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I kept following Skarda’s directions, turning onto a gravel road that becarass and short-brush path that re road where we had left the deputy--was it only nine hours ago? The path led to a clearing In the center of the clearing the Cherokee’s high beams swept over a small cabin It was rust colored hite trim and supported on pillars of cinder blocks There was a short flight of stairs that led to a sprawling wooden deck with benches, lawn chairs, a picnic table, and a charcoal grill The cabin’s sole door opened onto the deck Skarda had said so about a lake, but I couldn’t see it in the dark I turned off first the engine and then the headlights A square of light fell froht shadows I spent a lot of ti in?" Skarda asked

"Shhh," I said

I reached up behind the seat and found the overhead light, sliding the switch so that it wouldn’t go on when I opened the door

"What are you doing?" Skarda asked

"Shhh," I said again

I opened the driver’s door and slid out, the Glock in ed the fraer door I opened it slowly It took a few anxious e it in the dark, but I eventually opened the handcuff that had chained Skarda to the door I eased him out of the vehicle and then recuffed his hands behind his back

"Is that really necessary?" he said He added an "Oh, geez" when he felt the Glock

"Listen up," I shouted "I have the ainst Dave’s back Anyone fires a gun, anyoneat all that I don’t like and I’ll cut his spine in half Do we understand each other?"

There was silence, so I shouted again "Do you understand?"

"Yes," a voice said froht

"Yeah, okay," said a voice on ed Skarda "Dave, Dave, Dave," I said "After all we’ve been through together, too"

"How did you know they were there?"

"What the hell, man? Did you really think this was my first rodeo?"