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The bald man runs toward the sedan. We’re on the main road before he reaches it. Sophie twists around in her seat, staring through the back window. “Who are they?”
I don’t answer. I watch the mirror.
The black sedan shoots out of the side road behind us.
“Samuel.” She turns toward me. “Who are they?”
I push the truck faster.
The old bridge flashes past on our left, its red boards glowing against the yellow trees. Costumed children standing near the railing wave at us as we tear down the road.
I take the next turn too fast.
Sophie grabs the handle above the door. “Slow down!”
“Can’t.”
“What do they want?”
“You.”
Her face loses color.
“Why?”
“Ransom.”
“How do you know that?”
I don’t. Not with certainty. But Doug and I made enemies during our service, some of whom didn’t forget us when we came home. More recently, Doug built a private security firm handling contracts for people with dangerous secrets and deeper pockets. Sophie is his only child. She’s leverage.
“I know the type,” I say.
She stares at me.
The sedan closes the gap another car length. I take a sharp turn onto an unmarked road. Branches scrape the sides of the truck. The surface changes from pavement to packed dirt, scattered with wet leaves. The sedan overshoots the turn, its brake lights flaring.
It will come back. But I’ve bought us time.
Sophie looks over her shoulder before facing me again. “Where are you taking me?”
“My cabin.”
“No.”
“It’s secure.”
“My father’s house is secure.”
“They’ll expect you to go there.”
“Then take me to the police.”
“I don’t know who they’ve paid.”
Her jaw tightens. “You expect me to trust you after you just kidnapped me?”
“No.”
