The Heritage Paper

Chapter 74



The cab moved west on 49th Street. They had no firm plan as to where to go, but needed to get out of the city as fast as possible, and returning to Zach’s Audi wasn’t the best way to accomplish that.

As they passed Madison Avenue, Veronica noticed Zach sneaking glances in the rear-view mirror. “What is it?” she asked.

“They’re following us,” he spoke softly in her ear.

“Who’s following us?” she whispered back.

“Those guards who offered us the ride—black Hummer, three cars back.”

Veronica wasn’t as subtle. She turned all the way around and noticed the vehicle swerving through cars to stay close. Luckily, their wannabe NASCAR cab driver, Albadejo, was disregarding the caution flag. But he still couldn’t shake the Hummer.

“Oh my god,” Veronica called out.

Not the smartest thing to say—she alerted Maggie and Jamie. She didn’t have that “cool under pressure” switch like their father. Nor was she as savvy. Of course they weren’t going to let them go. They had damaging evidence that could be used against Kingston, memoir or no memoir. Plus, this group already had kidnapped Maggie and Jamie once before. She couldn’t believe she bought anything that came from the mouth of the man telling the biggest lie in the history of the world—Jim Kingston didn’t believe in freewill.

Zach instructed Albadejo to turn right on Fifth Avenue, which he did, passing the glowing Saks Fifth Avenue. They would’ve yelled, “Step on it!” like in the movies, but Albadejo didn’t need any encouragement.

Now Maggie and Jamie were in the act. They positioned themselves backwards on the seat. They were giving constant updates on the Hummer. “They’re getting closer,” Maggie informed.

“This is cool, Mom!” Jamie added.

They kept going up Fifth Avenue, running red lights, leading to horn-honking chaos at every intersection. The presidential security had turned Midtown into gridlock, but Albadejo remained undeterred.

They continued dashing uptown, strategically using the sidewalk when need be, cruising by 56th Street and Trump Tower. As they passed 60th street, Central Park appeared on their left like a dark emerald ocean.

When they hit 64th Street, Veronica thought back to their time living in the city—places she and Carsten went—and she realized sanctuary was right in front of them.

Veronica shouted for Albadejo to stop the cab. He jammed on the brakes right in the middle of the busy avenue. She then tightly latched onto Maggie and Jamie’s hands and practically dragged them as she dashed across the street, narrowly avoiding oncoming vehicles. Zach paid the driver and followed at his own risk.