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necessary for their survival.
    “I’m going to throw this worthless piece of garbage at their windshield,” she said as she stuffed her braid down the back of her blouse. “Odds are, they’ll stop to look for it and we can get away without—” She took a deep breath and blew it out, pushing aside the trepidation and concentrating on her plan.
    “Without us dying?”
    She grabbed the film, turned around on the seat, and put her knees close to the door. “That’s what I’m counting on.” Lucy wedged the heel of her boot under the seat to keep from falling out of the window, but before she pressed the button to lower the glass, she stared at Johnny from over her shoulder. His knuckles were bloodless, gripping the steering wheel too tightly. If his brows were any closer together, they’d be one crooked line.
    There wasn’t anything she could do or say that could change the way he was feeling at the moment. If she let her guard down again, she’d be blinded by those same feelings. But if they didn’t get hurt—or killed—she would jump through whatever hoops that would get them away safely.
    “Johnny, please give me a smooth ride.”
    “I promise, Lucy. Be careful.”
    Grabbing the handhold over the door, she nodded. “I’ll try.” She punched the window control and cringed at the thunderous blast of wind that cycloned into the truck as the glass disappeared into the door. Lucy took another breath before stretching out the open window.
    From her dangerous vantage point, she could see the dark SUV click on its bright headlights, illuminating her in white light. She brought her arm up and let the wind rip and thrash at the length of film in her hand for only a moment before she let it loose. It vanished into the grill of their Suburban. They started skidding, but the driver kept control well enough to not fishtail into the other lane of traffic as he slowed to a stop on the fast lane’s shoulder.
    “Yes, yes, yes !” Lucy shouted into the night air. For good measure, she added, “I hope you choke on it. Now leave us alone!” The violent wind had dislodged her hair from her shirt. The long braid whipped along side her head, slowly coming undone as she gazed around at the other cars on the freeway. They hadn’t crashed into anyone. There hadn’t been an explosion. They didn’t die. “It’s been changed,” she yelled to no one in particular. Johnny knocked her leg, and she remembered they weren’t completely out of danger yet. Another surge of panic ran through her chest.
    Lucy touched the door with her hand and began to lean down, but the truck suddenly swerved to the right and she struck the back of her head before she had cleared the doorframe. Brilliant lights burst in front of her eyes as she slumped over the door. Lucy barely heard Johnny yelling at her through the high-pitched whine in her ears. Her ability to respond seemed limited to groping for the back of her skull. A moment later she felt herself being propelled backward, down onto the cramped floorboard.
    Leaning against the seat with her shoulder, she felt the icy reminder of her weakness rush through her blood in short, intense waves, growing stronger with every heartbeat. Lucy knew she only had moments before she would be unconscious. They weren’t safe yet. If they stopped now, the agents would find them. With her hand against her head, she said with a groan, “Hide … us!” Feeling Johnny’s strong hand tighten around her arm, she let the coldness wash away her pain.

 
 
 
Six
     
    “You’re okay. We’re safe.”
    Johnny’s voice felt warm in her ear. It comforted her. Lucy opened her eyes but couldn’t see much in the darkness. She felt a soft restraint when she tried to lift her hand. A blanket was covering her, keeping her warm, yet the back of her head still felt icy cold through her intense headache. She wasn’t on the floorboard any longer. As hard as Lucy tried, she couldn’t remember crawling onto the