They left the room and went down the external staircase they'd used the night before.
The sun was bright outside, illuminating the neighborhood with stark clarity.
Faye Vaughn was stunned for a moment.
Last night, the light had been too dim; all she had sensed was the stench of decay in the air. Seeing the place clearly now was far more shocking.
Dilapidated low-rise buildings, trash scattered everywhere, and a few junkies huddled in a corner, looking more like ghouls than people.
When they saw Faye Vaughn and Liam Linden approaching, they scrambled to their feet, holding out their hands and snickering obsequiously. "Spare some change. Even ten bucks will do!"
Liam Linden quickly pulled Faye Vaughn behind him and barked harshly, "Get lost."
But the junkies weren't scared at all. Grinning shamelessly, they sidled closer. "So protective of your woman, huh? If you don't want anything to happen to her, you'd better give us something!"
This was no longer begging. It was a threat.
