Page 63 of Falcon’s Forever

I should. I know I should. Instead the SUV appears again, not behind us this time, ahead, parked half a block off the main road with the engine running.

Hustler sees it the same second I do. "Fuck."

They didn't lose us, they moved ahead of us. Hustler was right when he said they were turning around. This isn't surveillance anymore.

I hit the brakes before the intersection. "Falcon?" It’s Zip, his voice is sharp over the radio.

"Vehicle ahead," I say.

The line explodes, Vulture asking for our position, Zip giving directions, Hustler's hand already on his gun. A second SUV shows up in the mirror, we are boxed in.

"Options," Hustler says.

The main road is ahead, where there are civilians, traffic, and a bad place for gunfire. The side road to the right runs into an empty industrial stretch, it’s worse tactically, but safer for everyone who isn't us. My old instinct rises fast, get them away from people, take it somewhere nobody else pays for it, and it sounds like the right call and that's exactly what makes it dangerous.

"We’ve got two vehicles, front and rear," I say into the radio.

"Hold your route," Vulture answers. "Brothers are coming to you."

"How far?" I ask, I can’t sit here for long.

"Eight minutes," Vulture’s voice comes over the radio.

A younger voice cuts in before Vulture's finished. "I'm three out. Took my own bike ahead of the truck."

Carrot.

"Hold position," Zip snaps. "Wait for the group."

"No time," Carrot says, and the line goes to static where his answer should be, which means he's already gone quiet on purpose.

We’ve waited too long.

The SUV behind us closes in fast while the one ahead begins to slow. A minivan travels beside us, two kids are staring through the back window.

“I’m taking the side road,” I announce into the radio.

“No, Falcon,” Zip orders. “Stay where it’s public.”

“There are civilians beside us,” I argue. “I’m not bringing them into this.”

“Then pull over and hold your position,” Zip instructs.

“They’ll light up the entire street,” I warn him.

“You don’t know that,” he fires back.

I turn right anyway. Both SUVs follow.

I grab the radio. “Vulture, we’re drawing them south along Keeler Industrial.”

“You are not drawing anybody anywhere,” Vulture snaps.

“It’s too late for that,” I tell him.

“Falcon,” he warns.

“Civilians were exposed,” I explain. “I’ve got Hustler with me.”