Payne scowled. “But you have one.”
“I have to, by law.”
“We all have to by law,” said Gemma. “But there’s none back here either.”
“I had this one done on rush but it was more expensive. It’s usually just me so I wasn’t in a hurry with the others. You’ll be fine. We won’t go far anyway.”
Payne shrugged and raised her arms above her head. “Let’s go cruisin’!”
Lyndsey grinned. “Let’s go!”
She reached down, pretending to scratch her ankle, and tucked the paring knife she’d used to cut out the belts a little farther under the mat. If the girls weren’t killed in the crash, she might need it.
After two tries to get the car into gear, Lyndsey tore down the long gravel drive.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Charlotte held a hose on the one front-yard flower brave enough to return for a second showing, musing about a new way to nail Lyndsey. The moment they approached her about re-taking the paternity test, she’d know they were on to her. At that point, they’d never get her to confess. They had a very small window to try and trick her.
Maybe I should try throwing Declan at her one more time? He was her secret weapon. And he said he didn’t like being a sexy spy, but she could tell he kind of liked the intrigue. After listening to his recording, it was obvious Lyndsey was attracted to him. She’d almost suffered a flash of jealousy hearing the horse trainer coax him towards her bed.
Oh who am I kidding? I did suffer a flash of jealousy.
Charlotte’s phone rang in her pocket and she fished it out.
Mina. Probably wondering how things had gone.
“Hello?”
“Charlotte, you have to come quick!” Mina sounded in a full-blown panic.
“What is it?”
“Lyndsey just drove off with the twins.”
“What do you mean?”
“The Miata is gone.”
“What does that mean? Are you saying she kidnapped them?”
“No, I don’t know. But it can’t be good. The twins are obsessed with that car and she knows it. She never lets them ride in it. It’s was her mother’s. Denying the girls rides is her favorite tease.”
“But suddenly she took them out?”
“Exactly. It doesn’t feel right. I’m afraid she’s up to no good.”
“Do you have any idea where she might take them?”
“I know she likes to ride on that curvy road that goes through the swamp forest. Do you know where I mean? It’s over by you, I think.”
Charlotte knew the road. It curved, picturesque, through swampy land with large moss-covered trees arching overhead. She could see how the road would be fun to zip through in a little sports car.
“Call the sheriff. Tell him you’re worried and you need him to try and find her. I’ll head to the road—I think it’s Rt. 14?—and see if I can find them.”
“Oh Charlotte...” Mina had begun to sob. “I feel so terrible suspecting her. I raised her. It’s horrible of me to think—”
“Better safe than sorry. I’m going to go. Call the sheriff.”
Charlotte hung up and ran to turn off the hose and grab her car keys.
Hopping into the Volvo, she realized her tank of a car would never catch Lyndsey if she was speeding around like Mina suggested. Guessing her quarry would head from north to south, she took a faster road paralleling Rt. 14 to the opposite end and entered from there, hoping to head toward the Miata. Hopefully, that way they would meet in the middle somewhere before Lyndsey did whatever was on her mind.
Charlotte drove as fast as she dared until she spotted what looked like a small car speeding towards her. She’d already seen two false alarms, but this car looked to be the right color, and as it grew closer, she spotted three heads.
At least she hasn’t thrown the girls out yet.
As the car sped by her in the opposite direction, Lyndsey turned her head.
She saw me.
Good.
Charlotte hit the brakes and did a U-turn, stomping on the gas to try and catch up.
Lyndsey increased her speed until Charlotte found herself gripping the wheel with both hands, fighting to keep her lumbering juggernaut on the road.
She glimpsed at her speedometer.
Ninety-seven miles per hour.
Charlotte swallowed. She was close enough that Lyndsey could see she was being followed. That’s really all she needed to do, make sure the woman knew anything she tried would be witnessed, but she feared both for her own safety and that of all three girls in the Miata. She second-guessed her plan.
Should I let her go? Am I forcing her to wreck the car by following her?
Now she knew how police felt during high-speed chases.
And why was Lyndsey going so fast? Was she trying to lose her? Or had that been her plan all along? An innocent, high-speed joy ride? Maybe she had taken Charlotte’s appearance as a challenge.
Lyndsey came up behind another car on the one-lane road, her brake lights flashing red as she was forced to slow down. Charlotte soon caught up and followed at a safe distance. Twice she saw the twins twist to look at her. Who knew what Lyndsey was telling them about her pursuit?
The moment Rt. 14 dumped onto a two-lane highway, Lyndsey hit the gas and passed the Toyota in front of her. Payne raised both hands over her head as if she was on a roller coaster.
They drove like that, one after the other close to one hundred miles an hour, until Charlotte knew where they were heading.
Back to the farm.
The Miata slowed to take the turn on to the Miller’s driveway and then peeled off again.
