She didn’t answer. She just went back to serving her other customers.

Gruver drank half the coffee and then got up. He threw a twenty on the table and headed for the restroom. There was the door, just where the waitress said it would be.

He looked around. No one was in sight. He opened the door, stepped into a storeroom, and pulled the door shut behind him.

Catherine Goldman was sitting on a box, holding her head in her hands, staring at the floor. She had not heard him come in. Gruver was shocked at her appearance. She looked disheveled, her clothes muddy and torn, her hair a tangled mess.

He cleared his throat. Catherine looked up, startled, fear flashing across her face. Then she recognized Gruver and rushed into his arms. “Charlie, I’m so glad you came! I’m so scared!”

He held her close. Her body trembled. “Cath, that’s what old friends are for. You’re safe now. Nobody’s going to hurt you.”

Her trembling turned into a violent shiver. He took his jacket off and wrapped it around her.

“They want to…I shot…,” she stammered. She was not able to go on.

“Look, let’s go. Let’s get you out of here. It’s best to be moving. Then you can tell me what’s going on.”

She nodded and allowed him to steer her out the storeroom door. He held a protective arm around her as they stepped out into the smoky bustle of the restaurant. This wasn’t the self-assured professional that he was familiar with. Something had frightened her deeply.

As they made their way between the rows of tables, Gruver watched for any sign of trouble, for anyone who might mean them harm. He wasn’t sure what he would do if he saw a threat. A young couple with a pair of toddlers came through the front door as he was helping Catherine out. The mother looked at them. Gruver gave a wan smile. “It’s okay. She’s just not feeling well.”

They were out the door and headed across the parking lot. The walk to the car lasted forever, but at last they were safely inside his little Honda.

Neither Gruver nor Goldman noticed the big black Ford pull into the truck stop just as they climbed into their car.

“That’s her!” Nicholas Vujnovich shouted, pointing at the couple disappearing into the little green car. The truck stop was the closest civilization to the farmhouse. It made sense that she would get here and try to reach help. “Over there with the tall blond guy. The bitch has found herself a protector.” He reached into his belt to pull out the big Glock pistol. “Come on, let’s take care of her right now before she gets away again.”