I don't know how long it took me to outrun Race. All I do know is that when I finally did lose him, my legs crumpled underneath me and I collapsed onto the ground. It was then that I realized that McCain and I had been separated at the beginning of the chase - and that I also had no idea where I was. The first thing I did was look up at the street sign. It read W.59th Street.

Well, I know where I am now, I thought. The problem is, I don't know where I was to begin with.

For hours I just sat there, too weary to pick myself up. I imagine that if Race had somehow decided to try finding me and had succeeded, I would have just sat there while he beat the life out of me. Not a settling thought, but true nevertheless.

It was then that I began to wonder about McCain - where she was, whether or not she had lost Jack. There was a feeling in the pit of my stomach that she might not have outrun him. I knew that every bit of it was my fault. If I'd just kept my big gob shut, nothing would have happened. For goodness' sake, Jack and Race didn't even recognize us until I opened my trap! I think I sat on the ground for several hours, kicking myself. Then I realized that I would get even more kicking from McCain, so I shoved it aside and pulled myself up off the ground, suddenly realizing that I was incredibly hungry.

I brushed the dirt off the seat of the pants and fished around in the pockets - they were McCain's, after all. Maybe she had money. I would pay her back.

I felt a box and pulled it out. It was those blasted cards that she was always shuffling. Laughing at the memory from the Refuge, I put them in my other hand and fished around some more. I discovered matches and a pair of dice. Putting the cards back into the right pocket, I went for the left. In that pocket I discovered a pack of cigarettes and - to my delight - money. I took out a dollar and made my way over to a street vendor, purchasing a hot dog and a drink. When I was full, I tackled the next problem that came to mind: shelter. It wasn't yet night - heck, it wasn't even evening - but I had to start thinking about it.

I began to wander around and soon I found myself in Central Park. Wandering deep into the heart of the park, I decided that maybe I'd just sleep there. After a while, I took a seat under a big, shady tree and leaned up against it, resting my sore feet. I don't know how long I had been sitting there when I dozed off, and I also don't know how long I had been dozing before I was awakened by voices.

"Heya, Renzo."

"You're late."

Renzo?! That's the guy Marconi used to hang around!

"Yeah, I know. Had ta 'tend to some...unexpected business."

The other voice rang a bell, but for the life of me I couldn't place the face with the voice I heard from behind me. I shrank back against the tree, careful not to be seen. I knew that I shouldn't be eavesdropping, but I smelled a rat.

"Oh? Tell me, what was that business?" Renzo pressed.

"Ran into McCain and her little recruit, McCartney. Soaked McCain pretty bad. Don't know about McCartney...Higgins went after her. She's prob'ly soaked, too."

It was Jack. Something told me to run, but something else told me to stay and listen.

"Jack, ya done good work so far. Keep up yer cover an' nobody'll ever know that you's th' one who killed th' Galloway kid. An' like I promised ya, you'll be compensated."

So it was Jack. I sat there for a minute, letting the full effect of those words hit me. Now there was more than solid evidence that Marconi was innocent. All I had to do now was find McCain so that we could figure out what to do.

"What was it ya had against Marconi anyway?" Jack asked him.

Renzo sat there for a moment and finally answered. "Everythin'."

"I jus' kinda feel guilty 'bout killin' th' kid - "

"Ya better not be goin' soft, Kelly! Ya better not! An' if you so much as peep about Marconi's innocence, I'll do you in!"

"Renzo, ya don't need th' gun. I understand."

"You'd better understand!" he hissed, and I heard the click of the gun being cocked to fire.

"I understand, Renzo!" Jack answered forcefully.

"Good. Meet me here in a week and you'll get yer money."

No more words were exchanged. As my luck would have it, at that moment, Jack stepped past my side of the tree as he was leaving. At first he didn't acknowledge that anyone was there, but then he stopped in his tracks and slowly turned to face me.

I didn't even take time to let my eyes widen in horror. I just got up and ran as fast as I possibly could. Hearing Jack yell, "Give me the gun, Renzo!" only made me run faster. Gunshots rang out through the park, and I felt heat and then pain zip across my left arm. I kept running, dodging bullets, until I heard Jack loudly curse that all the bullets were gone. However, I heard the click of the gun being dropped on the ground and sensed that they were still chasing me. I thought I was done for until I spotted a policeman.

Forgetting for a moment that there was a warrant out for my arrest, I practically tackled the cop, grabbing his arm and using him as a human sheild.

"Help..." was all I could gasp out. I saw over his shoulder that Jack and Renzo were fleeing.

The policeman took hold of me and pulled me in front of him. "What's the trouble, miss?"

Still out of breath, I managed to tell him, "I was being chased...shot at...I think they got me."

He looked at my arm, which was now warm and wet with blood. "It's only grazed. Now would you mind telling me why you were being shot at?"

"Jack did it..." was all I could say before I passed out.