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Veronica muttered something under her breath that I couldn’t make out. She was talking to herself and the crazed look in her eye was now glossed over with something else I couldn’t identify, but it sent a shiver down the length of my spine.
I reached a shaky hand over and placed it gently on her forearm, causing her to flinch slightly. I tried to keep my voice steady and calm, hoping to convince her.
“I won’t ever see him again. You two can be happy again. I know that’s what you want. What youbothwant.”
I noticed her breathing begin to slow, like my words were breaking down her barrier.
“Veronica, I will never live up to you. I can’t fit in his world like you can. You were right. There is only one woman who belongs in Troy’s life. It’s you. Now just slow down before you get yourself hurt. Don’t you want to see him again?”
She slowly turned her head and looked at me, her eyes narrowed. I didn’t dare break her gaze, for fear I might lose her trust and for what I might see on the road ahead.
“You must think I’m stupid,” she said.
“No!” I feigned surprise.
“I know what you’re trying to do, but it’s not going to work.”
“I’m not trying to do anything, Veronica,” I said, my voice raising.
“You don’t seem to understand. Neither of us are leaving this car until someone pries us from it.”
A quiet sob escaped my throat as she turned back and faced the road. My words had been futile. I was going to die in this car, alongside her. I would never see Troy again. Never write again. Never start a family, or see my own again. I let the tears fall down my cheeks, not caring if it satisfied Veronica. I closed my eyes and leaned my head against the window, shutting out the image of the road I was going to lose my life on.
The sirens of the police cars were closer now, filling my ears with their taunt of a rescue that would never come. I thought I heard the rotors of a helicopter overhead, but again, a taunting noise when I knew there was nothing anyone could do to save me.
Chapter 52
Troy
Itried calling Veronica again, hoping the distraction of taking a phone call wouldn’t send her crashing into the sidewall of the interstate. I heard the trill of the ring against the loudness of the rotors overhead. I hoped she would pick up. Maybe I could convince her to stop the car and to end this madness. I would tell her anything she wanted to hear, just so long as she put an end to this chase and Monica was out of harm’s way.
But to my disappointment, the rings kept trilling and no one picked up on the other end. I slammed my phone down on the seat as soon as I heard her voicemail pick up. I had no way of reaching her or Monica. Even though the helicopter hovered right above the red car, Monica still felt so far away.
“What’s our next move, Mr. Gunner?” asked the pilot, a wary look in his eye.
I knew we couldn’t stay up here forever. I just wished I had a plan. I wished the cops were enough to put an end to this, but all they could do was follow. They had shut the interstate down, so no innocent bystanders could get hurt. I watched as more squad cars joined the pursuit, but I was starting to realize their efforts were futile. My efforts were futile. Veronica was moving too quickly. Too erratically. At this point, all we could do was just watch the terrifying scene play out before us.
Then an idea came to me. A desperate one. More dangerous than desperate, but it just might work.
“Can you get ahead of the red car?” I asked, pointing up ahead.
The pilot nodded, although I could tell he wasn’t sure where I was going with my idea. He pushed down on the shift, causing the nose of the helicopter to dive down slightly, increasing speed. I watched below as we quickly passed over the red car.
“Keep going,” I said. “I need enough distance between us to land this thing.”
“Land it?” asked the pilot, his mouth gaping.
“Yes.” I nodded.
“Where the hell am I going to land?”
“Down there.” I pointed up ahead at the length of the interstate.
He shook his head.
“I can’t do that, sir. It’s not safe, nor is it legal.”
“We have no choice,” I said grimly.