Chap 11

Thanks for the reviews. Thanks to God and Fluffykitty12 for posting. Quicker but shorter.

POV Joe

I lean into a curve with the motorcycle. Twenty feet ahead the stolen Mercedes squeals down the road.

Whatever I'm doing has to be quick. My body is tiring fast.

No plan. Frank would have my head. And I broke Dad's cardinal rule of always having backup.

If I'm lucky this mission will kill me before Dad or Frank do.

The Mercedes speeds up. I rev the motor and catch up. I don't have time for this – got to get Bernice's heart medicine.

I up the motorcycle's speed and shakily pass the Mercedes. My only chance is to nail this guy before he gets off the condo property.

I race to the guard booth with its wooden arm down to keep people out.

Inside the booth a gray haired guy sits playing Solitaire.

"Get out!" I shout.

Cards fall to the ground as the grabs his walker. No way this guy is going to make it out in time.

And Dad and Frank complained about my beach house not being secure.

I squeal the tires as I do a 180 turn.

The Mercedes driver smiles, points at the guard booth and guns the motor. He stops 20 feet from the guard booth.

The driver sticks a gun out the window and blows out my front tire.

The verse, "God is our refuge and strength" runs through my mind. I rev the motor, lift the handlebars and pull the motorcycle into a shaky wheelie.

POV Frank

A woman screams. Somehow I know Joe is involved.

I run outside.

"Help!" Eleanor says. "Someone carjacked Bernice! Her heart medicine is in her car!"

Bernice lies in a crumpled heap, clutching her chest and struggling to breathe.

I hear sirens. Help is on the way. Where is Joe?

"Where's my motorcycle!" Mr. Greene shouts. "I only left the keys in it for a minute!"

I get in Joe's black Mustang. Before I speed away, Mr. Greene opens the passenger door and jumps in. No time to argue with him. I have to help Joe.

"My motorcycle is worth $50,000! I spent the last year restoring it!"Greene shouts.

I grit my teeth and concentrate on finding Joe.

"I'm entering it in an international competition next month!" Greene shouts.

Suddenly the exhaustion and worry catch up with me. I snap as my eyes fail to see Joe anywhere.

"If anything happens to my brother you won't be able to find a hole deep enough to hide in," I growl.

"What?" Greene says.

"I'm sure Joe is being careful with your motorcycle," I say.

I turn around a bend in the road. Joe is on the motorcycle in front of the guard booth. The Mercedes driver shoots out the front tire of Joe's bike. Joe revs the motor, pulls it into a shaky wheelie and rides toward the Mercedes.

I step on the gas, hit the Mercedes bumper and force it off the road. The Mercedes misses Joe by inches. The stolen car plows through the "Welcome to Fox Run" billboard and lands in a ditch.

POV Joe

I breathe a sigh of relief when the Mercedes crashes. Until I remember I've got to land a wheelie on a motorcycle with one wheel.

I try to slow the bike gradually, but my arms are too weak. The front wheel rim touches the road. The motorcycle goes out of control. I jump off seconds before the motorcycle crashes into the Mercedes.

I land in a heap on the grass and gravel. Everything hurts. A large black purse is inches from my head. I put my arm inside and feel a pill bottle.

Bertha's heart medicine!

Someone tackles me. I groan as pain erupts all over my body. I want to get this guy off me, but I am too weak. Another punch hits my stomach. I pray for help as I cling to consciousness.