“No.”
The man swore under his breath.
Graham kept his voice calm.
“Sir, let's wait for the police.”
“You don't understand.”
“Maybe not. That's why we're waiting.”
The man suddenly accelerated.
Graham stepped aside, grabbed the van's open side mirror for a moment, and shouted for the cashier to call 911.
The vehicle lurched toward the exit.
Graham ran to his motorcycle and started the engine.
He wasn't chasing the van to play hero.
He was following because the child was still inside.
He called the emergency dispatcher while riding slowly enough to keep control.
“There's a little girl in the vehicle,” he said. “She says she needs help.”
The dispatcher asked for the plate.
Graham gave it.
Then he saw something that made his stomach tighten.
The rear door of the van had no interior handle.
It had been modified.
That wasn't normal.
And suddenly the little girl's fear made sense.
CHAPTER 3 — THE CHASE
The van turned onto an industrial road.
Graham followed from a distance.
He could see the driver checking the mirrors.
At an intersection, the van stopped.
The driver jumped out.
He ran toward Graham.
“You're making a serious mistake!”
Graham remained beside his motorcycle.
“Then stay here until the police arrive.”
The man lunged.
Graham blocked the first shove and stepped backward.
He was older, but years of riding and working with his hands had taught him balance.
The man tried again.
Graham pushed him away.