‘They’ve been salvaging tires off dead people’s cars and trucks, but they’ve run out,’ Rex explained. ‘Getting some Mexican brand tire delivered tomorrow. But the late start means I’ll be driving through Christmas Day.’

‘You have anyone in Georgia?’

‘Pa’s in a retirement home down that way. Killer-T got my wife and my two boys, eight and eleven.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Charlie said instinctively, though Rex could have been reading from a weather report.

‘Memories wouldn’t stop hurtin’ so I put a pin in the map. Drove to Las Vegas with the last of my money and started driving a truck. But a fresh location didn’t change anything.’

‘So, you got your one-one-seven here in Vegas?’ Charlie asked.

Rex scratched his beard and nodded. ‘Things came close to unbearable before I got modded.’

‘Unbearable,’ Charlie repeated, churning the word in her head and deciding that it summed up how she felt most of the time. ‘I’ve heard some people have their one-one-seven reversed because it makes everything feel flat.’

‘Heard that too,’ Rex said, same smile as always. ‘You still got your little swimmer with you?’

‘He’s over at Bryan’s gym with a playmate.’

‘I’ve got these big radio-controlled cars up in my room. My boys loved them. Reckon your two could blast ’em around outside. It’s a big space and there’s no traffic in the way.’

‘Motel is ninety per cent empty,’ Charlie agreed.

‘You want those cars?’

‘Patrick would certainly like one,’ Charlie said, but she wondered if it was another angle for Rex to hit on her.

‘Well, they’re just taking up space in my suite.’

‘Was your one-one-seven expensive?’ Charlie asked.

‘Dollar numbers mean nothing with inflation gone crazy. I’d say it was around one month’s salary. You thinking about getting it done?’

‘No,’ Charlie said firmly. Then, ‘I don’t know. My boyfriend died and it’s a lot of stress being in one big room with the boys.’

‘There’s a ton of empty houses for rent,’ Rex noted.

‘It’s the effort,’ Charlie sighed. ‘Calling agents, viewing places.’

And wanting to stay off the radar in case any of Fawn’s associates come looking …

‘Must have met a hundred truck drivers who’ve had a one-one-seven,’ Rex said. ‘Can’t think of one that has regretted it. You gotta be careful who you deal with, obviously. Especially a pretty girl like you. Some guys will try to slip you a one-five-one. That will zombie you to your eyeballs and they’ll wind up owning you.’

‘Where’d you get yours?’ Charlie asked, then caught herself. ‘Actually, I don’t wanna know.’

Rex answered anyway, as his dryer made a beep. ‘I used Karl’s Watches. He’s got a good rep. Runs out of a little jewellery booth at the outdoor mall, in front of Janssen Riverboat on the strip.’