Total pages in book: 80
Estimated words: 78076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 78076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 390(@200wpm)___ 312(@250wpm)___ 260(@300wpm)
I hoped he was on his way to his mother’s, because he was going to need someone to cry to.
We made sure we were side by side, as if on an imaginary start line. Then, after a countdown that only existed in our minds, we both accelerated. Foot firmly pressed on the accelerator, but making sure not to go full out, I let the bragger in the red car gain a few yards. Focused on the road, he must have thought he was having the race of his life. He probably imagined a cheering crowd on the side of the track, chanting his name. When I felt like I’d given him enough room to think he had it in the bag, I put my foot to the floor. It only took me a few seconds to overtake him again.
In my rear-view mirror I saw his surprise, which was quickly replaced with rage. He was ready to retaliate.
This was when I gave up, not because I thought I couldn’t beat him, but because I had common sense. I knew this type of guy was never going to give up, thanks to his manly pride. And maybe it was better for me to keep a low profile. After all, I was in trouble for a few things, and I didn’t need to add a speeding ticket to the list.
Maybe I should have thought of that earlier.
As soon as I got back into the right-hand lane and slowed down to a reasonable speed, there were flashing blue lights and a siren.
Shit!
I hoped they were there for the jerk in the sports car. Maybe if I ducked down and prayed really hard, they wouldn’t even see me. I didn’t stand a chance…
When they caught up to me, the cop pulled up to my side and signaled for me to turn off at the next exit. For a split second I thought about speeding up and trying to escape. I figured that if they didn’t stop me now, I would have a welcoming committee at the next tollbooth. It would be easier to fool two cops than an entire squadron.
I moved to the side, closely followed by the navy-blue car. When it was possible, I parked on the shoulder, awaiting my fate. This was far from being my first rodeo, and I knew panicking wouldn’t help me. I needed to come up with a plan, preferably quickly.
It was the officer sitting in the passenger seat who got out of the car and slowly started to walk toward me, hand resting on his belt. This was definitely to make an impression and to show me he was ready for anything, even drawing his gun if necessary… unless, of course, he had simply eaten too much, and this was his way of loosening his belt and momentarily giving his stomach room to breathe.
He had enormous eyebrows, like two little furry umbrellas for his eyes. But beyond the stern look he gave me, I saw that Mother Nature hadn’t been very kind to him. That was an advantage for me. The good-looking cops were more confident and less easy to corrupt.
Since I’d opened the roof of the convertible, he looked at me for a few seconds. I made sure to offer him a silly little timid smile and batted my eyelashes. I wished I had some cleavage, it would have been a great distraction.
“Do you know why I’ve pulled you over, miss?”
I looked down, sighed loudly, and then put on a hopeless look. “I think I was over the speed limit. I’m sorry, I just got caught up in the moment. With the weekend and the holidays coming up…” I looked away from the speedometer.
I thought the character of a nice, young, carefree girl would have done the trick, but judging by what happened next, it appeared I hadn’t managed to convince him.
“Registration, please.”
“Ah…erm…yes, of course.”
Shit.
I rummaged around in the glove box, knowing full well there was a 99% chance it wasn’t there. I’d taken this car for a test drive over an hour ago, and the car salesman earlier was gullible but not completely stupid.
“Hmm… My boyfriend told me it was in here,” I said, feigning surprise.
The police officer frowned. Now he was really scary.
“Can I see your driving license please, miss?”
The emphasis on this last word made me realize that my chances of getting away with everything were disappearing by the second. Megabrows didn’t like absentminded girls, and that was an error in judgment on my part. I had to opt for plan B. Cooperate so I could simply walk away with a slap on the wrist, a lecture, and maybe a fine (which I wouldn’t pay), but free.
“Yes, sir.”
I started looking in the bag I had picked up at the station locker, rummaged around, and then paused for two seconds.