Chapter 1
At a truck stop just outside of Salinas, California, an eighteen-wheeler sat with its engine running. Polished aluminum wheels and chrome grill glistened in the morning sun. The driver engaged the clutch and the truck slowly rolled down the tarmac. When it got to the bottom of the driveway an attractive young woman stepped out and waived her hand. The driver promptly brought the forty-footer to a stop.
“You need a ride?” he called down.
“Yes, how far you going?”
“L.A.,” and he reached over and unlatched the door.
“Great,” she climbed up on the running board and got in.
“No bags?”
“No, I’m traveling light.”
As the big rig eased out onto the access road and headed down to the freeway on-ramp, the driver looked appraisingly at his passenger. He wasn’t good at guessing ages but thought she was probably in her late twenties. She had medium length light brown hair and beautiful blue-green eyes. She wore jeans, a dark corduroy jacket over a white top and sneakers.
“My name’s Matt,” he said with a sidelong glance.
“I’m Darlene. Thanks for picking me up.”
“You been waiting long?”
“No not very.”
They drove in silence for a while.
“You look kinda familiar,” he said. “Did you used to work back there?”
“Where?”
“The truck stop?”
“No,” she shook her head.
“Umm…seems like I know you from somewhere.”
She didn’t say anything, just smiled at the friendly trucker who looked to be in his mid-fifties. He was heavyset, and wore typical trucker’s garb: Levis, a red-checkered shirt and cowboy boots. His most distinguishing feature was a gray salt-and-pepper mustache that drooped over his mouth. A western style brown felt hat sat squarely on his head.
“You from Salinas or just passing through?”
“From Salinas,” she said.
“You lived here all your life?”
“No I was born in Stockton.”
As they approached the U.S. Highway 101 on-ramp Matt picked up speed they headed south.
“How about you, where are you from?” she asked.
“Texas originally. But I live in Reno now.”
“Do you like it there?”
“Yeah, Reno’s a fun town. Hot in the summer, but I don’t mind. I’m gone most of the time anyway.”
“I’ve never been there. Actually I’ve never been anywhere,” she said wistfully.
“What are you going to do in LA, if you don’t mind my asking?”
“Vacation,” she said in a voice that lacked conviction.
He gave her a sidelong look but didn’t say anything. He probably knew she was lying but she couldn’t think of anything else to say. She could hardly tell him that her decision to leave Salinas had been made only hours before, and that she had left with nothing but the clothes on her back.
“I usually stop at King City for pie and coffee. You up for that?”
“Yes, except I don’t have any money.”
