y shredded. Not just flat, but destroyed, long gashes running through the rubber as if it ha

ed, kicking at the ruined tire

all its earlier color, the fear creeping back into her eyes. Being stationary, vulner

?" she asked,

d stretched out in both directions, empty and silent. I was about to pull out my p

. A small, dilapidated structure with a faded sign I couldn't quite mak

g. "Maybe someone's the

lence of the desert pressed in. With every step, I felt more exposed. I kept gla

dusty yard. The windows were grimy, and the paint on the sign had peeled

and a shifty look in his eyes. He wiped his dirty hands on an equally dirty rag, a slow, unpleasa

he said, his voice

ng to keep my voice steady. "A

ng his face. "Out here? You're lucky you found me. No

r out-of-state plates, the luggage visible in the back seat. He circl

at it with the toe of his boot. "Looks like

was so outrageously high it took my breath away.

, my anger flaring. "Yo

, I'm the only game in town. The price is the price. You want your car fi

e trapped, and he was enjoying it. The feeling of being prey, which had s

k of fear and exhaustion. We couldn't

ting like ash in my mouth. "Jus

thing. It'll take a while, though. Gotta find the right pa

sound of him clanging around in the garage. The feeling of being cheated and powerless was infuriating, but it was overshadowed by a deeper, more urgent ne