"Come on inside before you make a decision," the woman said. "I'm Amy, by the way. My, uh, son is in here."

Well, a hundred dollars is a hundred dollars, Debby thought. And she supposed she could take anything for a couple of days, even staying in this dirty shack.

After Debby was ushered into the living room, she flinched. Two men were sitting on a torn couch, drinking beet. They were surrounded by torn newspapers, empty beer cans and general filth. From the glazed looks in their eyes, they were higher than a kite.

"I don't think so," Debby said, taking a step back toward the door. She felt a momentary clutch of fear at the back of her throat as the men looked at her. "Some other time, perhaps." She touched the handle of the torn screen door.

"He's in here," Amy said, as if she hadn't heard. "Come on in. He'll be glad to see you."

What child wouldn't? Debby thought, having these sub-humans around him all the time. Poor thing.

In spite of herself, Debby followed the woman down the darkened hall and into a bedroom on the far left. Each step of the way made her more and more depressed, determined that she wasn't going to take the job for any amount of money.

"She's here, baby," Amy said, pushing open the door. "Right on time."

To her shock, Debby found herself pushed into the bedroom, then heard the door slam behind her. She turned quickly and tried the knob, but the woman had already locked it from outside.

"Hey! Let me out of here! What's going on?" Debby demanded.

"Hello, Debby," a deep voice said from a darkened corner of the room. "Long time no see."

Debby whirled, and then touched her face as if she'd been slapped. Slowly, her eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. It was Greg!