Hunt

Griff sighed. “She’s looking right at me.”

My pulse quickened. “Remain still and normal. She can’t see your face through that helmet.”

Phoenix watched him.

Griff lowered his voice. “Should I tap my hands or something like I’m listening to music?”

“What?”

“You know? Get into character.”

“Relax.” West slipped into the lane right next to her. “She’s not even looking in your direction. She’s checking out all the cars on the road.”

Phoenix turned around.

“No way.” Griff came back on. “She saw me.”

West remained in the lane. “Go in the other lane and pass her, but keep the same circle. No more than a car or two in front of her.”

Griff zipped out of the lane.

Phoenix leaned her head to the left as if watching him.

The two-lanes transformed into three. Another block and a fourth lane emerged.

“Where does this road go?” Griff asked.

I squinted my eyes. “Looks like we’re heading to Zacharia Freeway.”

Griff groaned. “I hate riding that freeway. Too fucking wide and always packed.”

“Just don’t lose Phoenix and the kid.”

My brother was right about Zacharia Freeway being packed. It was a long and old 6-lane highway full of pot holes, heavy traffic, and tons of accidents. Three lanes were for oncoming traffic. The other three served incoming vehicles. Meanwhile, there was a grassy dividing path between the oncoming and incoming lanes. Gravel paths outlined the six-lanes, allowing broken down cars a place to pull over.

And even though it was called a freeway, it wasn’t. It was more a monsoon of roads. There were no ramps. Tons of traffic lights kept halting the flow of cars. Tons of road junctions and intersections.

Usually, I avoided it.

“Fuck, man.” Static mixed with Griff’s voice. “It’s going to be a bitch trying to keep up with them.”

Was that intentional, Phoenix?

The freeway had been named after the town’s founder.

Long ago, Zachariah Glory brought his parents, pregnant wife, and other family members to this area when it was supposedly abandoned. He said that God had told him to come. When he arrived, he claimed the land for himself and called it Glory.

Meanwhile, no one ever wondered about the Native America tribe who had inhabited the land for centuries before him.

We approached Zacharia Freeway. The light showed green.

The kid slipped into the right lane and turned onto the Freeway.

West followed. “I got them.”

“I can’t make it without looking suspect.” Griff drove on. “I’ll meet back up after a quick U-turn.”

I waited for the taxi to go. When it moved forward, I made the right onto Zacharia Freeway. “I’m still behind you all.”

The six-lane freeway stretched out forever. Vehicles glowed in a sea of white and red. Some cars boomed music. Others honked. Most engines hummed, but a lot of them roared. Some vehicles were old, yet sturdy. Some new and obnoxious. A few were expensive. But many were beaten up and cheap.

The freeway reeked of motor oil, exhaust, and the rotting aroma of roadkill.

I pressed the side button. The window rose, shutting out the smells.

“I’m here.” Griff came on. “Two cars down from you, Cain.”

In the right lane, vehicles lined up bumper to bumper, jammed together. There must have been some detour blocking an exit.

Phoenix and the kid remained in the center lane. The only one that kept a decent flow.

I scanned the area more. “This is going to be a shit show.”

I checked the traffic zooming in the opposition direction.

Super packed tonight.

I focused back on our lanes.

The speed picked up for everyone. We passed the jam packed lane on the right and continued forward.

I checked further up the road.

More fucking cars? Is there an event or something?

The kid whipped into the left lane, passed three vehicles, and jumped back into the center lane.

Now there were five cars between us.

Up ahead, Phoenix glanced over her shoulder.

I raised one eyebrow. “Stay where you are, West.”

“Don’t follow?”

“Not until she turns around.”

When she did, West followed the kid’s path. Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy. The further we moved forward, the more vehicles appeared.

There were sedans and station wagons, off-road vehicles and competition racers, a few limousines and eighteen-wheelers. But more importantly, they were obstacles, blocking my way to Phoenix.

She did this intentionally.

Half a mile ahead, I spotted a huge intersection with a stop light. “Get closer West.”

“I’m on it.” West sped up, slipped around a van, and closed the distance.

For the first time that night, I put on my seat belt. “Stay alert. She knows we’re following her.”

He got right behind the kid and her.

Phoenix checked over her shoulder.

“Fuck.” I gripped the steering wheel. “She knows it’s one of us. Fall back. Maybe, we can trick her.”

“I’ll take over.” Griff passed me.

West slowed up and went to the right lane.

Griff got in the far left lane.

One of the cars in front of me went to the right. Then, the other followed. Now I was two cars behind her.