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"I’"

"Oh, that was just a reprieve I have many questions, you can count on it"

"Mm-kay" I closed the door and sneaked in the back of the Crosshair Gun Shop, which was probably not un shop and everyone in the place could killan eye But the classroom in the back of the store here Noni held his concealed carry workshops

The door to the classroom was open, and I found myself relieved he’d let Cookie in on such short notice The class was full up with about twenty-five students Normally, he didn’t allow more than fifteen or so

"I understand," Cookie said to Noni "I do But I just don’t know if it would be that easy, no matter the circuainst the back wall

Noni nodded at her He had a medium build with thick black hair and olive skin He owned a local body shop, but was also a gun expert and had taught gun safety forfrom this class that I hoped you would It’s not easy Noyour sidearer is not nor should it ever be easy"

Cookie stared absently, a thousand ot there had her thinking, and that was always dangerous I’d have to warn hi before she caught it, "what if your best friend is being tortured in the aparthter’s head?"

My lungs seized I didn’t tell Cookie that part, the part about Earl Walker putting a gun to Ao I hadn’t kno to tell her, and I didn’t deal as ith the whole torture thing as I’d wanted How could I have expected any more froht He didn’t seeazes with her "Then you aiht"

"What if, even if I’d been there, I couldn’t have pulled the trigger?" Her voice broke and I felt the weight of her sorrow from where I stood It was almost more than I could bear

"Cookie, that’s a decision you have toyou could’ve done it, given the circumstances"

I started to step out of the room Pain consumed me Stole my breath Watered e of how deeply that night had affected ed in" Noni had spotted me the moment I stepped into the roorateful

I smiled as everyone turned, offered a hesitant wave "Just checking onsure she didn’t skip class Or kill anyone She’s been known to do that" Cookie looked back at me, surprised at first, then self-conscious She had absolutely no reason to be "Oh, not kill anyone," I corrected "She’s never done that But she’s a pro as skipping She has a ribbon"

"This is one of hts as a consultant for APD" Noni waved me to the front "I bet she has sori He knew darned well I had stories Uncle Bob told hih and turned to the class "Actually, I do have a story about an incident that happened during e and this woht sweater, and Noni al He wrapped an arm around my neck and put me in a headlock Then he scrubbed his knuckles onoffhere, and I’ll get all this paperwork in You should have your perot up to leave, but Noni didn’t dare let go ofout It’s not like he actually hit anything Thank god, because if he had, he would have had a lot of explaining to do to his wife

"Coaze

"Yes," I said fro hands and answering a few last-minute questions "I orried you’d run after the drop-and-roll incident"

She laughed softly and picked up her bag "This was a good class You were right"

"Told you"

"And I have no idea what you were talking about," she said, turning to leave "Noni’s not a cohtened, and I felt the knuckles of death on ht I’d never paid attention, but they were absolutely right: Payback was a bitch

13

If it weren’t for physics and law enforceun shop, I explained asted would be my best descriptor of her reaction But I told her reed with me It orth a shot So, twentyon Ki I could feel her inside, but she didn’t want to answer Her guilt thickened the air, gave it an oppressive texture