GLANCED AT THE CAR WHEN SHE HIT SIXTY AND WATCHED CATRINA SCRAM
                  OUT ONLT7 THREE SECONDS BEFORE IT BLEW.
         
                       Mlii WAS PANTING EXTRA HEAVILY7.SURE SHE LOVED TO RUN BUT
                  TWELVE MILES IN SPRINTHORM,NEEDED TO BE ACCOMPLISHED IN LESS THAN
                  TWENTY MINUTES IN A SKIRT WAS RATHER CC)MPLICATED,VERY.MILLI
                  WAS NOW AT CATRINAtS HOUSE.SHE RAN HER FINGERS THRCUGHIIER DYED
                  HAIR.SHE WONDERED HOW DARLENE W~.S DOING.SHE PAUSED TO SLIP ON HER
                  GLOVES,AND HAT AND STEP INTO THE HEELS.SHE WALKED BV TH E FOUNT
                  IAN PEACEFULLT’,SHE ACTED LIKR SHE DID INDEED LIVE THERE.SHE
                  PRE TNKDED TO GIGGLE AND SMILE BUT ON ~E INSIDE SHE WAS CRYING.
                  SHE WALKED UP TO THE DOOR DODGING THE SPRINKLERS • SHE OPENED THE
                  DOOR AND A BLAST OF COLD AIR CONDITIONB AIR HIT HER FACE.SHE RAN ]
                  INTO THE KITCHEN POURED TWO GLASSED OF ICE TEA AND WAITED.SHE HEA
                  RD A DOOR OPEN.SOMECNE WAS TRYING HIDE IT THC~1GH. SHE SLIPPED OFF
                  THE GLOVES AND LAYED THEN NEATLY BESIDE HER GLASS.STRIKER STEPPED
                  IN.HE DIN’T LOCKED SUIRPRIESED TO SEE HER.
                    “AHHHHHHH,DARLENE WHAT A PLEASURE.”
                  “WHERE ARE THE HOSTAGES?” SHE ASKED.HE SNEERED.
                     “NOPE,NO,NO,NO NOT UNTIL I GET TO MOOLAH.”
                  “WHAT DC YOU THINK IS IN THE BAG?” SHE SNAPPED.HE GLANCED AT THE
                  BAG.THEN THE DOOR CPENED.IT WAS DARLENE,MILLI KNEW THAT.
                     “THIS WAY!~” SHE SAID IN A ~CAGGERATED STAGE EHISPER.SHE HEARD
                  FOOTSTEPS.STRIKER STEPPED IN FRONT OF HER.
                      “IS THIS WHAT YOU DO WHEN YOU ARN’T SCOLDING PEOPLE?” HE
                  ASKED.THEN SHE IIOTICED HIS NECK.I! WAS BLISTERED,AND BLOODY.
                      “YOU’LL PAY.” THEN SHE NOTICED THE SMALL RED SEALED CONTAINER
                  IN HIS POCKETS. THE GAS £ SHE STOOD UP AND WRAPPED HER A~IS AROUN3
                  HIS WAIST.WITH ONE HAND SHE SNATCHED UP THE GAS TOSSED IT TOO
                  £IBBE AND PINCHED STRIKERS NECK. SHE WATCHED AS JESSE THREW HER TH
                  E GAS.SHE CAUGH!~ IT AND STUCK IT DOWN HER SHIRT,THE SAFEST PLACE.
                  SHE KIOKED OFF HER HEELS AND YELLED SPLIT UP AND DODGED UPSTAIRS.
                  THERE WERE SEVEN FLOORS.ON THE THIRD SHE STQPPED.SHE RAN INTO THE
                  BATHROOM WHERE THE BATHWATER HAD BEEN DRAWN FOR CATRINA EARLIER
                  IN THE DAY.SHE HEARD HIS FFCTSTEPS.SHE DOVE IN.THE BATHROOM DOOR
                  OPENED.SHE CLUTCHED THE HOLES IN THE DRAIN.HE CLOSED THE DOOR,SHE
                  SLOWLY SOUNDLESSLY CAME UP.
         
                     DARLENE WAS NOT HYSTERICAL,SHE WAS FUMMING.SHE RACBD INTO THE
                  UTmC AND UP TO THE OLD STUFF FROM HER MOTHERS.SHE RAN STRAIGWP
                  TO THE CRIB.SHE PULLED THE MATRESSBACK AND SIGHED.THERE IT WAS.
                  HER MOTHERS SILVER PISTOL WITH A MOTHER 0E PEARL HANDLE.SHE QUICK
                  LY CHECKED THECCUNT OF BULLETS.SIX.SHE REARED FOOTSTEPS COMING UP
                  THE ATTIC STAIRS.PANIC STARTED TO TAKE CONTROL.SHE BIT HER LIP,
                  SHE CLIMBED INTO ~NE OF HER OLD CLOTHES HAMPERS AND WAITED.THE
                  SNEEXE BURNED HER THROAT,SHE PURS~ED HER LIPS .4 SMALL CR00 ESCAPED
                  SHE TURNED OVER THE BASKET CLIMBED OUT AND AVOIDED A SPARK CAUSED
                  BY A BUI~LET.SHE CREPT ALONG THE FLOOR RUST AS STRIKER.SHE STOOD UP