After over an hour of running, Lorenzo was ready to set his trap.
He was in the heart of New Melbourne by the time he caught up to Iris, who appeared to be on her way to New Adelaide for her spying mission. It had taken half an hour to overtake the car that had become his prey, giving him a bit of time to set things up.
When the black sedan came around the corner, Lorenzo made his move, pushing his trolley of hardware down the small hill. He quickly began after it, appearing as if he desperately needed to catch the supplies he’d purchased from a Hampton hardware store earlier that day.
The trolley was too fast for him – or so he made it appear – and it shot across the road in a flash. Drawing on the power of his tattoo of steel, Lorenzo strengthened his body to withstand the oncoming impact as he bounded after the trolley.
It happened in a heartbeat, as Iris drove straight into Lorenzo, just as he planned. He threw his body forward with the impact as the woman slammed the breaks. Rolling along the ground several times, his tattoo of steel meant he suffered practically no injuries.
“I’m so sorry!” Iris said as she leapt out of the car. “I didn’t see you!”
Lorenzo lay face down in the dirt, pretending to be stiff as he turned himself over. As Iris laid eyes on his face, her own became an expression of shock that almost made Lorenzo laugh.
“Wait, you’re Gideon’s man, aren’t you?” Iris said, scanning his body for injuries.
Lorenzo nodded stiffly and sat up. “I am. I was out purchasing electrical supplies in the Cheltenham area and lost control of the trolley on the way back to the car.” He motioned toward the trolley, now overturned nearby. “Fortunately I was able to use my magic to protect myself as you hit me, so no real harm done.”
Iris put a hand behind her head. “Even so, I’m really sorry. I should have been driving slower.”