The Mustang was only a couple of cars in front, but to Morgan it felt a million miles away. While it occurred to him that Mason Black could be back in the house and completely unattended, there was also a possibility that Erika Givens was skipping town for good. If that happened, it was only a matter of time before somebody else fell victim to her devious antics.
“You’re losing her,” he told Gary, pointing ahead of him and bobbing his knee.
“Relax,” Gary said. “I’ve got this.”
They slid behind a truck that was moving far too slow for Morgan’s liking. It obscured the view of the Mustang, making him far more uncomfortable. He liked to be able to see the car, and although this was more of a tailing than a high-speed pursuit, Erika was driving a little faster than the law instructed. They could lose her at any moment.
As if reading his mind, Gary found an opening in the next lane. He veered the car over and tucked behind another. This kept them concealed, and from here Morgan could see Mason’s Mustang again. This time it was closer; he could see the back of Erika’s head through the car in front, and just in case she happened to look back, he slid down in his seat and covered his face, scratching his forehead and hoping it looked natural.
“It’s going to be okay,” Gary said.
“Why so sure?”
“We’ve made it this far, haven’t we?”
Morgan supposed he was right. In the grand scheme of things, having only one car between them and Erika wasn’t that much. If anything, they were too damn close, and suddenly everything Morgan had felt at risk. Rachel was at home, trying to slide her way back into work. Robin was probably on her lap, making the most adorable demands. Meanwhile, he was in a car only a few feet away from a woman who just might be a killer.
Things like that really lent some perspective.
They kept following until they approached a gas station. Morgan sat up straight and found a parking spot on the far side of the property, which he brought to Gary’s attention. While Gary parked, Morgan watched with an eagle-like gaze as Erika stopped the Mustang beside a gas pump. She got out. Her black hair danced in the winter breeze, trailing out behind her like millions of little arms reaching out for her next victim. Her cheeks—lily-white last time they spoke—were now red with the season’s cold assault.
“What the hell is she doing?” Gary asked.
“Stopping for gas,” Morgan said, as if it wasn’t obvious.
“Duh. I mean, what’s that in her hand?”
Morgan squinted, leaning over the seat to look closer. It took him a while to make it out, but the big red blob eventually unblurred and revealed itself. It hung in her hand as she made her way to the back of the car, where she held still for a moment, looking over both shoulders. Now that she was closer, it was obvious what it was. What wasn’t so clear, however, was what she was doing with it. It made no sense whatsoever.
“It’s a jerry can,” Morgan said, refusing to shift his gaze. Erika tipped it onto the ground by the car and hurled some onto the gas pump. There wasn’t much, but fear seared through him as he realized it was enough to blow the whole gas station sky high. “Jesus, she’s nuts.”
Gary turned in his seat. “Should we move in?”
“Let’s give it a minute.”
“She could hurt someone.”
“I know.” Morgan quickly scanned his surroundings for another vehicle. Thankfully, there wasn’t one, but there were still employees inside. He continued to watch, only growing more confused when she pulled out a lighter and opened the trunk. Morgan couldn’t see inside from here, but she pulled out something small and brown—a wallet, perhaps—and then closed the trunk before heading inside. She shut her Zippo as she walked casually toward the front doors, as if she hadn’t just put her own life at risk.
Within a heartbeat, she vanished.
“Think she’s going out the back door?” Gary asked.
Morgan blew out a breath, his entire body tensed. He was this close to heading inside and making a citizen’s arrest. “I doubt it. She wouldn’t leave the car here.”
“What are you thinking?”
“I want to know what she’s got in the car,” Morgan said, tugging on the knot of his tie and unhooking a button. It felt like it was a hundred degrees in here, the heat from the vent roasting his skin. It made him think of Erika and how she’d be burning too if she wasn’t careful.
“Maybe I should go in and arrest her.”
“Got a warrant?”
Gary shrugged. “I doubt I’d need one. I can detain her on account of being a crazy bitch. Her fingerprints covered the car we found at the crime scene, so warrant or not, I can bring her in. She murdered a cop, buddy. People who do that don’t get off lightly.”
“We don’t know she did that.”
“Her prints were on the car and there were witnesses. It’s pretty clear it was her.”
“All the same, I want to check out the Mustang first.” Morgan knew it was Mason’s car, and there could be a detail inside that would indicate the missing PI’s whereabouts. If Gary went in and made the arrest before they did that, and if the car turned out to be empty, Erika could become defensive and refuse to answer questions. Then they might never find Mason Black. He couldn’t help thinking how that would make Amy and Diane feel.
Then the strangest thing happened.
Gary laughed.
It was a soft, wheezing sound that matched his thin and weak-looking body.
“What’s so funny?” Morgan asked.
“Nothing, it’s just… I have an idea.”
Intrigued, Morgan snapped back and looked deep into his eyes. At this point he was willing to accept anything, as long as it didn’t end in losing Mason forever. “Then what are you waiting for? I’m all ears, Detective.”