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CHAPTER ONE

JESSE FILMORE lifted his fingers fro for another drink

“Liquid lunch, huh?” the bartender asked with a nervous laugh as he poured Jesse another cup of coffee Black

“What ti that had been dragged behind a horse His whole body felt that way—sore and beat up

“Twelve-thirty” The bartender leaned against the polished wood bar “We don’t get a lot of coffee drinkers in here You want a beer or a sandwich or soot—”

“What’s your name?” Jesse asked He didn’t lift his head, just stared at the bartender fro it would send an electric shock through his body

“My name? Billy This is my—”

“Billy? I’d like to drink in quiet”

Billy looked stunned, no doubt used to a friendlier sort of drinker in this crappy sports bar “Yeah, ah, sure I’ll be down here if you need uys shared a pitcher of beer and a plate of nachos while they watched yesterday’s sports recap on the screen in the corner

When Jesse was a kid, this bar used to be a serious drinking place No music No darts No pool tables No daered in after work and stuht, then fell into bed and slept without dreams

Jesse wasn’t doing any drinking The pain h, he didn’t need to let go of any more reality

But a little peace and quiet wasn’t too much to ask for

He’d co to see as left of the old house

He’d come in here because he was a little bit scared