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and pick it up when Jerrod ’ s phone began to buzz. The caller ID read Becky. Perfect.
     
     
    Paul had been sitting in the car with the window open, smoking steadily, and waiting. He only had three smokes left and didn ’ t want to ask Jimmy for another pack. He was patient at first, but after thirty minutes, he started to worry. He kept looking up at the apartment. At first he could see shadows moving around, but that was a while ago. There had been no movement for at least fifteen minutes. No one was coming out. He wished that Jimmy had left him one of those burners so he could call and see what was happening, or at least the keys to the fucking car so he could listen to some music to calm his frayed nerves. For the second time, Paul pulled out his baggie and did another bump. Two times, each nostril.
    He had just put the bag back in his pocket when he saw shadows moving upstairs. The door opened and lighted the stairway. He saw three people walking down the stairs, the two young men that they ’ d watched going in and Jimmy bringing up the rear. The two in front had their hands behind their backs, like they were under arrest. Paul ’ s brain flashed on that badge again. What if Jimmy really was a cop?
    When they reached the car, Paul could see that the first kid, the one with the short dreadlocks, was bleeding from the mouth. The second one seemed only scared. Jimmy opened the rear door for them to get in. He swept his hand courteously, like a ma î tre de. “ After you, gentlemen. ”
    When they were in their seats, Jimmy leaned in and buckled their seatbelts.
    “ For safety? ” Jerrod asked, trying once again to sound sarcastic, tough.
    “ For the man, ” said Jimmy. Then he winked.
     
     
    Once they had hit the open road, Paul asked, “ What now, where ’ re we going? ”
    “ Sacramento. ”
    “ Sac? What for? ”
    “ To visit their girlfriends. ”
    Paul looked behind him at the two sullen faces in the back seat and asked, “ Either of you two got any smokes? ”
    Neither said a word.
    Jimmy produced a pack of American Spirits from his jacket and tossed them into Paul ’ s lap. “ I found those upstairs. ”
    “ American Spirits? Ugh, hippie shit, ” said Paul as he opened the box and shook one out. He lit up and took a few drags before turning around to look at their passengers again.
    “ That lip looks kinda bad. ”
    “ It ’ s not. ” It was the first thing Jerrod had said since they began moving.
    “ Damn, your face don ’ t look too good either. ”
    The welt under Jerrod ’ s eye was swelling and turning a deep shade of purple.
    “ Who are you guys? ” asked Paul.
    “ Don ’ t tell them your name, ” said Jimmy. Paul looked confused, he wasn ’ t sure if Jimmy was talking to him or the boys.  Jimmy looked at Paul. “ You , don ’ t tell them your name. ”   Paul nodded and turned again toward the back seat.
    The boys sat silent anyway.
    They rode that way for a few more minutes, classic rock playing quietly on the radio. Jimmy finally spoke.
    “ Dreadlocks with the busted lip, that ’ s Jerrod, Becky ’ s boyfriend, and Captain Braveheart there, that ’ s Tristan. That ’ s Michelle ’ s boyfriend. ” He looked into the rearview mirror. “ Ain ’ t that right, gentlemen? ”
    Tristan looked like he was about to cry. Jerrod rolled his eyes.
    “ You guys want one of your smokes? ” asked Paul. The boys stayed silent.
    They made their way back to the interstate and started south toward Sacramento. Paul continued to change the radio station midway through each song. The passengers in back remained mute. When they were far enough away from any lights or civilization, Jimmy took an exit and drove straight into the flat barren countryside. They were the only car on an unpainted asphalt road.  When he figured they were far enough away from the freeway, he pulled over and shut off the engine. He pulled the stun gun from his pocket and turned on the dome light. From his