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Chapter 1

Mack Abernathy cast a long eye at a flat sea of corn fields, brown and dry under a sizzling, tor sun It seems like the clear blue sky stretches on forever across the horizon Heavy drops of sweat oozed down his rough face like angry beetles struggling through a plate of sticky syrup

“There's a town about five h of relief as he eyed the fuel gauge “We can stop and grab a bite to eat, and get soas”

Brenda Lawson glanced over at her friend Despite the heat, Mack earing his street-battered gray trench coat Not that Brenda could call hiood bit there”

Mack focused on the narroo lane that his old Olds down “You sure about that?” he asked

Brenda grew silent for a eles won't be any better than New York Corruption is everywhere Aht because I'm tired?

“We're ood time You shouldn't be late for your friend's funeral,” Brenda answered, ignoring the sweat dripping off her forehead The dry air blowing in fro much relief

“Whatever I—”

The Olds' sound exploded froet away from him “Hold on”

Brenda waited while Mack struggled to steer the Oldsmobile to a stop on the side of the road She looked at the hood and saw hot, dangerous stea air

“We wereout into the heat She opened her door against a thick set of corn stalks as she did, and walked to the front of the car “Maybe the water hose went?”

Mack stared down at the hood with hard eyes “Could be? I' to need some help real soon”

“Sa to Green Ridge”

Mack looked down the scorched back road lined with dry corn fields and signed deeply

Brenda knew they were too far out to get any reception, but she snatched out a black cell phone froht pocket of her suit jacket and tried anyway “No signal”

Mack frowned a little He wasn't one to tolerate the heat “I'll lock up the car and grab the last two bottles of water”

Brenda checked the Glock 17 she had hidden in a shoulder holster as Mack locked up his old car As Brenda glanced around at the ocean of corn fields, a strange, sout She reached up her left hand and felt the hot air The air felt… abnormal

Soht about these cornfields, whispered a voice deep inside Brenda

“Let'sher a bottle of ater “We've got so to do”