Lights appeared behind them as the second of the Suburbans reached the top of the slope.
“They made a quick recovery. Let’s hope they don’t realize what the snow is hiding,” John said.
“Or the back seat.”
John jumped at the voice behind his head. It sounded familiar.
The cold metal of a gun barrel pressed against the back of his neck.
Caitlin whirled toward the sound and tried to bring her shotgun around.
“No,” John transmitted. “Don’t do anything yet.”
John dogged another hidden rock and then plowed through the barbed wire fence.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“The same thing we all want. A long and peaceful life, but alas, we can’t always get what we want.”
“But we get what we need. Yeah, I know that song,” John said.
“Song?” Dewatre asked.
“Never mind.”
“Who are you? Which group do you work for?” Caitlin asked.
“My name is Alain Dewatre. As for who I work for, does it really matter?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Good, careful here, Mr. Blalock. I want you to slow down as you enter the trees.”
They reached the far side of the clearing and John slowed as he turned onto the drive that led toward the neighbor’s house.
“Why? If we slow down, the Feds will catch up.”
“I just want to be able to watch the fireworks,” Dewatre responded.
“What fireworks?” Caitlin asked.
“I thought you might need a little assistance with your getaway. Ah, there. They’re entering the woods.”
In the rearview mirror, John could see the Suburban pulling onto the drive. Dewatre raised a small transmitter, and John’s goggles automatically dimmed as the night erupted with thunder and lightning.
John swore under his breath and flicked on the headlights. Behind them, the Suburban swerved off the drive and crashed through the trees until it reached one that was too large to knock over.
“What was that?” Caitlin asked.
“Something like the stun grenades they used on you. I thought they would appreciate the irony.”
“Now what?” John asked.
“Now we switch vehicles. They may have gotten a good look at this one. Turn left at the road.”
“Okay, but do you think you could move that barrel away from my neck? The road is still rough, and I wouldn’t want you to accidentally do anything drastic.”
“No, I don’t think that would be a good idea. You’ll just have to avoid the worst bumps. You, Ms. Maxwell, can set the safety on your weapon and pass it back to me.”
“John?” she transmitted.
“Go ahead, our chance will come later. Just stay ready to move when I give the signal.”
She gave him her silent agreement and passed her shotgun across the seat. Dewatre took it and laid it on the floor.
They turned onto the road, and a half-mile later Dewatre had John pull into another driveway. A green Explorer was parked just off the road.
“Stop here,” Dewatre ordered.
John stopped the Cherokee alongside the Explorer and put the transmission in park.
“Now what?” he asked.
“You remain just where you are. Keep both hands on the top of the steering wheel.”
John eased his hands to the eleven and one o’clock positions and waited.
From the corner of his eye, he could see Dewatre slide across the seat until he was behind Caitlin.
“Now, Ms. Maxwell. I want you to get out and shut the door behind you.”
Caitlin followed his instructions and stood waiting.
Dewatre opened his door and motioned her to back up. Then he stepped out while keeping his gun on her.
“Turn around and back toward me. That’s close enough,” he added when she was an arm’s length away.
“Now you, Blalock. Remember any wrong move, and I will kill your employer. It’s hard to collect from a dead woman.”
John killed the engine and pocketed the key as he got out.
Dewatre took a grip on Caitlin’s coat and pulled her slowly toward the rear of the vehicles. John followed.
“Now open the back of your vehicle,” Dewatre ordered.
John complied silently.
“What’s he going to do with us?” Caitlin transmitted.
“I don’t know. He didn’t kill me when he had the chance before, but he may have more motive now. He probably wants the cyber phone’s technology. Don’t let on to anything we’ve learned, sooner or later we’ll get our chance.”
John opened the rear of the Cherokee and waited.
“Where is it?” Dewatre asked.
“Where’s what?”
“Don’t be smart. You know what I’m after, the disk and the prototype.”
“Oh, that.” John leaned into the back of the Cherokee and slid out the case containing the helmet.
“Open it.”
He flipped the latches and opened it slowly. In the dim glow of the dome light, he could just make out the helmet’s outline.
“All right, now the disk. Where is it?” Dewatre asked.
“Right here,” John replied and took the disk from inside the case. He held it up for Dewatre to see.
The man frowned. “That had better be the right disk. Otherwise, Ms. Maxwell will die.”
“I have no reason to lie about it, Dewatre. It’s not worth my life or Ms. Maxwell’s.”
“That is a good attitude to have. Now set it on the back seat of my car and move away.”
John put the disk inside the case and closed it. He crunched through the snow and opened Dewatre’s rear car door. He set the case on the seat, stepped back, and closed the door.
“Now turn around and walk to the front of your car. If you look back this way, I will have to shoot you.”
John turned slowly. Snow swirled in the dim light. He took one step.
“Caitlin, tell me what he’s doing,” John transmitted.
“He still has the gun at my head. He’s forcing me toward his car. John, I’m
