Page 5 of Abandoned

But Will stayed with him.

As they passed the high school, another squad car turned out behind Will.

Zara’s voice came across the radio and reported that she and Logan had joined the chase.

The Civic turned back into a neighborhood, barely missing the car sitting at the stop sign waiting to turn.

Lord, please help us get this guy before he hurts someone.

As they reached the end of the subdivision’s road that led out to another main road, a car sat waiting for the light, but the Civic did not slow at all. Instead, he whipped to the right and destroyed a person’s wildflower garden at the corner of their yard.

Will slowed and drove around the stopped cars and into the cross traffic that slowed at the sight of him. But the Civic now had a quarter mile on him. Thankful traffic was light, Will floored it.

At the next intersection, the car skidded around the corner, tires squealing, rubber burning.

Will spoke into his radio. “Permission to perform PIT maneuver. Suspect is not stopping and is becoming more erratic.”

The dispatcher replied, “Request being relayed.”

Will’s arms shook as he gripped the steering wheel. This had to end.

County and state police had both been contacted, so they would be ready to take over should the suspect leave HHPD’s jurisdiction.

But Will wanted to end it way before that became necessary. If this guy went out on the country roads surrounding Hazel Hill, he could get to crazy speeds but also risk flying into a ditch and rolling the car. Will didn’t want the risk for himself or the driver of the Civic.

The road ahead of them was mostly clear. If he was going to perform a PIT, this was the time.

He repeated his request and relayed the conditions before them.

The dispatcher replied, “Affirmative. PIT authorized.”

Will pressed the gas pedal and closed the gap further.

The vehicle turned to the left toward another major road, so Will took the opportunity.

As soon as the side of the Civic was facing Will, he rammed the back quarter, pushing the car off the road and into a tree. It wasn’t a perfect PIT, but it got the job done.

Once the car was stopped, Will threw the cruiser into park, opened his door, jumped out, and pulled his gun.

But the driver scrambled across the passenger’s seat and out the far door.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Will ran after the suspect, who was now sprinting across the field, headed to a nearby neighborhood.

His radio crackled, and Logan reported that he and Zara were headed to cut off the suspect in the neighborhood while Will pursued on foot.

Will hurdled several ditches that were becoming easier to spot as the sun dispelled the night’s shadows.

The suspect, dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt, darted between two houses—the only two-story houses on the block—that backed up to the field.

Through heavy breaths, Will reported the information over the radio.

He continued the chase and emerged from the other side of the houses in time to see Logan tackle the suspect. Will skidded to a stop in the soft grass beside them.

Zara joined him and gave him a slap on the back. “Good work.”

Will leaned over and rested his hands on his knees, breathing deeply. It felt good, not only to have the suspect apprehended, but also to hear accolades from Zara.

Logan cuffed the suspect and pulled him to his feet.