High Stakes Gamble

Chapter Twelve

Enjoying the drive to the prison, and the unusual quiet, Aurora had time to think about Kai. As long as she’d kept him out of the equation, her life had finally morphed into a happy kind of routine.

Her main concern, Lily, who’d settled in with Deb and Alec like a puppy in a litter, would be just fine for as long as Aurora felt she needed to help out at work.

She glanced over at her partner whose mumbling caught her attention. It seemed strange not to have Lisa—who kept working her cell, trying to get a hold of her sister—pummelling her with weird bits of knowledge, starting each sentence with “Did you know?” or “I read something interesting last night…,” blah, blah.

Not that Aurora really minded Lisa sharing her interesting tidbits. It was more her constant dribble about her friends and their most intimate life details that freaked her out. That’s when Aurora cranked the radio up. Lately, she had the feeling that Lisa made most of it up just to piss her off. She smiled. Not that she’d ever admit she was on to her. Why spoil her fun?

A glance out the rear view mirror and the noise beginning in her head snared her attention. A black Dodge Charger had been steadily gaining on them and she just knew it spelled trouble.

“Shit, Lisa, we’re being tailed.” Aurora saw two people in the Charger. “Those pricks are making me nervous.” Wheeling her SUV like a demon consumed, she hit the siren to clear the other few vehicles from danger. Then she slammed her foot onto the gas pedal while at the same time she pulled her gun in readiness. “They’re coming up on the left.” As per routine, she called in their location and the details of what was soon to go down, then felt slightly better knowing back-up would be on its way.

The sports car had dropped back for a passing truck which gave them a few seconds. The approaching busy section worried Aurora. She slowed down slightly. Better to settle things now.

In a move as athletic as a performer from Cirque du Soleil, Lisa wrenched her seat all the way back and then lowered it to almost a prone position. Using the dash like a spring board, she pushed first with her knees and then with her feet to slither into the rear seat. Rolling down the window slightly, she drew her gun and with a gleeful note in her voice and she said, “Let ‘em come.”

“Girl you sure do have the moves.” Since the first day they began working together, Lisa constantly surprised the hell outta Aurora. In a good way! Aurora threw her a smile in the mirror and caught Lisa’s expression of staggering concentration. Depending on her young partner had become second nature to Aurora. It felt great to work with someone trustworthy and capable… and fun.

“Comes from being a jock.” There was a teasing note in Lisa’s voice.

Aurora smacked the steering wheel. “The blabbermouth told you.”

“Well sure. The boss warned me you might take pot-shots at my extracurricular interests but admitted you didn’t really hate sports. You just weren’t athletic yourself, and so you didn’t understand the incredible skill it takes.”

“Shutt uup!!! He didn’t?” Aurora said.

Lisa grinned toward the rear view and Aurora knew she’d been had. “Okay get ready,” she continued. “Here they come. Check out the Uzi on your side.”

Sure enough, the front wheels were almost in line with the rear window when Aurora wrenched her wheel, trying to force them off the road. Didn’t work. The other driver had skills also. He’d braked and countered.

Two men were clearly outlined when she quickly turned her head to catch a glimpse—two men and one big mother of a gun.

And they were gaining once again. Sending up a quick prayer for help and a message of love for Lily, Aurora waited till they were somewhat closer and then wrenched the wheel once more, hoping it would work this time. Tires squealing and gravel flying resulted… but the black car hung on and again loomed.

Her maneuvers earned them a round of gunshots, which missed doing any fatal damage thanks to Aurora’s skill behind the wheel.

Lisa fired her gun at the shooter, which gave them precious seconds. But all too soon the predators pulled alongside again, moving like a rocket blasted from a launcher.

“We haven’t a hope of outrunning them with their horse power,” yelled Aurora. “Where the hell is a cop when you need one?”

Laughing wildly in agreement, Lisa answered. “Right here, Partner! Cover me, will ya?”

Aurora nodded, levelled her gun and shot toward the Charger, hoping to keep them too busy taking cover to fire back.

Lisa, with her body outlined in the window, took dangerous seconds to correct her aim, and then she shot out the front tire of their pursuer’s vehicle.

One second the car raced parallel with theirs—and the next it was airborne, flipping over and over. Sand, dry grass and cacti flew in all directions while the Charger’s motor screamed its distress. The smashing glass added to the cacophony that shrieked the death of the beautiful machine.

Aurora slowed down, did a u-turn, and drove close to where the bashed in crumpled pile of steel had rolled to a stop—upside down. The wheels were still spinning and the dust hadn’t yet settled. But there weren’t any movements, no bullets flying and no chance in hell anyone would walk away from the accident still breathing.

Approaching sirens could be heard. Good, thought Aurora. They’ll have a job when they arrive. We’ll leave them to take care of the paperwork and call the medical examiner.

She turned to check Lisa and smiled her thanks. “Nice shooting, Calamity. Now, we have a meeting with Mother Ling.”