‘I ain’t gonna fight you no more, Lance. I’m doin’ my fuckin’ job. Leave me the fuck be.’ He turned and limped to the side to grab his hat...and dusted it off to put it back on his head and wiped blood from his nose and mouth. Lance sputtered, rolling half onto his belly as he fought the urge to throw up and then pushed himself up, staggering a bit as he glared at his best friend. He reached up to wipe blood away from his nose and mouth before spitting a wad of it onto the barn floor. ‘I ain’t. After everyone's begun to get in their cars and leave, I climb into my rusty old El Camino and glance at the directions. I look in my rear view mirror, checking my make-up before driving to the party house.When I get there, I have to park a block away because so many cars are lined up along the street. I get out, leaning on my car and lighting a clove cigar, inhaling deeply as I look up at the stars. I finish it quickly, then grab my camera and put the strap over my head.I can tell which house. ”“With you, Steve, you are almost two different people when it comes to violence. You’d kill Josh Benton in a heartbeat and think nothing of it. You laid out Gene and broke his nose. But you would never, ever even raise a hand to a girl. You’re one of the gentlest people I know, except with men who piss you off. Though Joyce came damn close.”“Special circumstances. She hurt someone I care very much about by doing something I’d specifically, directly, and clearly asked her not to do.”“That fits,. See ya soon, dude."I really shouldn't take this job but the money's hard to pass up. If itlooks at all iffy, I'm passing on it. * * * *** * * * *** * * *I ride my bike. I want transportation, just in case. Standing across thestreet, looking in Jacob's front window, I start to get a bad feelingabout the whole situation. I just don't like the way he was so insistentabout getting me here as soon as possible. He had a good explanation butit feels wrong.I pedal away about a block and see some.