He stopped, and tried to gather his thoughts. “Ah-h... yeah, okay. But outside. They’re closing up.”
“Have you got your car here?” she asked hopefully. “I want to get away from here.”
Mystified, he nodded. They began walking to the parking lot.
“Look, Jerrold, I’m really glad you stood up to Billy. But there’s something I’ve got to tell you...”
To his embarrassment, she started to cry. He stopped, but she grabbed his arm and propelled him forward.
“Please, can we just get away from here?”
They reached his car and got in. “Where- ?”
“I don’t care! Just... let’s go!”
He started up, drove aimlessly for a while, and at her direction turned on to a quiet road which led towards the lake. After several minutes, she seemed to gather her composure once more. She began to speak.
“Billy’s going to kill you. Don’t give me that look! I mean it! You don’t know him like I do. You haven’t seen the kind of things he’s capable of. I... I need you to help me.
“Billy’s been... he’s been forcing me... “ she stopped and began crying again. Shaking her head angrily, she got herself under control once more.