“Got it. Stay on the line.” Harlow tapped at her computer. When someone answered at the sheriff’s office, Harlow announced, “Major Lazlo is being pursued by an armed gunman after leaving your office headed south. Request backup.”
Major was on a narrow two-lane road with cars coming toward him. He couldn’t weave to avoid the gunman, so he told Craig, “Brace yourself.” He slammed on the brakes, and the other vehicle did the same, turning sharply to the right to avoid hitting them. Major then mashed the accelerator, hoping to put distance between them and their pursuers. Flashing lights and sirens came from behind them, but Major didn’t stop. The other vehicle righted itself and continued trailing Major, except now they were shooting at the police.
Craig grabbed the door handle, still crouched down. “How the hell did someone find me?”
“As Florence said, this is Hollywood, and people talk. Harlow, are you there?”
“I’m here.”
“I need a safehouse. Get Mason on the line please.”
“I can’t go to a safehouse. In case you’ve forgotten, I’m shooting a film,” Craig snapped.
Major wanted to punch the actor. “You want to go back to the set where hundreds of people are milling around? People who could be helping the men trying to kill you?”
“Fuck!” Craig slapped the dash.
Major focused on driving while keeping an eye on the shooters. Several shots had been fired between the police and the shooters, but the SUV was gaining onthem again. Major prayed the cops were okay. “Harlow, I need eyes. I don’t know this area, and we have company again.”
“Major, Mason here. I’ve sent coordinates of the safehouse to Harlow, so I’ll let her lead you out of the city since she has a lock on your location.”
“Ten-four.”
“Major, you’re going to stay on the road you’re on for another mile, then you’ll turn left on Hawthorne. That will lead you to Highway 78. Go west until you see the off-ramp for 285 north. I’ve called Everett, and he’s behind the shooters. If he can get ahead of them, he’ll have a better chance of stopping them.” Major understood what Harlow wasn’t saying. Since Everett was a Gargoyle, he was impervious to gunfire.
A bullet hit the passenger sideview mirror, and Craig screamed. Major tucked the gun under his left leg so he could put both hands on the wheel. Another glance behind him showed the other vehicle jerk forward, then after another few seconds it was fishtailing. A dark sedan was attempting to pit the SUV. The distraction allowed Major to put some distance between them and the pursuing vehicle.
“Where is this safehouse?” Craig asked. “I need to call Daniel and Sarah.”
“Mason can call your assistant, and she can inform your uncle of what’s going on. Until we figure out who’s after you, you need to be radio silent. As a matter of fact, you need to toss your phone.”
“Toss it? I have all my contacts on there. I— fuck! I need to call Olivia. What if they go after my wife to get to me?”
Mason, who was still on the line, asked, “Is theresomewhere she can go until this is settled? She is aware that you were attacked, right?”
“Yes, she knows, but we both figured it was a crazed fan. She took a couple days off after Campbell was arrested, but then she went back to work. The detective called her earlier to corroborate my whereabouts on the fifth.”
“Call her and explain the situation and try to get her to take a leave of absence. If there’s nowhere for her to go, I’ll send one of my men after her and get her to a safehouse,” Mason offered. “After you speak with your wife, have Major call me and let me know what she says. Also, give her Harlow’s name and number so they can communicate without you being traced. After you speak to her, you need to toss your phone. There are several burner phones available at the safehouse, but you need to be smart about who you speak with.”
“Do you really think they’re tracking my phone?”
“Either that, or someone on the set knew where you were going and informed whoever it is that wants you dead,” Mason said bluntly.
“I don’t know that woman, so why the fuck am I being targeted?”
Major turned left on Hawthorne and sped up. “Is it possible Daniel knew her?”
“Daniel? Why would you think that?”
Major checked the rearview again. “Well, he does look like you, and there’s something else. Carmen was pregnant, and she had told her foster brothers the father was someone important. She didn’t tell them who, but there was a suicide note, and it listed you as the father.”
“Daniel wouldn’t…” Craig turned to face the window and muttered, “Fuck.”
“Look. I’m not saying he did this, but do you know where Daniel was in early January?”
Craig rolled his head against the headrest to look at Major. “I only know where he told me he was. You’d need to have him prove it.”
“I may be able to help with that,” Harlow said.
