My car was standing in a remote, lonely parking lot. The spirit of my vehicle had given up again. Yes, and there I was now. Hoping that some Samaritan would just pass by chance, notice my need and help me out of my trouble.
It was a warm summer evening. The dawn gradually turned into darkness. It had been a spectacular sunset that had blessed the sky of the dying day before the night gradually crept in.
This highway already ran through a more remote part of the hinterland in the southwestern United States.
I thought of the various serial killers who have not yet been booked and who are still up to mischief. I was wearing a normal blouse without too much cleavage and ordinary jeans, but that wouldn't stop a guy with bad intentions, of course.
I could hardly believe my luck when a pickup truck approached on the street. The headlights caught me and I waved eagerly.
The vehicle swung into the parking lot. No one else was here except me and hopefully my saviour.
Three young guys got out of the pickup, in their mid-to-late twenties, at that age I estimated them.
"Lady! How can we help?" asked the first eloquently.
"My car has some quirk! I just made it here and ... absolutely dead!" I explained.
"But you were and are lucky twice, Miss, because the three of us like to tinker with cars and that we were even out here in this area!"
"How come you are here on this road?" I asked curiously.
"The three of us are sales representatives and took part in a conference today. This route is actually a shortcut home. So it turned out!" he explained.
"Let's have a look at the car!" he grinned.
I opened the hood for them. All three leaned over the heart of the car. With a strong flashlight. They discussed lively. I stayed close by.
"What are the names of you three?" I asked them.
"Brad!" answered the one who had been the only one to speak so far.
"Rick!" called the second.
"Jim!" the third introduced himself.
