I didn’t spend the last two years trying to get out of that shithole just to go back.”

He nods slowly. “I don’t blame you.”

“I trusted you to get me out,” she says. “It’s why I fucked you the first hour we met. It’s why I’m with you now.”

“I know.”

“Do you Ryan? Because I would’ve fucked Charles Manson if he’d gotten me out first.”

“I get it, Rachel. Don’t worry, I won’t make you go back.”

“I don’t want you going there, either.”

“Why not?”

“I’ve grown fond of you.”

“Fond?” He laughs. “What’re you, eighty years old?”

He turns his attention to the chemical drum as it forces the toxic waste into the hydrant. “Well, it works,” he says. “But….”

“Yeah, I know, baby. It’s anti-something-or-other.”

“Climactic?”

“Yeah. Like you planned to take a monster shit, but only farted.”

He frowns. “Thanks for putting it in perspective for me.”

“My pleasure. Wanna fuck?”

“You mean now? Right here? In the middle of all these lights?”

“Why not?”

He looks around. “I’m game if you are.”

“Just so you know, I’m proud of you,” she says.

“Why?”

“How many people can kill dozens to hundreds of innocent people in ten minutes without getting caught? It’s a hell of an achievement!” She hands him a plastic cup of champagne, and holds hers up to offer a toast. They click plastic and scarf their drinks. Then she pulls her pants to her ankles and says, “Front or back?”

“Ladies’ choice,” he says.

“I guess I don’t need road grease on my butt,” she says. “How about doggy-style?”

Decker says nothing.

“Ryan?”

She looks at him closely, then shrugs and pulls her pants back up. Seeing his phone in his hand, she takes it, punches in a number. When Donovan Creed answers, she says, “Decker’s dead.”

“You’re sure?”

She checks his pulse. “Yup. The poison worked. Your plan was…diabolical.”

“Thanks.”

“I’d thank you for helping me get released, but since you took your sweet time doing it, I’ll just say fuck you.”

“You think it was easy getting Decker to Area B? Figuring out a way to lure him into finding you without being obvious?”

“How’d you know he’d want me?”

“He was very competitive. I knew he’d want what I had.”

“Say it.”

“My former girlfriend.”

“Former?”

Creed sighs. “We’ve been through this, Rachel.”

“You’re dumping me?”

“Yeah. Except this happened nearly two years ago, remember?”

“Whatever. So when do I get my money?”

“It’s already in an account in your name. When you hang up I’ll text you the information.”

“Okay.” She pauses. “I’d tell you to fuck off, but I need the money.”

“I know.”

She looks at Decker. Then says, “Fuck!”

“What’s wrong?”

“This was a huge mistake. I never should have poisoned him. He would’ve taken good care of me.”

“Sorry to break it to you, but he only wanted to fuck you and get whatever information he could out of you. Still, I’m surprised you went through with it.”

“I almost didn’t, but then he called me old.”

“Old? When?”

“Just now. I told him I’d grown fond of him and he said, ‘What’re you, eighty years old?’ I can’t abide that.”

“If it’s any consolation, he needed to die. And he would’ve killed you, eventually.”

“But now I don’t have him or you. I’m completely, totally, hopelessly alone.