CHAPTER 5

  Two years before The Night of Chaos

  Eureka, Missouri

  Last year, Becky was the rising star in Eureka High School’s Girl’s Track. And the most hated in the insular track world.

  Why? In a word? Manipulative.

  Got the one with superior endurance (who needs a fast but steady pace) instead to run too fast too early until she ran out of gas later. “You ever going to set the pace?” Oh, this is the pace?” Got the one with a strong last kick instead to start too early or wait too long. “You on meth? Then why you go so fast?”

  A serious trash-talker. “Yo momma and you so fat, your blood type Rocky Road.” Or, she could be your running buddy. “Would it help if I slowed down a bit?” She could tell just what to say to make them speed up or slow down. Or give up.

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  The coaches found her trash talk fearsome. “Watch out for that Vanilla Ice, she’ll get in your head and mess you up.” Equal parts dismissive taunt and warning.

  Vanilla Ice:

  A taunt: “That vintage white rapper Vanilla Ice had a big hit but a short career.”

  A warning: “Will ice you on the track. All business.”

  This year her business is growing up. Fast. Because she knew: Gotta get a job, move out, and take baby sister with me. Not running track this year. Nope, gotta get a job. An adult job that can support two!

  She figured, that’s a problem for a first job right outta high school. So, she loaded up on Vocational-Tech classes senior year. Oops: VO-Tech was a nightmare at first.

  Automotive? Out. All thumbs.

  Carpentry? Out. Need to keep all thumbs.

  Thank God – and she did – for Mr. Eich and his IT class. She quickly became his teacher’s pet (not an accident). So then he always used one of the school’s free seats for IT certification exams on her.

  Recruiters just laughed and said “you got more than I do” when they saw all her certs. And there you go: IT technician right out of high school.

  Becky’s mission: “Get that job, get that lease (with too many roommates), and get that baby girl outta here. Escape!”