1.
Katrina Tassel was not happy. She was in a new town -- new job and here she was outside her new car that had just broken down. "This is never a good sign." She thought.
Halloween was well underway and even on a normal night the road to Tarrytown had a reputation known to everyone in area. Kat heard about the mysterious disappearances whenever she mentioned where the house she was renting was located. The car had stopped about a mile from the old covered bridge. Road was dark and sparingly traveled after certain hours. Of course, it was after those hours.
"The best thing that could happen is that no one finds me until morning. But that assumes I would be found in the morning." She nervously giggled. "I have to quit thinking that way or I will do something stupid." She looked down at the road. "It is about seven miles that way." Then she looked up the hill and into the woods. "And about who knows how many miles that way." Neither sounded promising, however, hiking through a moon lit forest that she was only vaguely familiar with, in heels, seem to be a good way to end up in the "never to be seen again" category. Katrina started down the road, "Wait," she thought. "I need to calm down."
She checked her phone. "Roaming. Perfect. But I should have guessed that. "
Katrina had just lost sight of her car when she heard a low rumble and ghostly light appeared at the edge of her sight. She could taste her panic freshly kindled in her and she picked up her pace. By the time the man called out from behind her she was almost at a jog.
"Ma'am, is that your car back there?"
Katrina turned around and found herself staring at a tow truck. Her eyes still had not entirely adjusted in the headlights but she could still make out the words "Ludwig's Towing" on the door as it opened and the driver stepped out. Again she thought of running until the driver stepped into the light. He was about six foot tall and despite the slightly dirty mechanic's suit his black hair, blue eyes, and razor sharp cheekbones would still have put him in "the stunning boy next door" column.
"My name is Johann but everyone calls me Joe. I can take you back to your car. If nothing is too out of sorts you should be back on the road in no time. "
"And if that is not the case?"
"Well, I do have a tow truck."
"It seems odd you just being out here.' Katrina said still unconvinced.
"Fair enough, but I am the only towing company for 30 miles. You have no phone signal, right? Don't worry about answering that I don't either. Do you know how often I pick up a stray on this stretch of road? About twice a week. So, you can keep walking or let me take you back to your car, your call. But I get the concern." He stopped, walked back to the truck and leaned through the window. The action displayed a certain "charm" that even through his overalls put Katrina more at ease.
"Damn nice ass, "she thought.
He emerged from the window with a small CB style microphone in hand. "Station."
Katrina heard what sounded like a garbled female voice reply from the other side. "Yeah, Joe."
"I'm out here near Crane's Run Bridge. There's a lady broken down out here and I'm going to see what I can do for her. "What is your name?"
"Katrina Tassel." She shouted her name at the microphone for some reason. Joe repeated it into the small box.
"Are you scared Joe?" The signal had cleared somewhat and Katrina could hear the sarcasm.
"No but she seemed a bit concerned."
"Has she gotten a good look at you yet?"
"Well, it is a bit dark out here."
"That explains it. Show her your pearly whites and fix her or tow her. I'm ready to go home."
"Roger that."
Katrina felt herself ease a bit and apparently so did Joe. "Thanks Belle." With that Joe threw the handset back into the truck through the window and shrugged. "How about it?" Although she could not see it she was pretty sure he flashed a smile.
2.
"Well, good news, bad news." Katrina saw Joe's face appear as he dropped the hood. He held something snake like in his hand. "It's fixable. And it ain't costly. That's the bad news for me. The good news for you, however, your bad news is I cannot fix it here. I don't have the part. "
"What is it?"
"It is just a belt. Probably something was thrown up into the engine and nicked it. At some point the tension just took it. I'd say it was from wear but you have a pretty new car -- so I kind of doubt that. Could be worse."
"And the good news for you is?" Katrina asked.
"Well, I guess I get to sit up front with you and then there is the tow charge."
At that moment a small orange hatchback barreled down the road. It passed them by about 20 yards, then suddenly stopped and reversed its course -- only to jerk to a halt right behind Joe. A young man with hair that fell about his face hiding his features popped out of the window on driver's side of the car. Sitting on the sill of the window he leaned over the roof of the car. "Hey, we are so lost. Could you point us toward Danbury? It's all Halloween and we have a gig to get to." He seemed confused or stoned. Perhaps both.