Beth shook her head. Her little cap had twisted to one side and her short blond hair showed.

“No. I’ve seen him at the club before, but he never bothered me.”

“And he said he was part of the management?”

“Yes. I thought he was joking.”

“Probably not.”

Her car was in the back of the lot. She stopped by the door.

“I better follow you home in case those men are waiting for you nearby.”

“I don’t think you need to. His arm looked broken to me. They’ll be at a hospital or doctor’s office somewhere.” Her eyes were suddenly angry. “You broke his arm! How could you?”

“Beth, that man was part of the Baltimore Mafia. You know what that means?”

Beth Hanover nodded and all at once she was shivering. She reached out and Bolan put his arms around her.

“Do you have somewhere else you could stay tonight? They could get your address and...”

“No. I’ll be fine. They wouldn’t dare hurt me, not now that you can identify them. I’ll be just fine.”

2

Mack Bolan unlocked Beth Hanover’s car and handed her the keys.

“You’ve got it right? First you follow me. I want to be sure those goons didn’t leave someone to tail us. Then when I’m sure no one else is back there, I’ll blink my lights and pull over and you take the lead and drive to your place. I’ll come behind you.”

Beth smiled and he saw the fright fading from her eyes. She could be no more than twenty-one, slender and attractive. Bolan jogged to his car, got in and drove back to the lot. She started the engine, turned on the lights and pulled into the street after him.

He made a series of turns and reversals and one U-turn; no cars seemed to be following. Ten minutes later she led him to her place and parked in a reserved spot in the apartment-complex lot.

She met him on the street where he was stopped.