The Legacy (35 page)

Cole gunned the accelerator once more and suddenly they were back up on the road, all four tires making full contact with the ground. A few quick swerves and he was again in control of the vehicle. He reached across the passenger seat, grabbed Tori by the belt and pulled her back inside. Close the door! he yelled over the rush of the wind through the front seat.

But she was paralyzed, unable to move.

Close it! he shouted again, glancing into the rearview mirror. Bennett had already scrambled back into the white sedan and was turning it around on the narrow road. Come on, Tori!

Finally she responded, reaching out and yanking the door shut. I take it that was Bennett Smith! she screamed.

Yes.

Nice man.

Uh-huh.

I thought I was dead. She shook her head. I thought I was going out of the car.

But Cole wasnt listening. He was analyzing their options. They could head to Powell, which was ten minutes away on the interstate, and hope to get help at the outfitters shop where they had purchased the binoculars. But there was no telling what kind of firepower Bennett might have in the sedan. He might have automatic weapons. If he came into the shop blazing, the Generals handgun wasnt going to be much of a deterrent.

They could head out across the open meadow at the bottom of the hill across from the Generals driveway entrance. The Bronco would easily negotiate the terrain, but the Missouri River was out there. The big wide bend was a quarter mile from the interstate, surrounding the meadow on three sides, and Bennett might be able to pick them off with a rifle as they tried to swim across the river.

Or they could get out onto I-15 and drive to Helena, which was only twenty minutes away at ninety miles an hour. If he could keep Bennett at bay as they raced down the interstate, they might be able to make it to a Helena police station. The DIA might have put out a bulletin, and he might lose possession of the Dealey Tape, but at least they would be afforded protection. If he could elude Bennett on the way to Helena, he might even be able to hold on to the tape.

Cole steered the Bronco down the driveway. It was straighter, wider, and less steep here. Suddenly the canyon floor seemed to rise up to meet them and they were tearing down a long straightaway toward the paved frontage road that led to the interstate. He glanced in the rearview mirror but could see nothing through the cloud of dust the Bronco was kicking up. Im going to head toward Helena when we reach the interstate!

Tori nodded, still clutching the handle over the door. Whatever.

Cole managed a smile. Are you having fun yet?

Yeah, sure.

As the Bronco reached the paved road and Cole whipped the steering wheel left, he looked back down the Generals long driveway. He could make out the white sedan racing through the swirling dust now. Bennett was no more than a quarter of a mile back. This is going to be a helluva ride, Tori!

It couldnt get any worse than its already been.

Youre wrong.

She shuddered. Just dont hang me out over a cliff again. Please.

Ill try to keep that in mind, Cole yelled as he swung the Bronco off the frontage road and up the entrance ramp to the interstate. He slammed the stick shift into fourth gear and gunned the engine, surprised at the vehicles power. The thing was faster than he had anticipated. As he pressed the accelerator to the floor, the speedometers needle quickly passed sixty. He glanced into the side mirror. Bennett was just reaching the bottom of the entrance ramp. Cole looked back at the speedometer. It was approaching eighty. Then he noticed the fuel gauge hovering on empty.

He slammed his fist on the dashboard and Tori jumped in her seat. Hey, thats my thing. Whats the matter?

We have hardly any gas, he yelled. At this speed well burn fuel very fast.

How far away is Helena?

Thirty miles, give or take a few.

How far can we go on what we have?

Thirty miles, give or take a few.

As the speedometer climbed past ninety, the fuel light came on. Cole checked the white sedan in the mirror. At least Bennett wasnt gaining. Listen to me! he yelled to Tori over the whine of the engine. If we run out of fuel, were going to split up.

No! she screamed.

Its the only option. Through the cracked windshield, Cole made out the shape of a truck ahead. It was the first vehicle they had encountered since entering the interstate. He glanced in the mirror once more. Bennett was slowly making up ground now that they were heading up a long incline. He cant chase both of us. If I pull over, you take the tape. Hell probably chase me. Hell figure I have it. Cole checked the mirror again. The white sedan was less than a hundred yards back now.

A highway sign flew past. Twenty-two miles to Helena! Tori yelled.

Keep your head down! Cole shouted. He might start shooting.

Cole suddenly noticed that the Generals gun was gone. He checked the floor but couldnt see it near his feet. Look for that gun I threw up on the dash when we were leaving the Generals house! he yelled.

I thought you said for me to keep my head down.

You can do two things at once!

Bennett was only fifty yards back now. As Cole guided the Bronco abreast of the eighteen-wheeler, a bullet screamed through the Bronco and hit the windshield just over Toris head as she leaned down, searching the floor on her side of the vehicle for the gun. Glass sprayed forward, then blew back into the front seat with the gale-force wind. Instinctively Cole raised his arms in front of his face and the Bronco lurched to the right, glancing off the back tires of the truck. He slammed on the brakes, slowing from ninety to forty in seconds.

Bennett jerked his steering wheel to the left to avoid the Bronco, and the sedan slid into the wide grass median, spinning out of control.

The truck driver leaned on his horn as Cole regained control of the Bronco and sped past.

Why dont we try to get help from the truck driver? Tori yelled above the wind whipping through the Bronco.

Whats he going to do for us?

Give us a ride.

Cole shook his head. By the time we stop and get in his truck, Bennett would have caught up with us. On an incline like this, it would take that truck miles to get moving at any kind of speed again. Wed be sitting ducks. Obviously Bennett has weapons he isnt shy about using. Besides, if you were that guy and just saw what happened, would you stop?

Youre right. Probably not.

A quarter mile later they crested the incline. In front of them the interstate headed down a long sweeping curve and into a narrow gorge cut by the river. Tall pines covered the rocky slopes, which rose almost straight up on either side of them.

If we had to run out of gas, this would be the place to do it, Cole yelled above the roar of the wind. Hed have a helluva time finding us in here.

Then why dont we just ditch the Bronco now and head into the woods?

Cole shook his head as he spotted the white sedan in the rearview mirror, far behind them. No. He didnt tell her that Bennett was once again gaining on them.

The interstate moved away from the river as they climbed out of the gorge. Even as they climbed they were still exceeding ninety miles an hour. Then the double-lane highway crested a rise and suddenly Helena lay before them in the middle of a wide, treeless valley.

Were going to make it, Cole! Tori screamed.

Cole eyed the fuel gauge warily. It seemed as if the orange warning light was growing brighter with each passing mile.

Tori noticed him watching the gauge. We could coast to Helena from here.

We could if Bennett wasnt back there.

Tori turned around quickly and looked out through the smashed back window. I thought he went off the road.

He did, but he got the car back on the highway.

As they headed down the long, gentle descent into Helena, the Bronco picked up speed. The speedometer nudged a hundred, but still the white sedan gained. There were a few cars on the road now as they passed the first exit into the outskirts of the small city.

Why didnt you take that exit? Tori asked.

Its too open out here. Weve still got a good lead on him, so maybe we can get downtown, ditch the Bronco and lose him on foot, then rent another car. I dont want to go to the cops if I can help it.

Why dont we go to the airport? I know theres one here. I flew into it a few weeks ago.

No way. If he loses us, itll be the first place he looks.

If we can lose him, maybe we should hide the tape in a locker or something. There must be a bus station out here. I can call my people in New York after we stash the tape there, and theyll send some muscle out here to protect us.

Before Cole could respond, the engine went dead, suffocated by a lack of fuel. Cole pumped the accelerator, but nothing happened. He pounded the steering wheel as he checked the mirror. Bennett was racing up behind them now, just a few hundred yards back.

Hold on! Cole yelled. He stepped on the brake as hard as he could and the wheels locked. Instantly the smell of burning rubber rose up into the Bronco. Follow me! he shouted as the Bronco skidded to a stop. He reached into the backseat, grabbed the backpack, thrust open the door and bolted around the front of the Bronco and up the slope toward a large strip mall overlooking the interstate.

Tori leaped from the Bronco and scampered up the slope as the white sedan skidded to a stop behind the Bronco. Where are we going? she yelled.

Just follow me!

Suddenly he was down, his foot snagged in a hole hidden by the long grass. Jesus! Pain seared through his anklethe same ankle he had injured in Manhattan while racing to the library.

Come on! Tori helped Cole struggle to his feet as Bennett lumbered up the slope behind them, reloading his pistol as he ran.

Pain engulfed Coles entire leg, but he put his head down and hobbled forward. Bennett was less than fifty yards behind them as they climbed over the guardrail at the top of the hill together and took off across the parking lot.

There! Cole pointed at a video store in the middle of the mall. Thats where were going.

They ran through rows of parked cars and past people pushing shopping carts. Despite the bystanders, Bennett began shooting. Bullets glanced off hoods and windshields, and people screamed and fell to the pavement for cover.

Cole limped into the video store. It was fairly small, offering only a few thousand titles. He hobbled past several puzzled shoppers to the back of the counter.

Hey! The manager stepped in front of Cole as he headed toward the back room where the videotapes were stored in plain black cases. You cant go back there.

Get out of my way! Cole pushed the smaller man to the floor roughly and disappeared into the storage room.

Call the police! the manager yelled to an assistant in front of the counter as he picked himself up. Then he pointed at Tori, who stood in the middle of the store. Your friends in a lot of trouble, lady.

You have no idea how much trouble. She was gasping for breath. So are you.

Huh? The manager glanced toward the front door as a woman screamed and Bennett Smith charged inside, gun up and fully reloaded.

Wheres Cole? he hissed, moving directly to Tori. He paid no attention to the customers and employees who were sprinting for the door.

I dont know, she said defiantly.

Bennett grabbed Tori by the hair, spun her around so that her back was against his chest and leveled the gun at her head. Does he still have the tape?

I dont know, she moaned.

Bennett pulled her hair hard, lifting her off her feet. Does he have it?

Youre hurting me! she screamed.

Let her go, Bennett! Cole stood in the doorway to the storage room. He tossed the empty backpack onto the counter. In the distance he could hear the faint sound of a siren. The Dealey Tape is in one of the cases back there. He nodded toward the storage room behind him, then glanced at the front door. It sounds as if the police are going to be here in about two minutes. I dont think you can find it and get out of here that fast.

For several moments Bennett stared at Cole, then slowly he relaxed his grip on Tori and dropped the barrel of the gun from her head.

Its over, Bennett, Cole said loudly. Over!

But a smile spread slowly across Bennetts face. Suddenly he grabbed Tori by the hair again and hustled her forward toward Cole. Its far from over, he snarled, pushing Tori ahead so she was directly in front of Cole. Then he brought the gun back up to her head. Get out of the way, Cole!

Do something, Cole! Tori screamed.

Before Cole could move, Bennett pointed the gun at him and fired. The bullet blew past Coles left ear. He felt a rush of hot air like a steam pipe bursting right beside his face, and smelled gunpowder. Instinctively he tumbled over the counter and dropped to the floor. Then he heard the door slam shut.

He was back on his feet and around the counter quickly. He wrenched the doorknob to the right and pushed, but the door leading to the storage roomand the Dealey Tapewas locked from the inside.