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As I led into view It was barely legible under the nearby streetla on ine and swerved onto the street, sending a s a honk fro my anonymous helpers in the dust

Chapter Twenty-Eight

As I barreled down the street, I took a quick glance in the rearview mirror The men who came toslipping behind the car’s open door The car started towhile the car was in motion It was obviously much more powerful than mine—a full-size Ford or Chevy If this had been a race, my Fiesta would be the tortoise to their hare

I pressed the gas pedal as hard as I dared, looking both ways and praying as I blew through a stop sign With a wrench of the wheel, I careered to the right down a side street I swear round At least, it felt that way When I checked the rearview ain, a car that could’ve been the one in pursuit rounded the turn I’d taken I swung left onto another street, punched the gas, then turned left again

By this time, I was buried deep within residential Baltihborhood, but one from which I had no clue about how to reach the interstate I was startled into swerving to the opposite lane after spying a plastic garbage bag on the side of the road—a sight that sets the letters “IED” flashing through h to stop for the few seconds it took ap between two cars

I had chosen the spot hoping that I’d go unnoticed if the car went by It was between streetlights, creating a shadowy hideout between pools of light Of course, if they did notice side me and I’d be trapped Well done, Erica!

Having few options, I shrugged it off and dove intofor a pen and paper, so I could scribble the car’s license plate nu it relieved me of the need to repeat itmantra

I heard the car before I saw it and slid down below the steering wheel The headlights glared above htly Fro as fast as a snail Keep going! I wanted to shout

To my surprise, the car did just that Even so, I waited tenmyself from my crouched position

A quick scan revealed a street sign tinted orange in the glow of a sodiule Maps Adjusting the size with fuers disclosed the art school’s location and reoriented ure out how to reach the interstate without encountering those Good Samaritans

Chapter Twenty-Nine

I started the car and eased out onto the street With no one in sight, I started to relax a little My gaze swept back and forth as I eased through the darkness toward the hborhood feeling

more secure by the second The main road—four lanes that led to I-83—buzzed with coht want to brave city roads at rush hour Constant surveillance showed no sign of black limos or Good Saot the hell out of Dodge City, so to speak

After an uneventful drive hoe and left it in the space closest to the entrance I trudged inside and cli e plain white envelope tucked underneath it What now?

I opened my door and toed the envelope inside Unaddressed, but no doubt meant for me It could contain a letter or anthrax I shut the door and locked up tight, then retrieved a pair of latex gloves fro my surprise delivery Inside was one photo