She didn't like the idea of leaving Rhiannon with a babysitter. But on the other hand, she'd had a career she enjoyed before she got pregnant-working as a florist after getting an associate's degree in horticulture at Brooklyn Community College. She missed the work and she missed getting to socialize with adults during the day. But that just made her feel even more guilty, like she was being a bad mother.

The dilemma consumed her so much that as she approached the pier, she didn't notice the shadows moving beneath the weathered, barnacle-encrusted pylons. That was unusual, because she really didn't like to run beneath the hulking structure. As a little girl, she'd been afraid of dark places-those spaces beneath the bed, in closets, and down in basements where monsters were said to hide.

The dark places beneath the pier frightened her as an adult. But she always forced herself to finish this half of the run by racing beneath its beams, timing the sprint to match the waves receding enough to allow her a clear shot to the other side. In part, the idea was to conquer a childhood fear, but it was also similar to the reason people enjoy watching horror movies-they like being scared.

Liz was so caught up in the internal debate over going back to work that she didn't see the real monsters until she was halfway under the pier and one jumped out at her and yelled, "Boo!"

She veered and tried to sprint away but stumbled, giving him time to cut in front of her again. He wasn't horrible-looking for a monster, just a tall, gangly black teenager with mocha skin, nice, white teeth, and hazel-colored eyes. But he talked like a monster. "Say, where you going, bitch? Me and the homeboys was partyin' and thought maybe you should join us."

Standing as a wave came ashore and soaked her running shoes, Liz noticed that she was surrounded by a half-dozen teenagers-some of them leering, others looking uncomfortable. "Leave me alone!" she said forcefully as she'd been taught in a rape-prevention course she'd once taken at the YMCA, but the teenagers just laughed and smirked.