Chapter 10
The black SUV was closing the distance with terrifying speed, its tinted windshield reflecting the pale morning light like a dark mirror. Julian checked his mirrors again, calculating the distance between their sedan and the heavy iron gates at the end of the perimeter service lane.
“Hang on!” Julian shouted over the roaring whine of the overworked engine.
He wrenched the steering wheel to the right, cutting sharply across the incoming lane and onto an old logging trail that branched off toward the dense timberland bordering the property line. The sedan bounced violently as its suspension took the brunt of the uneven dirt and protruding roots, throwing Elena against the side door before she managed to brace herself against the seatback.
In the back, baby Leo let out a startled cry, his small frame trembling as the car fishtailed violently between two thick pine trees. Elena shushed him desperately, kissing his forehead while whispering soothing words into his soft hair.
Behind them, the black SUV attempted to make the same sharp turn, but its heavier frame and low-profile tires lacked the maneuverability required for the rough logging trail. The pursuer overshot the turn by several yards, its front bumper scraping loudly against a thick oak trunk before coming to a grinding halt.
Julian glanced in the rearview mirror, letting out a sharp breath of relief as the SUV shrunk into the distance, momentarily trapped in the dense underbrush.
“We bought some time,” Julian said, his voice shaking slightly as he eased off the gas pedal to navigate a rocky incline. “Maybe ten minutes before they circle around via the logging road access point three miles north.”
“Ten minutes isn't enough to reach David’s house,” Elena pointed out, her tone practical and unyielding. She adjusted Leo’s light blue onesie, ensuring the baby was warm and secure before looking up to meet her husband’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “If they have our toll transponder signal, they can track our general vector even without the active smartphone ping. We need to ditch this car, Julian.”
Julian fell silent, gripping the wheel as the sedan crested the ridge of the timberland, revealing a panoramic view of the valley below. In the distance, the silver ribbon of the county highway wound its way toward the northern mountains, dotted with sparse morning traffic.
May you like
“There’s an old forestry service cabin about a mile down this ridge,” Julian said slowly, weighing the options in his mind. “It has a landline that connects directly to the county dispatch—unmonitored by the private networks. If we can reach it, I can call David directly from a secure line.”
Elena nodded, her expression hardening with quiet resolve. “Then let’s drive as far as the trail permits, and walk the rest of the way.”
