“Work. Not everyone is lucky enough to get summers off like us. Becoming a teacher was the best idea I’ve ever had. Deep inside, I’m just a big kindergartener anyway. Plus, I’ve always wanted to be Ms. Frizzle.”

I laughed, then I noticed a small yellow car speed through the newly turned green light and switch lanes to head right for us.

“Shit!” Rose yelled. “He’s about to hit us. Hold on.” Rose hit the gas and swerved to the side of the road, narrowly avoiding an impact. I turned around in my seat to look, I was sure I’d seen that car before. Racking my brain, I tried to remember where I had seen the lemon-yellow old model car. The driver slowed down, then made a clumsy U-turn in the road.

I gripped the handle above the passenger window and yelled at Rose, “He’s turning around—go, go, go!”

He bumped us from behind. Rose and I both screamed as her Beetle jolted forward from the impact. Rose sped up and switched lanes to avoid another collision. The yellow car sped up as well and tried to sideswipe us, but Rose was faster and pulled ahead before he could hit us again. I looked nervously behind us as we sped crazily down the road.

“Oh, hell no. I just bought this car!” Rose shouted as she punched down on the gas, shooting us forward.

I gripped the handle tighter and tried not to panic. Dad said a clear head in a crisis would prevent—oh my gosh—I didn’t remember what it would prevent, but panicking was bad anyway. I took a deep, shaky breath and looked at Rose. She looked pissed.

“I’m headed for the police station. Call Dad. Or Cade. Or nine-one-one. Fuck, just get your phone out, Lily, and call for help.”

I forced my fingers to let go of the handle and unzip my purse. My phone wasn’t there. I jumped in my seat as Rose’s phone rang in the console, with a quick glance down I saw my picture on the screen with “Wonder Twin” spelled out above it. Huh? I picked it up and answered.

“Missing something?” a deep voice asked. I spun in my seat and saw the driver of the truck had a phone to his ear. He was so close behind us that I could see that it was in a bright pink case just like mine. How did he get my phone? When did I misplace it? I felt a chill run through my body. Had he been near my kids?

“Who are you? What do you want?” I managed to squeak out.