***
Brody took another turn and knew they were on the home stretch. He had done everything he could to avoid any stoplights so that they weren’t vulnerable, but they still had to get off the city streets. How they managed to avoid getting pulled over for speeding in the run through Surrey, or wiping out every time Brody had to weave through traffic on their way to the Oak Street Bridge, was inexplicable.
Kevan was getting tired and could feel cramps starting in her legs, unaccustomed to the long ride. As they hit 4th, Brody shouted over his shoulder, “Almost there!” but she barely heard him. Sensing a slight easing of the tension in his body told her they must be getting close. She was surprised how quickly they had covered the Lower Mainland. Being on a bike made the insane speeds possible, but she could still feel the last brush with a bumper during a shoulder lane pass, and the look of anger on the woman driver’s face when Brody darted in front of her Acura.
Kevan risked another glance over her shoulder, checking on their pursuers, and saw they were about three cars back, but for some reason they didn’t seem to be trying to get any closer. A sudden downshift and braking made the back tire squeal, as Brody turned the bike down the back alley behind a strip mall, coming to a screeching halt, when they saw another black SUV at the far end of the alley.
“That explains why they didn’t try and get any closer,” Kevan shouted. “They’re not alone.” She looked around at where they were; something about this place was familiar, “Where are we?”
“We’re in an alley behind ….”
“4th,” Kevan finished, feeling stupid. “I know how to get out of here.”
“How?” Brody questioned, letting the clutch move them slowly, keeping an eye on both vehicles trying to surround them.
“Keep going, one more building, there,” she pointed out a narrow gap between the buildings, just large enough for the bike to fit through. It was a pedestrian walkway dividing the old mall and the newer add-ons.
“You are a goddess!” Brody shouted. They both heard the vehicles gunning down the alley. “It’s going to be a narrow fit, so hold on tight.” Brody throttled up and shot down the walkway, making Kevan tense, hoping no one would come out one of the back shop doors. She closed her eyes, and prayed when they popped back onto 4th, causing the screech of brakes behind them when they blew the red light.
“Alright baby, Caleb’s is only about 5 minutes from here.” Kevan leaned her head against his back.
“Thank the gods,” she whispered. “I don’t know how much more I can take … Dammit,” she pointed out the SUV racing towards them. “What the hell is with these guys? Do they have a tracking device on us, or what?”
“It a very distinct possibility,” Brody stated, “I don’t know about you, but I am getting really tired of these guys. To Caleb’s we go, tally ho.” Before Kevan had a chance to reply, he took off, weaving in and out of traffic, as he headed straight towards Caleb’s, no longer trying to lose them, just wanting to stay ahead of them. All he wanted was to get Kevan to safety.
Weaving through traffic, all she could see were flashes of colour, flashes of reflected sun; leaning left, then right, feeling like so much baggage, holding tight and statue still, her mind shying from any outcome of being a hindrance to Brody’s concentration.
The last few blocks seemed to take forever. Kevan kept glancing back checking on the SUVs, but they were still there. Brody down shifted, slowing for the turn onto Caleb’s street, then dialed on the throttle, making the bike stand on its back wheel for a second, before surging forward into the last curve in the road less than a block from Caleb’s.
The street to Caleb’s was quiet, and the sound of a fast bike and a couple of SUVs went un-noticed, the sound rumble deadened by the hedges that protected properties, blocking out the world.
“Look out!” Kevan screamed, as an SUV popped out of a side road, almost careening into them. Brody twisted the throttle open, pushing them ahead, by just a few feet, of the three SUVs now chasing them. At last, he spotted the entrance to Caleb’s, his heart sinking as the gates stood closed, but he headed in at full speed, having to trust that someone was watching, and getting the timing down to a hair.
***
“Wait just a few more seconds,” Caleb ordered. “Okay now! Open the gate, prepare to push back the unwanted visitors,” he yelled, before racing from the house.