The Rookie

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious

Chapter 27 (The Chase)

Within minutes Beck and Ian were speeding to the last known signal of Trina's car. Beck's knuckles were white on the steering wheel and his teeth were gritted as the sirens filled the air. He had to wonder what Trina was doing. Was she mocking him? Testing him? Was she luring him into a trap?

Even some of the dumbest criminals knew better than to try and willingly use a patrol car to essentially advertise themselves; so Trina had to be sending some sort of message that he didn't understand.

The dispatcher's voice rang aloud on the radio and Beck listened, anticipating every movement. There were already some units in pursuit, and Trina was currently picking up speed in her own vehicle. "Northbound, South Inglewood."

Feeling the sweat rushing down the side of his face, Beck swept his hand along his left temple before yanking the wheel to turn onto Ripley Avenue. Hopefully, he could cut her off at the intersection.

It was not long before they reached South Inglewood. Beck felt the palpitations in his chest as adrenaline coursed through his veins. Beyond his own siren, he heard the distant sirens oncoming. "Ian, why in the hell does Inglewood sound familiar?"

Ian already had his police computer out, combing through the files. "I've already had that question." Beck hummed carefully, peering out at the road. "I know we've come across it."

On a hunch, Beck recalled Jason's death and thought for a moment if there was something related to the railroad nearby. "Jason died on Inglewood, didn't he? One of the crossings?"

"Er, yes." Ian scrolled through his notes. "Just south of West Broadway." Beck tilted his head, listening as the sirens grew closer. He thought about the timing of the train schedules and let out a loud curse, causing Ian to look his way. "You got something?"

"Pretty sure there's a train enroute right now at that intersection." Thinking fast, Beck turned onto Inglewood just in front of Trina's vehicle and the cars in pursuit of her. "Not this time Trina. I'm gonna be a step ahead of you."

"You don't think?"

"Either she expects to beat the train and leave us stuck behind it, best case scenario; or something entirely different…" Ian's face paled and he immediately radioed to dispatch to see if they could find out if there were any trains enroute.

Beck had driven Inglewood multiple times before and was well aware that around this particular time frame, a train frequented the rail crossing in question. Grabbing the radio, he shouted an order that Trina most likely would be able to hear in her own vehicle. "Attempt pit maneuvers, lay spikes, slow her down if at all possible."

He knew she'd be extra cautious about all things, and likely would think little of him for making such an obvious announcement. "What's the plan, Beck?"

"We need to block these train intersections, without her knowing. If she knows we're onto her, she'll find another route."

He pressed the gas pedal down as hard as he could, glancing in his rearview mirror to see Trina's vehicle closing in fast. Ian glanced over his shoulder, grumbling angrily. "I'm not sure there's much chance of anything happening without having preparations. If we can't use dispatch-"

"Then we use ourselves."

Ian raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"If she tries to overtake us. Pit maneuver. Until then…" Beck yanked the wheel, moving his car just in front of Trina's vehicle. Smirking, he glanced in the rearview to see Trina's expression turn to a full scowl. Ian's expression grew flat, but he replied with a calm nod.

"If that's the best course of action."

In the distance, he heard it, the train's horn echoing loud and threatening to drown out his own sirens. "Son of a bitch." He steadied his breath and continued to alternate his gaze on the road in front of him and Trina's vehicle. When she started to move to the next lane, he did the same. "Not today, lady."

Beck switched on the radio. "Vega, pull your vehicle over. You're wanted for questioning."

Trina's answer came loud and clear, giving him a sense of anxiety when he looked in the rearview at her car. "You want me, you're going to have to stop me. You, Detective, or that goddamn train."

He watched as Trina shifted lanes once more and began to pick up speed. Beck attempted to swerve to block her, but she swerved out of the way and started to overtake. "Oliver!" Ian grabbed his arm and motioned in front of them just as Beck heard the train's horn once more.

"Shit." Thinking fast and feeling his temperature rising, he could only think of one thing to do. "Hold on tight, Ian. We're putting an end to this godforsaken chase."

He slammed the gas pedal down, turning his head towards Trina's vehicle. Ian tensed and gripped the door handle with one hand and the car seat with his other. Trina attempted to swerve into him, but he quickly jerked the wheel to avoid the swerve.

Along with the sound of the train, thunder began to bellow overhead, drawing Ian's attention. "Hell of a time for rain." Beck ignored it along with the rain that was beginning to fall. Lightning flashed across the sky and Ian uttered a curse. "Where the hell's this coming from?"

"I don't have time to question the weather," he replied coldly while focusing on Trina's car. They were neck to neck, both turning the windshield wipers on in this sudden heavy rain. Thunder mixed with the train's rumble and horn, lightning streaked across the now dark sky, and Beck continued to pick up speed. "I'm not going to let her do what I believe she's about to attempt. No way in hell."

Trina's voice came over the radio. "What are you doing, Detective? Give it up."

He pressed the button for the radio, hissing his response. "No. If your intention is what I think, I will not let you meet that train."

"Screw you."

The railroad crossing lights were flashing, the arms beginning to move. Trina's vehicle was gaining speed, slowly overtaking Beck's. Thinking fast, he jerked his wheel and pushed the nose of his patrol car hard into the rear side of hers.

Water splashed with the tires of the car and Trina's vehicle begun to spin out just as Beck slammed the brakes to stop his own car. To his horror, he watched as her vehicle started to turn on it's side, the trunk landing just in front of the oncoming train.

"No!" He threw open his car door, exiting the vehicle just as the train struck the back of the patrol car before it landed on it's back, forcing the car into a series of rolls and turns.

Beck ran for Trina's vehicle as the other squad cars came to a stop behind them. By some miracle, her car ended up upright, though looked exactly as one might expect it to look with a train crashing into it. However, he prayed that the train hitting the rear side meant she didn't perish.

Ian followed up behind, radioing for paramedics. Beck ignored the rain pelting him as he fought to pry open the driver's side door. With a strange amount of strength, he managed to yank the door open in time and looked at Trina.

The woman was somehow still breathing, though blood was streaking down her head. The woman turned her head slowly, speaking with a raspy tone.

"Not bad, Beck." Trina's breathing was labored, her eyes still sharp however. "I wasn't sure you had the balls for that…"

"Maybe you underestimated me."

"You've come a long way, kid. Getting startled by a bit of sea sludge to a high speed chase and an oncoming train." Trina coughed once and Beck narrowed his eyes.

"Too bad you had to be my perp."

"Shame."

"You're under arrest-"

"For every crime under the goddamn sun, I'm sure." Trina coughed again, her hand moving slowly towards her seat belt. "If only I could see Jason one last time. The life we could've had…me, him, little Rachel…" Beck felt a sense of sorrow for her, he too would have liked to see her life go in a much different direction.

"For what it's worth, Trina, I am sorry it ended up like this."

"So am I." Trina gasped out, her voice filled with pain. "Why? Why should I be here now? Why should I live. I've never meant anything to anyone, never had a vision for life. Jason was the only one that ever made me feel important, why he loved me I'll never know. It should've been me that died…"

Beck frowned, looking over as the ambulance pulled up. When he looked back to Trina, he watched her close her eyes and then her head fell. Gasping, horror and anxiety swelled within his chest as he immediately checked her pulse.

To his relief, she still had a pulse, although it was weak.

He turned to the paramedics running up with a stretcher ready, then promptly moved to the side to allow them to take over. He couldn't help but to smile, feeling almost a sense of pride and honor in the compliment echoed by Trina. He'd gotten his perp, and though she still hit the train, he believed he prevented her ultimate goal.

He knew if it were any other suspect, he'd earn a heckling or two from Trina if it ended any other way.

The reality of the situation hadn't quite sunk in yet either, because while the case wasn't yet officially closed, he knew this was his biggest case yet. A mass kidnapping case, gone cold and closed, only to be reopened by some fresh-off-the-block detective. It was like something out of one of Shannon's damn storybook mysteries, but here he was seeing it unfold before his own eyes.

Ian walked up beside him, watching as the paramedics carted Trina away. "Think she'll make it?" Beck gave a chuckle, then flashed a smirk.

"That woman's been through a lot of shit, she's cold as ice and tough as nails. If Jason hadn't died, I'm sure she would've been living a good life just fine, and I'm damn sure that tonight…yeah, she'll pull through and we'll be right there waiting to place her under arrest officially."

Ian laughed once, then pat Beck's shoulder. "Looks like you caught your perp, Oliver. Too bad it had to be someone you knew."

"Yeah." He let out a heavy sigh and shook his head. "It's not over yet. There's still Jade, Robbie and Tori. Rough as it is, we do need to get their statements, among other things."

"Yeah, notifying the family they've been found. That's not easy."

"An understatement." Beck shoved his hands into his pockets and bowed his head, sighing heavily as he recalled calling Jack in regards to Jade. He remembered how Jack first started to feel uncertain, then panicked. The man immediately shut his bar down and sped across town like his life was about to end. "These guys have been holding onto a hope, some giving up outright, for a decade almost."

"Didn't Jade lose her mother?"

Beck raised his head, looking up as the rain continued to drench him. He didn't care. "Some goddamn woman told her long ago that Jade was dead, fucking fraud psychic. She couldn't go on after that."

"Damn. I don't know what to think about all that."

"I do." Beck crossed his arms, shutting his eyes as he pictured Andre and Cat in his head. "Maybe I'm starting to come around to the idea of the paranormal; but if you see someone advertising it, I wouldn't believe a word that came out of their mouths. Someone actually experiencing paranormal activity isn't going to want to advertise it one fucking bit."

Ian arched an eyebrow. "Why's that?" Beck unfolded his arms, dropped his shoulder and gave a heavy sigh in response.

"Because it is frightening as shit, and makes you think you've gone insane."

"Again. Why?"

Beck shook his head and started walking towards his vehicle. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Ian followed after him, not saying anything further on the subject. "You'd want to send me in for a psych eval if I told you about some of the connections I've made."

Thoughts?