Shattered Lies (Web of Lies #3)(34)

Time slowed to a crawl as one car was finally cleared and allowed through. Grant thought his heart would explode as he tried to keep his cool. He grabbed the fake military identification and the car registration.

He put his cell phone on his lap and dialed Alex.

“What’s up, dude?”

“I’ve just stolen a car and have to get through a checkpoint.”

“Duuuude.”

“Can you help?” Grant asked, agitated.

“Duh. What’s the car owner’s name and registration number?”

“Stein, Cecilia,” Grant said, spitting out all the information Alex would need to find her.

Another car cleared the checkpoint. Grant had three more cars and then he’d be on the spot. As Alex did his thing, Grant stared at the dot on the phone. Anthony had gotten on Interstate 5 and was already turning onto Interstate 10 heading east toward San Bernardino. At this time of night and with sirens, Anthony was able to put miles in between them with every minute Grant was stuck waiting to get through the checkpoints. As the minutes ticked by, Valeria was slipping farther and farther from his grasp.

“You’re set. You’re married to Cecilia now. Just got married last Saturday. Nice, she’s the daughter of a producer. Of course, she’s nineteen so you kinda look like a cradle-robber. But whatever, dude.”

“Thanks, Alex.” Grant hung up and took a deep breath as the next car went through. It about killed him, but twenty minutes later he finally pulled up to have his car checked.

The officer looked at his ID and the registration. “These don’t match up,” he said suspiciously, shining the mag light into Grant’s eyes.

“It’s my wife’s car. We were just married last week. What’s going on? I was at my in-laws’ house.” Grant motioned back the way he’d come. “And can’t get home now.”

The officer looked at him again, not believing the story. “I’ll be right back. Search the car,” he ordered the officer on the other side of the car.

“Pop the trunk please,” the officer ordered as the one with his fake ID and car registration walked to the police barricade. Grant opened the trunk and prayed Cecilia didn’t have any drugs or weapons in her car.

The officer checked the trunk, opened the glove box, and used a mirror to check under the car. With every second that ticked by, Grant battled for control. He had to get to Valeria. The second that dot stopped moving, he knew she would be dead.

After ten minutes the officer walked back with his ID and registration. “Here you go. Just had to confirm the marriage since you aren’t listed on the registration. Congratulations, now move along.”

Grant gave the man a smile and a nod and slowly drove through the barricade. The second he was out of sight he pressed the gas and took off. Anthony had over a thirty-minute head start on Grant and he was flying.



* * *



“Dammit!” Lizzy cursed and slammed her hand against a beautiful wood patio table. Lizzy and Dalton had driven halfway through the neighborhood trying to follow Sebastian, Manuel, and Roland, then right before the checkpoint for that end of the neighborhood became visible, they had turned into a driveway.

Lizzy had followed, but a gate had been in the way. She’d left the van in the drive, and she and Dalton vaulted over the gate only to watch a helicopter lifting off from the backyard with Sebastian in it. They’d sprinted around the back, but the helicopter was already flying away.

“The fucker betrayed us! He helped Roland and Manuel escape. Ahhh!” Lizzy screamed as she balled her hands together. “So help me, I will kill him myself.”

“So let’s follow him. He doesn’t know he’s being tracked. Get me to a helicopter, and we’re good to go,” Dalton said calmly. After all, being a PJ was synonymous with calmness under pressure.

“First we have to get out of here.”

“I’d advise driving straight out the back.”

“What?” Lizzy asked, looking around the backyard. There was a pool, a privacy fence, and a basketball court, which is where the helicopter had landed. “There’s nowhere to drive.”

“Right through that fence,” Dalton told her, holding up his phone. “We go through the fence, onto the neighbor’s driveway, and we’re on Hobart Boulevard. No checkpoint.”

Lizzy looked around. It would be a tight fit between the trees, but it was doable. “Can you get the gate open?”

Dalton just smiled. “Help me tip over this statue.”

Lizzy looked at the large nude stone woman lining the drive. There were five of them on the side of the drive farthest from the house near the gate, all sculpted in different poses. “Why?”

“See this slight indent in the driveway’s concrete? It’s the trigger line for the gate. It’ll open when a certain amount of weight is put on it,” Dalton explained.

Lizzy looked at the small indent running in a straight line across the width of the drive and up at the statue. If they pushed her over, she’d land on the indent, open the gate, then she could walk out and drive the van through.

“Okay, let’s do this.” Lizzy said as she and Dalton moved behind the statue.

“Just put your hands right on her feet.” Dalton instructed. Lizzy looked up at the stone feet at chest level. She put both her hands on one foot and Dalton put both of his on the other. “One. Two. Three.”