lack street in East LA. The driver snatched the cash from

oked with garbage and stagnant water, bursting through the doors

lungs burning, until she reached the third floor

and the high-pitched giggling of his mistress, G

d of Briana's

oards, and threw her entire body weight forward, ramming her sh

ud crack. The door flew open, slammin

n on his lap, jumped out of his skin. He drop

y beer bottle from the table and pointed it at her. "You ungrateful bitc

he tiny, filthy room.

ns. She reached behind her and p

l in his system. He lunged at her, rais

clumsy swing. She pivoted, driving her el

is lungs. The bottle slipped from h

his greasy hair. She yanked his head down and slammed

reamed-a wet, gurgling sound-and collaps

She scrambled off the sofa

bed Gretchen by her blonde extensions a

g acrylic nails scratching deep,

k, pinning her flat against the floorboards. She reached out an

edge hard against Gre

froze i

spered, her voice a dead, hollow sound that b

d welled up and trickled down Gretchen's neck. A warm, pungent

ysterically. "The abandoned auto sh

in her hand and brought the heavy metal handle down hard

as moaning on the floor. She dug into his pocket

t a change in expression, she raised her

ke dry twigs. Doyle pa

wn to the alley. She found the rusted pickup truck, jammed the