More on this book
Community
Kindle Notes & Highlights
hand, had more or less predicted everything that had happened today. It was a decisive victory, he thought, but he wouldn’t waste breath on explanation. Some places were holy. That and the fact that he’d wanted one of his own was all she needed to know. “Why are
but if he had, he’d conference the two women so they could be ridiculous and shortsighted together. “We know enough.” “What do you know that nobody else knows?” Piper looked at him with those huge blue eyes. It was rhetorical, basically a joke. But he’d already known enough to prepare, and could still
happened first — because they hadn’t had time yet to make their big move? That was just stupid. “We’re almost there.” Meyer looked out across the sea of brake lights. He patted her hand to soothe any possible reproach he might be broadcasting without intention and gave her a forced smile. She smiled back. He felt something release inside. “And we can
romantic movie. Meyer reached out and poked the radio. They were approaching the exit. Once off the expressway, everything would be faster. Piper moaned. “I just want to check before we get there,” Meyer said. The radio program had changed. Apparently, there was fresh news after all. But none
slowly being surrounded by flashing blue and red lights. Trevor jerked awake in the back seat. He blinked. “What? What’s wrong?”
“The FAA just grounded all flights,” said Meyer, pinching the bridge
DAY TWO
Day Two, Morning Rural Pennsylvania Piper woke with a soft vibration under her head. At first she didn’t know what it was. She’d been having a dream where she was on a roller coaster with Meyer’s ex-wife. Heather was wearing an outrageous red dress that turned her average-size boobs into respectable and decidedly Victorian-era cleavage. It wasn’t the kind of
trip yawning to hours in the way time stretches like taffy in the reverie of sleep. The dream’s only common thread from beginning to end was Piper’s ever-mounting terror. She’d woken just as they’d crested the first hill’s top. The last thing Heather said before tipping down was, Hang on tight, baby. It gets bumpy from here. Then Piper was awake, vibration under her head, and no true awareness
where she was. For a crazy second, she was sure Meyer’s ex was still around. Only Heather Hawthorne would stick a running vibrator
able to handle the light traffic. He’d scooted the JetVan’s luxurious leather seat back a foot and turned it slightly into the cabin. The radio was tuned to a whisper, Meyer tapping around on his tablet. “Have you been up all night?” she said. “I thought we might need to run someone over.” Piper wasn’t sure whether Meyer was joking. He looked serious enough, his head
are we?” “Pennsylvania.” Meyer nodded toward the window, and what seemed to still be nighttime. A glance at the console clock: 6:23 a.m. “America the beautiful. Should I wake the kids to show them what fields look like? They look the same in the dark as they do in the light, more or less.” Piper looked into
black eyebrows less troubled-looking than they’d seemed lately. Lila and Raj were asleep in the very back, past the faux-marble console,
other like two poles in a teepee. Piper wasn’t sure she liked that. They needed each other, yes. But every mile farther they drove from Raj’s family in New York was one degree more difficult it would be for Lila to give him up. The way she was
middle.” “Not toward New York.” Meyer looked up at Piper and gave her the look that had made him his fortune. Meyer Dempsey seldom wanted something he didn’t eventually get. Including Piper, who’d only meant to use Consensus rather than meet (or marry) the man who’d
“West.” Meyer’s look was at once stern and almost condescending. He had his chin mostly down, his light-green eyes rolled up to meet hers. The grim expression of an authority — explaining rather than bargaining, asking, or attempting to justify. They were going
where the seat had flattened it, she said, “I still think it makes sense to go back to New York. What are we going to do out here in the open, Meyer?” “Drive west.” “You think something’s
“Then we should be home. Not out here in the boonies.” “Nobody’s going into the city right now. There’s a reason. New York is always a target. Of everything. Nobody wants to be there right now, unless they literally have nowhere else to go.”
as flight. We can make it on the plane that’s grounded!” “Keep your voice down. The kids are asleep.” “You need to sleep,
about being physically able to sleep. We all need a break. If we just stop for a while, finish the night …” “The further west we get, the … fuck.” The road had been
electric. “How has it been?” she said. “Traffic, overall?” Meyer shook his head. They’d been driving along steadily when Piper had woken,
something happens. A few accidents with no clear cause, like people are just rushing, going manual to try and get past blocks, then running into each other. A few cars off the road, and
rapidly away, focusing all attention on his father. “We’re going.” “I meant to McDonald’s.” “That was a joke, Trevor.” “I’m hungry.” “There’s a bunch of dry stuff and bars in the back.” “I don’t really want
stirring in the back seat. “Are we talking about stopping to eat?” “No,” said Meyer. Piper shrugged. “Might not be a bad idea, Meyer.” “No. We have to get to Colorado.” Lila sat up. “Wait. You were serious about that?” “There’s an exit
outrunning the panic? Something like this happens, speed is our only advantage. We have a bathroom, food, water, even entertainment.
“That’s like three days, Dad.” Lila shook her boyfriend. “Wake up, Raj. We’re driving all the damned way to Colorado.” “Try Raj’s parents again,” said Meyer. “He’s not going anywhere.”
“There are no rape gangs, Lila,” said Meyer. “Not yet,” said Piper. Trevor smirked. “Nobody’s going to rape Raj. Maybe we can use him to shoo rape gangs away.” Raj rubbed his hands across his chest. “You’re wrong. Everyone wants a
him the Beetle.” “Well, that didn’t work out, though, did it?” Trevor made a face at his sister. “Oh, like you wouldn’t have thrown yourself in front of the wheels if Dad had pushed him into it and those people hadn’t come. You’re not letting Raj go anywhere.” Raj was still rubbing his hands across his chest. “Can you blame her?”
Meyer, then shot Lila and Raj a look. She understood; she’d been a stupid teenage girl in love once, too. But Lila’s father hadn’t been, and somehow Piper imagined Meyer’s teen dalliances
