“Are you crazy? Abby, you can’t be out there alone.”

The vehicle stopped. We had no time for this discussion. She shook her head vehemently. “I’m faster than you are. Than him too, probably. I can do this.”

I stared at Abby. This was madness. But it had a certain logic to it. I grabbed her, cupped her face in my hands, and then pushed her toward the door. She sprang out and sprinted through the gate.

“New destination,” I instructed. “DFW Airport.”

The vehicle pulled away from the curb. I looked behind me. The other vehicle had stopped. The man dashed after Abby.

Abby bypassed the first building and ran alongside two lengthy pools of water. I can outrun this guy. All I have to do is keep moving. She came upon a wide expanse of concrete that ran between the main mall and a large circular building. She glanced behind her. The man was running full speed, passing the end of the first pool. She was perhaps a hundred yards ahead.

She veered to the left and ran across the concrete expanse, dodging people and art exhibits. She glanced again over her shoulder. The man had piled into a group of people, knocking down one woman and several easels. He continued on, undeterred. Her confidence began to fade. She wasn’t outdistancing him.

Abby ran past an amphitheater and angled toward a large stadium on her left. She passed between two buildings, scanning for a doorway or hiding place. She had left the art fair crowd behind and was alone in this part of the grounds. Why did I come this way?

She glanced over her shoulder. Her pursuer trailed her by less than seventy-five yards. She passed a row of empty concession stands. A building quickly approached on her right. The aquarium. She ran to the main entrance, grabbed the handle of one of the doors, and jerked. It didn’t budge.

Abby sprinted with all her might past the building. She could hear the footfalls a short distance behind her. She circled a small pond and neared the entrance to another building. She braced herself for another try at a door. She slowed and grabbed the second door handle as she passed, letting her momentum pull it. It swung open. She lost her balance and broke her fall with her hands. She reached for the door handle again, pulled herself up, and dashed inside.

Racing past dinosaur bones and a mastodon skeleton, she ran down a ramp that switched back in the opposite direction. She grabbed the handrail at the bottom of the ramp and swung herself around to look behind her. Nothing. She stood, trying to quiet her panting enough to listen for her pursuer. Where is he?