I knew this route by heart. I hadn’t run any lights or stop signs. He looked up and I caught a flash of his face in my mirror. He was wearing shades... but I could tell he was fiercely handsome. He opened his door and approached mine. I lowered my window and looked up into his face. He asked for my license and registration. I handed them over. “That’s what I thought,” he said. “Officer?” “Ms. Krys, isn’t it? You teach at Ben Franklin High?" “Yes Sir, I do, but what does—" “Ma’am,” he said and. Next time try a cab." I can't afford—" You can't afford what was going to happen tonight," I interrupted her. She snapped her head around at me sharply, then shuddered at the memory. We went on for a few paces in silence until she stopped in front of a somewhat ramshackle apartment building. "I live here," she said."Good night, then." I smiled at her. "Put it behind you now," I added. "But remember about the cab." She stood hesitating, awkward for a moment. "Or call me," I said on impulse.. I woke up about two hour's later, with two holes in me, no bike and no girl's, I was hurting and really pissed, So I walked out of the wood's, onto the road, where I passed out again. I woke up in the hospital three day's later, with the police asking, "Who shot me".I told them I didn't know who, and asked them where my stepsister was. They asked me when the last time I'd seen her was, and what her name was, and what did she look like.After two more days, I was released and sent home. I went to. "It's finished, honey."Alyson jumped up and down with glee. "Daddy, can I see the mirror?"He removed the signal mirror from a pouch and handed it to her."Oh, Mother! It's wonderful! Thank you!" She gave her mother a big squeeze, then turned the sprig toward Doug."Prettiest pixie I ever saw," he said as she threw her arms around his neck. She was still jumping up and down, and the feel of those firm little cones brushing against his chest stirred feelings he didn't want stirred. When she stepped.