Chapter 23

Yes, Ma'am… I didn't want to interrupt your meeting… I understand your hesitation… With all due respect, Ma'am, it should be my judgement call… As soon as I arrive in Miami… Thank you, Ma'am.

The pieces of conversation from Vance's call worried Alexis more than the Deputy Sheriff showing her photograph around the marina. From her spot in the backseat of the stolen clunker, she could see it worried Seb, too. Glancing in the rearview mirror, she saw how the lines above his brow had tightened during Vance's call.

"Everything okay?" Seb asked Vance when he hung up, his eyes meeting Alexis's.

"A difference of opinion with my boss, but we came to an agreement." Vance turned briefly to smile at her and Emery in the backseat. It didn't quite reach his eyes.

"What is there about the safe house that she objects to?" Seb asked as he turned right at the t-intersection and onto the highway.

The smile had disappeared from Vance's face, and he rubbed a hand over his mouth. "It's off the grid."

"How far off the grid?" Emery asked, her voice tight and hands clasped tightly in her lap. Alexis got the feeling Emery was tired of Vance dragging her from one place to another. Though it wouldn't have been a confidence booster in Alexis's books either.

"A guy I know has a place off the highway, not too far into the wetlands, making it a viable option for a few days. I trust the guy. Until my boss can figure out how the men located my witness, I'd prefer to rely on my own resources."

Vance had ignored Emery and had directed his explanation to Seb. Alexis noticed the way Emery's lips pursed. It was obvious she wasn't happy.

Alexis wasn't happy either. When Vance had talked about the safe house, she'd thought he'd meant a place tucked away in one of the small towns outside of Miami. Stuck somewhere isolated could make leaving quickly difficult if it became necessary.

Seb's eyes met hers in the rearview mirror. They wouldn't be staying.

His eyes flicked to the side mirror and then back to the rearview mirror, focused on the road behind them. Alexis heard him swear under his breath.

"We've got company," Seb said.

She and Emery turned in unison to look out the rear windshield. A police car was barreling toward them.

"Relax. Nothing much happens out this way. This section of road doesn't have a curve for a mile. The cops speed down the stretch to break up the monotony." Vance brushed off Seb's concern and settled back into his seat.

Seb didn't slow until he heard the wail of the cruiser's siren.

"He'll pass you. He's bored."

"I don't think so," Alexis said, glancing at the road behind them once more.

They'd only been on the road for five minutes, too soon for the car's owner to have reported the vehicle stolen. If Antoine's employers had the resources to manipulate the FBI, there was no doubt in Alexis's mind that their reach would extend to local law enforcement.

A quick blast of the cruiser's siren signaled Seb to pull over.

Alexis plunked the hat she'd picked up on her head and adjusted the brim so it covered her face as he pulled the car onto the shoulder.

"We'll be fine," Seb said, his eyes on the side-view mirror as he rolled down his window.

Alexis glanced up at the rearview mirror and watched the Deputy get out of the police cruiser. The car door slammed shut and the rhythmic crunching of gravel grew louder as he walked over to them. He hadn't pulled out his gun. That was a good sign.

Emery shoved her sunglasses into Alexis's hands. "Trade with me. You'll draw his attention."

She was right. The pretty designer sunglasses with its glittering rhinestones were meant to attract attention. Alexis handed them to Emery and put on the black sunglasses.

"Keep your hands on the wheel so we don't spook the guy. I've got this," Vance said as he leaned to one side and pulled out the folder with his identification from his back pocket. "If the guy isn't legit, remember to duck. I've got my Glock in my ankle holster."

"Are you crazy?" Alexis hissed.

"No, Ma'am, but I've developed trust issues of late."

They all remained perfectly still as the Deputy Sheriff approached.

Smiling, he bent over so he could speak with Seb. It was the Shane from the marina. He must have struck out with the server and didn't stay to eat.

"Hey, there, folks. I hope I didn't scare y'all with the siren. I was making my way to my cruiser when I saw you leave the marina parking lot. Your brake light burned out at the second stop sign."

"I appreciate you letting me know," Seb said, matching the Deputy Sheriff's jovial tone. "The car may not look like much, but she's given me few problems and I like to keep her in shape."

"I hear you," the man said. "I feel the same way about my personal ride. She's rusting out but drives like a dream. No sense in throwing money away on a new vehicle."

"My thoughts exactly," Seb said as the man bent his head lower so he could see into the car. Alexis's heart pounded in her chest, and she could hear Emery's ragged breathing.

"Ladies, sorry for the inconvenience. Enjoy the rest of the day."

"Thank you," Emery chirped and grinned sweetly.

Everyone in the car held their breath as he made his way back to the police cruiser. Seb waited until he pulled onto the highway and was a speck on the road in the distance before doing the same.

"I thought he was going to start sharing car stories." Emery let out a huge breath and laid her head against the backseat.

They all laughed, easing the tension in the car.

"Told you they were bored," Vance said as he put his identification folder back into his pocket. "There's a turnoff to the right a few miles ahead we'll take. I'll give you plenty of warning."

They hadn't gone far before Alexis noticed Seb's eyes fixed on the rearview mirror. She glanced at the road retreating behind them and the car far behind them.

"Problem?" she asked, her eyes meeting Seb's in the rearview mirror. The lines across his forehead had reappeared.

"The car behind us is matching our speed. I've changed speed several times, but he's staying on our tail."

Vance turned and looked out the rear windshield. "Could be something. Could be nothing."

Emery was now also looking out the rear windshield.

The road ahead was clear and Alexis felt Seb speed up. He was doing at least twenty over the speed limit. The car behind them matched the clunker's speed. Seb slowed down. The car slowed as well.

"We should have checked the brake light," Vance said, and Seb nodded.

Alexis knew what they were thinking. They'd been set up. The Deputy's job had been to check them out, not engage. That job had been left for the car behind them.

He glanced over at Vance and the Marshal nodded as he bent to pull his Glock out of his ankle holster. Seb placed his weapon on his lap within easy reach.

"Alexis. Sofia. Roll down the windows and then squat on the floor." Seb referred to Emery as Sofia. Vance had introduced her as Sofia Keller. They assumed it was the identity that had been compromised.

Alexis had shared her conversation with Emery and told him she believed Emery had spontaneously come up with the name she'd used to introduce herself, trying it on for size. They'd decided it wasn't something Vance needed to know.

Seb's gaze alternated between the road ahead and the rearview mirror. "If I pull off the road, Sofia, get out and Alexis, you follow. Run into the forest beside the road and keep running. Don't look back. When you've found someplace to hole up, call Javier."

Alexis's stomach knotted into a tight ball as she undid her seatbelt.

"Seb." Alexis reached out and touched his shoulder. Their last conversation had been tainted with bitterness and anger. If something should happen, they couldn't be her last words.

"Everything's going to be okay, Alexis. I promise. It could be tourists unsure of the road. We'll talk later. Get down on the floor."

Emery crouched beside her and grabbed her hand in a vice-like grip. Alexis felt the car slow to a crawl. Seconds later, pounding music erupted, filling the silence.

A crack, louder than the music, echoed through the car as something pinged off metal. Whoever was in the car was shooting at them.

Before Alexis could draw in a breath, the thumping music abruptly faded into nothing.

"Seb." Alexis shot up off the floor and placed her hand on his shoulder, ignoring how hard it shook.

"We're good. Teenagers," Vance said, disgust in his voice.

"They shot at us," Alexis said, her heart still hammered against her ribs.

Seb placed his hand over hers and winked at her in the rearview mirror. "I'm fine."

"They threw a beer can. It hit the car." Vance was bent over, sliding his Glock back into the holster strap.

"I imagine they're congratulating themselves," Seb muttered, lifted his hand and placed it on the wheel as he picked up speed.

Alexis slid back in her seat and reached out to close the side window, then stopped.

"Do you hear that?" she asked, straining to pinpoint the direction of the faint buzzing sound as Seb slowed the vehicle once more.