Meeting the Reinforcements

Beneath a bridge over a flood channel, an old Cadillac and a yellow taxi met up.

Unlike Henry, who looked relaxed, the four women getting out of the taxi all appeared exhausted. The fact that their pursuers had not shown up again did not put them at ease. Instead, they had to remain on edge, watching in every direction for killers who might appear at any moment.

Seeing one adult with three younger girls, combined with what he had heard over the phone, Henry gained a rough understanding of the situation. Still... this was far bigger than anything in a movie. People were carrying guns and firing them in the street.

The moment they met, Henry asked, "Do any of you have a cellphone?"

Though Marty Franklin did not quite understand why he was asking, she raised her hand. "I do. Why?"

Henry held out his hand. "Your phone, please."

"You need it?" Though she asked the question, the easygoing Black girl handed it over anyway.

Once he had it, Henry did not simply throw it away or crush it. Instead, he removed the battery and SIM card, placing them in a foil pouch he had prepared beforehand.

"Here's a lesson for you. Anyone trying to track you can use the cell tower signals your phone connects to to determine your approximate location. So if you don't want to be tracked, remember to remove the battery.

"If it's an emergency, throwing the phone away is also an option. But things aren't that urgent right now, so I've put your phone and battery in separate bags. Once you feel safe again, you can put the battery back in and use it normally.

"If you really need to make a call, remember to leave the area immediately afterward—at least three to five