Dark Places

Ben rides with Trey and Diondra to a bar in town where they plan to find Runner. Ben asks if they can go to the Compound to get his bike, but Trey tells him it’s been stolen by now.

At the bar, Runner does not even recognize Ben with his black hair. Ben notices that Diondra seems overly familiar with Runner. Trey asks Runner for his money, but Runner says he doesn’t have it. He and another man, Whitey, convince Trey to give Runner another 24 hours to get him the money. Before Ben leaves, he tells Runner that Diondra is pregnant. He hopes Runner will be proud of him, but Runner is doubtful the baby is his.

In the truck, Trey tells Diondra about something that “may have to happen tonight” as they smoke marijuana laced with something strong (244). At first, they do not give it to Ben, but Diondra says Ben might need it later.

Libby goes to the encampment at the toxic Superfund site. Eventually, a man tells her where to find Runner. He lives at the far end of the encampment inside a 10-foot-tall industrial mixing vat, and Libby must climb down a ladder that does not reach the bottom of the tank.