(xxxix.)

From a small crumpled heap on the side of the road, Midge stared, agasp, at the blaze. "What the fuck just happened?"

Lorelei faced away from the truck, kneeling, trying to catch her breath. She turned, saw the flames, and turned back toward Midge.

"Someone doesn't like us very much."
"What the fuck does that mean?!"

Lorelei stood up. She offered to help Midge up, but Midge refused.

"I'm sorry I dragged you into this. Honest. I really am. Mea culpa."

Midge dragged herself to her feet. She poked Lorelei, angrilly. "Exactly what did you drag me into?"

Lorelei sighed. She turned toward the blaze. "You see that?"
"Well, yea--"
"There's only one person who can do things like that."
"What do you--"
"Sshhh--"

Lorelei pointed an accusatory finger at a white van parked thirty feet away.

The door opened, and a man stepped out in a crisply ironed suit. He walked toward the bon-fire that was once an Ice Cream Truck.

He stood in awe for a moment, before pulling a cigarette from his pocket. He lit it with the flames, and put it in his mouth.

"You see that, Midge? You remember I told you about Chet? That's him. He's the one that killed Fred. He's the one that's been after me for the past--"
"What is it, almost a month now?"
"I was actually going to say five years. But yeah. Whatever."

A second man stepped out of the van, this one wearing a windbreaker, and carrying a six-foot rocket-launcher.



[chapter xl.]