Page 82 of Maddox

“Maybe whatever is on this drive will answer that question.” I hated this shit more and more.

“From what I heard, Alfaro has a list of enemies,” Charmaine piped in.

“I bet,” Damon snorted. “Didn’t you know El Salvador was dangerous?”

She sighed. “Of course I did, but I thought I could break the story along with saving some women who’d been kidnapped and children being sold into the slave trade.”

“Holy shit,” Damon laughed. “That’s a tall order. Let me guess. One story was a cover-up for the other.”

He was watching her in the rearview mirror as she nodded.

I looked at her, shaking my head. “The woman is fearless, but she managed to get into a situation she couldn’t get out of. Our old commander called for some assistance.”

Damon whistled. “You have been busy, buddy. Here I thought you were into cattle or something, not possible espionage or even your run of the mill corruption based on greed.”

“Or something.” The traffic was brutal as usual, but out of the corner of my eye I noticed a glint in the side mirror. As soon as I looked over my shoulder toward the road, Damon noticed and immediately checked his side mirror then the rearview.

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

“See the blue sedan about six car lengths back?”

“Yeah, I see it.”

Charmaine turned to face the back window. “We’re being followed?”

“Maybe,” I told her. “Can you get us out of here?”

“How many people do you want me to run over?” Damon teased, but immediately moved around a couple of vehicles, taking a sharp right turn.

We both noticed the car made the same turn.

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, waiting until the vehicle was only two lengths back before crossing over and taking a sharp left.

Horns blasted from every direction and he barely managed to get through the intersection without being T-boned.

Somehow, the driver also made the turn, almost causing a wreck in the process.

“Hang on, kids. Keep your seatbelts on and your heads inside the ride,” Damon snickered and shifted the gear into fifth just as he hit the entrance to the expressway.

“Who do you think it is, federal agents?” she asked, more nervous than before.

“I doubt it,” he answered. “You’re working with the Feds?”

“Not on purpose.” I pulled the weapon into my hand. “Don’t let them get close enough to see your plates.”

“Oh, hell, buddy. We’ve been out of touch for far too long. I have several different plates.” He swerved around several cars, picking up speed as he did.

I kept my eye on the mirror, noticing they were getting closer. “Do you think you can pick up the speed? Maybe try and lose them? I think you’ve lost your touch.”

“You should know better than to throw that shit at me. Like I said, keep your seatbelts on.” He pressed down on the accelerator again, forced to swerve around several vehicles given the dense traffic. “I’m taking a short cut.”

He zipped into the high occupancy lane, making better time.

“The asshole is still following.” I unfastened my seatbelt, turning so I could pay closer attention. With it getting dark, it was more difficult to be sure, but as soon as the car following us had weaved around several other vehicles, even riding the shoulder, I knew for certain.

“Stay down,” I told her.

“This could get a little dicey,” Damon chimed in, and it was clear to see he was enjoying the hell out of this.

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