Penelope had made it past the first layer of trees and brush when she heard traffic. She was hidden behind the dark, mushy weather and she knew that if she didn't make it back in time no one would find her. As she moved closer, she could see the faint light from the street where their battered truck had come to rest.

She was hopeful that someone had stopped; following the voices her heart and determination increased.

"Damn!"

"Boss?"

"She's gone!"

Penelope froze; there were three men with guns looking in disbelief around the truck. She tucked herself out of sight behind several bushes, holding her breath.

"I thought you said she was hurt?"

"She was...she was unconscious"

Penelope's hand flew to her mouth in disbelief. The men were not just passing by, they weren't good Samaritans, they were there to finish what they had started. Could they have planned the accident? But why, she thought; why would someone want to cause an accident only to come back to the scene.

"Now what?"

"We go back and regroup."

"You don't want to look for her?"

"Nah, there's no way she'll survive out in this weather; no way."

Penelope watched the three men run back to the van that had been parked behind the truck. She was stunned and she was more afraid than she'd ever been in her life. Where was Derek? Had they taken him, was he still alive?

Penelope waited until the rear lights of the van disappeared before she moved again. She had to help Derek, she had to get to the cabin and tell the others.

"Where are you Hot Stuff? Where are you?"

Unknown location –

"No, no, I don't believe you!"

"It doesn't matter, Derek. It still doesn't change the fact that we just saw her dead body in that truck."

"She's not dead, she's not dead! She..."

"Come on, you don't think she can survive in that weather. Besides, she's not the survival type, is she Derek?"

The man watched as the expression on Derek's face fell. He had struck a nerve in the agent's heart. He was getting close to breaking him and he knew it. Derek backed against the wall and allowed himself to sink to the floor. The thought that the man could be telling the truth crushed him. Penelope wasn't the survival type, that was true, but Penelope was also the strongest woman he knew and there was nothing she couldn't do if she put her mind to it. He had to pray that somehow, she'd find her way to safety.

"I don't understand, why are you doing this?"

"Why, because you destroyed my life, Derek! You took everything that ever mattered from me!"

"How, I don't even know who you are."

"Does the name, Bert Madden ring a bell?"

Derek froze as a million childhood memories flooded his mind. It had been the worst day of his life, a defining moment that led to a childhood of misery and unspeakable pain and shame. Derek knew the name, and he'd prayed a thousand prayers as a child that he would never hear it again.

Cody watched the light bulb come on and he nodded at his captive.

"Yeah, I'm his son, Cody. Your testimony sent my father to prison! He missed my life, little league, track, prom, everything!"

"Your father killed my father right in front of me! I lost just as much as you did, maybe more! I testified against a cold-blooded killer who deserved to rot in hell!" Derek screamed.

Before he could react, Derek was hit with Cody's booted foot that sent his head crashing to the cement floor. Gasping and coughing, Derek's body was pummeled repeatedly with such a brutal force that the two other men had to pull Cody off him. Now he was still and bloody, barely breathing. Cody stood out of breath, struggling to break free from the hold of the men who worked for him.

"Let me go! Get your hands off me!"

"Easy boss, it's not time! Remember, we have a plan, it's not time!"

After a few seconds, Cody nodded and calmed down enough to be released. The two other men traded concerned looks.

"I'm good, I'm good." Cody assured the men. "I just lost it for a minute." Then looking at Derek's still body, "He's going to pay, he's going to pay for everything he's ever done to me!"

It was cold, so, so cold that Penelope could barely feel her fingers and her feet felt as if she were dragging cement blocks. She was sure she'd freeze before finding help. If only she'd not made Derek wait for her to pack; he'd pleaded with her to be ready on time, but she had one more thing, then another to put in the already overstuffed suitcase. If anything happened to him, it would be her fault.

"I'm sorry, Handsome! I'm so sorry..."

She wasn't sure where she was going, she just kept walking. Her breathing was slowing, and it felt as if she were sinking deeper into the snow; she was so tired all she wanted to do was close her eyes...her body began to float like a feather toward the snow. She longed for sleep; sweet, peaceful rest.

Penelope hit the ground with a thud. Just before closing her eyes, she saw a large pair of black boots, had she just imagined it, she wondered. It didn't matter now; she was too tired to speak or to cry out for help. All she could do was pray that she had made it to heaven.

Puzzled, the man looked down on her; they didn't get many folks out this way, especially this time of year wandering around in the dark and in the middle of one of the worst snowstorms he'd seen in years. She was in bad shape, that he knew and unless he got her indoors, she wouldn't last much longer.

Unknown location –

Cody and the other two rushed into the building crashing into the control room where another man sat watching Derek on the monitors. Earl jumped surprised to see his boss back so soon. He was the techie of the group and very rarely included in the physical part of things. He was the one who'd gathered intel on Derek and the others so that the trap could be set that had caused the accident.

"What's going on, boss?"

"We may have a problem, that's what's going on!"

"Okay, uh, how can I help?"

"It's important that our friend believes that his wife is dead, can you make that happen?"

"I thought you were bringing her back..."

"...I was but she got away and now it's up to you!"

"I don't know boss..."

"Can you do it or not?"

"I can try..."

"Good, I don't care what you have to do, just get him to believe she's dead! I want to see him suffer; I want him destroyed!"