CHAPTER SEVEN

Lisa stopped immediately, she felt the gun's cold tip pressed against the back of her head. Very carefully, she shut the door and leaned back into the seat.

"I believe you know you can no longer act recklessly," the driver's low voice warned. By this time, the gun was on the side of her head.

Lisa nodded repeatedly, her eyes fixed on the dashboard.

Don't dare look at him. Don't move. Don't breathe. Don't even do anything.

"I understand," she whispered in a barely audible voice.

"Start the car," he ordered, his voice urgent.

Just then, two police officers approached, providing Lisa a moment of relief and slight hope. One knocked on the window, motioning for Lisa to wind down.

"Good evening miss, is everything alright?" He asked with a polite smile, but his eyes were already scanning the car thoroughly, darting continuously between Lisa and the man sitting beside her.

"Yes, yes. Everything is fine officer," Lisa replied a little nervously.

"Well, we've been observing your car, from our checkpoint for a couple minutes now – he gestured towards their checkpoint, with his head – and we've noticed you have been causing quite some trouble on the road, you know, during the hold up and now," the other officer spoke.

"I'm very sorry sir," Lisa apologised.

"Mind if I see your papers?" The first officer asked all of a sudden.

Lisa's fingers flexed on the steering wheel nervously as her heart sank. The car did not belong to her and she had no idea how to explain the driver's false identity if they were caught. Besides, he had warned her not to act suspicious or he would terminate her life before anything could be done.

Meanwhile, the supposed driver, who didn't have his car papers with him, and whose car's plate number was not registered began to grow impatient.

"Excuse me officer, we're actually kind of in a hurry right now, if you don't mind," his voice took on a sharp edge.

The officer maintained a neutral expression. "Well all I need is her papers, and we'll be done in no time."

"Just like I said, we're in a hurry. She forgot the papers at home," he replied, slightly irritated.

"Can't she speak for herself?" The second officer who was beginning to notice Lisa's uneasiness, butted in.

"Well it's just as he has said," Lisa replied, swallowing hard. Her palm was already sweaty.

"Please step down from the car both of you," the first officer ordered, after a long pause.

The driver cleared his throat, a subtle warning to Lisa and facing the officers squarely, he challenged; "and why should we get down?"

"We would love to search this vehicle," the second officer stepped forward.

"May I ask why?" He narrowed his eyes.

"We're officers of the law, while things are going smoothly, don't make things harder for us," the first officer replied with a stern expression.

"Get down for a few minutes, please?" The second officer prompted, his tone firm but polite.

Lisa and the driver remained still, none of them ready to budge.

The first officer was now enraged. "Now!" He raised his voice and slammed his baton onto the car, the metal reverberating.

The onwer of the car sighed deeply. He took a quick glance around, scanning the surrounding area; the road was quite clear. He knew he couldn't risk staying longer around the officers; they would definitely unravel his true identity in no time.

With lightning speed, he rolled up the windows and turned to Lisa with a frown.

"Get out of the car with your things," he ordered.

She didn't even waste any more second. She was out of the car in a flash and the driver slid onto the driver's seat, maintaining eye contact with the officers.

Before the officers could react, he started the car and zoomed off with a deafening screech.

"Unit 12, Officer Jones speaking! Suspect fleeing in vehicle, request backup! Heading northbound on Main Street from Checkpoint Alpha," the first officer barked into his radio transmitter, sprinting towards their patrol car.

"Copy, Unit 12. What's his plate number?" Dispatch responded immediately.

"PHG-456IR! 10-30 requested."

"Got it, Unit 12. 10-70 initiated. Backup en route, ETA two minutes. Be advised, nearby units are mobilising."

Lisa rushed to hail another taxi but the other officer with her, held onto her arm.

"I'm sorry miss, you'll need to come with me to the station for questioning."

Lisa's eyes widened. All that was on her mind was getting home safely. She didn't even have time to process her near death experience and she now had to go to the station?

"What? Why?" Lisa questioned.

The officer's expression was firm as he ignored her question. "Your accomplice will be caught soon, he will meet us there."

Lisa shook her head in disapproval. "He is not my accomplice. I was in fact abducted."

"Well, listen to me young lady, I'm not a child in this field, I've met with the likes of you. Let us go to the station first. When we get there, we'll settle everything," he replied and called for another vehicle from their station.

Lisa's mind raced. What would happen to her? Would she be charged?

At this time, officer Jones had already hit the road, with the fleeing vehicle almost out of sight. "Suspect fleeing!" He radioed.

"Unit 12, plate number not registered! Pursue with caution!" Dispatch warned.

"I knew it! I knew I've seen that face before!" He slammed his palm on the steering wheel. "How did I not notice him earlier?" He asked rhetorically, with mixed feelings of anger and surprise.

He geared his engine, weaving through traffic. The suspect's vehicle screeched ahead.

"Unit 12, Backup arriving!" Dispatch announced.

Officer Jones adrenaline spiked. He gripped the wheel tighter and maintain his focus on the fleeing vehicle ahead of him. Sirens blared from different corners converging on the suspect.

The traffic began to jam, vehicles scrambling to clear a path. Officer Jones radio crackled with updates from surrounding units.

"Unit 7, suspect heading towards downtown!"

"Unit 3, blocking intersection at Main and 5th!"

Dispatch voice amplified the urgency. "All units, eyes on the suspect! Once we lose him, it's all over!"

The suspect pushed his vehicle to the limit. He stole a quick glance at the dashboard, the speedometer needle quivering past 90 mph. Yet he maintained control, weaving through lanes with precision.

Officer Jones gripped his wheel tighter, as he struggled to keep up with the suspect. "No, no, no! Come on!" He yelled continuously, slamming his steering wheel with his palms any time a vehicle comes in between them.

Suddenly, the suspect took a sharp right turn onto 5th street. Officer Jones followed, tyres squealing.

"Unit 12, suspect approaching Main and 5th!" Officer Jones radioed.

"Unit 3, ready to block!" The officer at the intersection responded.

The suspect's car sped forward, Officer Jones trailing closely.

Everything was going as planned – the blockade loomed ahead, and the suspect was running out of options.

But then, he received a call. "Come to Street 8," a low voice commanded.

The suspect nodded calmly, his eyes fixed on the road. He cut the call without a word.

Without warning, he slammed on the brakes, swerving left. Officer Jones, caught off guard, struggled to react.

Tyres screeched as Jones' patrol car swung from side to side, narrowly avoiding a collision. Horns blared from surrounding vehicles.

"What the...?" Jones muttered, regaining control.

The suspect had already reversed his vehicle and his sudden move had bought him a small lead. Jones accelerated, determined to close the gap.

"Unit 12, suspect changed direction! Heading back to Main street!" Jones radioed.

Dispatch responded, "All units, redirect to Main street. Suspect may have alternate escape route."

Horns blared, and tyres screeched as the chase intensified. The suspect sped past 5th, entering Main Street.

Suddenly, two vehicles blocked the officers' path, causing chaos

.

"Unit 12, suspect out of sight! Suspected location, heading northbound to 8th Street!" Officer Jones radioed.

Units responded rapidly:

"Unit 7, suspect out of sight!"

"Unit 3, suspect no longer in sight!"

"Unit 9, heading towards Street 8!"

"Unit 10, already at intersection between Street 8 and 9!"

Dispatch intervened, "All units, converge on Street 8! Suspect likely to attempt escape via side streets."

Officer Jones' grip on the wheel tightened. "Not on my watch."

All units sped towards Street 8. "Unit 10, suspect in sight!"

"Unit 9, obstruction ahead! Won't make it on time!"

"Unit 10, lost suspect! Heading to Street 9 now!"

"Unit 12, got it! Hold on, almost there!" Officer Jones radioed.

Dispatch intervened, "All units, converge on Street 9! Unit 10, update regularly!"

"Unit 10, suspect out of sight! Two vehicles blocking!"

Dispatch replied, "Keep watching for leads, Unit 10."

Suddenly, "Unit 10, suspect in sight! Vehicle stopped!"

Officer Jones exclaimed, "Yes!"

"Unit 12, arriving at Street 9 soon!"

Dispatch warned, "Unit 10, caution advised."

Officer Jones sped towards Street 8 excitedly. He had just few seconds and he would have the suspect in his hands.

"Unit 10," Officer Jones radio crackled; "suspect not in vehicle!"

What?! His heart sank. How come? Where was the suspect?