Robert Vernon - Revenge of the Phantom Hot Rod

THE LAST CHANCE DETECTIVES

Canyon Quest

Mystery Lights of Navajo Mesa

Legend of the Desert Bigfoot

Escape from Fire Lake

Terror from Outer Space

Revenge of the Phantom Hot Rod

Revenge of the Phantom Hot Rod

2022 Focus on the Family. All rights reserved.

A Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.

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The characters and events in this story are fictional. Any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

Cover design by Mike Harrigan

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ISBN 978-1-64607-068-8

ISBN 978-1-68428-444-3 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-68428-445-0 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-68428-443-6 (Apple)

Build: 2022-03-10 15:35:48 EPUB 3.0

Ambrosia, Arizona 1995

A RLENE B ELL LET OUT A DEEP SIGH as she drove her white Ford Fiesta past the neon lights of the Last Chance Diner and onto the stretch of old Route 66 that headed east into the vast, empty desert. It was well past eight oclock, and she just wanted to get home after a long day at the sheriffs office.

Arlene had served as Sheriff Smittys radio dispatcher and office manager for almost seven years now, but she had never worked as hard as she had that day. The state auditor was scheduled to visit the next morning, and Arlene was tasked with making sure the filing system containing the past years arrest reports and traffic citations was in proper order.

She turned her car off 66 and onto the US 191 cutoff, a path that eventually headed north to the long-abandoned ghost town of Jubilee. The old road wound like a snake through the desolate volcanic hills as it gained elevation. Wild burros still wandered through the canyons and sometimes onto the road the only remaining descendants of the once-thriving mining community.

Arlene had lived in Ambrosia most of her forty-one years, but had recently moved out of the town proper after buying a small mid-century house a few miles beyond the county line. The modest, one-story home had been repossessed by the bank and the price was just too good to pass up.

Her daily drive to work was longer than her previous commute, but Arlene didnt mind. There was usually little to no traffic on the road except when a movie studio was filming over at the old ghost town, which was rare. Besides, the longer drive gave her a chance to listen to her favorite music. Arlene loved movie soundtracks, especially the soundtrack to Casablanca, which she was listening to right now. She found the main music theme to be utterly soothing and comforting.

But right now she couldnt afford to get too relaxed. After such an exhausting day at the office, she didnt want to fall asleep at the wheel.

Arlene snapped off the music and tried to concentrate on the dark, winding road ahead. It was then that she noticed something in her rearview mirror the headlights of a fast-approaching car. Arlene lightly pressed on the accelerator and checked the Fiestas speedometer to make sure she wasnt exceeding the posted speed limit of fifty miles per hour.

The car behind her quickly caught up, its headlights blindingly bright.

Looks like someones in a mighty big hurry, she said to herself as she adjusted her mirror to keep the glare out of her eyes.

As the car behind her continued to inch closer, Arlene became aware of a loud, low rumble. Whoever was back there had a lot of horses under that hood. The car was now only a few feet from her rear bumper.

Oh, cmon! No tailgating! she complained out loud. Could you be any more rude?

The car behind her revved its engine and surged even closer.

Arlene noticed a straight patch of road ahead, lowered her drivers side window, and waved for the other car to pass. Just go around! Go around!

The other car stuck to her bumper, showing no intention of passing.

What is your problem? Arlene lisped. Arlene always had a slight lisp, but it became much more noticeable when she was nervous. Oh, please! I am waaaay too tired to be playing games at this time of night.

Arlene only wanted to get home, take her nightly bubble bath, snuggle into her queen-sized bed with her cat, Bogie, and read a chapter or two of her latest romance novel before nodding off to sleep.

Noticing that the road widened up ahead, Arlene came up with a plan to defuse the situation.

All right, if you wont pass, then Ill just let you by! she said to the car behind her.

Arlene turned on her right turn signal and pulled off onto the shoulder.

Have at it! The roads all yours! she yelled as she slowed to a stop.

She didnt expect the car behind her to pull over and come to a stop as well. But thats exactly what it did.

What in the world... Arlene said to herself, momentarily stunned.

The other car idled motionless on the shoulder directly behind her, its engine rumbling in the night. A sense of dread began to creep over Arlene. Sheriff Smitty had warned her that some drivers could act irrationally when they were angered. Road rage is what he called it.

But I did nothing wrong, she thought. Certainly nothing to make anyone angry.

Arlene looked out her rear window to see if anyone got out of the car, but no one did. The cars headlights just stared back at her.

What if its some kind of serial killer? a voice in her head warned. And you out here all by yourself!

She swallowed hard and kept her eyes on the car in her mirror. Still no movement.

It could be coincidental, a more hopeful voice suggested. Maybe the other driver just needed to pull over as well. Or perhaps the other driver noticed something wrong with her car and was trying to get her attention. But if that was the case, then why the silent treatment?

Oh, fiddlesticks! Arlene lisped. She couldnt stand the building tension any longer, so she turned on her turn signal, put her car into drive, and eased back onto the highway.

Her heart sank when she saw the other car following right behind her. Soon it was once again moving close to her rear bumper.

Hes playing with me! Arlene said aloud. She was surprised by how scared her own voice sounded.

What if whoevers back there follows me all the way back to my house?