Snider’s day had been a blur of activity. Rising just after four A.M., he hadn’t stopped from the moment he’d shaved his head over the motel sink. Locating an appropriately sized SUV had consumed much of his morning, but he was pleased to have found the silver, nineteen-foot, 8,500-pound beast. He had to drive the car sixty miles from Allentown to get to the stretch of road that interested him. Once there, he stayed and practiced driving the same route over and over until he was convinced he could manage it virtually blindfolded. Timing would be everything.

Then he set out to find his mark. That part was easy.

Following the now familiar twisting road along the rolling hills, he considered how complex this assignment had become. So little time, so many variables. Still, Snider knew that if he executed this contract flawlessly, he would reach a new professional zenith. He knew pride now motivated him more than the substantial money.

He pushed his foot down, accelerating the truck into a gentle curve. On the other side of the turn, he again recognized the taillights of the pale blue Volvo S40 sedan in the waning dusk. With mounting annoyance, he realized he might run out of natural light. Glancing in his rearview mirror, Snider was relieved there were no cars behind him this time. He couldn’t afford witnesses. Each of the previous three attempts had to be aborted because of some interloping vehicle. He knew this would be his final opportunity of the night.

He sped up and gained on the car, whose predictable speed made the timing slightly less critical. He headed into the last series of the turns, staying ten yards behind the Volvo.

His preselected spot was within 600 yards.

Confirming there were still no cars visible in his mirror, he accelerated. He pulled into the oncoming lane and brought the car even with the blue Volvo, as the next curve neared.

Snider slowed the SUV so the two cars were side by side for three or four seconds. Then, closing within a hundred feet of his chosen site, he veered to his right. He barely felt a jolt as the Excursion’s passenger door slammed into the Volvo’s driver’s side.

For a few moments, the Volvo staved off the rightward momentum. Snider leaned a little harder into the steering wheel. The grating sound of metal and the screech of tires melded into an oddly harmonious sound.

Then the SUV rocked slightly, freed of its metallic kiss.

Snider glanced out the window and watched the Volvo slam through the low retaining wall and careen over the embankment.

Deeply satisfied, he hit the accelerator without so much as taking another glimpse in his rearview mirror.

Focus! There was so much more to do and time was running thin.

57 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

57

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania