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“It wasn’t actually Wormwood that time. And it was only Alessa. She was on a kill list. Candy would have just been collateral damage.”

Sally thinks about it.

“But if Alessa was already on a list to die, how is that your fault? It sounds like your being there saved her life.”

“Maybe. But that was the only good thing.”

“And you deserve to be punished,” she says in a mocking tone.

“You don’t understand. I don’t work for monsters. I kill monsters.”

“And now you’re the worst monster of all.”

“I don’t know. Maybe.”

We tear down the roads for a few more minutes. I have no idea where we are.

“Your friends must hate you for what you did,” she says.

“Stop it. Please. Let’s just drive.”

“So you can die in my car?”

“You said you were getting a new one.”

We go for a few more minutes, then my phone rings.

“That’s your phone,” says Sally.

“I know.”

“Are you not answering it or can’t you answer it?”

“A little of both.”

Sally lets go of the wheel and starts going through my pockets.

I close my eyes, getting ready for the crash. But it doesn’t happen. Of course it doesn’t. No car would dare crash Mustang Sally. The steering wheel moves by itself, keeping the Bugatti going straight and smooth.

She comes up with the phone and thumbs it on.

“Hello? Yes, he’s here. But he’s pouting or something. Says he wants to die. Anyway, he’s being the most annoying baby. Me? I’m Sally. Can I give him a message?” Sally listens for a few seconds more and says, “Thank you very much. I’ll tell him.”

She hangs up and puts the phone back in my pocket.

When she doesn’t say anything I ask, “Who was that?”

“He didn’t say.”

“What did he want?”

“Something about how everybody hates you and you’re a terrible person.”

“Is that really what he said?”

“No. I forget. I wasn’t listening. Let’s just drive.”

“It’s your car.”