Italics is Mort #2.

Mort's P.O.V

The first thing I did when Shadow left was run up stairs and get a cigarette. I hadn't been smoking much but the thought of Shadow being able to hear Shooter made me run to the pack.

I lit the cigarette and stood next to my desk a few minutes smoking it before I sat down.

"Take a breather Mort," I told myself. "Maybe it wasn't Shooter. Maybe it was just a chance someone with a southern accent was on the lake."

Do you really believe that?

"It's not possible," I said out loud to the voice in my head. "It's just not possible for her to be able to hear him."

Why is that?

"Shooter isn't real," I explained. "He is real and lives only in my head. How can she hear something that isn't real."

You hear things that aren't real.

"What are you trying to say?" I asked cracking my jaw. It had been bothering my the last few days.

I'm not trying to say anything. I'm only stating facts.

"Ok," I said taking a puff off the cigarette. "What point are you trying to get across?"

Just what I said. Just because Shooter isn't real doesn't mean she can't hear him. You hear things that aren't real.

"Point taken," I said butting my cigarette in the ashtray. "I just don't want to see her get hurt is all and most people who get near Shooter get hurt."

Most people who get near YOU get hurt.

"No one is going to hurt this kid," I explained. "She hasn't done anything."

Don't worry. I don't think Shooter is going to touch this one.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.

You'll see in time.

I decided that I didn't want to know what the voice was talking about and went that I needed to get back to work.

Shadow's P.O.V

After I got home from Mr. Rainey's house I decided to go take a shower. It was the only place Clover and my conscience didn't bother me. I guess even they had the manners to leave someone alone while they were in the shower.

The events of the day came back to me. Mr. Rainey seemed really nice but there was something a bit off about him. It was something he was hiding something big from me. Of course I was sure he was thinking the same thing about me. After all I was keeping something was him. I was just afraid that he wouldn't let me work for him if he knew I was crazy.

There was a knock on the bathroom door.

"Anybody in there?" A man with a southern accent asked.

I raised an eyebrow. Mom was at work and my father had died years ago. I wasn't sure who the voice belonged to. It could have have been one of my mom's friends. But why would one of them be here when Mom was at work?

"Uh..." I said turning off the water. "I'll be right out."

I dried off as quick as I could and pulled on a nightgown. When I opened the door I found myself looking at a stranger. I had expected to see Manson, my mom's ex-boyfriend, but this guy wasn't Manson.

He was a lot taller than me and he looked taller because of the black hat he was wearing. His skin wasn't black and it wasn't white. It was a smoky kind of color.

"Sorry to disturb you missy," The man said holding out his hand. "My name is John Shooter but you can just call me Shooter."

"Nice to meet you," I said shaking his hand. "I'm..."

"Shadow," he finished for me letting go of my hand. "I was the one who said hello ta you at Mort's house."

"Oh," I said. "Mr. Rainey said that he wanted to talk to you."

"I'm sure he does," he answered. "He's been avoidin my lately. I haven't been up ta the house in a while. That's one reason I came down ta see you. I wanted ta meet you and I didn't think I was gonna git a get a chance ta talk to you at Mort's house."

"Why don't we move to the living room?" I asked when I noticed we were still standing in the bathroom doorway.

"I've actually got ta be getting on," he said. "Work ta do but I did want to ask you are favor."

"What is it?" I asked.

I barely knew this guy but I was willing to do him a favor. If he was a friend of Mr. Rainey's than he must been an ok guy.

"Keep an idea on old Mort for me," he said. "I'll be 'round his house to check on him in a week or so. Tell me how he's been action when I do."

"Sure thing Shooter," I asked.

Shooter turned and walked down the hallway. Wait. Why did he want me to keep an eye on Mr. Rainey in the first place? Was something going on here that I didn't know about? I ran down the hallway after Shooter and walked towards the front door. It was the only way out of the house.

I opened the front door and looked out into the driveway. There was no car and no trace of John Shooter.