Karma: A Blayne Mitchell Novel

16

Chapter 16

I was wondering if Andrew was already there. He couldn't have drove during that storm, but we hadn't heard him leave once it it had subsided. Unless the hum of the engine had been lost in the gunfire mayhem. I hoped that's what happened, or else I was royally screwed. Andrew would be long gone before I arrived. And Vance would be dead.

I had many advantages, but ones that would prove futile if Andrew had a thirty minute head start. I had the faster car, I had the previous knowledge of Vance's location, and I could risk being pulled over. If Andrew was pulled over, he would be seen with a gun, a most likely expired license, and an infamous gang leader. That would definitely take time to sort out. I, on the other hand, had concealed my gun well, had a valid license, and wasn't harboring an infamous gang leader. In other words, I could afford driving fast. Andrew couldn't.

So I drove around eighty for the first stretch. I highly doubted any cops would be stationed on the abandoned road. Once the cars started to dot the road, I slowed to a moderate sixty. It was all a one way car flow again. Like Marysville was contaminated. I had already assumed that everybody hadn't just left. Most likely Garrett had issued an evacuation of the town, just to keep pesky civilians from interfering. It wasn't fear that forced them away. It was the law.

And then I hit the Seattle city limit. Cars were packed together like sardines, and the air was filled with the discordant symphony of exasperated drivers blaring their horns. I joined in.

Towering buildings rose up on all sides and pierced the clouds like needles piercing skin. I glanced skywards and wondered if another storm would break soon. As if on cue, a light rain started to tap the windshield rhythmically. I lazily flicked the windshield wipers on. They swung up and swept away the drops and then rested back where they had begun. More drops replaced the ones that were wiped away. I flicked the wipers back on. Up to erase the drops, down to rest. Not all the drops were gone. Two arches in the top corners and a small triangle remained. More drops fell, this time joined by added drops. The storm was strengthening and I was fighting a losing battle against nature. Nonetheless, I flicked the switch again and sent my warriors back against the next wave of drops. This time I didn't flick it off, instead watched as my warriors relentlessly swept away wave after wave of falling rain drops. Maybe it wasn't such a losing battle. My warriors could not tire, and the storm had to end at some point. Maybe I could win the war for my windshield.

The cars inched forward and I saw an opportunity to turn onto the road I wanted. I turned on the right blinker and cut in front of the distracted drivers. One of them honked obnoxiously, but I paid him no heed. Minutes ago I had honked for no reason too and it was his fault he hadn't been paying attention. I pulled out of the congestion and onto an unoccupied side street. One more mile until I reached Vance's house. Hopefully he was still alive.

I roared down the last mile. Since the street was empty, I highly doubted any cops were watching it. Vance's street came to view. It almost flashed by, but I hit the brakes and turned left just quick enough to fishtail onto his road. The rear swung right. I countered the fishtail by turning right against the swinging rear. The car skidded to a stop and shook violently before settling. I gripped the steering wheel firmly, paused to recompose, and hit the gas again. I rolled up to Vance's house.

It was a modern tract house, indistinguishable from the rest. It had two cars in the driveway. One was a Chevy pickup, used, but well maintained.

The other was a blue Toyota civic.

I cursed vehemently and rubbed my face with my hands. I was too late.

But maybe not.

Andrew's car was still in the driveway, meaning he wasn't done yet. He could've been inside, gloating and oblivious to the fact I was outside. I still had a chance.