Private Rogue

Chapter 23

The storm meant I made slow progress through the night. Snow ploughs and gritters had cleared the highway, but the flakes fell so thick and fast, new layers had settled and tested the car’s traction control. The snow obscured my view, but every now and then I was dazzled by the blinding lights of an oncoming vehicle the other side of the highway. Thankfully, most sensible people had sheltered from the storm and other road users were few and far between.

The snow finally abated when the first fingers of sunlight were reaching for the clouds, tinting them a cotton-candy pink. I was passing through the outskirts of Bloomsburg when I saw the Relax Inn, the motel where Mo-bot had traced Ted Eisner’s car. I moved into the outside lane of the highway to take the next exit. The car drifted a little as I changed direction, but I steered into the skid and started down the ramp. I took a left and passed beneath the highway, and then followed the road south for half a mile through a run of industrial units until I came to the single-story, cream-colored motel.

As I pulled into the parking lot, the front door of one of the first-floor rooms burst open, and two masked men emerged, dragging two children with them. I recognized them instantly as Daniel and Marianne Singer. While I continued moving across the parking lot, as yet unnoticed, a third masked man pushed Elizabeth Singer through the open door. Elizabeth and her children were in their pajamas and all three of them were crying as they were shoved toward another black Escalade that waited in the slushy gray snow.

I realized the gang must have found out about the tracker on Ted Eisner’s car, which was parked in the space next to the large SUV. Had they got the details from his insurance company? Was that the call the tall gunman had received at Eisner’s house? Was that why he’d suddenly become expendable?

Marianne and Daniel were bawling as they were forced into the back of the Escalade, and Beth struggled furiously, but her resistance melted when one of the men produced a pistol and held it to Danny’s head.

I made a split-second calculation. My chances of following them in this weather were slim, and there was no way I could wait for the police to arrive. There was only one option.

I gunned the engine as Beth was pushed into the back seat next to her children, aiming the Mercedes directly at the man who’d been holding her. He quickly turned and momentarily froze with surprise on seeing the large M-Class racing toward him. He tried to leap out of the way but I swerved in his direction, sending the car into an uncontrollable skid.

Time seemed to slow as the line of motel rooms spun dizzily before me. I looked out the driver’s window and saw the masked assailant raise his hands to his face. The car hit him hard, knocking him flying into Ted Eisner’s Buick Enclave.

I might have imagined the crack of bone, but there was no mistaking the man’s agonized scream.

The low thud of suppressed gunfire and snap of breaking glass told me I was under fire. I scrambled onto the passenger seat and tumbled out the car. Peering round the open door, I saw the other two men had got into the Escalade. While the passenger fired back in my direction, the driver started the engine.

If I was going to stop them, I would have to leave the safety of my position behind the car door and expose myself to fire. It was a suicide mission, but if I didn’t act fast Elizabeth and the children would be lost.