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“They know the backpack is still inside,” Lael whispered “They’re going in to find it You can count on that”

“Which gives us tiet out of here,” I said

“You got that right”

I noticed that the garage door opened with an electronicthat dilemma, too

“We’ll pop the release to the motor,” he said, “and I’ll roll it up fast Once I have the door headed up, start the motor and I’ll hop in Cie—”

“I know I’ll be ready”

Cie and I crept over to the truck, and I quietly eased open the driver’s-side door

“They’re about to o inside,” Lael reported from the

I settled in behind the wheel and she handeddown the passenger-side , leaving the door itself half open

They’re inside, Laelfro up on the bu track on which the garage door ran Every garage had a release lever that allowed the door to be manually opened and closed If not, ould you do when the poent out?

Lael released the door from its track

Then he cli back my way

His look said it all

Ready?

I nodded, ers on the keys, foot on the accelerator

He lifted the door upward

It rose, exposing the light of day I fired the engine andthe automatic transmission into drive Lael hopped into the cab and closed the door

“Hit it, rookie”

I revved the engine and we roared fro for the drive out to the street We passed the new vehicle and Lael pushed back in his seat, allowing Cie to aim her rifle across hi out two tires in the process

That should slow them down considerably

In the rearviewin our wake, I saw the two guys rush fro west, away fro at the drive I cut it off by speeding ahead

The van braked to a stop

I increased speed

Lael and Cie were staring out the rear windshield

In uys frohway and leap into the van

“That’s not good,” I muttered

“No It’s not,” Lael said

The van sped our way

We had a half- blob in the rearviewin size as it approached

“You ever done this before?” Lael asked

“On randfather’s farm all the time”

He shook his head “Lot of good that’s going to do us”

I drove with a sense of urgency, forcing attention onthe mirrors, then as ahead

The road ran straight as a ruler

Where was a state trooper when you needed one

“They’re co,” Cie said

At least we had the rifle

The van sucked close to as, but the van stayed near Then it veered into the other lane and pulled abreast I decided why outrun it and let off the gas, allowing our speed to slow, dropping us back behind the van

“That’ll work,” Lael said