Reluctantly, Charlie released Barbara, and the man asked her, "Are you all right, girl? Are you close to home? Can you walk home?"

Barbara said yes and got out of the cab of the truck. The man stood in the darkness behind his flashlight so she still could not see him as she began to run away.

Charlie squinted at the light that blinded him. "Who the hell are you, a cop?"

"Never mind," the holder of the flashlight replied. "Just get the hell out of here, before I lose my temper."

Charlie started the engine and burned rubber as he drove the truck past Barbara and out of the park.

Barbara only got a moment's glimpse of the man who had frightened Charlie away. When he turned off the flashlight, before moving back into the shadows, she saw that he had only half a face.




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