As she was about to turn into the school driveway, she had an impulse: What if Alice isn't hiding in the school? What if she's left the building?
    Devon continued past the school, driving around the block to completely circle the grounds. If Alice was still inside, she'd be safe, and Devon's arrival would be delayed by only a few minutes. On the other hand, if Alice had left the building...
    Another trip around the grounds, this time in a wider circle. Still nothing.
     It was on her third circuit that Devon glanced up one of the side streets and noticed a child getting into the passenger's side of a car. That looks like Alice's dress! She slammed on the brakes, almost causing a collision with the car traveling behind her. The driver laid on his horn, but Devon just stuck her arm out the window, motioning him to come around. As he started to, she jammed the gear shift into reverse and roared backward, ignoring the man's torrent of profanity as he passed by.
    By the time she had started up the side street, the automobile that she was seeking was about two blocks away. Devon hated to speed in a residential neighborhood but, having no choice, floored the accelerator. As she drew closer, the car ahead swung left onto Diamond Avenue about a half block away. Seconds later, the traffic light turned red for Devon but, knowing that she couldn't wait, she continued through the intersection
    As a pickup to her left screeched to a halt, she steered around it and cut left, accelerating once more since the target vehicle had again widened the gap. Because Diamond Avenue was two lanes in each direction, Devon was able to weave through traffic and shorten the distance, cutting off several cars as she slid into the left lane and overtook the car on its left side. Vehicles in front of her prevented her from drawing completely abreast of the automobile, but she could see the back of the man's head and just the top of the little girl's as she leaned sideways to talk to the driver.
    It looks like Alice's hair, but I can't be sure.
    As traffic started to move once more, the car pulled farther ahead and then made an abrupt right turn onto a street perpendicular to Diamond. The minivan in front of Devon turned left, so she sped up and made a right turn from the left lane, causing more squealing brakes and screeching tires.
    What the hell are you doing? What if this isn't Alice? She could be all by herself, walking some other street, or she could be hiding at the school, terrified and alone.
    Devon's blood was really pumping now, and her bandaged right hand had begun to throb.

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