Page 26

CHAPTER 26

O live didn’t dare take her eyes off the road to glance at Nova.

Instead, she called, “Are you okay?”

“I think so.” Tension stretched through Nova’s voice.

“Stay down.” She gritted her teeth as she stared at the road in front of her.

Wind roared into the Jeep, and the hum of the motorcycle grew louder.

Olive stole a glance in the rearview mirror.

The motorcycle was still there—and getting closer.

“How can the guy drive the motorcycle and shoot at the same time?” Nova asked. “Doesn’t he need both hands to steer?”

“That’s a good question. One I’m not worried about answering right now.”

That headlight kept getting closer and closer.

“Oh, no, you don’t.” She floored the accelerator.

But the motorcycle was surprisingly fast. Its engine rumbled louder the faster it went.

Olive told herself not to panic, remembering all her defensive driving courses. She didn’t usually have to use the skills she’d learned. She preferred to stay under the radar while on assignment.

Apparently, that wouldn’t be happening with this case. From the moment Olive had set foot in town, she’d been a target.

“Olive . . . what are you going to do?” Nova’s voice trembled as she crouched forward, her body bouncing at the ruts in the road.

Olive glanced in the rearview mirror again.

The motorcycle was so close she could barely see the headlight any more.

What was this guy trying to do? Come up beside them and shoot?

Her lungs tightened. She couldn’t risk that.

“Stay down!” Olive shouted.

Then she threw on the brakes.

With any luck, the motorcycle would smash into them, and they could lose this guy.

But he must have been anticipating the move because he swerved beside them.

She pressed the accelerator again, knowing she needed to move.

Moving targets were always more challenging than stagnant ones.

The Jeep lurched ahead, while more flashes of gunfire pierced the darkness. Olive leaned forward, trying to make herself smaller.

The windshield shattered.

As pebbles of glass rained on her, she swerved.

The Jeep rumbled off the road.

She pressed on the brakes as they bounced over uneven terrain.

Finally, the Jeep jerked to a stop, inches from hitting a tree.

Olive’s muscles clenched as she wondered what the guy behind them would do next.

While the dust settled around her, Olive drew in a deep breath. Her heart continued to pound in her ears.

“You good?” She glanced at Nova.

Her colleague was hunched down, but she nodded.

Nearby, a motor revved.

Olive reached for her gun and turned, preparing for the worst.

Instead, the motorcycle zoomed by, spitting out loud exhaust.

He was leaving.

The driver had only wanted to scare them—not kill them. This would have been the perfect opportunity.

Olive sighed and raked a hand through her hair. More pebbles of glass tumbled out.

“You can sit up now,” Olive told Nova. “He’s gone.”

Nova slowly rose and glanced around as if to confirm the coast was clear. Then she looked at Olive. “Has that guy lost his mind?”

“Unfortunately, no. I think he knows exactly what he’s doing. He wants to send a message.”

“I’d say he succeeded.” Nova touched a small scratch that stretched across her cheek from the flying glass.

All things considered, that could have been so much worse.

As the noise of the motorcycle disappeared, a new sound filled the air.

Silence.

The hum of some crickets in the nearby shrubs.

The hum of the Jeep engine had disappeared.

Not a good sign.

Nova seemed to realize the truth at the same time as Olive, and she asked, “Is the Jeep toast?”

“Let’s see.” Olive turned the keys and tried to start the Jeep.

Nothing happened.

She tried again. Still nothing.

Resisting a sigh, Olive opened the door and climbed out.

They hadn’t crashed into anything, so the engine should be fine. Hopefully, it would be a simple fix.

Nova scrambled out after her. “What are you doing?”

“One of the cases I worked required me to act as a mechanic.” Olive popped the hood. “I learned quite a bit.”

“Enough to get us going?”

“Let’s find out.” Olive let out a breath. “But I’m pretty sure the rental agency isn’t going to be happy about this.”