Then she saw the men, boys, whatever they were. Three of them, standing on the corner and staring her way.

All right, all right, she thought. Don’t freak out, Alicia. Just get yourself turned around and back on the highway. You’re right as rain; everything is cool.

She willed the red light in front of her to change as she craned her neck, looking for the ramp back onto the highway.

One of the young guys had wandered out into the intersection now, his head tilted for a better view through her windshield. He wore baggy cargo pants and a sky-blue sweat jacket; he couldn’t have been more than sixteen, seventeen.

Then the two others came along slowly behind. By the time Alicia thought to run the red light, the boys were standing in front of the hood of her car, blocking the way. Oh, great. Now what?

Chapter 68

Chapter 68

SHE SQUEEZED HER EYES SHUT for just a half second. What were you supposed to do in this situation? And why had she never gotten around to buying a cell phone? Um, maybe because she was almost dead broke.

When she opened her eyes again, the one in the blue jacket was at her side window, a menacing look on his face, a tattoo of a red dragon on his neck.

She screamed in spite of herself—just a small yelp, but enough for him to see how scared she was.

Then her panic level crept even higher. It took her a moment to realize the kid in blue was saying something. His hands were held up flat, in a “calm down” sort of gesture.

She cracked the window. “W-what?” she said, unable to keep her voice from quivering.

“I said, ‘you lost?’” he asked. “That’s all, lady—you lost? You look—lost.”

Alicia choked back a sob. “Yes. I’m so sorry.” It was a bad habit; she apologized for everything. “I’m just looking for —”

“’Cause I know you don’t live around here,” he said. His expression shifted, and hardened again. The others laughed at the joke. “This your car?”

Fear and confusion locked Alicia into subservience, which she hated. All she could think to do was answer his question. “It’s my parents’.”

The guy in blue rubbed his chin whiskers as if considering her answer. “Lotta people looking for a car just like this one,” he said. “Don’t you read the papers? Watch TV?”

“I’m just trying to get to Westwood. For an audition. A TV movie. I got off the highway before I was supposed to —”

He howled with laughter, turning away from the car to his group, and then back again. His movements were casual and slow. “She’s trying to get to Westwood to be in a movie. A film. Damn, that’s about exactly what I expected. ’Cause I know you ain’t got no interest in anything or anybody ’round here.”