“Stand up straight an’ show respect proper!”Helen graciously nodded to Mander as she stepped through the door, into the alley where they’d par...ed the Aston-Martin.“You were absolutely right, Countessness.” Mander said as he shoved Marco toward the front of the car. “You come in the front, this tosser runs fer the side exit.”“Hey, if there’s one thing I know, it’s thinking like other criminals. I have tracked down Carmen Sandiego’s ass SO many times!”Marco began to reach into his inside jacket. My husband Chris and I had been friends with John and Meredith for three years, and in those three years I’ve never been able to look John in the eyes. I took a long drink, finishing off my fourth glass of champagne. I was starting to feel warm and I was beginning to not feel so overwhelmed by the amount of people in the room. Normally I didn’t come to large New Year’s Eve parties, but Chris insisted that we come. I looked around the room trying to find my husband. It was getting close to. ”He gave her an earnest shake, “Then run, change your name, just run.”She smiled at him, “It’s okay, I’ll be fine.”“Run,” he whispered harsh and desperate.“How disappointing,” His voice.The old doorman turned around slowly with dread, “This, this isn’t what it looks like ma- ma-s-s-sir.”“Now Ed, don’t lie to me, you know I can tell when you’re lying. I think it’s time to revisit your appreciation of alcohol.”“Oh, no, please, I been sober 5 year now ma-ma-”“I’ve been kind, I’ve helped you stay. If I made a run for the kitchen door I knew he'd be all over me before I got three feet. "What's going on boy?" I said in a small, quavering voice. "You gonna hurt me? I was standing with my back against the side of the garage before I knew I had been moving. He approached me from my right, herding me away from the kitchen door, toward the corner in the rear. I was terrified now. I was beginning to panic.Refusing to be cornered like the desperate damsel I knew I was becoming, I angled away and.