She turned back toward the door, and froze.

“They were here!” an unfamiliar voice yelled. “A bunch of southerners!”

The beam dug into her back as she reached desperately for the knife. Her fingers closed around it. She angled it so the blade was against the zip tie and began sawing.

“Check inside,” another voice said. “Send a bird down the road to look for cars.”

She sawed as fast as she could, taking in a slow breath. Panic would not help right now. If she dropped the knife, she was done.

Outside, footsteps drew closer.

Pain slashed across her palm as the blade cut her, and she winced. She angled it back toward the restraints.

The zip tie snapped off her wrists. She leapt to her feet.

The door banged open.

LENNON

“IT’S STILL MOVING back toward the center of Northgate,” Anna said, leaning forward to talk to Lennon in the driver’s seat. “The SUV.”

“How far are we from where they were?”

“Only a couple minutes.”

“Okay. We’ll see where they went, look for any sign of Maisie, and then double back to them if we don’t see her.”

“You are literally going as fast as this van will go,” Queso said. He had one hand on the dashboard like he was bracing for impact and hoping for a broken arm. “We can’t double back.”

“It’s an expression.” Lennon pressed his foot harder on the gas. “And now we’re going as fast as this van will go.”

“I deeply regret letting you drive again.”

Lennon let up on the accelerator a little as they approached a curve in the road. It was dawn, the first hints of light making it easier to see and reminding him that he was very quickly running out of time.

Something smashed into the windshield.

Everyone in the van screamed, and Lennon slowed, swerving as they rounded the curve. The van bounced as they rolled into the grass, and he swerved again, getting back on the road.

A piece of a metal bird was lodged in the windshield. He could barely see through it now with all the cracks.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something move, and he quickly turned to see a small figure running toward the road. Maisie.

Two men were chasing her.

He slammed on the brakes.

“Oof,” Anna said as he felt her hit his seat.

Maisie swerved, running in the opposite direction from the van.

“No—hey!” He flung open the door and cupped his hands around his mouth. “Maisie!”

She looked over her shoulder without stopping. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and he felt it deep down in his chest when her expression changed from fear to relief.

He shot back into his seat, hitting the gas. She couldn’t change course again—the guys were gaining on her—so he was going to have to go to her.

He raced forward, getting so close to the guys that he heard one thump against the side of the van. The other yelled, swerving to avoid them. He came to a stop, and Anna slid the van door open. Maisie leapt inside. Lennon took off again.