The truck rumbled over the dirt county road as its contents bumped and slid in the bed. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure I was alone; the lake was approaching and I didn’t want to mess this up.

She was to meet me on the north end of Langenkamp Lake. With the thought of our plan to run away, I anticipated our meeting with grim certainty.

The road seemed to stretch to eternity as my head reeled from the gravity of the situation. The sight of the “Welcome” sign lifted a weight in my body.

There she stood, waiting with the brown envelope that contained the answer I already knew. The truck slowed to a halt and I stepped out and joined her. She handed me the envelope. I immediately reviewed its contents. The white paper angered me, though I wasn’t surprised.

“He’s yours. This proves it.”

The gun slowly withdrew itself from my pocket to face her. The shot echoed into the trees.

“I’ll see that he’s taken care of, but I need to get home. My wife will be expecting me for dinner.”