Chapter 7
A winding road
The van sped closer and closer to the edge. Luke and Laura held each other close. Laura had her eyes tightly closed. She knew she was going to die, but at least she was in Luke's arms.
Just as the van was almost at the edge of the drop off, Hutch made one last attempt to pull the van back onto the road. He mustered up all his strength and turned the steering wheel sharply to the left. The van swerved sharply away from the edge and crossed all four lanes of the winding road and crashed head first into the rock wall.
The black car skidded to a stop beside the van. The two men surveyed the damage to the front of the wrecked vehicle. The hood was all crumpled up and the windshield was smashed. There was no movement from inside.
"Should we check on them?" the tall guy asked.
"No, there is no way they could have survived a crash like that. Let's report to Miss Smith. She will want to know that the Spencers are dead," said the shorter of the two.
"Charles, I don't trust them. Luke and the girl seem to have more lives than a cat. I have a feeling that they are still alive in there."
"What do you suggest Hank?" asked Charles
"I think I will stay here and watch the van from the bushes over there. You go back and get Miss Smith. If there is any sign of movement in the van, I will call you on the cell phone."
"Why don't you just check inside the van and see if they are alive?"
"No! They are probably expecting us to do that. They may have a gun ready to take us out as soon as we open the door. No. We will do it my way."
"Suit yourself," said Charles. "If you want to crawl around in the bushes for no reason, it's fine with me. I will get the Boss Lady and we will be back."
Hank got out and moved silently into the bushes. Charles turned the car and sped away in the direction it had came from.
Inside the van, Hutch, Luke and Laura lay without moving.
"Just lay still a minute longer," whispered Hutch. "We need to make sure they are gone."
Luke and Laura nodded at him.
"Ok. I think it is safe now," Hutch said.
They sat up in their seats and let out a sigh of relief.
"Are you two all right?" asked Hutch.
"Yes," they both answered at once.
"Luke, I didn't think we were going to make it that time," said Laura. Her voice was shaking.
"It's ok Angel," said Luke.
He turned to look at her. She had blood coming from her forehead.
"Laura, you're hurt!" he said grabbing her.
Laura could hear the fear in his voice. It barely hurt, but it was nice to see how concerned he was.
He ripped a piece off the bottom of his shirt and pressed it to her head to stop the bleeding. Hutch leaned over him to take a look.
"Let me see, Luke."
Luke shoved him back. This was his Laura, his Angel. He had to take care of her. He gently removed the cloth and saw that the bleeding had almost stopped. In its place, was a tiny cut. He dropped the piece of cloth and pulled her into his arms. He held her as though he would never let her go.
"Luke, we have to get out of here. Jennifer not going to give up that easily. They will come back and we can't be here when they do."
"Ok Pal. What did you have in mind? This van is no longer drivable and Jennifer is going to have her men at the airport and car rental places. How do we get out of this town?"
"See Buddy, you need to take a lesson from me. I think ahead. I had my associate Mike get us a boat. It is docked about a two miles from here."
"Are you coming back to Port Charles with us Hutch?" asked Laura.
"No, that would be too dangerous for me. But I am going to make sure you are safely on that boat and headed north. Get your stuff. We walk from here."
They gathered Laura's things and climbed out of the van. Hank watched them start into the woods beyond the rocks. He quickly dialed his cell phone.
"Hello?" said a female voice at the other end.
"Miss Smith, they are alive. It looks like they are heading for the docks."
"Thank you Hank. My men are on there way there. Luke Spencer has left me for that woman one time too many. I want them both dead. Stay with them, if you can't get them, my men will."
Hank hung up the phone and started after them.
Hutch, Luke and Laura walked slowly, keeping the bushes between them and the road. Hutch would have felt better if they could have moved faster, but Laura refused to leave her bag and it was slowing them down.
After five minutes of walking, Hutch had a feeling that they were being followed. He stopped and listened. There were definitely footsteps coming up behind them.
Hutch turned to warn Luke and Laura. Hank stepped out of the bushes and hit him over the head.
"Hold it!" he shouted.
Luke and Laura turned around and saw Hutch laying on the ground. Then they saw Hank. He had his gun drawn and pointed right at them.
"I told them you were still alive and I was right. Not that you will be alive for long. This is the end of the line for the two of you."
Luke motioned for Laura to stay back.
"Go ahead kill me," he said. "Just let Laura go."
"No Luke!" Laura shouted.
"Laura don't argue with me. I would happily die right now if I knew that you were going to be safe."
Hank looked at the two of them and shook his head.
"That is very touching Mr. Spencer, but you are both going to die right now. You will die first while your lady watches, then it will be her turn."
He pointed the gun at Luke and pulled the trigger. A shot rang out.
"No!" shouted Laura as she jumped in front of Luke.