Pursuit

Chapter 8

Pursuit Team

"And Smii7y just decided to keep you around?" Fitz asked harshly. Kryoz leaned on the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

He shrugged at Fitz's question, "Yeah. It wasn't hard. Just had to pretend to be bad at driving. Got on his good side with ease. He trusts me."

"And the rest of his gang?" Vanoss asked.

"Pft. They were the easy part." Kryoz smirked.

"So, why are you coming to us about this? If you're Esmond's plan to catch Smii7y, wouldn't you be against us?" Eli asked.

Kryoz shook his head, "I think I need you guys just as much as you need me. Smii7y's good. Scratch that. He's incredible. The best I've ever seen, and I trained on the mainland for this shit. I have a plan to draw him out, without any casualties." Kryoz shot a look at Fitz while he spoke. The man shrunk back in his seat. Kryoz didn't understand why they would ever let Fitz back onto the Pursuit team after he learned what Fitz had done. He messed those racers up.

Kryoz felt slightly guilty for playing the same game Fitz did. He wouldn't let anyone die this time, though.

"Well, if you're willing to work on this with us, why not?" Tucker said.

Nogla thought for a moment, "I agree. You seem to have this under control. If we can pin Smii7y down then we will be able to take down the racers for good." Kryoz laughed. The room looked surprised at his sudden laughter at Nogla's words.

"Did you learn anything while undercover? Yes, Smii7y is your main priority. But his racers will not stop just because you imprisoned him. In fact, they'd retaliate. At that point, it would get worse." Kryoz's gaze hardened.

"What do you mean?" Flom asked.

"The racers follow three rules; Not to drive drunk or high, no racing at rush hours, and if Smii7y thinks it's unsafe for you to continue a pursuit, he'll pull you out. Smii7y and his team are their own law enforcement for these rules. To keep themselves and others safe." Kryoz glanced at Fitz, "Seems like you officers need to take a page out of their book."

Fitz stood up, shoving his chair back, and slamming his hands down on the table, "Who's side are you on?"

"The one that doesn't kill people. Fight fire with fire and everyone gets burned. What these racers are doing is bad, yes, but they put others first. They make sure that the citizens and themselves are safe." Kryoz responded, "You remove Smii7y and his team, and that system is going to crumble. These racers will get ten times more dangerous."

"So, what? We just let them continue breaking the law? Endangering the public? Ignoring the law and making money off of us?" Tucker asked. Fitz nodded in agreement.

"No. They need to be stopped. I agree with that but, I'm warning you that if you apprehend Smii7y and his team, things will get worse. A lot worse." Kryoz replied.

"So? They will be without their leader." Fitz snapped.

Kryoz took a shaky breath to control his temper, "No. You will be without their police. After that, it's fair game for the racers to do whatever they please."

"So, what do we do?" Eli asked.

Kryoz sighed, "Catch Smii7y. It's the only thing I was sent to do. The rest is up to you."

Fitz scoffed, "Why would we help you? We are in a race with you."

"Fitz!" Nogla snapped.

"Because I need your help. I will draw Smii7y away tomorrow to Angel Hill. He has the least amount of get away roads there. You guys can pin him down there and arrest him. I'll even let you win this race and Esmond will lose. Deal?" Kryoz asked.

"Why would you do that?" Nogla asked.

Kryoz shrugged, "I already got paid. My job is just to befriend and catch Smii7y. Esmond doesn't have to know how Trestle's pursuit team beat me."

"Alright. Fine. We will catch Smii7y if you can draw him out for us." Nogla said.

"What?!" Fitz barked, "We can catch him!"

"Fitz! You haven't been able to catch Smii7y in years! Sit your ass down!" Nogla ordered. Fitz shrank back to his chair and pouted.

"You have our support, Kryoz. Lure Smii7y out and we will do the rest." Nogla nodded at the blond.

Kryoz nodded, "There's two ways he slips away up there. A dirt road right after the abandoned shed and another behind the gas station. I'll be racing him up there tomorrow."

Nogla nodded, "The city of Trestle thanks you, Kryoz." Kryoz left without another word. The storm was raging outside but Kryoz didn't care as he walked out to his car. Something inside felt so wrong.

Maybe it was the way he and Blarg found out why the second turbo wasn't working correctly under his hood? Maybe it was because of the way Grizzy always bought him gas when they raced? Maybe it was that Puffer showed him how to fine tune his car with a computer for a more accurate RPM gauge? Maybe it was Smii7y who genuinely made him laugh?

The rain hammered his windshield like it wanted to break it as he drove away from the station. Kryoz hated this feeling. He felt torn between two worlds. He was trained to find the weakness of his enemies and use it against them. Root them up from the base. And yet, Blarg, Grizzy, Smii7y, and Puffer had uprooted him. People that found a way to live and enjoy what they did, even if it was illegal.

He had never felt anything like that before. He had done hundreds of undercover jobs. Ones that all always ended with him going back to the station and just getting a congratulations and maybe a pat on the back. Not people who made him laugh or had a good time with.

The racers treated him like family. They accepted him even when he knew he was going to turn them in. He felt so angry and guilty at the same time. Guilty that he was about to do what Fitz had done to them. Gain their trust and hurt them with it.

He stared at his windshield wipers. They couldn't keep up with the amount of water pouring down. He pressed on the accelerator, increasing his speed. His car listened without hesitation. It never betrayed his trust. He shifted into third gear and it did so. The way it turned under his grip on the steering wheel.

All he could think about was the story Blarg and Grizzy told him. A storm like this one and a nasty accident. He was driving on Coastline road right now. The road where a racer was lost to reckless actions.

Kryoz sighed and let off the throttle. The car slowed down from its high speeds. The waves crashed against the coastal cliffs as he drove down a suburban road. He parked on the side of the road while he tried to deal with his self conflict.