She didn't think, just swerved over in a tight arc and flew through that opening. There was a honk behind her from a motorist who barely missed her. He cursed at her out his window as he flew by.
There was lots of traffic going back into Philadelphia. She was safer now.
'Jesus, I can't believe she did that,' James said, his heart pounding so loud in his chest that it hurt. 'Did you see that opening? It couldn't have been more than a foot.
I'm going to have to yell at her when we catch her.'
“Well, she made it. Looked just like a pro. You told me she had grit. I'd say more likely she's got nerves of steel or the luck of the Irish. And yeah, you're sounding like you're her husband again. Stop it, Quinlan.
It scares me.'
'Nothing short of a howitzer firing would scare you. Pay attention now and stop analyzing everything I say. We'll get her, Dillon; there's a cut-through just ahead.'
It took them some time to get her back in view. She was weaving in and out of the thicker traffic going back into the city.
'Hellfire,' Quinlan said over and over, knowing that at any instant someone could cut her off, someone Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
else wouldn't even see her and would change lanes and crush her between two cars.
'At least she thinks she's lost us,' Dillon said. 'I wonder who she thought we were?'
'I wouldn't be surprised if she guessed it was me.'
“Nah, how could that be possible?''
'It's my gut talking to me again. Yeah, she probably knows, and that's why she's driving like a bat out of hell. Jesus, look out, Dillon, oh, my God! Hey, watch out, bubba!' Quinlan rolled down the window and yelled at the man again. He turned back to Dillon. 'Damned Pennsylvania drivers. Now, how are we going to get her?'
'Let's just tail her until we get an opportunity.'
'I don't like it. Oh, shit, Dillon, the bikers are back, all four of them.'
The four bikers fanned through the traffic, coming back together when there was a break, then fanning out again.
Sally was feeling good. She was feeling smart. She'd gotten them, that jerk driving that Porsche and the four bikers. She'd gone through that opening without hesitation, and she'd done it without any problem. It was a good thing she hadn't had time to think about it, otherwise she would have wet her pants. She was grinning, the wind hitting hard against her teeth, making them tingle. However, she was going the wrong direction.
She looked at the upcoming road sign. There was a turn onto Maitland Road half a mile ahead. She didn't know where Maitland Road went, but from what she could see, it wove back underneath the highway. That meant a way back east.
She guided her bike over to the far right lane. A car honked, and she could have sworn she felt the heat of it as it roared past her. Never again, she thought, never again would she get on a motorcycle.
Although why not? She was a pro.
She'd driven a Honda 350, just like this one, for two years, beginning when she was sixteen. When she told her father she was moving back home, he refused to buy her the car he'd promised. The motorcycle was for the interim. She saved her money and got the red Honda, a wonderful bike. She remembered how infuriated her father had been. He'd even forbidden her to get near a motorcycle.
She'd ignored him.
He'd grounded her.
She hadn't cared. She didn't want to leave her mother in any case. Then he'd just shut up about it. She had the sneaking suspicion that he wouldn't have cared if she'd killed herself on the thing.
Not that it mattered. He'd gotten his revenge.
She didn't want to think about that.
Generated by ABC Amber LIT Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
She took the turn onto Maitland Road. Soon now, she'd be going back in the other direction, and no one would be after her this time. The road was dark, no lights at all. It was windy. There were thick, tall bushes on both sides. There was no one on the road. What had she done? She smelled the fear on herself. Why the hell had she turned off? James wouldn't have turned off.
She was a fool, an idiot, and she'd pay for it.
It happened so fast she didn't even have time to yell or feel scared. She saw the lead biker on her left, waving to her, calling to her, but she couldn't understand his words. She jerked her bike to the right, hit a gravel patch, slid into a skid, and lost control. She went flying over the top of the bike and landed on the side of the two-lane road, not on the road but in the bushes that lined the road.
She felt like a meteor had hit her-a circle of blinding lights and a whoosh of pain-then darkness blacker than her father's soul.
Quinlan didn't want to believe what he'd just seen. 'Dillon, Jesus, she's hurt. Hurry, dammit, hurry.'
The Porsche screeched to a halt not six feet from where the four bikers were standing over Sally. One of them, tall, lanky, short hair, was bending over her.
'Okay, guys,' Quinlan said, 'back off now.'
Three of them twisted around to see two guns pointed at them. 'We're FBI and we want you out of here in three seconds.'
