She took a room in that rat trap off Highway 50, figuring they wouldn't find her for at least a few hours. She was wrong. The splatter of gunfire blew out her window as soon as she took off her heels.

Ducking behind the bed, she clutched the contact sheet and began absorbing 

“That’s right, they’re parading out there as we speak. I can hear their heels clip-clopping. You heard me. Swinging their arms like… like storm troopers, like astronauts returning from space. Only there’s no ticker tape parade and its…

He worked after hours, using the company lab for her synthesis. Since he was the senior scientist and his grant money brought in millions, no questions were asked. When he came home at eight o clock every night, his wife would have dinner ready for him on the TV tray. She hadn’t a clue what he was doing and 

The whole thing had been a mess from start to finish. Everybody seemed to be “on something” and it all just escalated. The bongo player took off her top and wasn’t even aware of what the models were up to behind her. The redhead started