Don't Look Back

Chapter 1

(Third Person POV)

"They're still tailgating us." Kidd murmured, squinting to see the lone pair of headlights through the back windshield.

The night hung heavy with darkness as the jeep cruised along the desolate stretch of road. Brett sat next to her in the passenger seat, her silhouette outlined by the soft glow of the dashboard.

They were on route to Fowlerton Indiana, for a much deserved girls trip. This trip had been in the works for a couple of weeks so they were both overjoyed to have this quality female time together. However they now found themselves navigating a narrow, winding road that cut through the heart of nowhere.

"Oh they are probably just heading home." Brett said evenly, keeping her eyes on the road.

Her words should have been comforting, but Kidd kept staring at the headlights that had been tailgating them relentlessly for miles on the dark rural highway.

The road continued to stretch on, winding through dense patches of woods that seemed to swallow any sound, leaving only the purr of the engine and the soft conversations between them.

"I wonder who's subbing for us on shift." Brett thought aloud.

They both knew the floater pool wasn't pretty. Both firefighter and paramedic. Full of duckers and downright irritating people. The fact they were leaving the house with two floaters for the shift gave them both a subtle feeling of guilt, but they were sure they'd hear all about it when they returned.

"I caught Chief before I left and asked him about it." Kidd answered, a small smirk appearing on her face.

"Apparently Klinginpill is subbing on 81, and 61 has McAuley."

Brett sniggered. That was much worse than expected. Erik McAuley, was the worst. 'Mr Doom-and-Gloom.' He was such a total bummer, probably bringing the whole house down with his Eeyore routine. In the midst of the chaos on a call he would find a way to make such bitter and bleak comments.

"Violet is gonna loose her mind."

Then there was Kevin Klinginpill. He first came to 51 a couple months ago when he was covering for Ritter on Engine due to a minor sprain on his right arm. The second he got there he was looking his way into getting out of doing chores, not showing much respect for his superiors. Hermann hated him above all, even though he was only subbing for a short while. His mere presence was enough to put Hermann in a mood. Casey was surely not going to enjoy his presence on Truck.

Kidd blinked and focused on the two red spots in the rear view mirror. It was impossible to see the drivers, but the headlights unmistakably seemed to be drawing closer to them.

Brett suggested they pull over, let them pass.
Kidd leaned forward slightly in her seat to get a better view of the road ahead. Nothing but trees on either side. They were definitely in a no-passing zone on the isolated two lane highway.

She then signaled and angled the jeep into a shallow gravel pullout on the right side of the road.

The headlights behind them came to a controlled stop. Then slowly veering in their direction on the side of the road.

Glaring into the headlights a little longer, she committed the license plate to memory:
M84512.

"Why aren't they passing?" Kidd mumbled under her breath.

The second she finished talking another vehicle came into view. It passed them from behind, speeding by and swerving round the next bend. The one that had been tailgating them then drove on and vanished into the night ahead.