Chapter 206

"Henry Smith!" Vera Clark's panicked voice hit my ears like a thunderclap. She sounded terrified—so much so that my gut told me something must've happened to Henry. I gathered what little strength I had left and forced my eyes open— A blurry figure moved into view, blocking my line of sight. It was Vera. She was shielding Henry and me with her whole body. Then, in the next breath— “Bang!” That unmistakable sound of a gunshot. The man who had been holding me tight let go suddenly, his arms shifting to catch Vera as she collapsed toward the outside. Slumped against the car door, I no longer had Vera or Henry keeping my view blocked, so I saw it—right there, a gray van closing in from behind. I had no idea if that bullet had been meant for me. Whoever it was clearly wanted me dead. What baffled me was how confident he was—wasn’t he afraid of hitting Henry too and setting off Marilyn Gray? But that was probably the only shot he was gonna get. Right then, I heard approaching sirens. A polic