.”
“Good call, thank you.” I disconnected and watched. Julia appeared to be talking on her phone. The blue sedan didn’t move until after Julia ended her call and pulled out. I buzzed security.
“Boss?”
“What camera shows the parking structure exit towards the street?”
“Pull up camera twenty-eight. That’ll show you when they leave, and which way they turn. I’m trying to get a plate number, but the sedan has photo-resistant license plate lenses. Video and picture killers.”
