A Second Chance

Part 77 - Danger Zone

The drive to Dubai International was supposed to take twenty minutes.

But just because the trip was short doesn't mean the trip was safe.

We were about eight minutes out when a black car appeared behind us.

I noticed it before Rami did, and at first didn't mind. But the way it had been sitting three vehicles back since we left the complex and matched every lane change without any obvious reason to.

Not aggressive or close, just consistent in the specific way that meant it wasn't a coincidence.

"Looks like we've got company," I said.

Rami checked his mirror. "I noticed that too."

He said something in Arabic to the operative in the passenger seat who turned and looked without being obvious about it.

The four students in the back were quiet. Charlotte stopped talking mid-sentence and was watching me.

"We'll be fine," I assured them. "Just hold on tight, ok?"

The car accelerated and closed the gap in about four seconds. The vehicle behind it did the same and suddenly we had two cars tight on the rear and one pulling alongside on the left and Rami was already reacting, pushing the SUV faster, but Dubai traffic at this hour was not nothing and the highway was not empty.

The window of the car alongside came down.

I knew the face before I'd fully processed it.

Ripper.

He looked directly at me and the moment he registered who I was his expression shifted into something that was equal parts surprised and dangerous.

He hadn't expected me here. That much was obvious. But he'd recognized me fast enough and that was the part that mattered right now.

Then the car swerved hard into our lane.

Rami took the hit and kept control, but a sharp jolt moved us all left.

"Everyone stay down!" I said. "Get as low as you can!"

Charlotte already turned and was physically pushing people down into their seats.

"There's an exit in four hundred meters," Rami said, completely level. "If I can get there-"

The car hit us again from behind.

"We got this!" I said. 

I got the door open at highway speed which was not something I'd recommend to anyone and the wind hit immediately. I got one foot on the running board and let the lightning build in both hands and sent a concentrated burst at the rear vehicle's engine block.

The car behind us swerved violently, lost power, drifted toward the barrier and scraped along it in a shower of sparks before grinding to a stop.

One down.

The car alongside accelerated to match us again and Ripper was looking directly at me now with no expression at all, just the focused attention of someone deciding how far they were willing to take this on a highway. 

"Looks like they got lightning weapons," Ripper said. "Things just got interesting,"

I sent another burst at the third vehicle coming up fast on the right, front tire this time, and it went immediately, dropping and fishtailing across two lanes and blocking everything behind it.

That left Ripper.

He looked at what was behind him and then back at me and I could see him doing the calculation. Two vehicles gone, highway witnesses, an airport destination that would have security he couldn't easily follow us into.