Countdown. Heather Woodhaven

take me away from the main road.”

      She looked in the side mirror. So far she didn’t see the black sedan in view. That didn’t mean much, though. They could be only half a block away. “You want me to wait to call the police? Fine. But we need to do the unexpected. Trust me.”

      James glanced at her before he turned the wheel at the last second. Rachel’s head slammed into his strong shoulder from the momentum.

      “Sorry.”

      She strained to sit upright. “Drive through the community area.”

      He released an exasperated groan. “There’s no road.”

      Her hands itched to take the wheel herself, to be back in control. “I know. Drive through it. I’ve sat on that bench and watched teens do it. I called the police, but the point is it can be done.” She shoved a hand past his face, pointing. “Dart through there and you can get to a different exit out of the subdivision. They won’t see where we went. They won’t be able to follow us.” She spoke so rapidly she wasn’t sure if James caught it all.

      James shook his head. “Who’s ready for a roller coaster?” he asked drily.

      The car dove down the sudden decline and past the basketball court to the left. The whimpers in the back seat morphed into a strange mixture of crying and giggling, as if they didn’t know which emotion was called for at the moment.

      He didn’t decrease the acceleration as they went back up the hill and out onto a new street.

      “Take a right,” she said. She turned around to get a better view. No sedan in sight. Rachel turned back around. Her stomach roiled as she fought back a sudden rush of motion sickness. “I don’t think they saw us.”

      “Because they don’t believe I’m insane.”

      “Oh, but backing up through a garage door at gunpoint is perfectly reasonable?” Snarky comebacks came naturally, but she’d grown good at holding her tongue...until now. “Sorry. In times like these, instinct is your ally.” If only she didn’t know it to be true.

      He raised an eyebrow. “Sounds like you’re speaking from experience.”

      “Another time.” She exhaled, not willing to expound. They reached the main road, and he took a right, barely squeezing between two cars. The final signs of daylight disappeared as streetlights began to glow. Only the remaining light pink hue hung on the western horizon. “Do you know where we’re going?”

      “Whichever way is fastest to blend into traffic. After that, I’ll take you wherever you want.”

      “Wherever I want?” Rachel couldn’t believe he said it with all the nonchalance of a cab driver. “You just told me that those men—possibly part of a terrorist plot—are out to get me, and you’re glad to take me wherever I want?”

      He darted a glance to the back seat. Rachel cringed. She didn’t want to scare the boys but hopefully they didn’t know what the word “terrorist” meant.

      “I thought that’s what you wanted. The police station—”

      “I’m sorry. I took it the wrong way. I’m just stressed out. If you think Derrick is the key to safety, I’ll wait until you call him.”

      James shoulders sagged. “I can’t apologize enough for getting you involved in this.” He turned onto a main drag and headed for the freeway. He merged into the fastest lane and reached into his pocket to pull out his phone.