This chapter goes back to Linda's escape. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. I hope you like it.
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Ben was enjoying the evening and the company as he finally settled down at the outdoor table with a beer. It seemed that everyone was in a partying mood and peals of laughter came one after another. He was glad that this event had come together; it was exactly what he needed to relax and enjoy himself. In between the sounds of merriment, He thought that he heard something out front of the house. He walked closer to the fence and thought he heard the sounds of a truck on the driveway.
"Do you hear that?" he asked his guests. "Listen."
Everyone became quiet as they listened. Something was making some noises, and then it could be heard getting a little louder and more distant as they listened. His first thought was that someone had just arrived. Ben took off running through the gate and around the house just in time to see the tail lights of a truck heading in a south-westerly direction away from the house. He then noticed the empty space on the driveway where he had parked and knew exactly what was happening.
"What the fuck?" he exclaimed as his first emotions were panic and then rage.
He began to formulate a plan immediately without alarming his guests. He needed his cell phone with the tracking app. To follow her. That was back near the barbeque grill. The Mustang wouldn't be too good for following her if she decided to drive cross-country through the desert. Maybe Mike would lend him his truck. What would he tell his friends? Think, think! Mike, Cathy and Stacy had come around to the front of the house too.
"Hey Ben, What's the deal with your truck?" asked Mike.
The two women stared and waited for his answer.
"Um, it looks like somebody just stole it," Ben replied hoping that would satisfy their curiosity.
"Out here?" Mike questioned the improbable explanation.
Ben ignored the question. "Mike, can I borrow your truck to go after her?"
"Her? What makes you think it's a her?" Mike persisted.
The statement of the possible involvement of a woman piqued the interest of Stacy and Cathy who gathered closer to hear every word.
"Long story, Mike. Can I please borrow your truck? I have to go get my phone from the back yard first."
"Sure, I guess," he said, "Hey, I'll come with you. Get your phone and I'll get it turned around and ready to chase her. The ladies can finish their supper while we retrieve your truck. Got any idea where she might be headed? Hey, maybe we should call the sheriff."
"If you're dealing with a psycho bitch you never know what she might do," interjected Stacy with her expert opinion. My god, she probably was checking all of us out too. I feel almost violated. Is she violent too?"
"No, no," Ben said with new alarm. "No cops. I don't want to get her in trouble at this point. It's probably just a simple thing that we can fix once we catch her. I doubt that she's dangerous, Stacy."
"Okay, man, but I think the sheriff could cut her off somewhere before she loses us," suggested Mike. "Maybe even arrest her for grand theft auto."
"No worries, Mike, I'll explain later but we gotta get going. I'll be right back after I get my phone. I can track my truck with an app. I have."
Ben ran to get his regular phone while he thought of other things he should bring along. He went through his bedroom where he grabbed the burner phone that was given to him by Mr. Smith too. He looked for the special app. That Mr. Smith had given him for his regular phone and started it. He had just played with it a little so far so he wasn't exactly sure of its capabilities. A map of the area appeared on the screen with his position and a flashing icon where Linda was. He could see that she was traveling south but couldn't see what road she was driving on.
This was still going to be hard to explain to his friends without causing more questions for himself. He wondered whether he should call Mr. Smith for advice. He'd do that once they were on their way. Damn, his car phone charger was in his truck. He hoped that Mike had one that would work because this could be a long evening. Ben was in a complete panic by the time he jumped into Mike's truck.
"Where to?" Mike asked.
"Just a minute, Mike. I have to figure out what road my truck is on. Let's just head out to the county road and head south. We can try to cut her off once we see where my truck is headed.
"Okay Ben, he said as he took off in a hurry with sand and gravel flying, seemingly enjoying the chase.
He knew the way well enough to get out to the road at which point Ben had determined how Linda was proceeding. Mike was having the time of his life with the chase. Mike turned on the set of four rally lights on top of his roll bar and practically turned the night into day.
"She doesn't seem to be going very fast, Ben remarked. "I think that if you take a left here and we head to county road eight we can get to where she's headed in time to stop her."
"Okay Ben. Just who exactly is this woman?" She sounds kinda psycho to come to your place and steal your truck in the middle of the night. How do you suppose she got to your place on foot?"
"Yes, she's been stalking me for a while," Ben started to improvise with a fictional story. "Maybe she has a friend who brought her out to my ranch. I sure don't know yet."
"Oh, man, I knew we should call the cops."
"Oh wait a minute. There is an agent with whom I've spoken on this stalking matter. I need to call him," Ben remembered as he really wanted the advice of someone who would know what to do.
