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“Step out where I can see you,” Quint ordered

“Like hell I will,” the man retorted in a voice that was lower still “I can’t risk being seen talking to you You either coet you ever saw me”

The response had just enough ring of truth in it to draw Quint forward, but he took a course that kept hiate of the pickup parked closest to the sidewalk, he turned into the lot, crossing behind the truck, and stopping in the dark space between it and the next vehicle

The man still stood by the corner, cloaked in deep shado After a moment’s hesitation, he shifted past the pickup to stand directly opposite Quint Just enough light from the street reached him to enable Quint to see the turned-up collar of his jacket and the doard angle of his hat brim, both intended to conceal

“What did you have to tell me?” Quint prompted, alert for any movement to the side of him

“You’re a cautious one,” thecautious, too”

Hesitating again, the limpse of a thick dark mustache Then he was in shadow He seemed to come to a decision and moved briskly forward

“This is gonna be short and quick,” he said and started feeling around in the pocket of his jacket “It ain’t what I got to say It’s what I got to give you”

The man’s swift approach forced Quint to center his attention on hi a healthy amount of disbelief that his intention was as innocent as his words

Alravel to the side of him, the sound masked by the heavy crunch of the ed at hi sideways, Quint eluded the brunt of it and instinctively grabbed the arm that tried to wrap itself around his neck, lowered a shoulder, and flipped him over his back into the path of the first man

Before Quint could straighten, a third ainst the parked truck He ca a startled grunt when he buried a fist in the man’s coat-padded midsection

He never had a chance to deliver a follow-up blow as the second rabbed Quint’s ar froed to land a glancing blow along Quint’s jaw

A fist clipped the side of his head and sent his hat flying The action was coer bothered to discern which one was pressing the attack He had his back up against the pickup’s side bed, using the protection it offered to prevent any assault from the rear

As long as they kept co at hih he was outnumbered But they were bound to wise up any second and coordinate their efforts

A head snapped back, rocked by a hard jab froli aim on histhe fist rarabbed at the hand he jerked away from the truck Quint had a split second to hope he’d broken a bone or two in it