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Page 265
you're awake. I didn't mean to hurt you, you know."
"I know," Abby said, trying to sound as calm as Mike. "I'll bet if you let us go, Mike will listen to your ideas, won't you, Mike?"
"Of course. And"
"I told you not to patronize me!" The gun swung wildly around from Mike's stomach to Abby's and back again. "Get up, Abby. Get over here where I can keep an eye on you both."
She tried to rise, but the movement made her throbbing head swim.
"Get up!" he demanded.
She forced herself to sit, then kneel, ignoring her dizziness. Slowly she drew herself to her feet.
She heard a voice inside her head. "Abby, run."
She glanced at Mike. He stared at her, a look of intense concentration on his face. His fists were clenched; obviously he was preparing to spring, to create a distraction if she bolted as he wished.
But she wasn't able to move very fast. Nor would she abandon Mike to this pathetic madman.
She made her way to Mike's side. He glared at her fiercely, but she gave a gentle smile of reassurance.
"Good," Lowell said. "You've certainly been an elusive target," he told Mike. "I hoped Philip would do the job for me. That's why I kept him informed about your whereabouts. But the wimp was all talk.'' He sighed, shaking his head. "At least I learned a lot about mechanical things, be-

 
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