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"It’s a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live there"

Nye thought that was so funny he laughed for a good half minute It annoyed him that I didn’t join in

He asked, "So, what you want, McKenzie?"

"You were busted for dealing meth"

"What of it?"

"Who do you think ratted you out?"

"Coulda been lots of folks"

"Could have been Merodie"

"Coulda been If it was, I gotta tell ya, it was the best thing she ever did for me"

"Is that right?"

"Dealin’ ot boxed, I moved a whole pound of methamphetamine every month At a thousand to fifteen hundred per ounce, that’s a lot of tax-free coupons, baby! And I wasn’t just dealing to speed freaks, neither My custoe kids on a rave--anyone anted a two-, three-hour ride Basically the sa One custoram of crank the last Friday of every month cuz that hen she cleaned her house, one of those big Victorian hty rooo into a Speedy Gonzales routine, cleaning that sucker frole day

"Only between the Mexicans and the fucking bikers, it wasn’t exactly a healthy lifestyle, you know? Besides, crank is bad, ood Makes you paranoid, et you ‘Course, in ain " ’Cept I don’t knoho dropped a dime on me Coulda been Merodie Coulda been the Mexicans All I know is all of a sudden the county cops were all overmy car until they found my stash hidden behind the hubcap Eleven months, three weeks in the Anoka County Correctional Facility, doin’ nothing but puot outta the gaoin’ back That ain’t no lie You could say I learned the error of ion, okay? I didn’t turn into no pussy in eleven months Onlyto fall on me to learn that, no sir And if Merodie is responsible for that, well, thank you, Merodie"

"Is that why you went to her house after you got out of the joint?"

"Who said I went?"

"Were you looking to thank her?"

"Fuck you, McKenzie You think I don’t knohy you’re here? I knohy you’re here Merodie killed her old onna happen No way Merodie’s goin’ down And listen to me Ain’t nothin’ you can do about it You don’t believe me, just ask my friend the county attorney"

Nye placed a fist on his hip, posing for me

"You and Tuseman are pals, are you?"

"Hell, yeah Me and hiers and held theainst ol’ Merodie"

"Does he?"