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The driver veered off into a lousy section of the Bronx “Your husband has visitor on the way,” he stated “FBI More questions Burbank weak He talk Stupid Dangerous We warned He not listen We punish You die”

Die? Soher cool

“You’re wrong,” she responded, confused and desperate “The FBI’s not co by And, even if they do, Mattheouldn’t say a word He didn’t last time He won’t this time”

“No trust Too many talks between him and FBI No more”

The finality in his tone was absolute There was no reasoning with this animal

That did it Rosalyn lunged forward, scra to climb into the front seat and wrestle away control of the steering wheel As she did, she spotted the long, open switchblade on the passenger seat, and shuddered The knife was covered with blood She forced her gaze away, trying to cli at the driver’s thick arm to break his concentration and yank his hand off the wheel

He grabbed hers instead, bending her forearh her and she could hear the crunching sound of bones She cried out, struggling to escape his grasp

“Stay in back,” he ordered, shoving her off the console “You can die quick Or you can die slow Your choice” He released her ar into the back

Rosalyn slid back into her seat Her ar horribly Her life was on the line And she had no idea how to save it

Fate intervened

The Explorer approached a red light Her intended killer accelerated to run it As he did, the wail of an aency vehicle appeared and sped through the intersection

Rosalyn’s abductor sla in Chinese He and Rosalyn both lurched forward

She didn’t s Manually, she pressed open her door lock, yanked the handle, and flung open the door She hit the ground running, heading for the first crowd of people she saw—a bunch of teenage boys shooting hoops

Hands tre the gate as if it were some kind of protective wall

The basketball game stopped A half-dozen tall, muscled teens turned in her direction A half-dozen pairs of wary eyes stared at her She twisted around, peering back at the street and the un Explorer The driver had leaped out and dashed around to the open rear door Suspicious passersby, recognizing a stranger on their turf, were already pausing on the sidewalk to scrutinize him He scanned the area for a minute Then, he slammed the rear door shut, ran back around to the driver’s side, got in, and gunned the engine, disappearing around the corner