Boulevard Read Online Free PDF

know?”
    â€œBecause I live around here. I meet lots of kids … and you know something, ten years ago, I ran away to come here myself.”
    â€œI didn’t run away.”
    â€œNever said you did. But lots of kids do. You gotta know that. It can be hard at first. I know, I been there. C’mon, I’ll buy you something to eat.”
    â€œI can’t. I’m visiting a friend in Santa Monica, and he’s gonna be worried if I don’t get there by seven.”
    â€œTake twenty minutes. When I came here, nobody did nothing nice for me, so I says to myself, some day, when I got some money, I’ll share it a little. Now I got some money. Look, you get a free meal, and I get to pick up my kid sister and her little girl, knowing that while I was waiting, I got to do a little good in this world. Coming?”
    Casey nodded. Dinner, that’s it, she thought. The reality was, she didn’t know anything. There wasn’t exactly a guide book for people like her. And one way or another she had to start figuring out the place … Dinner, that’s it , and then down to Santa Monica. For real.
    â€œMy name’s Dennis. What’s yours?”
    They turned onto Cahuenga. It was just after six, but the street was nearly deserted. She pulled her jacket tight around her.
    â€œThat jacket don’t seem so warm, I’ll lend you my coat.”
    â€œI’m okay,” she said.
    â€œI got a long sleeve shirt on. It’s no big deal.”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    She was cold. But she wasn’t about to let him know. She had to be tough. She had to stay tough.
    â€œYou’re gonna love this place. Chao Prya—Thai food. You ever have Thai food before?”
    â€œNah.”
    â€œIt’s the best. Hot, spicy. Try it once and you’re never gonna go back to McDonald’s again.”
    â€œI hate McDonald’s.”
    â€œYou do? Only kid in the city.”
    â€œIt’s terrible for your body, you know. And on top of that, McDonald’s is destroying the rain forest in Brazil. I’m a vegetarian.”
    â€œNo shit. That’s great. Me too.”
    â€œYou are?”
    â€œFive years.”
    â€œLonger than me,” Casey said.
    â€œI been around longer. This place’s got it all, lotsa great veggie stuff. You know, I got an idea. We’re right near my apartment. We can run up and get you a sweater or something.”
    â€œI’m okay. Really.”
    â€œI’m telling ya, it gets fuckin’ cold here at night. It’ll take a second to grab it.”
    â€œI’m from Seattle, I’m used to the cold.”
    Casey felt weird. The guy was strange. Time to bail.
    She slowed down as they walked, and as she slowed, a space opened up between her and Dennis. A couple of feet … and then a few more. But Dennis turned back around.
    â€œYou don’t want a sweater, you don’t want it. We’ll just eat.”
    He was checking out the street. Casey knew he was bad news. She had seen it before, but not like she saw it now. She quickly glanced up and down the block for someplace to run. Up ahead, nothing. Just closed-up stores. Behind her, a Shell station. Near the gas station, she saw a cool, punked-out couple throwing duffel bags into the back of a new, red Beetle. Casey slowed her walk to a crawl. Don’t reveal anything … Just let him get a few more feet ahead, and then make a run for the gas station and the couple. It wasn’t that far, it would take thirty seconds, less even … Just let him get a tiny bit more ahead. Then he lunged for her. His hand wrapped around her throat and he jerked her towards him.
    Casey screamed. She screamed loud, she screamed with everything she had. But no one heard her. The Beetle pulled into the street. They would hear her. They had to hear her. She yelled again, but Dennis’ other hand, big and cold, slammed around her mouth. Casey fought to break free,