Cain noticed how Linda scanned her surroundings. Because of what she’d done, she’d be doing that for the rest of her life. The only out was to find someone who could help her vanish, but Linda’s problem was finding someone she could trust. You could pay someone to erase your past, but if Nicola paid more, you’d never be free.

Lou instructed Jerry and let a few cars go before they started after them. Linda was driving a Jeep covered in mud as if she was trying to blend in to her surroundings. The house they pulled up to was a large but older place that was a few miles from the school and had a snowman in the front yard.

“I’d like to leave this lady to the rest of her life, but that’s not going to be possible,” Cain said, getting out of her truck and buttoning her jacket. She was dressed much more casually than usual, but the country was no place for cashmere. “Wait for me, and make sure no one gets past you. According to Nathan, it shouldn’t be too long before Nicola’s goons show up.”

“Are you sure you want to go in there alone?” Remi asked. From her expression the answer yes was not the way to go.

“I need you out here with Lou to keep an eye on the road in. My gut tells me we’re almost out of time.” She put her hands in her pockets to keep them warm, and she glanced at Lou. “Take care of the truck, and everyone put on a hat.”

“What?” Jerry asked as Lou got out and took a screwdriver out of the bag he had with him.

Lou placed another license plate on the truck and placed a skullcap on his head. If something happened and one of the neighbors got the plate number, it would come back to a truck of Jerry’s description, only owned by one of the larger farms north of them. Once they hit the highway, they’d change it back.

“You want a gun?” Remi asked.

“I’m going to try kindness first and see what that gets me,” she said, smiling.

It was starting to snow, and the wind was picking up as she walked down the street. The house had a few lights on, but the places around it were dark. If something did happen, it was good that there were only four other houses to worry about. Linda had chosen a place close to what was considered downtown, but despite that, the pool of witnesses would be small.