I looked in the side mirror and saw the red and blue lights.
Oh shit is right.
I immediately started panicking as Cole slowed down and pulled to the side of the road. And then a thought occurred to me: If we were at a swinger party and Tom had willingly switched keys with Cole, then why had he chased him out of the house? The answer, of course, was that Cole hadn’t just stolen Kat’s body. He’d stolen something else.
I’d been wondering how the Society liftman was able to afford a Ferrari. Now I think I had my answer.
I just wished I had realized it before I’d become his accomplice in a heist.
“Cole,” I said. “Did you take something from Kat’s house?”
“Just be cool,” he replied. “I’m sure this is just a routine traffic stop.”
The officer tapped on the glass with his nightstick.
Oh God. Here we go.
This Is War - Chapter 38 - Under Arrest
Saturday – September 23, 2023
“Good evening, officer,” said Cole, as if he wasn’t about to be arrested and sent to prison forever. “Is there a problem?”
The officer shined a flashlight into our faces. “Do you know the speed limit on this road?”
“Forty-five, I think,” said Cole.
“Then do you care to explain why you were going forty-nine?”
“I’m getting used to the acceleration on this baby,” said Cole, patting the dashboard. “That’s my bad. But I promise it won’t happen again.”
“You sure that’s it? Or were you maybe distracted by your friend here?” The officer scanned the flashlight over my body.
I gulped. Not because I was nervous that I was actually in trouble. No…I knew that this was a Society cop that Chastity had sent to mess with Cole. Everything was going according to plan. But I’d forgotten how nervous cops made me, even if they weren’t real. The siren had made my pulse skyrocket and I’d momentarily forgotten the plan. But as soon as the cop stepped up to the window, I remembered everything perfectly. And now I was more worried than ever…because of what Chastity wanted me to do to the cop. I took a deep breath, trying to settle my nerves.
“Tell you what,” continued the fake officer. “I’m going to check your papers, and when I get back, I expect you to remember what actually happened. License and registration, please.”
Cole grabbed the registration out of the glove box and then opened his wallet to grab his license. When he did, a little silver thumb drive fell onto his lap.
The officer fixed his flashlight on it. “What’s that?” he asked.
“Just some photos.” Cole pocketed it and handed over his documents.
The flashlight went out and the officer walked back to his car.
“What an asshole,” said Cole. “I can’t believe he seriously pulled me over for going four over the speed limit.”
“Are you sure that’s what this is really about?” I asked, doing my very best not to laugh. He seemed so pissed at this overzealous cop. And now I was going to turn the screws a little. “If there’s anything that I need to keep quiet, you better tell me now.”
“I’m pretty sure my insurance is up to date. It’s possible the automatic payment didn’t go through…”
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about what you stole from Kat.” I said the last few words extra loud.
“Shhh,” hissed Cole as the blinding flashlight returned to his window.
“Anything you want to tell me, Mr. Halifax?” asked the cop. His voice sounded significantly less friendly than it had earlier. He even put one hand on his pistol. His acting was top notch. If I’d been in Cole’s position, I literally would have shit my pants.
“Nope,” replied Cole. Cole Halifax, apparently. Actually, I had no idea what his first name was. Cole was his Society name. Based on how much of an asshole he was, I had to assume that his real first name was Josh. Or maybe Chaz. Yeah, he was a total Chaz.
