“Professor!” The shout carried across the square. Someone was on to them.

Tommy instantly increased her pace, weaving through the stream of travelers heading into the station. “Do not stop,” she toned gravely.

Isaac tried to casually increase his pace as well, pretending like he hadn’t heard the voice. Who speed walks while reading a newspaper? Not very covert.

“Professor!” They were closing in fast.

He didn’t dare look back. Doing so would only confirm him as the target. Now half way across the square, Tommy headed for a line of food trucks where the crowd swarmed like bees around a hive of stir fried and barbecue. Isaac kept the paper up and tried to play it cool even though his hands were shaking. Beyond that a busy curb offered the chance of grabbing a cab and making a quick escape.

If they could make it in time.

Wait? Where was Tommy? She was ahead of him a moment ago.

Isaac stopped. Which way?!

A hand suddenly grabbed his arm. Isaac jerked with panic as it pulled him abruptly out of the crowd and between a pair of parked food trucks. Dropping the paper revealed an exasperated looking Tommy holding a finger to her lips.

“Professor!” Now the voice was on top of them, accompanied by rapid footfalls.

A moment later a woman appeared as she ran past their position, pumping one arm as the other hung limply beside her in a sling. She continued for several strides before stopping, her shoulders heaving from the sprint across the square. Putting her good hand to her forehead she sighed.

Tommy silently pointed to continue around the backside of the trucks. Quickly.

Isaac hesitated. Duck and run wasn’t his thing. Grabbing his carry-on by the side strap, Tommy pushed him sharply into action. He could feel her free hand flat against his back as they hurried along behind the line of trucks. It wouldn’t take their purser long to figure it out.

In the shadow of the last truck, Tommy seized him by the elbow to stop.

“There.” Fob in her gloved hand she pointed out a parked black BMW X5 SUV situated on the street apron reserved for emergency vehicles. Keying a button caused the rear hatch to lift automatically. Another started the engine. “Rear. Go.” A fifty-yard dash of open square separated them. Might as well be open season.

Isaac hesitated again. Running all-out across the open space would be a dead giveaway.

“Now!”

Abandoning his paper, Isaac bolted for the vehicle, his long legs offering him some advantage in escape.

“Stop!” Spotted.

Isaac pressed forward, arms pumping, feet flying, eyes locked on the lifted tail hatch ahead. Just thirty more feet! Was he going to get shot?! The threat of death carried him with an unbelievable speed.

Twenty feet!

Ten feet!

He launched himself into the air.

In a graceless flying belly flop, Isaac landed in a heap in the back of the X5, feet dangling out.

Instantly the SUV rolled into motion.