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Rain continued to fall, but not as relentlessly Visibility had improved, and the streetlamps, imperceptible before, had turned each puddle into a silver pool I struggled with Debbie’s weight, staggering a few ti lot to the Jeep Cherokee I leaned the nearly unconscious woht with my arm and shoulder while I fuun--a sound as angry as thunder--causedDebbie doith ht at first she had been hit, but it was her injuries that caused the pain, not a bullet I held her close, her face pressed against ht I had iht I spun toward it There was no sound save the ru on the SUV

"Get under the car," I told Debbie She looked at me, but in the darkness I couldn’t read her expression "Get under the car," I repeated She moaned and choked as I pushed her beneath the Cherokee It was a tight fit, but there was just enough clearance

I raised ainst the car door, gun in hand, and cautiously lifted my head above the hood Raindrops caromed off the surface and splashed my eyes

"Where are you?" I ain and a bullet smacked the front quarter panel of the car directly behindI fired it only for the sound it un, too I wanted him to know that I would use it

I ducked and rolled across the asphalt to the rear of the Cherokee The rain had flattened my hair and soakedto istered at the ti low, unshot

The rain htened inonly short sips of air; the pounding of my heart was loud in my ears; fear built Yet my mind remained clear and pliant The moment held no confusion for me I understood what I must do and how to do it For that I said a silent prayer of thanks to my skills instructors at the police acadeained over the years

I passed half a dozen cars and vans, poked

"Where are you?" I asked again, dragging breath into

Then a screaain I refused to panic Instead of rushing to Debbie’s side, I moved slowly and cautiously in a half-crouch back to the SUV I halted at the rear bu between un pointed rowled His face was oht by the glow of the streetlamps

I raised un, put your hands in the air," I shouted

Nye looked at un