Page 9 of Dublin Debacle

Jack glanced over his shoulder at a set of headlights pulling up behind them.

Emily waited for several cars to pull past before she merged into traffic, still moving steadily despite the late hour.

The car that had been behind them jumped into the traffic, cutting off a little striped Mini Cooper. The Mini Cooper driver slammed on his brakes and hit his horn.

Jack frowned. “I want you to turn left at the next corner.”

“But that’s not the way to Dr. Kelly’s,” Emily said.

“Do it anyway,” he said softly. “And don’t use a turn signal.”

Emily’s brow furrowed. “Why?”

“I want to see if that car behind us will turn as well.”

Her gaze shot to the rearview mirror. “You think he’s following us?”

“I don’t know,” Jack said. “Let’s find out.”

At the next street, Emily barely slowed. At the last moment, she spun the wheel to the left, taking the turn fast enough to make the tires squeal.

“Now, give it some gas,” Jack instructed, wishing he was the one driving instead of giving orders.

Emily smashed the accelerator. The Mercedes leaped forward.

Sitting sideways in the passenger seat, Jack held his breath.

The driver of the car that had been behind them slammed on his brakes. The Mini Cooper behind him honked again as the sedan made the turn after nearly blowing past it.

“Same vehicle?” Emily’s gaze shifted from the rearview mirror to the road ahead.

“Yes,” Jack said tightly.

With almost two blocks between them, they had the advantage.

“Take the next right-hand turn,” Jack said. “We need to weave in and out of several streets to see if we can lose him.”

Emily nodded. At the next road, she didn’t slow until the last moment, jammed on the brakes, turned right, sped ahead to the next road and made a left.

“I don’t see the headlights yet. Make another left at the next road.”

As she did, Jack saw the headlights of the vehicle turn onto the street they were leaving.

They were barely staying ahead of the driver.

After several more turns, Jack spotted an apartment complex ahead. The other driver had yet to pull onto the street where they were. “Pull into that parking lot on the right. Hurry.”

Emily made the turn.

“Find a parking space, pull in, kill the engine, turn off the headlights and take your foot off the brake.”

As soon as she found an empty space, she pulled as far into the spot as possible. Then she shoved the shift into park, turned off the engine and lights and removed her foot from the brake pedal. “Could he have seen us pulling in?” she whispered.

“I don’t think so. From his headlights, I can see he hasn’t yet reached the corner to make the turn onto the street.” Lights shone on the street. “Get down.” Jack slipped lower in his seat.

Emily ducked low.

Headlights moved slowly past the entrance to the parking lot, eventually passing it completely.

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