Despite Verchiel's instructions, Katelina shrieked as they leapt out the window and repeated their arrival procedure in reverse. She kept her eyes closed as he nimbly hopped from rooftop to rooftop, laughing delightedly at her misery. The cold air stung her bare hands as she hung on for her life, begging God not to let her die.

They dropped to the ground a block from the police station and Verchiel carefully peeled her loose like a pair of too tight leather pants. "You did ...