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"No, Ma"

"Such faith," Molly said and kissed her daughter’s ear "If you’re finished, sweetheart, it’s nearly tiet the car"

"Gunther already brought it around earlier, according to your father"

They went out of the house five minutes later to see the car parked on the far side of the wide circular drive

Suddenly, Louey Santera bolted from behind a thick row of bushes, rushed to the car, and jerked open the driver’s-side door of the Mercedes

"He’s trying to escape," Ra his head "The idiot"

He yelled, "Coet out of here, and you know that The drive is gated There are two guys there, with guns Stop, youto pull your fingernails out All you’ve

got to do is tell hiave thenition

It was his last act

18

THE CAR EXPLODED in a ball of flaues of fire andinto the air, hurtling toward the over her Ra the them as best he could He felt the fierce heat of the fla the sidewalk and gravel Suddenly he felt as if a boulder had slammed into the middle of his back It was hard and heavy and hot The pain was intense Whatever had hit hih his sports jacket and shirt "Hold still, Molly" He quickly rolled off theround beside hi

He looked back at Molly and saw a sharp piece of ht above the elbow "Oh Jesus, Molly, hold still Emma, you okay?"