D-Notice by Bill Walker (books to read for self improvement txt) 📕

And then the Lotus began smashing into them, trying to force them into the stone wall. Michael shot a smoldering glance at the Lotus then wrenched the wheel toward it, sending the right wing of the Mercedes into the Lotus. The screech of metal as the two cars collided was music to Michael’s ears. He imagined that the men inside, professionals though they must be, were nonetheless a little flustered as he bashed into them. Perhaps they were even a little worried.

He smashed the Lotus again; the other car approaching them was now flashing its lights.

Michael turned to the Lotus. “How do you like that, you bastards?”

Now, the Lotus tried to back off and Michael matched their speed, keeping the other car on a collision course with the oncoming car.

“Michael, NO!”

Her words ripped into his brain, and hearing them, he realized what it was he’d been about to do. Pushing on the accelerator, he sped forward allowing the Lotus to squeeze in behind him, just as a white Mini Cooper streaked by, its reedy little horn howling. A second later, the Lotus was back beside him. Michael didn’t wait for it to try to force him off the road. He began smashing into the Lotus again.

It was then that the passenger side window of the Lotus rolled down and an automatic pistol fitted with a silencer poked out gripped in a ham-sized fist. The barrel turned down, aiming for the Mercedes’ tires. The pistol coughed twice, and the right front tire blew out, then shredded and fell away from the steel rim. Erika screamed while Michael fought to control the hurtling car. When the car left the road, the steering wheel tore from his grasp and the car veered toward a massive tree.

At the last second before impact, something gave, and he managed to wrench the wheel to the right. The car shot past the tree, so close the side mirror sheared off, clanging against the door before flying off into the night.

Michael tromped down on the brakes, bringing the car to a lurching halt against a low outcropping of rocks, accompanied by a loud ripping sound. The last thing he saw before the curtain of darkness descended was the hub of the steering wheel hurtling toward his face.

The car listed slightly to the port side and Erika struggled with the seatbelt, finally forcing the buckle to open. Turning to Michael, she saw that he was unconscious, his head resting against the steering wheel. A trickle of blood seeped from somewhere on his scalp, tracing the line of his jaw. She eased him back, letting him collapse against the seat.

Suddenly a familiar odor assaulted her nostrils.

Benzine.

There was a leak!

Working quickly, she unbelted Michael and then climbed over him. She tried his door and found it jammed shut. Bracing herself, she reached under his arms and heaved him over the passenger seat and out of the car. His feet hit the ground and she heard him groan.

Good. The fact that he was only lightly unconscious meant that a concussion was unlikely. Straining, she pulled him to what she judged a safe distance from the Mercedes, laying him out of sight from the road behind some brambles. She felt his pulse.

Slow and steady.

She returned her attention to the road, freezing when she spotted the Lotus pulling over to the side. Two men got out and stared at the Mercedes. In a moment, they would be coming to investigate.

She remembered her purse and reaching inside, she pulled out a pack of matches and crawled toward the Mercedes, careful to keep as low to the ground as possible. She was grateful there was no moon out that night, or the two men from the Lotus would certainly see her.

Raising her head, she looked at the two men. They still stood watching the car. They wouldn’t wait much longer. Despite this being a lonely country road, someone else might happen by. And that could not be left to chance.

She saw one turn to the other and say something.

Hurry, you fool. Do something!

Scrabbling the last few feet to the Mercedes, Erika, pulled one of the matches free from the pack, lighted it, then touched it to the remaining ones. The matches flared and Erika tossed it beneath the car near the ruptured fuel tank. In the same motion, she tumbled backwards and pushed her face into the earth. Even with her eyes closed the flash of flame was bright, making stars dance behind her lids. Opening her eyes, she saw the Mercedes totally engulfed, the tongues of red-orange flames dancing skyward. She could hear the sizzle of the leather seats and smelled the burning rubber of the tires. The heat made the flesh of her face feel parched and crackling, as if she’d spent the whole day lying in the sun.

Another sound caught her attention. The two men had returned to the Lotus. The engine roared again, and the midnight blue car streaked away.

She’d done it.

She stood then, feeling the blood rush from her head, making her momentarily dizzy when she made her way back to where Michael lay. She knelt beside him and ran her hand across his cheek. His eyes snapped open and he bolted upright, his attention riveted by the burning car.

“Erika!”

“Here, I’m here,” she said, touching his arm.

He visibly relaxed. “My God, I thought you were— What happened?”

“Take it easy, we’re all right. I set fire to the car. They think we’re still inside.”

“Who were they?”

“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “But they followed me from Dover, and I think they were on the boat over, too.”

Michael’s eyes widened and she immediately