“I can't. There's still a car in front of us.” Her voice was strained. “Come on, come on, move…”
Julian took another step. He was maybe ten feet away now, close enough that I could see his jaw clench, see the predatory focus in his visible features.
He’d recognized me. Even with the wig, the glasses, the different clothes… somehow he justknew.
“I think he’s the one who put my name on the List,” I said, voice barely above a whisper.
Four sets of wide eyes swiveled to me.
“What?” Dylan said. “Why the hell would Julian put your name down?”
“I think he knows I’m looking into his brother,” I said, my voice cracking slightly. “This is probably his version of revenge.”
“Jesus Christ,” Jeremiah muttered.
“I knew it,” Cherry said, voice tight. “All those weeks ago. Iknewthis investigation was a bad idea.”
“I know. I’m sorry for dragging you into it,” I murmured.
“I’m not blaming you, Vee,” she replied, meeting my eyes in the rearview mirror. “I’m just really fucking worried about you right now.”
Julian was only five feet away now. He raised one hand, signaling for Cherry to roll down the window.
“Don't,” Dylan said sharply.
The traffic light turned green.
“Finally,” Cherry breathed.
The car in front of us didn't move.
“Comeon,” Cherry muttered, her foot hovering over the gas pedal.
Julian was three feet away now.
Two.
One.
And then, finally, mercifully, the sedan in front of us lurched forward and made the turn. Cherry didn't wait another second. She gunned it, the van's tires squealing slightly as we shot through the intersection and onto the highway.
I twisted in my seat, looking back through the rear window. Julian stood on the corner, still as a statue, watching us disappear down the road.
“Holy shit,” Dylan breathed. “That was way too fucking close.”
“Did he see her?” Cherry asked. “Like, actually see her and recognize her?”
“I think so,” Jeremiah said, his voice shaking. “The way he was looking at us… god, that was crazy.”
“But how?” Dylan asked. “Cherry's disguise is great. There's no way he would’ve been able to tell. Not unless he was already right up close.”
“I don't know how he knew,” I said. “But he did.”
We drove in silence for several minutes, everyone processing what had just happened.
“At least we got away,” Ginny finally said. “And he didn't follow us. I've been watching, and no one's behind us.”
“Yeah, but now he knows we're in the theater van,” Cherry said grimly. “That narrows down their search.”
