Page 85 of The One for Forever

A couple of news trucks try to follow, but I make a quick left turn, then cut through an alley. We come out on a different street.

“Pretty sure we lost them,” I say.

She sighs and closes her eyes. “Never imagined I’d be running from paparazzi.”

“Have you spoken to Lana?” I’ve been texting with Max over the last few days about her condition, though we avoided talking about the trial. I wasn’t going to commentate because that felt too much like talking behind Quinn’s back. I have no doubt Quinn wanted to break the news to her boss herself.

“I did. I’m so relieved the baby is stable, but telling her about the verdict… It was awful. The absolute worst.”

“I’ve been there. Reporting back to the brass after a mission goes tits up is never fun.”

“But I doubt you ever screwed up as thoroughly as I did.”

I would disagree. I’ve got plenty of stories from my twenty years in the service that don’t reflect me at my best. But this isn’t about me.

I reach for her hand and squeeze it instead. “Do you want to get dinner somewhere? Get your mind off things? Or?—”

I pause, studying a low-slung hatchback in my rearview. I realize it’s been a couple of car lengths behind us for a while. It’s got an oversized spoiler and racing stripes.

“What is it?” Quinn turns around to look behind us, probably noticing the way my eyes keep flicking to the mirror. She gasps as the hatchback revs its engine and accelerates, passing another vehicle so that it’s now directly behind us.

The driver is wearing a mask. That creepy face from the Halloween movies. Just like the rabid Amber fan who attacked Quinn in her office about a month ago.

“What is with these creeps?” Quinn shouts. “They already won. Why won’t they leave me alone?”

It’s revenge, I think. For Quinn’s cross-examination of Amber today. But the reasons don’t matter.

“Hold on.”

I brake suddenly and steer hard to the left, cutting across the opposing traffic and leaving horns honking in our wake. Then I radio Leon, who was hanging back until I let him know our destination.

“I’ve got a shadow.” I describe the hatchback. “Where are you?”

“Ocean and Fifth.”

I glance in the mirror. Our masked assailant managed to keep on our tail. He accelerates again and taps our bumper.

“Dammit!” My truck swerves before I regain control of the steering. That probably did more damage to the little car than my huge truck, but Quinn yelps in fear, grabbing for anything she can hold on to.

“Rex?” Leon asks on the radio.

“This guy is really starting to piss me off.” I press the gas.

What’s the man trying to do? Just terrify her? Or actually make us lose control and crash? This is a crowded area. Who knows how many others could be hurt.

“Any vacant lots near you?” I ask Leon. “Open space?”

“I see a lot up ahead. It’s blocked off by some cones for the farmer’s market tomorrow. Ocean and Seventh.”

“And you passed the tactical driving course earlier this year, right?”

“Sure did, Foxy. Flying colors.”

I grit my teeth, already knowing this will end up on the evening news. But I don’t have a lot of options. “I’m bringing him to you.”

“Copy. I gotchu.”

Quinn is breathing hard beside me. I lay on the horn to warn people ahead of us. A light turns red. I blow through it and steer left. Yet I can’t gain any distance from him. His car is faster and more maneuverable than mine.

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