The Chase

by Bradley Caffee

  Leave it to Tony to miss the bigger picture.

  Chuck had been madly filling her inbox with requests for the article saying their print was the single one “in a million miles” that hadn’t released anything from their people on the scene. The truth was she’d attempted the article several times simply to scrap the effort. She couldn’t find the words to say what she meant to say—what she needed to say. She flipped her screen over to the article released by Coalition headquarters.

  WESTERN ALLIANCE GOVERNMENT ATTEMPTS COUP OF COALITION

  Coalition Intelligence has uncovered the subversive efforts of the Western Alliance’s attempt to take over leadership of the world. Leading the attempt, Deputy Chairwoman Judith Marion was arrested while returning to Western Alliance offices, upon eyewitness testimony that she intended to assassinate Chairman DeGraaf in the ensuing chaos. DeGraaf issued “humble praises” for the officers who rushed to his aid at the Law-passing Ceremony.

  A Coalition spokesman assured the public that an all-department manhunt was already underway for the fugitive known as Jaden. Coalition enforcement has charged him with assaulting two Chase runners, Antonio DeLuca of the Joint Mediterranean States and teammate Willis Thomson of the Western Alliance during the race.

  “Jaden is clearly a confused young man who has been made the unfortunate pawn of a corrupt alliance,” said DeGraaf, adding his heartfelt desire to see the racer found so he may receive the “obvious psychological care needed to undo the damage inflicted by his alliance.”

  Sheila shook her head in disgust. The rest of the article did little more than quote the new Western Alliance deputy chairman’s praise for the glory of the World Coalition and the bravery of the chairman. It closed with an understated call to end any further unrest around the globe.

  “Do they think anyone will believe this garbage?” She glanced around, realizing her open dissent.

  Come on, Kemp. If you can’t say that, how do you expect to write this article?

  No one knew where Jaden had escaped, but rumors flew everywhere. Some said that he died in the riot. Others claimed that he’d altered his appearance and was living openly in a city somewhere. Still wilder was the notion that the Coalition already apprehended him, and the manhunt was a ruse to test the loyalty of various Coalition officials.

  Sheila knew better. Jaden had one goal. Somehow, he would attempt to travel to the orbiting station to free his mother.

  She placed her fingers on the keys of the computer in front of her. The ideas were there, but the words wouldn’t come. Her fingers fumbled as she typed out a few words. She crammed down the backspace to delete the words and hung her head. Reaching for the screen, she started to shut the computer when her message alert chimed.

  Sighing, she opened the screen and looked at the message. She held her breath as her encryption software began working on a coded message. A second later, the words appeared—

  Safe. W. and P.

  She smiled to herself. Willis and Perryn had safely hidden themselves away from the eyes of the Coalition.

  “Okay, guys. You all did your part,” she whispered. “The gloves are coming off—as promised.”

  She slowly typed a single word, Truth, and stared for a long moment. Taking a deep breath, she began to write.

  Author Note

  I still sit in shock that this project has come to life. What began as a way to direct my energies when I lost my career is now the book you hold in your hands. Thank you for being one of my readers. In so many unintentional ways, Willis’s story is my own. His journey is my journey. For so much of my life, I felt the burden of others’ lofty expectations for me and did my best to live up to them. My life halted in burnout, and writing this book was part of my recovery. Willis became the embodiment of all that I felt during that season of life. Whether you bear the weight of expectations like Willis, are a survivor like Perryn, or live as an optimist like Jaden, I hope you connected to a character.

  I wrote The Chase knowing the beginning and the end, but the middle was a discovery process as I got to know the characters along the way. Jez and Sheila underwent quite the metamorphosis. Jez started as a one-note villain, but her tale opened up as I questioned the ‘why’ behind her actions. When I realized she was motivated by her fear of death, she struck a chord of compassion in me to the point that I mourned the end of her story in the book. Sheila’s role was far smaller, but her place in the story grew thanks to my first reader, Lauren, who insisted she needed more of Sheila. Expect more of Sheila in book two.

  You may have guessed that many of the principle characters had intentional names. Willis, for example, refers to his need to overcome his will to win. His last name Thomson serves as a reminder of the disciple Thomas who is famous for his moment of doubt. Perryn’s name could either mean ‘wanderer’ or be a feminine form of Peter, meaning ‘rock.’ Choosing which path to take is her struggle, one you will follow more through the rest of the series. Sheila Kemp translates to ‘female champion,’ and trust me, her moment to speak up is coming. Even many of the side character names hinted at the role they played: Blacc is short for his ‘blind acceptance’ of the condition of the World Coalition; DeGraaf means ‘chairman’ hinting that his person is entirely wrapped up in his position; and Jaden translates ‘God has heard’ as he is the catalyst to begin the changes on the space station.

  I would love to connect with you and hear about which character mimicked your story. Follow the links below and drop me a note to let me know your favorite scene or the biggest surprise or where you guess the story might be going. Sign up for my newsletter to get ALL the insider information and get a free download of Kane: A Chase Runner Story to learn how the silent giant made it to the training station.

  Website and newsletter (and your free book): www.bradleycaffee.com

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  PLEASE LEAVE ME A REVIEW AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS. The greatest help you can give to any new author is to leave them an honest review. Amazon and Goodreads are the place to start, but any review helps. Better yet, tell your friends about The Chase and get them hooked on this series along with you. Thanks, my friend.

  And Now, a Sneak Peek at Book Two in

  THE CHASE RUNNER SERIES

  Chapter One

  Buzz.

  The cell door opened with a metallic clang to reveal a uniformed guard on the other side. “Prisoner 513, you have a visitor.” He spoke in a monotone, not moving his eyes from his notepad.

  Sheila stared at the stone wall across the room. Six months had passed since Chuck had published her article. He had been so eager to get her words about the riots following the Chase uploaded online that he had not even glanced at them. If he had, he never would have sent them to print. It took an hour after her words hit the internet for the Law-keepers to arrive at Sheila’s door.

  “Prisoner 513, on your feet,” the guard said more firmly, looking at her.

  Sheila’s dirty fingers curled on the floor around her as she turned to glare at the guard. Her dry, cracking lips parted as she sucked in enough air to speak. “I told you I’m not interested in seeing anyone.” Her voice creaked from disuse.

  He rolled his eyes. “No choice this time, I’m afraid.”

  “Oh yeah, who’s the special guest?”

  “The Administrative Liaison to the Coalition Chairman is here to see you.”

  Sheila’s stomach turned at the title. She remembered the greasy-haired man she had last encountered on the space station. Her half-starved existence in this isolation cell seemed far preferable to ever laying eyes on the weasel again. She was about to protest when she noticed the two other guards standing outside the door.

  “Wow. I’ve gotten popular, haven’t I?” She smiled. Sarcasm was not going to win her points with the guards, but she had to admit that it felt good in the moment. She turned over on her knees to stand, her arms shaking with weakness. “Don’t suppose your
friends could offer me a hand.”

  A nod from the guard brought the other two inside. They roughly grabbed her upper arms, hauling her to her feet. The cell spun as she adjusted to standing again. All at once, she thought she might vomit or pass out. She opted for the latter. The guard’s cursing was the last thing she heard before losing consciousness.

  “Ms. Kemp?” The tone was soft, almost pleasant. “Ms. Kemp, can you hear me?”

  Sheila squinted as light poured into her eyes. The smell of disinfectant and clean sheets roused her from semi-consciousness. She was lying on a bed in what appeared to be a hospital room. Monitors beeped beside her, and an IV was delivering fluids into her arm. Otherwise the tiny space was empty of furniture.

  “There you are Ms. Kemp,” came the voice again.

  She turned in the direction of the speaker. A middle-aged woman sat in a chair next to her bed. She was dressed modestly in a gray, professional-looking skirt and jacket. Her perfume, a sickening fruity aroma wafted in Sheila’s direction with each movement. Her eyes creased when she smiled at Sheila as she reached out a hand to the side of the bed. Several golden bracelets jingled as she touched Sheila’s arm, which she withdrew the second she saw the Alliance insignia on the woman’s lapel.

  “Who are you?” Sheila eyed her suspiciously.

  “My friends call me Penny,” she said, smiling again. “You gave us quite a scare when you collapsed, and I insisted that you be brought to the infirmary at once. I have longed to meet you. I serve humbly as the Administrative Liaison to the Coalition Chairman.”

  Sheila’s eyes widened. She bolted upright in bed, finally noticing the guard at the door. She turned to the woman. “I don’t want to talk to you. And I’m not your friend.”

  “Oh, honey. I understand.”

  “Somehow, I don’t think you do.”

  The woman glanced down as if embarrassed. “I know you had dealings with my predecessor.”

  “Dealings would be a polite way of putting it.” Sheila’s forehead throbbed—with anger or pain from sitting up so quickly, she could not be sure. “He sent me to that station. He threatened my sister. And he put me in here. I wasn’t aware he was no longer in office.”

  “After the Chairman uncovered the shameful coup attempt of the Western Alliance, many officials were—” She paused before finishing, “—replaced.”

  Sheila shuddered as she considered the meaning of replaced. “You mean, they were—”

  “Sweetheart, it doesn’t matter.” Penny returned to smiling sweetly. “What matters is I’m here to help you.”

  “Help? How?” Sheila lay back down to ease her pulsating temples.

  “For starters, a hot meal and a shower. I honestly had no idea how you were being treated here, or I would have come much sooner. You were severely dehydrated. It’s fortunate we found you when we did, or things might have been worse.”

  “I’m sure that was the idea of your—predecessor.” Sheila doubted her, and she wanted this woman to know it. “Don’t get me wrong, a meal and a shower sound great, but why the sudden change?”

  The woman’s smile instantly disappeared. “All in good time,” she said flatly, her eyes not giving anything away. She brightened again as if a switch was being thrown on and off in her mind. “But for now, we need to get you cleaned up. I am afraid you are still at the prison, so you will be under guard. That is, until we can do something about your sentence. You leave that to me.” A glance at the guard caused him to step aside and rap on the doorway. Two female nurses, dressed in yellow Alliance uniforms, entered.

  Sheila must have shrunk backward because Penny was quick to add, “Oh they are here to assist you. I’m assuming you do not want the guards helping you clean yourself.”

  Sheila nodded.

  “Very well.” The liaison held her hands out in front of her as if ready to embrace the room. Her bracelets jingled with each movement like they were trying to celebrate the sterile environment. “I am pleased with this. Is there anything else I can do for you?”

  “New clothes would be nice, if it’s not too much trouble.” Sheila continued to take in this woman. She could not make up her mind about whether to trust Penny. “And if I’m going to get out of here, I’d like transportation somewhere.”

  “Oh really? There are things, dear, that we must attend to.”

  We? Sheila did not like the sound of that. “Yes.” She straightened her posture to show the seriousness of her request. “I need to go see my sister.”

  Penny’s face darkened at the mention of Sheila’s sister. “Very well.” She frowned. “You can see your sister, and then when you are ready to appreciate those who have helped you, you will get around to seeing me. That is—if it’s not too much trouble.” Penny spoke the last few words slowly, clarifying that it was not a request. Without another word, she exited along with the guard leaving Sheila alone with the nurses.

  The door clicked behind Penny, and Sheila let out a long breath. The hair on her arms still stood at attention, and she could not help feeling like an animal might after a predator had left her cage.