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vacant sign disappeared. The woman’s eyes came into focus, narrowing first in recognition, then widening in surprise mixed with, what, relief? Was that it?
    ‘Terry? Terry, is that you?’
    Use it. Whatever it is, use it.
    ‘It’s me.’ Darby’s mouth was dry. ‘I’m here to –’
    ‘Lower your voice, he’s watching.’ The woman pointed with her chin at the porch ceiling.
    There was nothing on the ceiling but spiderwebs and the dried-out husk of an old hornet’s nest.
    ‘I’ll shut off the flashlight,’ Darby said. ‘That way he won’t see us.’
    ‘Okay, good. That’s good. You were always smart, Terry.’
    Darby turned off the flashlight. The flashing blue and whites blinked through the spaces between the latticework. The woman was still holding on to the barrel, still using it as a barrier.
    Ask her name? No. She already believes I know her. Darby didn’t want to risk breaking the connection. Better off going along with the delusion.
    ‘I thought you were dead,’ the woman said.
    ‘Why did you think that?’
    ‘You were screaming. You were screaming for me to come help you and I couldn’t reach you in time.’ The woman’s face crumbled. You weren’t moving, and you were bleeding. I tried to wake you up and you didn’t move.’
    ‘I fooled him.’
    ‘I did, too. I fooled him real good this time, Terry.’ The woman grinned and Darby had to look away. ‘I knew what he was going to do when he put me in the van, and I was ready.’
    ‘What color was his van?’
    ‘Black. He’s still out there, Terry.’
    ‘Did you see a license plate?’
    ‘He’s looking for me – for us.’
    ‘Who’s looking for us? What’s his name?’
    ‘We’ve got to hide until the screaming stops.’
    ‘I know a way out,’ Darby said. ‘Come on, I’ll show you.’
    The woman didn’t move, didn’t answer. She continued her examination of the porch ceiling. She wascrouched behind the other side of an overturned barrel, holding it in a way to keep anyone from getting close to her.
    Two choices: She could go in there and see if she could somehow guide the woman out, or she could let the patrolmen take care of it.
    Darby moved the barrel blocking the door. When the woman didn’t scream, Darby slid underneath the porch.

Chapter 9
    ‘I’m going to come closer so we can talk,’ Darby said. ‘Okay?’
    Darby crawled across the muddy ground of spilled trash, soda cans and newspapers. The most atrocious body odor she had ever smelled hit her. She dry-heaved, coughed.
    ‘You okay, Terry? Please tell me you’re okay.’
    ‘I’m fine.’ Darby was breathing through her mouth now. She leaned her back against the wall. She sat less than two feet away, on the other side of the barrel. The woman wasn’t wearing pants or shoes. Bones jutted out from underneath her skin.
    ‘Did you see Jimmy?’ the woman asked.
    Darby had an idea. ‘I saw him, but I didn’t recognize him at first.’
    ‘You’ve been gone away for a long time. I bet he’s changed a lot.’
    ‘He has, but it’s… I’m having trouble remembering things. Small things, like my last name.’
    ‘It’s Mastrangelo. Terry Mastrangelo. Will you introduce me to Jimmy? After everything you’ve told me, I feel like I know him as much as you do.’
    ‘I’m sure he’d like that. But first, we have to get out of here.’
    ‘There’s no way out, only places to hide.’
    ‘I found a way out.’
    ‘You’ve got to stop that foolish thinking. I tried, remember? We both did.’
    ‘I came back for you, didn’t I?’ Darby took off her windbreaker and held it across the barrel. ‘Put this on. It will keep you warm.’
    The woman went to grab the jacket, then pulled her hand away.
    ‘What’s wrong?’
    ‘I’m afraid you’ll disappear again,’ the woman said. ‘I don’t want you to disappear on me again.’
    ‘Go ahead and take it. I won’t disappear, I promise.’
    It took several minutes of thinking, but finally, the woman touched the