That answer didn't make me feel better. My heart sped up. "The rain is getting worse."

"The storm changed directions. It's heading straight for us. But it might be helpful. It might provide cover for us to leave the city. There will be chaos and confusion."

"I don't need cover." I held out the bag I was carrying. "I brought what you asked. Now I'm going home." I said the words as forcefully as I could, even though I was torn up on the inside as to what I should do.

Headlights from an incoming car lit up the street next to the cemetery, and then they went off. Car doors opened and closed.

"Is this who we're waiting for?" I asked.

"No. It's not. Oh, God! They've found us."

The gate screeched opened again. Two figures were heading straight toward us. "Is there another way out of here?" I asked.

"There's a back gate on the other side of the cemetery that leads to Washington Street. That's where my friend was supposed to enter."

"Lead the way," I said.

We ran around the back of the mausoleum, moving deeper into the cemetery. I thought we might be able to get away. Then I heard a shout behind us. The beam of a flashlight lit me up.

Fear drove me to run even faster, but as we dove into the shadows, it was hard to see where we were going. I stumbled, hitting my knees on a protruding gravestone that tumbled me to the ground. I scrambled back to my feet, ignoring the searing pain in my leg, as I prayed for a way out.

A gunshot rang out, the blast instinctively making me duck my head. Swearing, I ran faster, flying over the ground, desperate to get back to my life. "I'm not dying tonight," I swore. "Not here. Not now."

A flash of lightning and an earth-shaking roar of thunder followed my words, the skies opening up with torrential, windy rain. Maybe the storm would provide the cover we needed to escape.

I had to survive this night. I had to get home. I had to…

CHAPTER ONE

Carmel, California

The biggest call of my life came at three o'clock on a Thursday afternoon in the middle of September. I'd been working at my sister's clothing boutique in downtown Carmel when Ray Price's name flashed across my phone screen. I couldn't take the call in the shop, so I'd jumped into my car and driven a half-mile to the beach where I'd parked along the coastal trail and called him back.

"You're in," Ray said, his voice filled with excitement. "The Pacific Coast Orchestra wants to hire you as a second chair violin for our upcoming European tour. It's the chance of a lifetime, Brynn. We'll be touring for eight weeks starting in November and ending just after the New Year. You'll get to play in eight major cities, ending in Paris."