A few more people were milling around her truck now, and she eyed her watch.

“They start lining up earlier every day,” Caleb said.

“Hey, Ivy,” one of the guys who was waiting called out. “The fuzz! They’re coming around the corner!”

“Crap!” Ivy ran towards her truck, yelling to the people standing in line, “I’ll be back in ten minutes. If you wait and save my spot, I’ll give you a discount!” And then she slapped the window and door closed and roared off down the street.

A minute later a cop drove by slowly, but didn’t stop. When he was gone, the group of people who’d been lining up for tacos stepped into the empty parking spot Ivy had left.

Not ten seconds later, a car came along and honked at the people standing in the spot. “Get out of my way,” the driver yelled.

No one budged.

The car window lowered and a hand emerged, flipping everyone the bird.

This didn’t make anyone move either, and finally the guy swore and drove off in a huff.

“What the hell?” Kel asked.

“She’s not supposed to be on the street before seven,” Jake said.

“I’m working on getting her a city permit,” Caleb said. “They’re extremely hard to get.”

Kel was boggled. “But … those people are blocking the street. They could get a ticket.”

“Thought you weren’t a cop,” Caleb said, looking amused.

Kel shook his head and went back to his tacos, and for a guy who believed in the law, when the incredible burst of flavors once again hit his tongue, he thought maybe he could understand the flagrant disregard of it in this one case.

On behalf of 1001 Dark Nights,

Liz Berry, M.J. Rose, and Jillian Stein would like to thank ~

Steve Berry

Doug Scofield

Benjamin Stein

Kim Guidroz

InkSlinger PR

Dan Slater

Asha Hossain

Chris Graham

Chelle Olson

Kasi Alexander

Jessica Johns

Dylan Stockton

Richard Blake

and Simon Lipskar