t blurred the world into gray static. Imogen huddled deep

ve dollars to get to a Motel 6 on the other side of Queens, b

mmed, was driving a black Toy

o the curb, its engine purring with a low, expensive rumble. Imogen squinted thr

grabbed the handle of her suitcase and wrestled it off the cur

en the back d

suitcase into the footwell. It didn't fit well; she had

eat, slamming the door

by the soft hum of climate control and the faint, woodsy scent of

sleeve, which only smeared them further. "I am so sorry about the wet luggage," she b

as no r

es back on. Her vision cleared en

not a Toy

console between the front seats with a touchscreen glowing with climate con

wore a dark hoodie pulled up, but his posture was rigid. He had been in

head slowly

ping hair, her muddy sneakers on his custom floor mats, and the suitcase

p, a baritone that vibrated in the qui

arge man with a thick neck, his face obscured by a dark baseball ca

iver asked. "s

Boss-didn't break eye co

self against the door. "I... I thought

e man said dryly, his tone

She had jumped into a stranger's car. A rich

She fumbled for the door hand

cked. Child loc

ked. "Let

river with a slight nod.

umbled out onto the pavement, slipping on the wet asp

he large black car. A beat-up Toyota Ca

ed at the Toyota

the backseat just as the driver unl

ber driver asked, looki

t dr

ogen slumped against the window, watching the taill

caught in

suit

y seat beside her. She looke

car!" sh

ha

ft my bag in

d vanished into the rain, taking with it her clothes, her shoes, a