Hours Before

"It's time for me to say goodbye," I say.

The fugitives look up at me, a circle of pale faces in the dark warehouse. I've seen them all before: passing into the back of a truck, taking Valerie's hand for the first time, crying over homes now filled with government agents.

"I've never asked for anything from you in return," I say. "But today, I do. A young woman is going to enter this building. She's going to be looking for me. You will not harm her. You will not stop her. No matter what she says about me. Understand?"

Of course they don't. But they owe me their lives. They nod as one.

I find a face in back. Even now, Crazy Tom has that grin on his face. He winks at me. Then his t-shirt morphs into a hooded sweatshirt, and he strolls into the next room.

• I follow...