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1:24 AM, Hot Now, Cold Later

“There’s nothing left for you here. Or there shouldn’t be. I’ve been telling you that the whole time,” Arnie said.

Mitch hung his head. He had forgotten about the letter hanging, now, on the sweat of his fingertips. Upon remembering, he crushed it. “Was it the money? Did she even have a brother?”

Arnie sighed, shook his head. “Man, you don’t learn.”

“Just tell me. Then you can go.”

“I like you, guy, I do. That’s why I’m gonna help you out. You’re never going to see the girl again, I’m not gonna tell you a goddamn thing about her brother, and, yeah, she got a nice fat cut. Come back here, you won’t leave again.” He tossed Mitch’s keys and they slid, clattering, to the edge of his boot. It was a nice throw.

Arnie shoved his hands into his thick wool coat and took off. Mitch watched him disappear into the shoulder of the highway. It was getting busy again. Dawn came out cold and red behind the cityscape and with it the lifeblood of the city came pumping in and out— all hot and fast and unforgiving.

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