“Yes, I am.  Just waiting for the other emergency vehicle.”

“But why, Bette? There’s nothing we can do for the driver, I’m told.”

Bette was silent. She’d had this debate with the emergency team already.

“Bette?”

“Yes, still here.”

“I think that other emergency vehicle may take about an hour or so, yet. There was a multi-car accident in the 101 by Studio City, and all emergency vehicles in the area were called in to help.”

“Oh, alright.”

“Are you staying with the body?”

“Yes”

“Why, Bette?”

“Um…Look, I just think you can’t leave a body on the road…at least not if there’s somebody around who can stay with it.  Like me. Especially here…I just think it’s…um…immoral,” Bette said quietly.

Why DID she stay?  Even as a kid she was one of the most squeamish people any of her friends knew, balking at the sight of cockroaches and other “creepy-crawlies.”

“Especially there?,” the operator asked.  After a pause, “Oh you mean, wild animals may get to the body before the other vehicle gets there?”

“Um…yeah, that’s what I mean…part of what I mean, anyway.,” Bette answered.

After another pause, the operator asked quietly, “Do you have anything that you could use to ward off animals?

“Yeah…the emergency guys left me a bunch of flares.  And I’ve got the volume turned up on the music.”

“Well, we’ll try to get an emergency vehicle out to you as soon as possible. I have to check out for now, but will check in with you in about 15 or 20, alright?”

“Okay, thanks.”

She decided to call Kit.

“Hey sis. Can you stay with me on the phone?  I’ m sitting by the roadside in Malibu Canyon Road…no…closer to Pac Coast, not Mulholland.  And…um…next to a dead body…”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Tina stood next to Eric as they waited for the valet to bring their car up. “They always take forever to either get the ticket to park the car, or else get the car,” he was complaining.  She shook her head, then eyed him worriedly.  “Eric, why don’t you let me drive?  You’ve had too much to drink tonight,” she commented.

“Phew…I drive a Hummer, baby.  Nothing’ll hurt you in that thing,” Eric
said, shaking his head.

“C’mon, Eric.  You might cause an accident or something,” Tina said.