Every Second

48

Somewhere in New York State

Miles from where Kate Page stood with investigators and reporters, Dan Fulton battled the dread gnawing at the edges of his mind about what was awaiting him.

Still under the tarp of the moving SUV, he’d tried to determine how far they’d traveled, but it was impossible because since they had taken him from the car they’d stopped a number of times, and for long periods.

During those stops Dan had heard the men talking to each other, then on the phone, but he was unable to make out their conversations from under the tarp.

Now that they were back on the road they’d made no other stops and Dan sensed that they’d been driving for a great distance. The whole time he thought of Lori and Billy, imagined their faces, heard their voices and prayed to be with them again. He ran his thumb over the edge of the utility knife tucked under his sleeve. Not much of a weapon against guns, but it was all he had-and he would use it to fight back. To save his family.

Eventually, the sound of the road changed, indicating they’d turned on to some kind of gravel path.

Dan took in a long, slow breath.

Stones pinged against the undercarriage, and he was bumped and shifted as the SUV twisted and turned along what had become a long, rough stretch. They continued for what seemed like miles, curving, dipping and tottering but always climbing.

Dan’s heart galloped.

The blinking red light of his suicide vest continued its relentless countdown, and Dan was overwhelmed with the realization that they were heading to a remote area, and soon he was going to die.

This is it. It’s-

Bang!

The sound of the explosion filled his ears and the SUV lurched off the road.