Chapter 11 #2
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 on them 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 there somewhere 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.
“Perfect. After we hang up, call Tabitha and let her know what’s going on.”
“Hang on a second.” The phone was silent as though she had put them on hold. It beeped quickly before she was back. “Major, Everett has the shooters contained. I’m sending the coordinates for the safehouse to your in-car GPS and the security code for the door to your phone.”
“Thanks, Harlow. Mason, I’ll call you as soon as we arrive.”
“Stay alert, Major. We don’t know that those shooters were the only ones sent after Craig. I’ll keep Tabitha on standby after she drops Trista off at the airport in the morning.”
“Sounds good.” Major disconnected and glanced at the GPS. They had an hour until they hit the safehouse. Luckily, he didn’t need to stop for fuel, and they could drive straight there.
“Why is Tabitha taking Trista to the airport?” Craig asked.
Major checked his sideview mirror as he merged onto the highway. “Trista broke her contract and signed on to do a film with Roman Bane.”
“Oh. Well, good.” Craig blew out a breath and called his wife. She didn’t answer, and Craig left her a message to call him back immediately. It was half an hour before she did.
“Hey, Livvie.”
“Why is a detective calling wanting to know where you were on the fifth?”
Craig explained the best he could about his circumstances. Major actually felt sorry for the man. “Things are heating up here, and I need you to take a leave of absence.”
“You know I have patients, right?”
“I do, but I can’t have you in harm’s way while the cops figure out what’s really going on. I swear to you, Livvie, I don’t know this woman.”
“I believe you. I bet it was your asshole of a brother pretending to be you. Dammit. Let me go get someone to cover my patients for the next few days. I’ll go stay with—”
“No. Don’t say anything.”
Major held out his hand for the phone, and Craig handed it over.
“Olivia, this is Major Lazlo. I’m your husband’s bodyguard.
I need you to write down this number.” He told her Harlow’s number and name when she said she was ready.
“On your way home to pack, you need to stop and get a prepaid phone. Call Harlow from the new phone and give her the number. As soon as we hang up, Craig needs to toss his phone in case it’s being traced.
He’ll call you back once we get to the safehouse.
I’m handing the phone back to Craig now. ”
Craig stared daggers at Major while jerking the phone from his hand. “Livvie…”
“Keep yourself safe, Craig. I can’t do this without you.”
“I know. Me too. I’ll talk to you soon.” Craig disconnected, powered the phone off, then rolled down the window and chucked it as far as he could.
He rolled the window back up, then scrubbed his hands down his face.
He sat quietly as the miles passed by. Major wanted to call Tabitha, but he wouldn’t since Craig would hear his conversation.
There were no other incidents between Stone Mountain and the safehouse, which turned out to be an old farmhouse sitting well off the road that looked like it had seen better days. The barn out back was in shambles.
“You’re joking,” Craig muttered.
Major checked his phone for the access code.
It was there along with Olivia’s new number.
He palmed the pistol with his right hand and pulled the handle with his left.
“Lock the door behind me while I check it out.” Major stepped down from the SUV and reached out with his Gryphon’s sight and hearing.
When he didn’t sense anyone close by, he made his way to the side door where a keypad was.
He typed in the code and entered the two-story house.
After clearing each room, he returned outside and escorted Craig through the door.
He reset the alarm and tucked the pistol in the waistband of his pants.
Craig rushed through the downstairs to the kitchen and searched all the drawers. “Where are the burner phones? I need to call Olivia. Did Harlow text you?”
“She did, and I have Olivia’s new number.
One of the bedrooms is usually refitted as an office with supplies.
I’ll go get one for you.” Major strode down the hallway until he came to said office.
He opened a tall cabinet and retrieved one of the phones, programmed Olivia’s new number in it, then returned to the kitchen where Craig was checking out the contents of the refrigerator.
“Here you go. I’ve already programmed your wife’s number in it.
The bedrooms are upstairs, and the bathrooms should have any toiletries you’d need for a shower.
They might not be what you’re used to, but they’ll have to do for now.
I’ll be in the living room if you need anything. ”
“Thanks, Major. I’m going to go call Livvie and make sure she got on the road safely.”
Major inclined his head and waited until Craig was upstairs to grab something to drink.
He chose a soda and made his way to one of the sofas in the living room.
Major popped the can, took a long swig, and set the drink on the side table.
Reclining against the cushioned arm, he got comfortable. Major had his own female to call.