“Wha . . . what do you mean?” Hannah forced out the words.

“Excuse my language, but I’m very much afraid all hell is going to break loose.”

Hannah reached for her water glass, but her hands began to shake. She was afraid she’d spill it if she picked it up so she didn’t even try. Her mouth felt as if it were filled with sawdust and her throat was parched when she attempted to swallow. She needed to explain, to tell Doc that her truck had skidded on the wet gravel when she’d swerved to avoid the tree branch, that the pounding rain had reduced her visibility to almost zero, and the blinding flashes of lightning had made it impossible for her to see him standing there at the side of the road. She opened her mouth to tell him all that, but before she could even try to utter a word, she saw Mike rushing toward her across the dining room floor.

“I got here as soon as I could,” he said, pulling Hannah to her feet and hugging her. “I’m so sorry, Hannah!”

He was holding her so tightly, she could barely move, but she managed to gasp out a question. “Sorry?”

“I’ll try to delay them. Just go out through the kitchen and we’ll figure out what to do later. Go now, Hannah! I called Michelle. She’s coming to get you!”

“But, why should I . . .” Hannah started to ask, but then she spotted Andrea running through the dining room, dodging waitresses and busboys as if the meanest bull in Winnetka County were after her.

“Hannah!” Andrea gasped, jerking Hannah away from Mike and turning on him with fire in her eyes. “Get your hands off my sister! I’ll never let you take her!”

Mike stared at her in surprise. “But I wasn’t going to!”

Andrea made a sound that sounded a bit like a growl to Hannah’s ears. “Oh, yes you were! Don’t lie to me, you . . . you cop!”

Hannah stepped back, staring at one and then the other as they hurled accusations at each other. What in the world was going on?! And that was when Michelle came racing up to grab Hannah’s hand.

“Quick! Come with me! Lonnie’s in back and he’s got the car running!”

“But . . . what in the world is . . . ?”

“No time!” Michelle interrupted her. “I’ll explain later. He’ll be here any minute and then . . . oh no! It’s too late!”

Hannah glanced over Michelle’s shoulder to see Bill striding toward their table looking grim.

“Go!” Andrea ordered Hannah and then she rushed to intercept her husband, grabbing his arm and attempting to slow his progress.

“Get away!” Hannah heard him say in a tone she’d never heard him use before. It was an officious tone, a commanding tone, a tone that brooked no nonsense.

“Don’t you dare!” Andrea clung to his arm.

“I have to. It’s my job. Get away or you’ll go, too!”