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With one more look out thethat told

him the car and the man were still there, Callu But he couldn’t stop thinking about that parent and child He couldn’t explain why he needed towas off about the stranger in the car Even though he had sworn off guarding fanore this He’d hter were okay and then he’d be on his way

Hazel Hart took her now-cheerful daughter’s hand and walked with her toward the SUV Earlier Evie had fussed about being told she could not go for ice cream today Hazel’s schedule was far too busy But Evie liked passing out cookies to Hazel’s clients Hazel had told her five-year-old she could sample one with them That had taken care of the ice cream tantrum

Hazel glanced around The street was quiet This area of town didn’t getValley, there was a lot of new development and not much commercial business The back of the strip h landscaping along the sidewalk made it more palatable for residents The client she’d just left enjoyed the convenience of Hazel’s home deliveries, especially since she had been taken ill with breast cancer The woht, but had hired Hazel to provide her meals while she recovered The woman had family but they all lived out of state and she didn’t like the food her neighbors prepared

Hazel had left her job at an upscale restaurant several o off on her own as a personal chef She preferred the independence and not having to work under someone else’s thumb Plus, she could always be with Evie, which was herin the world

Reaching the SUV, Hazel unlocked it and had her hand on the back seat door handle when Evie said, “Mo?”

Hazel looked in the direction Evie pointed and saw a lasses and a baseball cap

“Why did he hit that man over the head with a rock and put him in the car?”

Hazel turned sharply to Evie “What?” She looked around and didn’t see anything

Evie pointed “That man put another man in the trunk, Mommy”

Hazel felt a wave of apprehension sweep through her as she stared at the sedan If the driver had struck a man unconscious and put hiood intentions He started pulling out into the street way too quickly for Hazel’s comfort

Hazelthe street, right toward them

Reaching for Evie’s hand, she went to pull her daughter onto the sidewalk Evie dropped her Cookie Monster and bent to pick it up Horror flared up in Hazel She glanced up and saw the car was almost on them! They’d be run over!

“Evie—” Just then so her backward

The stranger in the sedan continued to race for them Hazel screamed, as did Evie, as a man hauled them behind her Mercedes and up onto the sidewalk The other car whizzed past, taking out her Mercedes’ driver-side mirror