Chapter 8 - The Chase
I sat up slowly, my head spinning from the chaos.
"Are you okay, Mom?" Grant asked, helping me to my feet.
"I'm fine," I breathed out.
Grant looked toward the open loading dock door.
"He took Vanessa," Grant said, his voice tense.
I looked over at the prep counter.
Vanessa was gone.
Diane struggled to sit up, her face pale and streaked with mascara.
"He dragged her out," Diane whimpered.
"He said he needs a hostage to get past the police barricade."
Despite everything Vanessa had done, I felt a pang of horror.
"We have to help her, Grant," I said.
Grant nodded, his jaw set tightly.
"Stay here, Mom. The police will be inside any second."
Before I could argue, he sprinted out the loading dock door into the night.
I wasn't about to stay behind.
I grabbed the heavy iron skillet from the floor and ran after him.
The cool night air hit me as I stepped onto the concrete loading ramp.
Police cars had surrounded the front of the venue, but the back alley was completely empty.
I heard the screeching of tires from the far end of the alley.
A black SUV was reversing frantically, trying to turn around.
Mark was in the driver's seat.
Vanessa was in the passenger seat, slamming her hands against the window.
Grant was running straight toward the moving vehicle.
"Grant, no!" I screamed.
He ignored me, sprinting with everything he had.
As Mark threw the car into drive and slammed on the gas, Grant dove forward.
He grabbed the roof rack of the SUV just as it accelerated.
The car fishtailed, throwing gravel into the air.
Grant was hanging onto the side of the speeding vehicle, his feet dragging on the pavement.
Mark swerved wildly, trying to shake him off.
They were heading straight for a massive concrete retaining wall at the end of the alley.
May you like
Mark showed no signs of slowing down.
He was going to crush Grant against the wall.
