Chapter 1033: A Car Chase
"Don't think too much," Doyle said, holding Besse's hand and letting her lean on his shoulder. "I know you've been through a lot, and I've never seen you so upset. But don't worry, it won't happen again."
He assumed her distress stemmed from her Northfield experiences. He didn't know she wrestled with a different burden entirely.
Besse took a deep breath, met his gaze with a small smile. "Okay." She needed to leave many things behind.
As the car sped through busy streets, Besse gradually tried to forget this place. On the highway, she closed her eyes to nap.
A sudden jolt startled them. A rebuilt black car was speeding toward them. Their driver instantly accelerated to avoid a collision.
Fear gripped Besse; she clung to the handle as Doyle held her tighter. "Call Commander!" the driver yelled, driving recklessly.
It took a moment, but Besse instinctively dialed Susan instead of Oscar.
Susan, enjoying ice cream with Manuel, answered. Manuel suspected Susan's distress was merely a ploy for ice cream.
"Hi, Besse, have you arrived at the…"
"Susan, I'm being chased…"
"What?" Susan nearly choked on her ice cream.
"I'll give you my location. Please save me…" Besse stammered, her fear evident.
"I'm coming! Don't be afraid. Nothing will happen to you in Northfield! I won't let anyone harm you, Besse!" Susan responded urgently.
Manuel immediately called Oscar. "Something happened to Besse," he said calmly. "She's being chased. Based on their route, they should be entering the inner loop."
"I see." Oscar hung up and headed for the door. "Theodore!"
Theodore, discussing women with a secretary, was startled. He quickly set down his coffee.
"Yes, Commander." He used the formal address.
"Follow me!" Oscar sped off.
Theodore quickly joined him. Oscar barked orders: "Besse and Doyle are being chased on the inner loop. Monitor their location, deploy all forces ahead of them. No one else is to be harmed. Deploy air rescue."
"Yes, sir." Theodore immediately began arranging rescue efforts.
Their car sped towards the inner loop. Meanwhile, Besse and Doyle watched the pursuing car close in. Their driver, a skilled driver, expertly avoided several near-collisions.
Two cars raced through the streets. Suddenly, Besse spotted a helicopter. Fewer cars surrounded them; those remaining pulled aside, apparently on orders. Police vehicles appeared. Their rescuers.
"There shouldn't be any trouble in Oscar's territory," Besse reassured herself.
A gunshot shattered the calm. Their tires were punctured. The car spun wildly, flipping and sliding before crashing into a guardrail.
Besse and Doyle were thrown about. Doyle shielded Besse, minimizing her injuries. Besse felt dizzy, bleeding, and near unconsciousness.
Figures emerged, masked and heavily armed, their boots suggesting ruthlessness. They tried to force open the car door.
Besse watched helplessly, hearing distant helicopter sounds and alarms. Rescuers approached.
The attackers moved faster, a man smashing the window. They began dragging Doyle out. He remained shielding Besse, delaying them until police arrived. The attackers, abandoning Doyle, fled with him.