Taken by Lisa Harris Page B

Marcus asked above the noise.
    Kate nodded.
    “We’re the third stop.”
    She shifted her focus to the map on the train’s wall as they sped down the tunnel. Three more stops, and they could get off. Three more stops, and she’d be safe again.
    Do not fear, for I am with you.
    Do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
    The words from Isaiah she’d memorized years ago started running through her mind.
    I will strengthen and help you.
    Do not fear.
    Do not fear.
    She repeated the words until she felt a small wave of peace sweep over her. She could do this—she would do this—whatever it took, for Rachel and Sophie.
    Leaning into Marcus as new passengers pressed into the train, she grasped on to that sliver of peace and kept praying. Prayed for continued peace. For wisdom. For protection. For healing for Rachel...
    Kate’s fingers tightened around the pole as the train left the platform and she looked out across the crowded car. Her breath caught. He was standing at the far end, near the door. She recognized him immediately. Bald head, tattooed arm sleeves and those gray eyes that seemed to pierce straight through her. Panic engulfed her as their eyes met.
    Do not be afraid.
    She couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move. She was ten again. Alone, lost and afraid. She counted to ten and tried to stomp out the fear. He still hadn’t moved. Maybe he hadn’t seen her. Maybe it really wasn’t him. She closed her eyes for a moment. Or maybe she’d imagined him. But a moment later, when she glanced again across the crowded train, he was still there.
    Do not be afraid.
    She nudged Marcus and leaned toward him. “He’s here. At the far end of the car on the left.”
    He grabbed her hand and squeezed her fingers. “Okay. At the next stop we’re getting off. Stay close to me.”
    She tightened her grip around the strap of her purse, forcing herself not to look back at the tattooed man. Trying to convince herself she would be safe with Marcus. But even with the strapping agent beside her, her confidence was fading.
    God, I don’t know when this is going to be over. How much more of this I can take...
    Because whoever was behind this had proved they weren’t simply playing a game of threats. And that fact alone had her wanting to run for her life.
    She glanced up. This time the tattooed man caught her gaze. Panic struck again. Her fingers gripped Marcus’s arm. This was no coincidence. He knew she was here and as foolish as it seemed, he clearly had no plans of letting a crowd stop him.
    She tried to walk through their options. He could be armed, but security appeared to be tight, even at the metro stations. They could get off, find a police officer. Surely that would deter the man.
    Marcus pressed through the crowd toward the doors as the train prepared to stop. Seconds later, a rush of commuters stepped out onto the platform with them. Kate glanced back, trying to find him. He’d vanished into the crowd.
    “Is he following us?”
    “I don’t know. I lost him.”
    But she knew he was still there. She had no idea how, but in a sea of people, he’d managed to find her again. She searched behind her while struggling to keep up with Marcus across the congested platform. He
was
still there. She knew it.
    “Do you know where we are?” she asked, out of breath.
    “More or less.”
    His answer didn’t help alleviate the panic. She glanced behind her again at a group of women wearing colorful saris, and found him.
    “He’s there. Twenty yards or so behind us.”
    Marcus gripped her hand tighter and pulled her toward the exit, pushing through the crowd, past an elderly man playing an accordion. Past ads for shampoo and movies. Past the stairs that led to the street.
    “Where are we going?”
    “Back onto the platform on the other side. If we time it right we’ll be able to lose him on the next train that comes through.”
    She nodded. Marcus should go after the man, but he clearly wasn’t taking any chances because of her.