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26Texas, USA, 5 July 2014
At the time Ramona was leaving Garrett’s house in a huff, Garrett exited the airport into the dry heat of El Paso, Texas.
An Avis clerk led him to a rental Toyota Camry, went about inspecting the car, scribbling notations on a tablet, handed him the keys. Inside, the Camry smelled of lavender; Garrett guessed it was fresh out of a wash. He turned the ignition; the AC was like an Arctic wind. Garrett tapped an address into the onboard GPS and guided by a female voice, made a southward heading. He stopped to relieve himself by the side of the road. The desert sun burned down; the horizon shimmered in heatwaves. Resuming his journey, Garrett dialled the AC up, and a little later, the GPS alerted him his destination was close by.
The Oasis was one of five commu
