"She fixed him with a neighborly smile, which seemed out of place on this dark and desolate block." Define the word "desolate".

“So do you think Carlos—I mean, do you think he’s one of the … afflicted?” Define the word "afflicted".

Why did Dave "shift uncomfortably on his suitcase" when he was talking to Patricia?

How had giving Carlos "the benefit of the doubt" proven to be the right thing for Dave to do?

"...it was odd to have done such a thing at midnight, he reasoned. But sometimes you just need a Slim Jim and a Mountain Dew. Dave understood the urge." Define the word "urge".

" 'He must hae zipped out for a soda at the Mobil station or something,' Dave thought, giving his pal the benefit of the doubt." Describe the meaning of "benefit of the doubt".

"To prevent injury, the city police had issued a strict curfew of 11 o'clock." Define the word "curfew".

Dave told Patricia that Carlos was "an old friend....or at least I thought he was." What did Dave mean by "at least he thought he was"?

"As Dave listened raptly, Patricia explained the ...strange events." What does "raptly" mean?

"[Dave] had arrived at the...airport in Texas a few hours ealier and spoken with Carlos, his host..." Define the word "host".

When Dave met Patricia, how did he know she already knew Carlos?

The text said that the woman's "neighborly smile...seemed out of place". In what way was it out of place?