“I think Mrs. Wilson would like to hear that the mukhabarat pay you to watch her.” He hunched his shoulders like it was winter. “She should know you are not really her friend.”

Ally sighed like the breeze on the lake.

“I know you’re shocked.” She swiveled toward him. “I was too, believe me. I felt like a fool. I was angry. Real angry.” She paused and glanced at Huda. “But the truth is, if I was in your mom’s position, I would have done the same thing.”

Huda winced.

“Thank you.”

She reached across and squeezed Ally’s hand. She wondered, did the young woman realize that even now, if she had no other choice, she’d give her up to save her son? Her DNA was curled inside Khalid’s cells. That trumped everything: fear of the mukhabarat, greed, even a true and loyal friend like the one seated beside her. As Huda steered the Land Cruiser past a hedge of salt cedar, shame tightened its fingers around her throat.

“Please,” she said, “don’t feel that you have to defend me to—”

She slammed her foot on the brake. An old yellow Chevy blocked the track. The Bolt Cutter was at the wheel. He caught Huda’s eye and laughed, teeth flashing in the dark cabin.

Ally pressed her hand to her mouth. “That’s the guy I saw this morning.”

“Mom, do something.” Khalid’s voice squeaked. “Don’t let him hurt us.”

“Everyone, stay calm.” Huda’s fingernails dug into the wheel. “Remember, we’re on a day trip to Lake Habbaniyah.”

The Bolt Cutter slid out of the Chevy and lumbered toward the Land Cruiser, smirking like a glutton served a platter of steak. Huda slid her foot toward the accelerator. Should she run him down? The Bolt Cutter laughed and tugged a revolver from his pocket, as if he’d read her mind.

Huda shot a glance at Ally. She was pale as bone. In the back seat, Hanan huddled in a ball, clutching her mother’s scarf. Khalid’s eyes bulged, the whites too bright, pupils wide as the lake. The Bolt Cutter would see right through their day-tripper tale. Even if Hanan’s weeping didn’t give them away, the animal in him would sniff out their fear.

Where was Abu Issa? she wondered. She’d never dealt with the Bolt Cutter on his own. Panic pounded at her chest.

“Ally, I’m leaving the keys in the ignition.” She reached for her door. “If anything happens to me, drive straight to the highway and keep going. Fifteen miles from the border, remember, make that detour. The compass is in the glove box.”

“Wait.” Ally twisted her wedding ring from her finger and pressed it into Huda’s palm. “Take this. Maybe if you give it to him, he’ll leave us alone.”

“Are you sure?”

Ally nodded.