Mythology, again.

Forget mythology, forget the cradle.

Just enjoy these moments of peace and rebirth before the chaos begins again.

BOSTON

3:35 A.M.

Get up, Ronnie." Cathy tried to keep the fear from her voice. "Get up, honey."

"Mom?" Ronnie sat up in bed and rubbed his eyes. "It's still dark."

"We have to leave." She came into his room and took his gym bag out of the closet. "Please don't ask questions. Just get your sister out of bed and come back here. Don't scare her. Tell her it's a game we're playing. I thought it would be less frightening for her if you were the one who woke her."

"Game? What kind of-" He stopped as he saw her face. "What's wrong?"

"No questions. We'll talk later." She forced a smile. "Just do what I tell you, okay?"

He didn't speak for a minute. "Okay." Then he swung his feet to the floor. "What kind of game?" he repeated. "Should I keep her quiet?"

"If you can."

"I can do it. She'll think it's fun." He headed for the door. "I'll think of something."

Bless him.

She quickly finished packing his gym bag and ran to the window.

The street below was empty.

They weren't coming yet.

Or were they?

Headlights were spearing the darkness as a car turned the corner two blocks down.

Her heart leaped in her chest.

Oh, God.

She whirled, ran out of the room and down the hall to Donna's room. She'd whisk them out the basement door and maybe…

Christ, this couldn't be happening. Not to her kids.

"I'm trying to keep them safe, Conner," she whispered. "Help me…"

BAY COUNTY FARMERS MARKET

It's crowded for a weekday," Hannah commented, as she and Kirov pulled into the parking lot adjacent to the dozens of open-air stalls lining Atlantic Avenue. The area was mobbed with shoppers, each perusing the vendors' selections of fresh fruits and vegetables.

"Do you think Pavski's here yet?"

"I don't see him." Kirov shrugged. "But then again, I wouldn't. He won't show himself until he has to." His gaze was darting around the market, assessing every building, every car, every person, every square inch of the area.

Hannah watched him. "This obviously isn't a new experience for you."

"Finding myself in the same place with someone who wants to kill me as much as I want to kill him?" He smiled slightly. "Oh, I've been in this position a few times before."

"I haven't," Hannah said.

"Is it bothering you? If you want a reason beside revenge, you can add survival. Pavski has no compunction about killing anyone who stands in his way. You fill that bill nicely."

"Revenge is reason enough."

"I agree." Kirov pointed to Niler's Z-98, parked a hundred yards away at a lighthouse-themed restaurant. "There's Niler. I promised to let him finish his transaction before moving in. We'll leave just before Pavski and block his exit onto the main road. You stay in the car." Kirov opened his jacket to reveal an automatic handgun. "I'll do the rest."

This was real. She was actually going to help kill a man.

"If something happens to me, don't wait," Kirov said. "Get behind the wheel and take off. Call Bradworth as soon as you can."

"You mean if he kills you." Hannah's voice was shaking. "Bullshit. He's already taken years from you. If he takes what's left, he wins. Don't you dare be stupid enough to let him do that."

He smiled. "I'll make every attempt to keep myself from making that much of an ass of myself."

Niler spotted Kirov and Hannah across the parking lot, sitting in the front seat of their rental car.

Cool people, he thought regretfully. He respected Kirov, and he was beginning to have a yen for Hannah Bryson. Too bad their time together had come to an end.

His cell phone rang, and he answered. "Yo."

"I have a visual confirmation on Kirov and the woman. You may proceed."

Niler glanced around. Where the hell was the spotter calling from? The upper tower of the restaurant, perhaps?

The man spoke again. "Any questions?"

"No questions."

"Then take care of it."

"Will do."

Niler cut the connection.

He wasn't looking forward to this.

He lifted the tiny remote and stared at it. One press, one squeeze, and twenty-four ounces of plastique would incinerate Kirov and Hannah's car, and their lives would come to an end.

Shit.

He stared across the parking lot at Kirov and Hannah. When they woke up that morning, they had no idea that every activity would be their last. Their last cup of coffee. Their last shower. Their last meal.

He hated this. It was better to pass the devices to someone else and let them do what they wanted. He was an artist, not a killer.

Christ.

He fingered the remote. If he didn't do it, Pavski's men would come down and finish them off anyway.

Fucking Pavski. The bastard didn't even bother to show up himself.

Get it over with. He spoke under his breath, "Three… two… one."

He pushed the button.

Whroom.

The explosion rocked the entire parking lot, blowing out the windows of the restaurant and dozens of nearby cars.

Hannah gasped at the sight of Niler's vehicle flipping over and landing on its roof, instantly transformed into half a dozen piles of burning, twisted metal.

She stared in shock at the spot where Niler had sat only seconds before. "My God…"

Kirov started the engine and peeled out of the parking space.

Hannah whirled toward him. "What are you doing?"

"Getting away while we still can."

"But Niler is…"

"Dead. Blown to smithereens."

She felt sick. She shook her head dazedly. "What the hell happened?"

"Niler made that bomb. He meant it for us."

"What?"

Kirov checked the rearview. "I found it fastened to the underside of our car last night. I merely put it back where it belonged. If Niler hadn't tried to detonate it, he'd be alive and well."

"He just tried to kill us?"

"Surprised?"

Before Hannah could answer, the rear window shattered.

"Get down!" Kirov pushed her head forward. He slouched in his seat and glanced at the side mirror. "Two men in a black Lexus behind us." He muttered a curse. "I don't think either them is Pavski. That would have been too lucky."

He fished into his pocket and produced a key-chain remote identical to the one Niler had brandished in his bar the other night. "Here, take this."

Hannah grabbed the remote. "What's this for?"

Two more bullets hit their car and punctured the trunk.

Kirov accelerated as they neared the parking lot's exit. "Right before we get to the road, we'll cross a small wooden bridge. I need you to watch behind us and press the red button just as that car crosses it. Understand?"

She couldn't answer.

"As soon as you see the Lexus's front two wheels on the bridge. And only if there's no one else nearby. Okay?"

Hannah stared at the remote. She understood perfectly, and it wasn't okay. Push the button, kill two men behind her.

"If you can't stomach it, let me know now."

Hannah took a deep breath. She grasped the remote. "No. Keep your eyes on the road."

"Are you sure?"

A bullet whistled between them and cracked the front windshield.

Hannah glanced at the entrance ahead. "Is that the bridge you're talking about?"

"Yes."

"Okay." She glanced behind her. "They're closing. Put some more distance between us."

Kirov accelerated, and Hannah's eyes searched on either side for any bystanders. All clear so far.

They roared across the tiny bridge, rattling its wood slats beneath their tires. Hannah watched her side-view mirror. A man leaned out of the passenger side of the Lexus, snapping together what appeared to be an Uzi.