Nancy heard Jake say, “Now, get ready for the concert. I’ll be back in twenty minutes.”

She heard the door close and Melissa start crying. Nancy opened the door and climbed out of the closet. She moved quickly toward Melissa who was sitting on the couch.

“Melissa,” Nancy whispered as she got closer.

Melissa jumped, momentarily startled. “Oh, Nancy,” she said starting to cry once again.

“Calm down. Everything will be all right.”

“How can it?” Melissa asked with tears streaming down her face. “Jake’s stolen my money. Someone, probably Jake, is trying to kill me and Frank is dead.”

“Frank’s dead?”

“I just saw him. He wasn’t moving.”

“That’s not possible.” She put her hands on Melissa’s shoulders. “Are you sure it was Jake who stole the money?”

“He admitted it,” Melissa said wiping her eyes and blowing her nose loudly.

“Then, we’re going to the police,” Nancy said getting to her feet. “Get your jacket. We’re leaving.”

Melissa quickly grabbed a jacket and slipped it on. She grabbed the note off the table and slipped it into her jacket pocket. Melissa followed Nancy as she moved toward the door.

Nancy opened the door a crack to make sure no one was out there. She turned to Melissa and nodded. They started out the door when they noticed Frank and Joe were hurrying toward them.

“Frank!” Melissa said when she noticed him. She hurried over and hugged him. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Frank looked at Nancy. “Where are you going?”

“To the police.” Nancy looked around. “We need to get out of here.”

“Let’s go,” Joe said and led everyone out of the arena.

They quickly moved through the parking lot toward the van. They started to move by the parked cars when someone yelled from behind them. Joe turned and saw Jake standing right by the security gate.

Joe said, “Let’s move it.”

The four of them started running. Joe jumped into the driver’s seat when they reached the van. He reached under the dashboard and connected the wires to start the engine. Once the engine was going, Joe glanced over his right shoulder to make sure everyone was accounted for, before stepping on the gas pedal.

Joe pealed out of the parking lot and noticed a pickup truck following them. As Joe drove, Melissa leaned toward the front seat and said, “Frank, I’m so glad you’re all right. I was so worried about you.”

“I’m fine,” Frank said turning to face Nancy and Melissa. “What about you two? Are you all right?”

“Yeah,” Melissa said. “I’m fine. Just scared.”

“Everything will be fine,” Nancy said.

Frank looked out the back window of the van and saw Jake’s truck coming quickly toward them. Frank said, “Come on, Joe. He’s catching up to us.”

“Hang on!” Joe yelled as he made a sharp right. The van began to slide off the road, but Joe held on and took off down the road putting some distance between the van and the truck.

They stayed quiet so Joe could focus all his attention on driving the van. “He caught up with us.”

“How?” Nancy asked turning to look out the back window.

The truck was only a few feet from the van and they could see Jake was behind the wheel, and he didn’t look happy. The truck was getting closer by the minute.