"Here you drag me to this and you walk around in a daze?" a voice interrupted his thoughts. It was Jason. "You just walked by a fully restored 1968 Camaro and never even flinched!"

"I was just thinking," Adam replied, waking up out of his thoughts. He felt a little better now that he made a decision. Adam was just going to concentrate on getting through this time and stay away from Bill.

"Hey, how did you know it was a 1968?" Adam came back again. His brother didn't know much about cars and he just caught that comment.

"I read the card," Jason said in a matter of fact way. There were rows and rows of cars in the open field that also contained the village's park. There must have been over 100 cars of all kinds and colors. But Adam just seemed to glance at each car. He usually studied each car for ideas and even talked with some of the owners. Jason figured he was upset about Bill coming and left it with that thought. The brothers were unusually quiet until they came upon a van that was somewhat like their own "Ol' Blue". The owner had made the back of the blue van look like a scene from Aladdin. It had beads hanging down with sheer blue curtains waving everywhere. It had a bed that had satin sheets in the back along with a TV and VCR.

"I like the idea of the TV and VCR, but I don't think that Ol' Blue would be a good surveillance vehicle with satin sheets," Jason whispered to Adam.

"What about those curtains?" Adam cringed. "However, I bet that bed is a lot more comfortable than our bench seat and sleeping bags."

The boys walked on up through the rows of cars. They passed a 1968 green Dodge Charger, 1966 black Mustang with orange flames painted on the hood and side panels, and even a 1969 steel blue Camera with silver trim. All of the cars were Adam's favorites, but Jason noticed that his brother was just not into the moment like he always was in the past. Then Jason spotted the car--- a black Trans Am that was the same year and make that Adam's car was at home. "Look at that. It is the future competition," Jason quipped to Adam, pointing to the car.

Adam had to smile at that comment and both brothers walked over to the car. Adam was visually comparing the car to his own. They both had the firebird decal on the hood and a small one on the sides in front of the hatchback.

"I tried to make it look just like Burt Reynolds's in that movie "Smokey and the Bandit" a heavy set older man said as he came up beside the brothers. "She can move just as well too."

"My brother here is restoring one, except his is steel blue," Jason added, trying to get Adam to join in the conversation.

"Really, what ya got under the hood," the man said with a heavy accent. After that Adam was talking a mechanical language that Jason did not understand. They discussed engines, times, and even specific brands names of parts that they used.

"The only problem that I have is getting this one hose to adjust right," the man said moving to show Adam the particular part of the engine. "It just keeps popping off."

"What kind of clamps have you been using?" Adam asked. It was the same problem that he was working on himself. The man went and got his set of clamps. Adam picked up the one that resembled his own and asked the guy for a screwdriver. The man went to get the tool and handed it over to Adam.

"Let me give it a try. I have been having the same trouble," Adam said as he applied the clamp and started to maneuver the screwdriver. He was doing pretty good until it started to get a little tight. He knew that it was still too loose, but he began to fumble with the tool. His hands were just not able to stay steady while having to apply the precise pressure. Before Adam knew it, the screwdriver slipped from his hand and clanked on the inside of the fender and fell to the ground.

"I thought you said that you tinkered with these things. You can't even hold a screwdriver!" the guy said in a sarcastic manner. Adam stood there, totally humiliated because a couple of other car owners were observing from a distance. "You have better not scratched it boy. I should have known that a boy could not handle a man's job."

"I am sorry," Adam stammered. Jason was looking at the next car when he heard the commotion. He walked over in time to hear the man's comment and it angered him.

Adam just walked off. He was very upset with himself. "Maybe I should have just died in that accident. I already feel like I did anyway," he muttered under his breath. Jason heard the comment and that even angered him more. He walked up to the big burly man and said, "For your information, my brother has worked on cars since he was fourteen. He has fully restored a car that other people, including myself, deemed as a piece of junk. It is now a work of art. I will not let you talk to him like that," Jason yelled, pointing his finger in the man's face. "I would like to see how you would do if you had been in a car that went over the side of a mountain like he did. It is a miracle he even remembers what a car is let alone try to use a screwdriver!"

"I thought he looked familiar. He was one of those kids in the car. I saw his picture in the paper," a woman came forward and stated.

As Jason politely fielded questions and dealt with the now very sorry car owner, Adam walked on ahead. He was already in the next row and out of sight from Jason. He thought about walking back, but he did not want to face those people. He continued to walk slowly glancing at the cars when all of a sudden he felt a hand grab him around the mouth and pushed him over to in between the very large car trailers. The subject pulled him to where they were out of site. Adam was so shocked that he didn't really react until he saw the figure in front of his face. She removed her sunglasses and her deep brown eyes told of her identity.

"Maria!" Adam exclaimed, hugging his cousin. He had not seen her for ten years, but he would know that face anywhere.

"You have certainly grown. If you were not my cousin, you would definitely get my attention," Maria said, pulling her long black hair back out of her face. She was a very stocky built woman and stood just as tall as Adam.

"What have you been doing?" he asked her noticing her size. The last time he saw Maria, she was a very skinny petite girl. "You are a gorilla. You could have had me down before I would have been able to do anything."

"I work for the Department of Forestry so I lift a lot and hike a lot of miles," She replied with her sweet smile. "I heard about the accident. Mom saw it in the paper. She still subscribes to it to keep up with everyone. Are you okay?"

"Yeah. I am going to be fine. Just have to take my time with things," Adam replied. He did not want to go into the details of his condition. He wanted to know why Maria was there.

"How is your family? I saw Jason with you. He hasn't changed much at all. I was hoping to catch you alone though," She said. Her face grew dim. "I don't have long so I will make it quick. Have you heard about my father?"

"Yes, he is on his way to our house now," Adam replied. "I can't believe that he did it again."

"Well, my aunt heard about and called Mom. She checked into it and found out about it. I knew that he would call your Dad and I thought that I should some how come and talk to you," Maria said, looking him in the eye.

"I am glad you did. This is all just tearing me up. We can help take him down," Adam said, trying to persuade his cousin into telling the truth.

"No Adam! I can't do that. I have started my life over. I do not want people to look at me like that," Maria objected. "You don't understand. I want a normal life."

"No, I may not understand everything, but your secret is tearing me from my family. It is putting a wall between me and my own brother!" Adam growled back. "After you left, he would watch us when my parents went on trips. I got locked in a closet and beat every time he came to that house. So yes, I have suffered because of your secret and I have never told anyone your secret!"

"I am sorry Adam. I really do appreciate your discretion. Please, they will convict him. They must have some proof. That will be enough justice for me. We can't change the past for those girls because it has already happened, but once they put him away, he won't be able to do it again," She said in a gentle tone. "I feel horrible for them, but we have to look out for our own lives. Please keep the secret; don't even tell Jason even though I do love him dearly. He just would not understand."

Reluctantly Adam agreed to keep that event to himself. His eyes started to tear up, just as Maria's started to cry. "It is just that those visions haunt me and I have to keep it to myself. I feel guilty that I am not telling me family, especially Jason."

"Here, I will give you my address and phone number. If you need me, call me," She said as she scribbled the information down on to a napkin. "Don't tell anyone that you saw me. He does not know where I am and I want to keep it that way. Just hang in there. He can't hurt us anymore if we remain strong and don't let him."