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"Partners?" Brand slapped the top of the kitchen table with such force I thought it ht collapse He rose quickly to his feet That was bad I needed hi down for what I had into?"

"Why the attitude, John? I’iving me attitude Hey, man, you came to me, remember? Look, if you want in, you’re in, if you want out, you’re out The AKs and plastic explosives, hell, I can pick that up alain"

Fenelon cleared his throat "Maybe we should--"

"Shut up, Brian," Brand said

"Yeah, Brian," I said "John and I are talking here"

"Don’t callas if I were conceding the point "Mr Brand, please" I gestured toward his chair He sat down and made himself comfortable

No time like the present, my inner voice told me

"Roy," I said

Roy rose slowly fro at the door spun toward hih he did not raise his gun

Brand was also watching "You heard hi the kitchen table up with e of the table hit Brand in the center of his chest I kept pushing until Brand, his chair, and the table toppled over He landed backward hard against the floor and I used the table to pin him there Soun out of his slacks The big un loas quicker I brought the revolver up and snapped a shot toward hily large hole in the wooden cabin door Splinters froht, damn, that was closer than I intended I nearly shot him in the face

Oh, well, my inner voice said

"Drop it," I said aloud

He hesitated Blood dripped down his temple and cheek and stained his shirt collar

"Do I look like I’ un on the floor He stood, againasked to Not once did he touch his face to inspect the wounds, which impressed the hell out ofin pain by now, ain

He crossed the living rooman fell to his knees in the same way Roy had and cradled his face in his hands Jill screamed Roy’s name--I didn’t know if it was she whoto hit the big ain I asked him not to

"An eye for an eye," I said

"What?" he asked

"Enough already"