Chapter 28
THE TALL MAN didn’t immediately answer Amy’s question. He just smiled and started to walk slowly. Amy followed along, not even realizing that they were moving away from the restaurant. He said, “I have a few questions too.”
“Let me guess. The first one is ‘How did a nice girl like you end up in a place like this?’”
He shook his head. “Actually, the question was going to be more like ‘Why is a beauty like you wasting your time here?’”
That made Amy smile. She’d hoped someone in the movie profession might ask her that same question. She’d even dreamed it.
Amy said, “I’m here because I’m taking acting lessons. I heard San Francisco was less competitive than LA. I have to start somewhere. I only just turned twenty last month.”
“What if I told you I can give you a ticket to the front of the line? You’ll even meet some film people.”
Amy wasn’t stupid. She was always skeptical of ideas that promised so much. “What would I need to do for this great job?”
“Just… be available.”
“For what?”
“For whatever comes up.”
Amy didn’t like the laugh the man threw in after his answer.
She said, “It sounds like you want me to be an escort.” She kept walking at the same pace as the man.
Not rushed, just casual. But this end of the block was less populated and two of the streetlights were out. She was starting to feel anxious again.
The man didn’t deny it. He said, “You’ll escort clients. You’ll escort them to parties and clubs and maybe even an event on a red carpet.”
Amy considered the idea of such a glamorous lifestyle. Then she asked, “Would I have to have sex with them?”
“Maybe. Sometimes. Most of the clients would be older and couldn’t do much anyway.”
“Look, I may not be a virgin, but I’m not interested.”
“You should be.”
Now Amy realized they were at the end of the block. She turned quickly and said to the man, “I’m going back. Thank you for your kind offer. And for the tip.” She started to walk back in the direction of the diner. Then she felt the man’s hand wrap around her left upper arm.
Amy didn’t hesitate. She spun quickly and punched him in the jaw with her right fist. It surprised the man.
He stumbled backward. She kicked him hard in the right thigh.
She’d aimed for his testicles, but those were an awfully small target.
The kick had roughly the same effect. The man grunted and leaned over, reaching down to hold his leg.
Amy could’ve run just then. But she felt empowered.
Finally being raised with three brothers was paying off.
She moved to kick the man in the head while he was bent over.
She just had time to see him pull something out of his front pocket.
It almost looked like an inhaler. Then she was enveloped in a yellow fog.
She shuffled back from the mist now hanging between her and the man.
But it was too late. Her eyes started to burn.
It felt like needles were being driven into her cheeks.
Amy’d never experienced anything like this before.
She thought she might vomit. She lifted her hands to her eyes.
It didn’t help. Panic rose inside her. She had to squeeze her eyes shut.
Then Amy felt the man’s hands around her throat. Her air cut off instantly. It was easily the most terrifying moment of her life.
She heard him growl, “Why the hell did you kick me? I was trying to do you a favor.”
Amy struggled, reaching up for the man’s hands around her throat. Every time she blinked the pain in her eyes got sharper. In those brief glimpses she could see the man’s face clearly.
He said, “You could’ve been rich.”
As his hands seemed to tighten around her throat, Amy lost the ability to control her arms. They started to just flop at her sides. She thought she heard her mom’s voice telling her to clean up for dinner. The lights around her started to dim.
Then there was nothing at all.