kid who spent the whole time cramming for her biology exam, and another with a woman from Odessa who wept for most of the journey.
That had been a tough one. But there had been worse.
Some of her clients—those who had jobs flexible enough to allow them a few days off, or partners who weren’t breathing down their necks—stayed within state lines, and she ferried them to Austin or Dallas or Fort Worth. Most went to New Mexico, where the rules weren’t so strict. It was a longer drive but quicker in the long run. Lubbock was in a dead zone: a five-hour drive no matter what direction she drove. It was the client’s choice. Tonight she was heading west.
She glanced in the rearview. There was a tractor trailer behind them. She stepped on the gas, and its headlights receded. No tail that she could detect. She allowed herself to relax a little. It was always most dangerous nearest the home. The more miles they had under their belts, the safer they would be. Until they got to where they were going, of course, but that was a headache she wouldn’t worry about until morning.
Cait had left in a hurry—late, as always—and hadn’t managed to get dinner. Hunger was mixed in with exhaustion, gritting her eyes and making her bones heavy. A cup of coffee and maybe a slice of pie would be enough to keep her going. “Do you mind if we stop once we’re over the border?”
Rebecca’s head snapped toward her. “Why?”
“I need a cup of coffee. I’ve been on the road since six o’clock.”
The corners of her pretty mouth turned down. “I guess. If you need to.”
“Thanks. It’ll be quick, I promise. I know you’re nervous, but we’re out of the danger zone now.”
“How do you know?”
“Ninety percent of all incidents occur within the first ten minutes of the journey. Most of the trouble I’ve seen has happened right outside the front door. Now that we’re out of Lubbock, it should be smooth sailing.”
Rebecca nodded but didn’t look convinced. She had the kind of profile that belonged on a Roman coin, all straight nose and firm jaw. Patrician. Cait smiled at her own description: it was good, she should write it down. Maybe she could use it.
In the meantime, she needed to work out that piece she’d been writing about labor conditions at the organic farm outside of Austin. The editor had been requesting the copy for weeks, but she hadn’t been able to land it. Not that he had much of a right to complain considering how much he was paying her, which was nothing. Still, she couldn’t risk pissing him off. It was rare that someone gave her a chance, especially these days.
A sign announced that they were leaving Littlefield. They were edging toward the desert now. Pretty soon there’d be nothing but scrub and sky. Her stomach rumbled. She couldn’t get to Clovis fast enough. It would be her last chance to get a decent cup of coffee that night.
She glanced over at the woman sitting next to her. “You comfortable? You want me to put the heat on or anything?”
Rebecca shook her head. “I’m fine, thanks.”
“Just let me know. It’s supposed to get down to the twenties tonight. They’re saying it might even snow.” She reached out and patted the dashboard. “Don’t worry, she’s good in the snow.”
Rebecca gave her a weak smile. “That’s good to know,” she said, before turning her face back toward the window.
So she wasn’t a talker. That was fine. There was plenty of time for that.
Nine Months Earlier
Cait rolled off the bed and stumbled into the bathroom. The bulb had blown, so she had to feel her way to the toilet in the dark, careful not to hit her head on the sloped wall. She could hear his soft snores over the sound of her piss hitting the bowl. Good. She hadn’t woken him up.
When she was finished, she stood up carefully and turned to look at herself in the mirror. Her eyes had adjusted to the light now, and she could see the dark hollows of her eyes and a glint of teeth in the reflection. She pressed her forehead to the glass. What the fuck are you doing here? she asked herself, but she didn’t have an answer. The snores continued.
It was Alyssa’s fault. She was the one who had insisted they go to Cedar Street for her birthday, even though the place was a hellhole filled