Pam glanced back. Roy was still following her. His pace had slowed in the chilly autumn night, but he was there, half a block back.

She stared at the phone in her hand, her own pace slacking. It was late. Sometime around one, she thought, but Jim's name on her phone screen was already consoling her. She knew he'd come instantly if she called. He'd take her away from all this. He'd make her laugh, then pull his arms around her tightly and let her cry. It wouldn't matter what he was doing, or who he was with. He'd come.