Chapter 9 - THE CHASE

“They’re behind us,” David said quietly.

Margaret turned in her seat. She watched the headlights gaining distance.

“Do not speed,” she said. “Not yet. Let them think you have not noticed.”

David kept to the speed limit. The road wound through dark woods. Rain blurred the road ahead. The car behind stayed exactly the same distance—close enough to track, far enough to avoid suspicion.

“They know where we are going,” David said.

“They know the roads we usually take,” Margaret corrected. “They do not know our destination. Not yet.”

Margaret turned to Sophie.

“Listen to me carefully. No matter what happens… keep your head down. Do not look up. Do not speak. Protect yourself.”

Sophie nodded, eyes wide.

The road narrowed. David gripped the wheel.

“Hold on,” he said.

He slowed down slightly. The car behind did the same.

“On my signal,” Margaret said. “Turn left at the crossroads. Hard. And do not stop.”

David nodded. He watched the approaching intersection. Headlights swept across the wet pavement. The car behind crept closer.

“Now,” Margaret said.

David spun the wheel. The car lurched left, tires screaming against wet asphalt. He accelerated hard down a narrow, unmarked lane.

Behind them, headlights swerved violently. The pursuing car followed.

“They still have us,” David said.

“Good,” Margaret said. “They are committed now.”

She turned to look back.

“Two people inside,” she said. “I saw them through the windshield. But I could not see their faces.”

The lane twisted sharply. David pushed the engine harder. The car bounced over ruts and puddles. The headlights behind stayed constant.

“They are gaining,” David said.

“Up ahead,” Margaret said. “There is an old logging road on the right. Hidden by trees. Slow down just enough… and turn sharply.”

David saw the opening. He braked gently. Counted. Spun the wheel.

The car plunged off the main road into darkness. Branches scraped the sides. David killed the lights. He coasted silently between the trees.

Behind them, the pursuing car roared past the turn. Its headlights swept on, disappearing down the main road.

David let out his breath slowly. He waited in darkness, listening. Minutes passed. No returning headlights. No engine sound.

“They fell for it,” Margaret said quietly. “They assumed we would keep running straight. They did not expect us to hide.”

David restarted the engine. He turned onto the logging road.

“We are safe for now,” he said. “But they will come back.”

“Yes,” Margaret said. “And now we know they are willing to chase us. Which means they are desperate. Desperate people make mistakes.”

David drove deeper into the woods. Ahead, through the trees, a single light appeared. The cottage.

When they pulled up outside, David turned to Margaret.

“Who do you think was driving?”

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Margaret looked at the dark woods behind them.

“Arthur,” she said quietly. “Or Edward. Or both. But whoever it was… they are still watching. And they will not stop until every name on that list is crossed out.”