Chapter 3

The rusted Ford rattled violently as Gus pressed the gas pedal. Dakota felt the vibrations traveling up through the floorboards and into her boots. The car slowly pulled away from the curb outside the Walton estate.

Up on the second-floor balcony of the mansion, Erling and Brande stood side by side. Erling held a pair of black binoculars to his eyes.

Brande let out a loud, sharp laugh. The sound carried over the balcony edge.

"Look at that piece of junk," Brande mocked. She pointed a manicured finger at the departing car. "Even our gardeners drive better vehicles. She is right where she belongs."

Erling lowered the binoculars. A cruel smirk sat on his lips.

"She will rot in the slums," Erling said. "She will beg to come back to us in a week."

Cindy walked onto the balcony. She pressed an ice pack against her swollen red cheek. She stared at the trail of black smoke disappearing down the road. Her chest heaved with vindictive pleasure.

Inside the car, Dakota grabbed the plastic handle above the door frame. The vehicle bounced hard over a pothole. Her teeth clicked together.

Gus gripped the steering wheel with both hands. His knuckles were white. He kept glancing at Dakota in the rearview mirror. His face was flushed with embarrassment.

"I am so sorry, Miss," Gus coughed. The smell of burning oil filled the cabin. "The car we arranged broke down on the highway. I had to rent this from a used lot down the street just to get to you on time."

Dakota looked at the cracked dashboard. She gave a small nod.

"It is fine," Dakota said. Her voice was calm. She did not complain about the smell or the shaking.

Gus blinked. He had expected the young lady to scream at him. Her silence made him grip the wheel tighter.

The Ford merged onto a tree-lined highway heading toward the city. The speedometer needle shook as it climbed to forty miles per hour.

A loud, muffled pop sounded from under the hood.

Instantly, a thick cloud of white steam exploded from the front grill. It plastered against the windshield, blinding them.

The car jerked hard. Every red warning light on the dashboard flashed to life. A high-pitched alarm shrieked inside the cabin.

Gus slammed his foot on the brake pedal. He yanked the steering wheel to the right. The tires skidded against the asphalt. The car bumped over the shoulder of the road and rolled to a dead stop under a large oak tree. The engine died completely.

Gus ripped his seatbelt off. He shoved his door open and ran to the front of the car.

A wave of hot steam hit him in the face. Gus coughed violently, waving his arms to clear the air.

Dakota pushed her door open. She stepped out onto the grass. She walked to the front of the car, standing upwind so the steam blew away from her.

Gus peered under the hood. His shoulders slumped. He turned to look at Dakota.

"The radiator blew," Gus said. His voice was full of defeat. "It is completely dead."

Dakota looked up and down the empty highway. Trees lined both sides. There were no buildings in sight.

"How far are we from the city?" Dakota asked.

Gus wiped grease off his cheek with the back of his hand.

"Too far to walk," Gus said. "We cannot get a cab out here. A tow truck will take three hours."

Gus bit his bottom lip. He looked down the road.

"There is a luxury auto dealership just around the corner, less than half a mile up the road," Gus said. He started backing away. "I will run there and just buy a new car. I will be right back."

Dakota paused. Most people would say they were going to call a car. He said he was going to buy one. She did not question him.

"I will wait here," Dakota said. "Be careful."

Gus bowed his head repeatedly. He turned around and started sprinting down the edge of the highway. His heavy boots pounded against the dirt.

Dakota stood alone next to the smoking vehicle. She grabbed her canvas backpack from the passenger seat and set it on the hood of the car.

The wind blew past her, rustling the dry leaves on the ground. She unzipped the side pocket of her bag and pulled out a plastic water bottle. She twisted the cap off and took a slow drink. The cold water slid down her throat.

A sudden, aggressive screech of tires tore through the quiet air. It came from the sharp curve just up the road.

A woman's terrified scream followed the sound of the tires.