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Thirty-Four

Lacey's ears rang, an annoying buzz which made it hard to hear anything else, overrode the eerie silence inside the car. What a ride, and what a smell from the half deflated airbag beside her head. She tested her neck, carefully moving it from side to side, not bad. Reaching across the back seat, she found Terry's arm.

"Are you okay?" Her voice sounded odd in her ears.

His arm moved and she realized she was holding her breath.

"I think so. I just want out of this mess." His voice was hoarse, and she wished he would speak louder.

"Hey, are you two okay up there?" she shouted the question. If her ears were ringing it was a safe bet everyone had the same problem.

"Oh my God, you guys are okay?" Zee's voice came through muffled, but she was there.

Taking stock, Lace realized she had some sore spots on her hips where the seat belt caught her, and others on her shoulder but it didn't feel like anything else was seriously injured.

"Try your doors. Percy are you okay?" She heard all the doors opening and knew that he was alive. Okay now what? They were stranded in the bottom of a valley. She ducked under the overhead airbag and pushed the side one out of her way. She coughed again as she stumbled out onto the gravel shoulder.

Zee was poking her feet out to feel for the ground as she walked forward.

"Are you hurt? I mean anymore than you were?"

"I'm okay. A couple of sore spots from the seat belt, but that's it. And my ears are buzzing. It's kind of hard to hear you. Who knew the airbags would be that loud!"

Percy came around the front of the Lexus and grabbed Zee's shoulders, kissing her as if she was his salvation. She wondered if they would stay together for the rest of their lives.

She felt a pair of hands brushing her back and looked over her shoulder to see Terry's worried brown eyes.

"I'm okay, but my ears," she reassured him.

"Now what?" Zee was looking at her phone. "I've got no signal here. It was good at the top of the hill. I got a message from my dad. It's why I screamed."

Percy kissed her again, and when she surfaced, she continued.

"Papa Juan found a puddle where I park in the garage. Dad wanted us to come back right away, they thought it might be a brake line."

"Damn, if he'd sent that a few minutes earlier," Percy's comment echoed Lacey's own thoughts. He continued, "I was wondering why you screamed."

"Too little, too late," Terry's comments brought nods from everyone.

"I'm sorry I wrecked your car, Zee," Percy said.

"No, you saved our lives, and it wasn't you who wrecked it. A brake line leak isn't your fault."

"Geeze man, you got us stopped. That's what matters. Now does anyone have cell service?" Terry looked at his phone. "This one doesn't."

Percy shook his head as he look at his phone, and Lacey said, "Me neither. I guess we need to walk back up the to the stables."

"That or flag down the next car down the hill." Terry looked at his watch. "The beginner's class will be letting out in about ten minutes."

>>>>>>>>>>>>

"This isn't that bad." Agent Greene examined the damage to the Lexus. He was the first one on scene after they got help from one of the parents leaving the riding academy. "Too bad the airbags blew."

"I've got a satellite phone. I'll get everyone else moving." The agent began dialing a number and waited for it to connect.

Lacey sat in the grass at the edge of the shoulder, in the sunshine. Her sister beside her as the boys listened to what the FBI investigator was saying as he talked to the state troopers.

"This is spooky. Whoever did this had to know it was the same way our birth mother died. I'm not sure what to think now. Is it our long lost cousin? Or is there someone else who is this angry with us?" Zee asked. "I hate the idea that maybe it's Anya. She's pretty mad right now."

"It could be. Or it could be Andrew Mackinaw. There's too many options to think about. I'm getting stiff though. I wish Mom and Dad would get here."

"I can't believe I didn't reinjure my ribs. I'm not any worse for wear."

"From what I remember from a couple of injury lawsuits I've seen, the worst of it won't hit us until day after tomorrow. That's when the stiff muscles and any strains will show up," Lacey said.

"Great. Just when I was starting to think I could start doing some light stretching and get back to the barre, and ballet practice."

"I'm hoping it isn't bad. I don't want to miss too much practice either. At least my ears are starting to settle down. I can hear you better now." Lacey said.

"Your parents will be here shortly, Terry. Your mother and father will meet you at their farm Lacey. Zee your father will wait for you at home." Agent Greene stood in front of them. "I'd get up and walk around a bit. It will keep you from stiffening up as much. I've been there a few times." He held out a hand to each of them to help them up.

"Thanks. Do you think we'll be okay for the party?" Zee asked.

"Unless you get a lot worse in the next day or two, you will be just fine."

"Someone is really out to get us," Lace stated.

"Yes, and it's not just you two. Your father's car has damage to its brake lines too. Lacey, your father's car too. Your mother's car is the only one that hasn't been hit. I warned them to check for leaks or other damage to their brake lines before they drove again. One of the police mechanics did us a big favor. Apparently, Papa Juan saw the beginnings of a leak under your father's Cadillac too. They're checking the lines on your Jeep in impound."

Lacey couldn't think of anything to say. Her chest squeezed tight on her and she swallowed the tears welling up. She turned away from everyone to walk along the shoulder, sniffling as she went. What had she ever done to bring this down on her?

"Hey Lace."

Terry touched her arm. She looked up at him, through tear blurred eyes. "Why? Why us?"

"There's no explanation for crazy. Whoever's behind this is bat shit crazy. You can't figure it out." Terry wrapped her in a hug, holding her tight against his chest.

"And they're getting worse, I mean if Papa Juan hadn't noticed, it would have been my parents too and Uncle Matt. He must be going crazy worrying about Zee."

"She's talking to him now. Agent Greene gave her his phone." Terry pointed down the road where Zee held the thick phone to her ear with one hand. Her other one was in Percy's and he didn't look like he was going to let go any time soon.

She watched as Zee handed the phone to her gangly boyfriend. "I was just going to ask if anyone has let Percy's mom know he's okay. I guess he's calling her now. She probably already knows we were in an accident. Sometimes I really hate living in a small town."

"At least most of them will be on our side. Even if their tongues won't quit talking about us. Watch, you'll have casseroles and offers to help out from all your neighbors." Terry said.

"Point taken," Lacey said. "But still."