Haldeman has hit on a foolproof plan to stave off impending bankruptcy - arrange a gas-leak at his 'thriving' restaurant on the Danta Monica Boulevard and grab himself a juicy cheque from the insurance company. If Jose and all the rest of his dopey staff have to perish in resulting inferno well, you can't make an omelette without cracking a few eggs. To put plenty distance between himself and the impending tragedy, Haldeman drives out to Palm Springs which is all but deserted on account of the annual insufferable heatwave. The place is so hot that gangs of Mexicans are employed to continuously tarmac the roads to keep 'em in one piece. Haldeman should have made a point of remembering that boiling tar is murder on the soles of ones feet, but ....
No big surprise that this pair surpass everything else to date. Chris Fowler's won't be rushed but the really horrible ending sure makes it worth sticking with. Jonathan Cruise provides a great trad horror story, pure and simple. Put me in mind a little of Robert Aickman's Ringing The Changes but i'd best not write that!