Modern makeup artistry had reached a near-magical level-no less effective than the old legends of disguise and transformation. In the right hands, a man could become a woman, and a woman could pass for a man without raising suspicion.

For Leonard, slipping away from pursuers was child's play.

All of Sandford had been locked down. Every road was blocked, every car stopped and inspected.

The driver eyed the barricade ahead and murmured, "Mr. Lerman, there's a checkpoint."

Leonard glanced at Stella, who remained motionless in the backseat, and spoke with cool indifference. "Relax. They wouldn't recognize us even if they tried."

It was soon their turn. Leonard shot the driver a look; the man understood, got out, and walked to the officers. He handed over his license, a slim envelope of bills tucked inside. "We're in a hurry, gentlemen. I hope you'll let us through." He gestured to the car, his voice steady and convincing. "There's nobody you're looking for in my vehicle. You're welcome to check."

The interaction carried clearly into the car through the cracked window.

down. Stella, meanwhile, had been

ignored the bribe, gave the interior a cursory glance, and asked,

the two of us," the driver

the floor, limp and utterly still—as if she'd slipped beyond consciousness, unable even to cry for help. She

unfold. He exchanged a glance with the inspectors-these weren't strangers, but men he'd strategically planted for this very performance. The goal was to let Stella

her in the backseat on purpose, offering her one final, tantalizing chance to call for rescue, just to snatch it away at the last moment. He imagined her hope crumbling, her spirit shattering-he'd looked forward

into oblivion. That spoiled

playing games. Foreman's people were still searching

the car rolled

was thick and impenetrable, the city streets empty in the early morning hours. Their driver kept mostly to deserted back

intently to

the comms. As soon as Abby's car had turned onto the main road, tails had picked them up-now several vehicles were shadowing them. Leonard had

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