She watched for any sign of movement. Another full minute passed. Then the headlights switched to bright. The phone was still in her hand. In a whisper, "Chip, don't hang up. I think I have a problem. There's a huge SUV stopped in the middle of the driveway aimed right at me. The driver isn't moving. Geez, it looks enormous. Like a tank, big and square with bars going across the front."
"Sounds like a Hummer. It's a trap, Sandy. Get out of there!"
"I can't get out. There's nowhere to go. He's blocking the driveway, and I'm at the back of the lot."
"Start your vehicle now and buckle your seatbelt!"
Suddenly, she saw the swinging reflection of restaurant lights in the door window as the driver's door opened. "Now the driver is getting out. He's tall and skinny, has on a baseball cap. Maybe he's going into the restaurant. No, Chip, he's walking right toward me!"
"I used to patrol that area. There's an old wooden fence across the back of that lot, it's rotted. Swing around and drive right through it. There's a road on the other side."
"What? Drive into a fence on purpose, you're nuts. No way, not with my baby car!"
His voice was tense, "Is your car running? Is your seatbelt on?"
"Okay, okay, but I'm going to wait. Maybe he's just lost and wants directions." Then the realization hit her. "Geez, that must be Pirro. I'm trapped back here with him."
"Sandy, I'm telling you, either head for the fence or drive over him." He shouted, "Get moving and go through the fence. If you don't hit a post, you should sail right through. Now! Go!"
She stepped on the accelerator and turned hard. The little car started sliding and fishtailed at first, then recovered. The man yelled and started running toward her. Then he turned and ran back to his vehicle. She could see the fence coming up fast. She ducked instinctively. The fence broke with a sharp crackle, followed by a thud and the sickening crack of breaking glass. A web of shattered windshield spread across in front of her. The car was now sliding sideways down a slight slope with the tires spinning in dirt. She realized she still had her foot on the pedal. She hit the brakes. She felt the car lurch up from the shallow ditch. It slid to a stop with dust swirling around her.
She was in the middle of a dirt road. No streetlights. She could make out lights in a house a block away. Quiet, except she could hear her car still running. One headlight was out. She felt something damp and sticky on her forehead. She twisted around in her seat, looking at her car, expecting shambles. A small plank of wood was on the seat next to her. She threw it out. Otherwise, all appeared normal except for the cracks in the windshield. She felt around for her phone and found it tucked between her legs. "Chip are you there?"