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Taylor jerks the wheel.

Bullets strike the front quarter panel.

I duck as another round cracks through the windshield.

Taylor keeps driving.

“Really liked this SUV.”

“You can buy another one.”

“Not the point.”

The gunman fires again.

Taylor swerves behind a low dirt berm.

The sheriff’s vehicle behind us brakes hard and returns fire.

The man runs toward the plane.

Another man jumps from the passenger side of the van.

Then a third.

Three armed men.

The driver remains inside.

“Where are the girls?” I ask.

“Van.”

Has to be.

The plane continues moving.

The pilot isn’t waiting.

“He’s leaving them.”

“Smartest criminal here.”

The aircraft accelerates.

I grab the radio.

“Vega, plane is moving.”

“State police have the north end blocked.”

The plane gathers speed anyway.

For a second, I think the pilot intends to try taking off over them.

Then two state police vehicles race onto the far end of the strip.

The pilot cuts power.