Soaked to the skin in his own sweat, at one minute to twelve Jason stripped off his work gloves, swiped his forehead on the sleeve of his T-shirt, and headed back to the break room. Inside, he leaned up against the door and started to shake. For one wild, crazy moment he wanted to go to the police. He squashed the idea the moment it entered his head. More sweat trickled down his face. He could smell his own stink. He wished he could dive into a pool of ice cubes. He raised his eyes and saw the intercom directly in his line of vision. Stacey! Maybe Stacey was his answer. Like he had so many choices to draw from. He marched over to the console and pressed the number nine for the paint department. Stacey herself picked up. “How can I help you today?” she said, cheer ringing in her voice.

“You can help me by hightailing it to the break room, but don’t look obvious. I’m in some deep trouble, and I need your help. Can you do it?” Jason hissed into the phone.

“Oh, yes, we’re open till nine. We have hundreds of colors to choose from. I’m sure you’ll find one to your liking. Be right there,” she hissed in return. “You’re scaring me, Jason.”

Five minutes later, Stacey Copeland slithered into the room. “Why do I feel like I’m in some kind of I Spy TV show? My God, you look awful. What’s wrong?”

Jason rolled a can of cold Pepsi across his forehead and around his neck. “Everything and anything is wrong. I need your help. Actually, it’s Emily whose name is really Rosalee who needs your help. And her boss, too. I’m being watched. I have them in a safe place for the moment, but I can’t go to them because people are . . . people want to harm them.” He knew he was babbling, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

Stacey held both her hands up, palms facing Jason. “Whoa there, Nellie. Back up and start at the beginning and tell me everything. If you want my help, you need to tell me every little thing and do not hold anything back. Deal?”

Jason nodded, the words tumbling out of his mouth at the speed of light. He ended with, “This is the only place where you and I can talk. They even know about you. The guy flat out told me the girl in the paint department introduced me to Rosalee. They’re probably going to start watching you, too. That’s why we have to move fast. We cannot be seen together. You understand that, right?” Stacey nodded.