Vampire Dancing Read Online Free PDF Page B

huh, all day.”
    “Well, I'm no expert,” Alyssa said, “but in these temperatures, I'd say it's your alternator.”
    “And that's bad?”
    “Let's just say you're going nowhere without a set of jumper cables, and even then you're not going very far.”
    The girl groaned and planted her rear-end on the hood of the Volvo.
    A twinkling of lights further along the highway caught Alyssa's attention. Someone else was headed their way.
    “You wouldn't happen to have them jumper things, would you?” the girl asked.
    “I'm afraid not,” Alyssa replied.
    A lie, of course. Alyssa had no idea whether she was in possession of a set or not. The Buick wasn't even her car to begin with. For all she knew, Bradley had a body in the trunk.
    “Maybe this person coming has them,” the girl said.
    They watched the automobile draw gradually closer.
    “I'm Alyssa, by the way.”
    “Oh, hey, Alyssa. I'm Julie.”
    “Nice to meet you, Julie.”
    Julie turned her flashlight on Alyssa. “I take it you're a fan?”
    For a moment, Alyssa had no idea what Julie was referring to. And then it dawned on her. “Oh, this...” She pinched the fabric of her tank top. Under the KISS logo was an image of Gene Simmons in full theatrical make-up, sticking out his over-sized tongue. “I suppose I am - I mean, of course I am .”
    Another lie. Up until she'd dined on Bradley, Alyssa had been wearing a light blue t-shirt. But, because he hadn't exactly went to the dinner table willingly, things had gotten a little messy. Luckily, there was a bag on the back seat stuffed with women's clothing - which is how she came to have on a tank top featuring a band she wasn't particularly fond of. What Bradley had been doing with a bag full of women's clothes was anyone's guess. Most likely he'd acquired it through an act of deviance. Whatever the reason, he'd gotten his comeuppance in the end.
    “I'm more of a hip-hop fan,” Julie said. “Probably wouldn't guess to look at me.”
    The approaching vehicle wasn't very far now. Alyssa expected it would stop or pass them by within the next minute. “Listen, can I give you a ride? There's sure to be a garage back in Van Horn.”
    “That's where I'm headed,” Julie said. “But you ain't even going my way. Wouldn't be right to turn you around.”
    Alyssa watched the glow of the approaching vehicle increase. “It's no problem, really. It's only a twenty minute ride at most.”
    Julie opened her mouth to decline once again, then hesitated. “Well ... maybe.” She pointed her flashlight at her feet. “We'll see if this person can help first.”
    Less than half a minute later, a small white truck slowed to a stop. A man got out. Illuminated in the vehicle's high beams, he looked to be in his mid-thirties. He wore a white shirt, jeans and boots, and had a black cowboy hat on his head.
    “Anything I can do to help you ladies out?” he said.
    Alyssa looked to Julie.
    “I think its my ... alterator.” Julie said.
    “Her alternator,” Alyssa replied.
    Julie flicked her flashlight on and off. “Yeah, that thing.”
    The man eyed Julie from head to toe, then put his hands on his hips and nodded slowly. “If you pop the hood I can take a look.”
    “Sure,” Julie replied, and made for the interior of the car.
    Alyssa watched her go.
    “The name's Brian.”
    His hand was outstretched.
    Alyssa briefly shook it. “Alyssa.”
    “Well, now, that's a real pretty name you got yourself there, ma'am.”
    Alyssa folded her arms and forced a smile.
    Just then, the hood popped.
    “Okay then,” Brain said, “guess I'd better take a look.” He lifted the hood. “Say, I could use that flashlight. Light from my truck ain't cuttin' it.”
    Julie appeared and handed it to him.
    “Thank you, kindly ...?”
    “Julie.”
    “Julie - damn, that's another fine name. I'm Brian, in case you didn't hear.”
    "Nice to meet you, Brian."
    Brian shone the flashlight at the engine. He poked around and touched a few things; made