I pull on my beanie, slip on my running shoes, and open the front door. Lassie sticks his head out, surveys the hall, then slinks back in. If I'd gotten over my little scare, Lassie was yet to get over his.

“I guess we'll have to get you a Taser too.”

Meow.

“No, I'm not getting you a knife.”

Meow.

“We'll discuss this when I get back.”

After running on the treadmill for close to week, I forget how amazing the air tastes. I decide to take a different route and head north toward Summer Park. I've already thought of escape routes, should the need arise. The stun gun is in my right hand, cranked on high.

I sweep the perimeter as I run. No signs of life. I try to remain on alert, but my mind continually drifts. I try to move past her, but she keeps popping back into my thoughts. Not Callie Freig. Not Jessica Renoix. Detective Ray. Her auburn hair, her crooked smile, how she would stare at me when she thought I was a murderer. I try to configure what her body is shaped like beneath those jeans and bulky sweatshirts. What sounds she might make. How her nipples would respond to my teasing tongue.

Bright lights.

Two sets.

Escape Route D.

I dart across the street. There is a ditch and I jump down into the water, then crawl up the embankment and enter Summer Park.

I head for the darkened tennis courts to my left. I crash through the chain-link gate, hurdle the net, then start on the eighteen-foot fence enclosing the two courts. I turn and look over my shoulder. Three guys have entered the court. They are all wearing black. They have guns. I wonder why they don't shoot. As I sweep my leg over the top of the chain-link, all three hit the fence and shake it for all it's worth. Somehow I'm able to hold on, then hop down the last ten feet.

I look through the fence at them. They could be Navy SEALs for all I know.

“Hey, guys.”

They don't respond.

They go to work on the fence and I wait until all three near the top.

“Sorry about this.”

I taser the chain-link fence.

Three screams, then three thuds as they fall to the green court floor.

I turn and run.

“Don't move.”

I'm staring into the barrel of a gun.

“Drop the Taser.”

I drop the stun gun.

“You guys okay?” he calls to his buddies.

“That motherfucker electrocuted us.”

He picks up the stun gun from the ground and looks at it. Then he pushes it into my chest and I scream.

…

I'm in a car.

“You okay?”

My vision is blurred. “What time is it?” I ask.

“3:35 a.m.”

I squint at the voice.

“Don't worry, we'll get you back before your 4 a.m. curfew.”

I recognize the voice, but the face still swims in front of me.