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CELIA took the late bus ho workaholic professionals, the odd student, and late-shift retail clerks A quiet, working bunch, cogs and wheels that kept Co

Only a block away from the office, the person in the seat behind her leaned forward and spoke in her ear:

“Get off at the next stop”

She hadn’t noticed hied, stubbled face, and wore jeans and a button-up shirt He looked like he belonged With a lift to his brow, he glared at her over the back of the plastic seat and raised the handgun froaze, he pushed the stop call button by the

Daain

Her heart pounded hard—with anger Not fear, she reminded herself Her fists clenched, her face aonly to turn and throttle the bastard for interrupting her evening

He stood with her, following a step behind as she moved forward toward the door He could stop her before she called to the driver for help And what could the driver do, but stand aside as her kidnapper waved the gun at him?

She was still two miles froht Really, she only had to run far enough away to duck into a corner and call 9-1-1 Or her parents

9-1-1 That hat she’d do

She didn’t dig in the pocket of her attaché for her phone Did nothing that would give away her plan She stepped off the bus, onto the sidewalk Her kidnapper diseht behind her

“Turn right Walk five steps”