Page 86 of Crimson Heart

“Right,” Austin replied. “Bruno is driving. Steve should be in the back, but the windows are too dark. I can’t see inside.”

“Austin, they’re heading your way,” Jude said and put the car in drive. “We’ll go down the other road. Wendell? Are you ready with the roadblock?”

“All set here,” came Wendell’s voice loud and clear.

The Alliance members really weren’t leaving anything to chance. Byron was impressed. They’d stationed Wendell and Parker at different junctions to set up detours so the Leons’ SUV was funneled into a specific area. Add the numerous one-way streets in San Rafael, and it was easy to herd them toward a place that forced them to stop.

“Okay, Austin, let’s herd the cattle,” Jude ordered.

“Yeehaa!” Mason responded in Austin’s stead.

On a tablet attached to the dashboard, several dots blinked, indicating where Austin’s car was and where the other Werewolf Alliance members were located. Francisco had set this up ahead of time and assigned everyone a different color so it would be easy to see where everybody was. There hadn’t been time to put a physical tracker on the Leons’ SUV. They would have to follow them using visuals only.

“They passed us and turned left,” Austin reported. “We’re on their tail.”

“Got it,” Byron said, pointing to a spot on the tablet. “Jude, take a left here. We’ll catch up to them at the next intersection.”

Since he was a local and had lived in Marin County his whole life, he was taking over navigation. Jude didn’t question his decision, and it gave him satisfaction to finally be valued.

“Wendell, he should be coming up to your roadblock in a few seconds,” Austin advised.

“I see them. Detour is ready. They can’t go straight; that’s a one-way. They have to turn left.”

As they continued to drive on a street parallel to the Leons’ car, Byron watched the dots on the monitor.

“They are almost at Wendell’s roadblock,” he reported.

“They’re taking the detour now,” Wendell said. “I’m packing up. See you at the other end. Parker, they’re heading toward you now.”

“I’ll be ready,” Parker said.

“Fuck!” Wendell cursed all of a sudden.

“What’s wrong, Wendell?” Jude asked, instantly alert.

“Violet.”

“What about her?” Byron asked.

“She just blocked my truck with her car. I won’t be able to get out.”

“Leave the truck where it is,” Byron said. “She’ll be there for a while. She has an appointment at the bank around the corner. Stay out of sight.”

“Francisco,” Jude interrupted, “meet Wendell halfway and pick him up.”

“Be there in ninety seconds,” Francisco confirmed.

“Parker, are you ready for the second detour?” Jude asked.

“Send them my way,” Parker replied.

The dots on the tablet were all moving closer to each other. Byron felt his heart beat faster now. He’d been the one choosing the place where they would have the best chance of taking care of the Leons and the least risk of being interrupted by innocent bystanders and the actual police force. If this didn’t pan out, he would see it as a personal failure.

He could feel the tension in the car. He and Jude were the ones who had the most to lose if this went wrong.

“We’ve got this,” Byron said.

“They’re turning into the cul-de-sac,” Parker finally announced. “Showtime.”