“Special Agent Dwayne Myers. Are you in there?”

“Fuck off,” Myers sputtered.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” said the unseen man. “Mr. Stricken sends his regards.”

“That wannabe dictator can lick my balls.” Myers was so weak that they probably didn’t even hear his defiance.

“Sir, a vehicle is approaching. May I have your permission to eliminate Myers before witnesses arrive?” asked the first voice.

“Granted.”

They opened up with full auto. Bullets struck the car. The passenger side window broke and showered them with safety glass. Stuffing flew out of the seat. Metal rang as holes were punched through. Myers gasped as something hit him. “Dad!” Strayhorn felt an impact in his side. “Aaah!” It was like being hit by a hammer. Desperate, he lifted his 10mm and fired it wildly out the back window. He still couldn’t see anyone, but hoped that it would force them to take cover. It worked. The shooting stopped. Strayhorn fired until slide lock, then brought the pistol back, fumbling for a reload.

His foster father was a dead weight resting on his shoulder. “Hang on, Dad, hang on.”

“You guys are supposed to have superstrength. Let’s see it in action. Mr. Stricken wanted to be certain. Drowning’s pretty damn certain. Second, flip that car over.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Crown Vic lurched. They were high centered on the bank. There was a metallic groan and the car shifted. More river water poured into the cab. Their rear end was already in the air, but now someone was beneath it, pushing. Strayhorn pointed the Glock through the back seat, trying to guess where the supersoldier had to be. He started shooting, hoping that something would get through the undercarriage for a lucky hit, but it didn’t do any good. They were suddenly vertical, and Strayhorn fell against the dash. His father landed on top of him. Black water rushed in all around them, and then they were toppling over. Desperate, Strayhorn wrapped his arms around his father and tried to shield him as the car toppled onto its roof.

He took one last desperate gasp of breath as water exploded through every opening, instantly filling the car. They were sinking, the two of them spinning around inside, blind, not even knowing which way was up. Stay calm. Stay calm. Seconds later, the car’s roof hit the muddy bottom, and the interior somehow became even darker.