TK again. This chapter's a bit short for me, but I kinda need the exposition time. Forgive me, I will update it soon, though.
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There were, I believe, two ways to resolve the current problem. I ruled out a heart-to-heart.
He had me with my back to him, with my hands up and my cigarettes in my pocket. A real pity, because I'd really have preferred to bite the dust with one last drag.
I wondered if I should ask my least favorite ultimate life form why I would be found tomorrow in a landfill next to Jimmy Hoffa, but Shadow is that rare kind of bad guy who doesn't monologue. Which only raised the question of why I wasn't already dead.
That voice of his, that sound of oil over water, that smooth, cold ripple, seemed to echo all around the dusty alley. "Any last requests, knucklehead?"
I guessed now would have been the time to utter something cliché, or to say some prayer, but there was only one desire in my mind. With an accepting nod from Shadow, I reached for my last cigarette.
Funnily enough my shoulder holster is closer to my hand than my breast pocket.
I whirled around, the .44 in my hand once again, the hammer as far back as it went.
To find nobody behind me.
I looked around, purely out of habit. Experience has taught me that if Shadow was gone, he was really gone, as in not even on the same side of town.
Walking was getting boring, and I was out of cigarettes, so I decided to retreat to yet another layer of the city. The one that smells of mildew, cheap aftershave and dog piss. The subway.
So, I found myself on a deserted, rattling train headed uptown. There were only three other people on the train, two bigbadgers and a chipmunk with a small hairline mustache.
They were trying not to show it, but I could see their occasional glances in my direction. Their fake conversation that covered one fact.
They were watching me.
At my station, something…odd happened. Some guy in an overcoat was in the crowd. The casual observer would have just seen another commuter, but I saw a man who had a date with destiny.
As we passed, I felt a slight ruffle in my hand. I didn't slow down, I didn't look down. I just carefully put whatever it was the guy had handed me in my pocket, and walked on home.
But my night wasn't over yet. In fact, a burglary, a death threat, and an old friend would all take a cameo of my little drama before the night was no longer young.
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As always, R&R is always nice. Thanks again!
