Steve parked his car and ducked down in his seat, watching out for the suspect. Shortly afterwards a man on a bicycle rode slowly by, staring over to where the hit and run had happened, before glancing around and riding on by. Steve recognised him as being Daniel Chancer. He got out of his car and ran across the road to where the surveillance van was parked, disguised as a painter and decorators, and climbed inside.

"Lieutenant Steve Sloan," said Steve flashing his badge.

"Officer Philips," said a man seated at a security desk. "This is Officer Goodall." Steve nodded a greeting.

"What's happened so far?"

"Nothing much yet. He just keeps on cycling past. Do you want us to arrest him?"

"No not yet. If he's just cycling round the block, I want to wait until he makes a move to look for that camera."

"You think he will?"

"I'm sure of it. Do you mind if I wait and watch with you for a while?"

"No not at all Lieutenant, have a seat," said Philips and Steve sat down to wait.

X X X

Back at the hospital Mark went to find Jesse again. "Jesse, my shift's just over. I'm going out to look for Steve. I just need to check that he's alright."

"Sure. Let me come with you though, I only have a half hour to go and Alex owes me a favour. Did he say where he was going?"

"No. But I have a pretty good idea of where to search first."

"With the surveillance team?"

"Exactly. Steve said he couldn't rest until he had caught Chancer. Come on, we'll take my car."

X X X

Back at the surveillance van Steve had a feeling things were about to kick off. Chancer had ridden round the block twice more, and then seemed to disappear for a while. Steve became worried that he had spotted them and slipped away, but then he reappeared round the corner once more, this time on foot.

"He must have dumped the bike," said Steve, beginning to feel excited. "Be ready to move on my count." Sure enough, Daniel waited idly against a wall for several minutes before crossing the road to the spot where he had hit Henry Finchley with his car.

"Okay, let's surround him," said Steve. "I'll go and surprise him and you back me up in case of trouble. He's probably feeling pretty safe by now." The two officers agreed and cautiously they all slipped out of the van and got into position. Steve waited until Daniel had knelt down behind a parked car before running across the road and coming up behind him.

"Freeze!" yelled Steve, his hand making the familiar movement towards his belt for his gun. "Daniel Chancer I am placing you under…" His voice trailed off as he realised in alarm that his gun was not there. Chancer, who had leapt to his feet on hearing Steve's voice grinned evilly when he saw the look of bewilderment on Steve's face and withdrew a gun from his pocket and aimed it at Steve. Out of the corner of his eye Steve saw Philips and Goodall step out of their hiding places and raise their guns, unsure about what to do.

"Lost something?" Daniel asked innocently. With a jolt Steve recognised the gun as his own and realised Chancer must have taken it from him yesterday. He felt a slight feeling of alarm at being so defenceless before pulling himself together.

"Give it up Chancer, we have you surrounded." Steve's attention was drawn to a familiar looking car that had just pulled up on the other side of the road. He recognised Mark and Jesse climbing out and groaned inwardly.

"That's as maybe, but no one is going to try and stop me, not while I have you as my hostage. It's a shame, I was rather hoping I had got rid of you yesterday, but it seems you still have your uses. Besides there is plenty of time for that later."

"We found the camera, we have the photographs. You'll never get away with this."

"Watch me," said Daniel moving closer to Steve who stood his ground. "Now Lieutenant, if you would be kind enough to give me your cuffs." Steve stayed motionless. "Give them to me," said Chancer, getting angry. Still Steve did not move. "Now!" yelled Chancer raising the gun and striking Steve around the head with the hilt, causing him to stumble backwards into a parked car and clutch his head as pain shot through it like lightning. Daniel then reached forwards and removed Steve's handcuffs from his belt as Steve, breathing deeply, stood up straight again, a small patch of red appearing beneath the bandages.

Over the other side of the road, Jesse was having a hard time refraining Mark from dashing across the road to go to his son's aide.

"Mark no, you'll be shot," said Jesse, pulling him backwards.

"I can't just stand here Jess, we have to do something."

"Wait, we must wait and see how things turn out. You'll be no good to Steve if you get yourself killed." Mark nodded and looked back across the road to where Daniel was forcing Steve to lead him to his car. They stopped beside it and Chancer raised the gun and put it to Steve's head so that it was clear to see.

"Now the lieutenant and I are going to take a little ride," said Daniel looking over towards the two police officers. "If anyone follows us or tries to stop us from leaving I'll kill him." No one moved and Daniel instructed Steve to get in the passenger seat, all the while keeping his gun trained on him. He then used Steve's handcuffs to secure his wrists to the handle on the inside of the door, before getting into the drivers seat, starting the car and pulling away. Mark turned and jumped back into his own car and Jesse joined him.

"What are you doing?" asked Jesse. "Chancer said he would shoot Steve if anyone followed."

"He was talking about the police," said Mark, pulling out after Steve's fading car. "He didn't notice we ever arrived, so he won't be looking out for us. Anyway, I'm not just going to let Chancer disappear like this."

X X X

Chancer was driving Steve's car at breakneck speed with the siren blaring, ensuring that people got out of their way. Steve had tried pulling the handle free from the door, but he soon gave it up and turned his attention instead to Chancer who seemed to be getting quite agitated.

"You know this is hopeless," said Steve. "We know all about the bank robbery you pulled off with Carl Baxter, we have his confession and photographs to prove it. We also know it was you who ran over Henry Finchley to stop him taking the photographs and that you later entered the hospital, attacked two doctors and killed Henry Finchley in an attempt to destroy the evidence. Then you attacked me yesterday, returned to the scene of the crime today and now you've abducted me. You're as guilty as they get."

"Shut up!" yelled Chancer picking up the gun from his lap and pointing it at Steve again, swerving dangerously over the road in the process.

"What do you hope to achieve by running away? Do yourself a favour and give up quietly," said Steve, flinching as they nearly hit an oncoming car.

"I mean it," growled Chancer as they drove onto the highway bridge. "If you don't shut up I'm going to blow you away."

"Then go ahead and shoot me," said Steve. "Add another murder to your list of convictions. But we both know you are not going to, because the minute you do the cops will be down on you like a ton of bricks. There is no way out of this." Chancer stayed silent for a while before speaking again in a deadly calm voice.

"You're right. The only way out for me now is out!"

"Out? What do you mean out?" asked Steve not at all liking the way Daniel was talking.

"I mean out Lieutenant. Death, and seeing as you're here with me you can come along for the ride," said Daniel and he swung the steering wheel over to the right, towards the side of the bridge and through the oncoming traffic which amazingly managed to swerve out of their way. Steve suffered a moment of blind panic. He was handcuffed to the door, and even if the impact with the river far below didn't kill him he would drown! This thought spurred him into action. He threw his shoulder and as much of his weight as possible into the side of Daniel, knocking the steering wheel off course and back towards the mainstream of traffic. He then drew his legs up and across the gear stick and started to kick Daniels hands away from the wheel, receiving punches and scratches in return.

The car was swerving dangerously across the road and cars were screeching to a halt, swerving to one side and crashing into each other in an attempt to get out of the way. The end of the bridge was now very near yet Daniel still seemed intent on sending them into the river. In one last desperate attempt he took up the gun again and swung it at Steve. He saw it coming but had no way to dodge or defend himself and it struck him around the head. His vision became blurry and his head felt like it had split in two. Daniel took advantage of Steve's stillness and wrenched the steering wheel back towards the side of the bridge. Just feet from the edge, the bridge ended and instead of crashing through the fence, the car struck a metal support post and went into a spin. As it hit the curb the car tilted before turning over and rolling down a slope. It came to rest with a loud crash and crumpling of metal at the base of a tree.

X X X

Mark and Jesse had been following closely behind Steve's car the whole time. They became very alarmed when the car started to veer across the road and even more so when it took a definite swing towards the edge. Jesse had had to yell at Mark to stop him from hitting oncoming traffic as most of his attention was focused on the car in front. They could make out some kind of a scuffle was going on, but not a lot else. When the car had taken its last swerve, they had been sure that it was going to crash through the barrier and into the river below. Mark felt sweat running down his back and his heart racing in fear.

They were both highly relieved when it left the bridge safely, although that feeling was short lived due to what followed. When they witnessed the car hit the post, flip over and roll down the hill they both went very silent. Mark had driven across the road and leapt out of the car and down the hill without even turning off the engine. Jesse stopped only to retrieve the medical bag that Mark always kept in the trunk of his car. At the base of the slope they found the car, which had thankfully landed the right way up. Mark opened the passenger door fear gripping his heart at what he might find as Jesse stumbled to a halt beside him. Steve was lying semiconscious in the foot well, his wrists still tied to the car door.

"Oh my, Steve, thank god you're still alive," said Mark, relief flooding through him as he knelt to examine him.

"Where are the keys to the cuffs?" asked Jesse.

"Back pocket," said Steve faintly, and Jesse retrieved them and set him free while Mark called for an ambulance.

"Help's on the way Steve," said Mark. "Try not to move."

"How's Chancer?" asked Steve grimacing in pain.

"I'll check," said Jesse and went round to examine Daniel. "He has a nasty gash on his head; he's unconscious, but alive."

"That's more than he deserves," said Mark.

"Oh I don't know," said Steve hoarsely. "I wouldn't have liked him to get the easy way out."

"Don't speak any more," said Mark trying to make Steve more comfortable while still keeping him still. "The ambulance will be here soon."

X X X

Two weeks after the accident Mark drove Steve back to the beach house for a celebratory dinner with Jesse and Amanda. He had been released from hospital a week ago and apart from some nasty bruising and a broken wrist from where the handcuffs had restrained his hands he was recovering well. He had not yet been allowed to return to work, much to his disappointment, but he had to admit to himself that it had been nice to lie back and relax for a while. Daniel Chancer had suffered concussion, a broken collarbone and a couple of cracked ribs from his impact with the steering wheel, but he had recovered sufficiently

enough to be transferred to jail, to await trial. Despite his pleas he had been refused bail and when told he was facing a death penalty he had broken down and confessed to everything. Steve was confident he would go down for first degree murder and would be sentenced to life imprisonment. Carl Baxter was also looking at a minimum of five years.

"You know there were quite a few times during this case when I wasn't sure we would succeed in catching Chancer," said Amanda.

"I know what you mean," said Steve, trying unsuccessfully to use a pair of chopsticks with his wrong hand.

"Here," said Mark passing him a fork.

"Thanks. You know it was really Jesse's idea which caught him in the end."

"You see, what did I tell you?" said Jesse, thumping Steve on the shoulder happily. "Oops sorry," he said as Steve winced.

"What did you tell us?" asked Amanda.

"Plan B," said Jesse grinning at them. "It never fails."

THE END