Page 19 of Not Our Daughter

“Yeah. Promise me we’ll catch the bastard who did this to Tommy.”

“With your help, Chief, we have a much better chance.”

Fourteen

Cole drove precisely the speed limit down Highway 40 through the small towns of Fraser and Tabernash on the way to Granby, even though everything inside him wanted to stomp on the gas pedal. But the last thing he could afford right now was to have a cop pull him over for stupidly speeding. He glanced over at Lisa, who was hunched in the passenger seat as to not be seen from the road. Jade was lying down in the back seat, as instructed. They rode in near silence. Mainly because he and Lisa didn’t want to talk about too much in front of Jade. Cole certainly wasn’t going to share what had happened to him back in town yet. The circumstances they were facing were already terrifying enough, and he was freaking out on the inside. He wanted more time to process what had happened before rolling that bomb out there.

Cole watched every passing car closely. It was late. The highway was not busy. This made him feel exposed. He wondered if the police were already searching for Lisa’s car. If not, he knew it would be happening shortly. Both of their vehicles were officially registered with the state. They needed to dump the Subaru ASAP.

Cole suddenly cursed, stiffened in his seat. He could see police vehicles with red and blue blinking lights coming straight toward him on Highway 40.

“What is it?” Lisa asked. She couldn’t see above the dashboard.

“Police. Up ahead, coming this way. Probably from Grandy.”

“Do you need to get off the main road?”

“There’s no other way to get to the unit.”

“Do you think they’re coming for us?”

Cole swallowed. “We’re about to find out.”

He tucked his head low, held his breath, as three police vehicles sped past him. His eyes locked on his rearview mirror. Lisa couldn’t help herself—she rose and turned in her seat to also look back down the highway.

“They’re not turning around,” she said, exhaling.

“Why are the police even after us?” Jade asked from the back.

“It’s just ... a misunderstanding,” Cole replied weakly.

“A misunderstanding?” Jade retorted. “Dad, I’m not stupid! You don’t have multiple police cars show up at your house because of a misunderstanding.”

“You’re right, honey,” Lisa said. “It’s complicated.”

“Did you break the law, Dad? Did you steal money or something?”

“If I’ve broken any laws, it’s only to protect my family.”

“What does that even mean?” Jade replied. “So ... you did break the law?”

“Get down!” Cole said, as two more police cars were suddenly in view around a twist in the highway.

Both Lisa and Jade dropped back into their hidden positions. Cole also felt the urge to scoot down in his seat this time, his nerves nearly shot, as both police vehicles again raced past them without incident.

“We’re good?” Lisa asked.

He nodded. “Hopefully all these police cars racing toward Winter Park means the FBI believes we’re still camped out there somewhere. We need the head start.”

“The FBI!” Jade exclaimed, her voice cracking. “Are you serious, Dad?”

Cole sighed, annoyed with himself for letting that slip out. “Yes.”

“Wait ... doesn’t the FBI mainly go after terrorists? Is that what you are? A terrorist?”

“No,” he said, but didn’t elaborate. He turned onto a dirt road inside the Granby city limits. They were almost there. He was breathing a little easier.

“You guys can’t do this to me,” Jade continued, getting herself worked up. “This is not fair. You have to tell me what’s going on. It’s my birthday, Dad! I’m not a little kid anymore. Whatever it is, I can handle it. Just tell me.”

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