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“Everyone else does!”

They chuckled, sharing their amusement at Safehaven’s wireless communication system, and went out through the glass doors. Andy was feeling for his keys when he realized he wasstillcarrying the snow globe he’d taken from the Whittakers’ home. He pulled it out. The little orb seemed to pulse in the bright sunlight. Blue and violet specks of snow crystals seemed to blaze with frozen fire as they drifted down on the roofs of the tiny sleeping village.

“Oh,howpretty!” Miriam exclaimed. “Was that for Cuthbert?”

“Uh… Kind of… It’s a long story.”

“I have one like that. Well, not nearly as old. Yours is a real beauty. Mine’s just a cheap knock-off, but it’s very pretty. Plus, your uncle gave it me.” She winked.

At first her words didn’t register. Andy was thinking that the black Camaro parked in the red zone near the hospital entrance looked familiar. Then Miriam’s words sank in.

He stared at Miriam. “But your collection was destroyed, wasn’t it?”

“Yes. Every single piece. But I still have the snow globe your uncle gave me. That sits by my bed.”

Andy stopped walking. “Uncle C. gave you a snow globe thatwasn’tpart of your collection?”

“That’s right. A couple of weeks ago. I came into the shop, and he happened to remember that I collect them. Actually, he used to keep an eye out for them when we—well, a long time ago. Anyway, he knows I love them. It was just a little oddball globe anyway. He couldn’t remember where he’d got it.” Her brows drew together. “What on earth is the matter, Andrew?”

Andy opened his mouth, but the fact was, he wasn’t quite sure how to explain and, in any case,severalthings were now the matter, starting with the black Camaro roaring into life and suddenly charging toward them.

Miriam squeaked in alarm, and Andy grabbed her arm, dragging her back toward the sidewalk and the safety of the hospital entrance.

Which seemed to be a million miles away.

Mrs. Robie had a black Camaro.

He changed cars.

He knew I’d show up here sooner or later. He just had to wait…

There was no time for coherent thought, let alone decisive action. Andy only knew he was half carrying, half dragging Miriam across endless stretches of asphalt and cement. A few steps, in actuality. Not far enough. Vaguely, he was aware of people screaming and sirens wailing and other pedestrians darting away.

And then it was over as abruptly as it had begun. Brakes squealed, tires smoked, and there was a tremendous crash as a black Land Rover seemed to hurtle out of nowhere and T-bone the Camaro, pinning it to one of the pillars of the hospital overhang.

Suddenly the parking lot was full of police cars. Uniformed officers with guns drawn surrounded the Camaro, and Paul Robie was dragged, kicking and screaming, from the crumpled passenger side of the car.

“What the hell just happened?” Miriam demanded as Andy maneuvered her still farther back from the scene of their near-assassination.

“I-I think Paul Robie just turned himself in.”

“What? Who?”

Andy didn’t answer. All his attention was on the man climbing out of the Land Rover, the man striding their way through the line of police who stepped deferentially aside.

“Oh my,” Miriam murmured and slipped out of Andy’s unprotesting grasp.

“Are you okay?” Quinn demanded, reaching Andy. “You’re not hurt?” His hands locked on Andy’s shoulders with bruising strength, but he seemed to recall himself. He let go, took half a step back, and then didn’t seem to know what to do with his hands.

“We’re fine.” Andy belatedly realized Miriam was gone. He looked around and spotted her talking animatedly to Ruthanne. Ruthanne caught his gaze, looked from Andy to Quinn, and gave him two thumbs-up. Of everything that had happened so far, that seemed the most surreal.

Andy turned back to Quinn. “How did you know Robie was following me?”

“I didn’t.” Quinn’s smile was crooked. “You said you were on your way over here, so I came to invite you to Christmas dinner.”

“You’re kidding.”

“Why would I kid about that? You said no to Christmas Eve, so I decided to go for Christmas. If this fails, I’ll try New Year’s.” Encouraged by Andy’s shaky laugh, Quinn added, “And ifthatdoesn’t work, there’s still Epiphany.”