Chapter Thirteen Brad #2
“It’s not meddling, Bree.” I would have stopped time itself if she had told me she needed me in the past. “This could seriously be something. If this is him, it means he’s still out there and apparently watching you! Doesn’t that scare you at all?”
“Scare me?” She tossed her head back with a dark laugh. “Scared doesn’t even scratch the surface of what my life has been since that godforsaken day.”
I felt my temper rise. “You weren’t the only one there, Bree. You’re not in this alone.” How could she not see that?
“But I am.” Her face fell and twisted into a painful expression. “You had someone, Brad. You had Sherry. I didn’t have anyone, and that’s okay.”
I felt a punch to the gut. How could she think she didn’t have me? We had such a history together and a bond that was unlike anything I’d ever experienced with someone else, Sherry included.
“Back then I couldn’t lean on you, or let you in, when we both knew where that could lead.
You and Sherry obviously wanted to start a life, and my being here wasn’t helping.
” She stepped back and opened the door, and I felt my heart sink into my gut, already bruised from her earlier comment. “You should leave.”
“Bree, Sherry and I are divorced. We aren’t together anymore.”
“You might be done, but Sherry certainly isn’t.”
I gave a tempered sigh and stood in front of her and took her hand. “Please, I can’t stand the idea that you’ve been dealing with all this for so long, all on your own.” I wish she could hear me.
“Though it might not seem like it right now, Brad, I’m a strong woman and have been dealing with this twisted shit for years. My life is complicated, and so is yours. I just think we should take a beat and see how things go after we solve this case. I don’t want to fight. I just want to sleep.”
I squeezed my eyes shut in frustration. “I don’t want to fight either.
” I softened my voice. “For the record you’re an amazingly strong woman, Bree.
Strongest I’ve met yet. I’m sorry that Sherry got to you.
She’s been a fucking pain in my ass lately.
” I leaned forward and liked that she didn’t pull away.
“If you want to take a beat, fine, but know I’m not letting you go that easily.
” I kissed her cheek. “I’m going to leave now.
” I stepped out into the cold and headed for my car.
Now wasn’t the time to push Bree. She was exhausted, and so was I.
I crashed at my parents’ house. I needed time to think about how I could get Bree to see things the way I did.
I must have slept the day away because the next thing I remembered was Ronnie smacking my leg from the other side of the couch.
“Don’t you need to get to work at all today?
” He held a plate of food and stuffed a piece of steak in his mouth.
“What time is it?”
“Time for you to answer your damn phone. It’s been ringing all afternoon.” I waved off his comment and headed for my old bedroom.
My shower felt great, and after I changed, I saw I had a million missed calls from work. I grabbed the bag of food off the counter and yelled goodbye to Ronnie.
I stepped out into the cold night air and flipped up the collar on my jacket as I opened the car door. Just as the engine started, my phone rang, and I tapped the screen. “Stone,” I barked.
“Hi, Detective, it’s Officer Smith. I know you said anything to do with the nightclub case, to call, so that’s what I’m doing.”
“Okay, Adam, and . . . ?” I pulled out of the driveway and turned onto the main road.
“You know that Ram that we’re pretty sure drove Ms. Jaminson off the road?”
“Yes, you mean the Ram with the light bar?” I just wanted confirmation.
“Yes, I’ve been following it now, sir, for the last few minutes.” That perked my mood up. “I’m in my own car, so I don’t think he’d make any connection to who I am, but before he does—”
“Where are you?” I interrupted as I pressed hard on the accelerator.
“I just left town, heading south.”
“I’m coming toward you. Stay on him. I’ll call it in, then I’ll call you back.”
“Copy that.”
I turned onto the highway that led back to town as I dialed Cap’s number. There was no answer, so I left a message. Then I tried Kennedy. He answered quickly, “Hey, what’s up?”
I felt a rush of excitement. “Smith’s found Timothy Ford’s truck, and he’s following him.”
“No way!” I heard him grab his keys from the bowl by his door. “Where do you need me?”
“He’s heading south out of town, and I’m heading in. I plan to cut him off, but we could use some backup. Who knows what he might have on him.”
“I’m on the way. Did you call Cap?”
“Yeah, no answer.”
“Cap just texted. He’s on the way.” Kennedy hung up, and I called Smith back.
“Adam, you still on him?”
“Yes, sir, though he’s slowed a few times. It’s late, and I think he might be wondering who I am.”
I hit the wheel. The guy might be smart, but this was what we did. “Go around him, but keep him in view. If he turns, slows, anything, tell me.”
“Yes, sir.” I heard the blinker and his engine as it accelerated. “The windows are tinted, so I can’t see inside.”
“That’s okay. I should be getting close. Just keep going.” I pressed harder on the gas and was tempted to use my light bar, but the last thing I wanted was to spook him. Finally, in the distance, I could see headlights approaching. “Can you see headlights?”
“I do.”
“Flash your lights so I know it’s you.” He did, and I knew I had the right vehicle.
“Good. Now here’s what’s gonna happen. I’m going to let you both pass me, then I’ll swing around and come up behind him.
If he switches lanes, you do the same, and we’ll block him in.
Kennedy’s on his way, and Cap’s aware of the situation. And, Adam . . .”
“Yes, sir?”
“Any time you feel things aren’t safe, you pull over. You hear me?”
He let out a long breath. “Copy that, sir.”
“Good.” I pulled back on my speed and waited for them to get closer. “Good. Just keep going like normal. Don’t swerve or anything.” I talked him through it. “The more normal we look, the smoother this will go.”
The two vehicles passed me, then I took my foot off the brake to make sure my brake lights didn’t show. Once they rounded the curve in the road, I pulled a U-turn and headed back toward them. “Okay, Adam, I’m behind him, and he’s tapping his brakes. He wants me to pass.”
“That’s what he did to me.”
I looked around and saw headlights way behind me.
I guessed it was Kennedy. Suddenly, an arm popped up out of the window ahead, and the driver waved at me to go around.
“He’s getting nervous. I’m going to toss my lights on, so be ready.
” I flipped the switch, and my red and blue lights lit up the area around us.
Instantly, the truck took off, but Adam was ready and blocked his path.
He swerved back, but again Adam quickly blocked him.
I grabbed the microphone and made sure I did everything by the book so there was zero chance a lawyer could find fault with me.
I knew my dash camera was recording, so that would also work in my favor. “This is the SPD. Pull over.”
Nothing.
I snagged my radio from the dash. “Dispatch, this is Detective Stone. I’m in an unmarked vehicle, and I’m following a wanted suspect going south on the main highway. Suspect is refusing to stop. I will be administering the PIT maneuver.”
“Copy that, Detective Stone.” The rush that normally came with this part of the job coursed through me.
I tried to contain my excitement at finally nailing this asshole. “Did you hear that, Adam?”
“Yes, sir. I’m ready when you are.”
“Speed up so he doesn’t clip you.”
“Copy that.” I heard his engine roar. “You’re good to go.”
I checked my surroundings and saw the coast was clear. Then I pressed on the gas and gunned it. I planned to bump his fender with my brush guard. He shot forward just as I was going to hit him. I got myself in position again, but this time he slammed on his brakes, and I flew off to the side.
“Shit!” I snagged the shoulder and fought to keep the wheel straight.
My tires caught the rumble strip, and I was violently shaken.
Suddenly, I was swung off on the shoulder when my wheel hooked in a groove.
I was forced to drive next to him over the rough ground.
My body bounced around like a rag doll. This wasn’t good, considering how large his vehicle was compared with my car.
I silently cursed the highway department for not keeping up the roads.
“Come on!” I fought to keep some kind of control.
A speed limit sign up ahead was going to make or break this moment.
The bottom of my car screamed at me to do something as it scraped along the nearly frozen ground.
“Come on, come on!” I shouted at myself.
I forced my foot to ease off the gas, and he took off ahead of me.
I desperately swerved to get my wheels back onto the pavement.
At the last second, I caught traction and skidded back onto the road.
I zigzagged, trying to gain control, leaving a trail of rubber behind me.
Adam’s voice pushed through the speakers. “You okay, Stone?”
“Yeah.” I accelerated hard to gain some speed on him again.
All excitement was gone. Now I was just pissed.
“Get ready,” I warned out loud. I acted like I was going for the right side of the bumper again, but at the last second, I switched to the left.
He swung left, too, and I slammed into him, sending both of us into a twisting spin across the highway.
Screeching tires deafened me, rocks and dirt flew all around us, but it was worth it when we came to a stop, and all I could hear was a screaming engine.
I tore off my seat belt and ripped my door open as Adam’s car skidded to a stop ahead of mine.