Searching For Jenna novel Chapter 41

"Duck," Elliot yelled, grabbing Cara's arm and pulling her down just as a bullet shattered the back window.

Throwing the truck in drive, Elliot floored it again, sending rocks flying like projectiles in Steven's direction. As he came around the side of the restaurant on his way to Highway Sixty, Michael Matthews was in a shooting stance and started firing at the truck. Elliot ducked down as he fishtailed the truck spewing gravel at Matthews, forcing him to cover his face. Elliot got the truck righted as he burned rubber pulling out onto the highway and almost sideswiped an elderly couple.

Elliot wanted to glance at Cara but kept his eyes focused on the road. There was a lot of traffic, and he didn't want to hurt anyone else in his effort to get Cara to safety. "Are you okay?"

Cara sat up and assessed the damage. She had a few cuts and abrasions, but other than that she was okay. "I think I peed on myself back there."

"Having someone point a gun at you and shoot it can have those effects," Elliot said, glancing at Cara again and noting how pale she looked. "Are you sure you're not bleeding anywhere?"

Cara retook stock of herself. She didn't appear to be bleeding profusely from anywhere. "I don't think so."

"You just look really pale," Elliot commented and then swerved left to pass two cars and swerved right to avoid hitting one head on.

"It might be because I feel like I'm going to throw up," Cara said and rolled down the window just in case.

"There are some plastic bags under the seat. Use those if you need to throw up, okay?" Elliot swerved to go around more cars.

"Is it really necessary to do so much swerving?" Cara asked, leaning her head toward the window.

"Sorry, I just have to get you as far away from there as I can," Elliot said. He fished the secure phone out of his front pocket and opened it.

Cara looked over at him. "I knew it was a phone."

Elliot gave her a weak smile and hit Mark's number he had on speed dial. "Where are you guys?" Elliot asked when Mark picked up.

"We're passing Mount Sterling," Mark said. "What's going on?"

"Matthews showed up at the restaurant. I was able to get Cara out of there, but I'm sure he's right behind us, and Steven was working with him," Elliot explained. "Get off Sixty-four at the Owingsville exit. No, scratch that. Get off on the exit right after that, on Highway Sixty, that's what I'm on. We should come together in Salt Lick, maybe." Elliot looked in the rearview mirror and saw Steven's truck gaining on them. "Shit, they're almost caught up with us. Call me when you're on Sixty." Elliot closed the phone and put it back in his pocket.

"What the hell is going on? Who are you?" Cara demanded, some of her color coming back. She looked out the rearview mirror and screamed, "They are going to shoot at us!"

Elliot swerved into the left-hand lane and passed the next two cars. He was barely able to shift to the right-hand lane before almost hitting a car head on. There was a line of traffic on that side of the road now so Steven would not be able to pass the two cars between them, buying them precious seconds.

As they approached Salt Lick, Elliot knew they would have to slow down. Even though there were only about three hundred people, who lived in Salt Lick, at least a quarter of them would be on the road doing something. Elliot was weaving in and out of traffic, trying desperately to put more cars between them.

"Jesus!" Cara cried, holding onto the handle above the door and the dash. "Did you take driving lessons from Mario Andretti?"

"Perfect get off there. Take Highway Thirty-six south to Olympia. I'm on Polk Cemetery Road, headed that way," Elliot explained.

"Why are you on a mountain road?" Mark asked. "That will slow you down."

"I had to lose Steven and Matthews," Elliot said. "They were right on our asses. I'm sure they'll be right behind us again soon."

"Do you have your iPhone with you?" Mark asked.

"Yeah," Elliot said.

"Good. I have tracking programs on both phones. The one on your flip phone is not as reliable, so make sure you keep your iPhone with you. Try not to engage Matthews," Mark said.

"Trust me, I've already engaged him enough to enrage him. I don't want to have to deal with him until we are with you guys," Elliot said. "I'm going to give the phone to Cara. I want to keep you on the line." Elliot handed the phone to Cara. "This is Mark Cannon with the FBI. Just try to keep him on the line, that way if something happens he's aware of what's going on."

"In case something happens?" Cara asked taking the phone. "My God, what else could happen?"

"A lot," Elliot said and focused on trying to keep his truck on the road. In the rearview mirror, Elliot could see the dust of another vehicle being stirred up. If they could make it to Olympia and meet up with Mark, everything would be fine.