[Greg Anos]

Looking through goggle in the smoke is a weird experience, sort of like looking at ghosts. Only there wasn't any ghosts.

I couldn't call VR because that would target me. I drifted from room to room, but found nobody.

Finally I got to the garage.

I opened the doors and suddenly stared at 3 John Roscoes and a shiv.

Harry the Horse said, "Why couldn't you have come in through the Garage, like a normal person? Look what you've done to my renter's policy."

Looking at the various armaments, I reminded myself that at least I wasn't getting banged on the head, like Rock.

I said, "Harry, mind if I surrender my knife to Jake the Shiv?"

Harry replied, "Just do it slow and careful."

I slowly reverse the grip and stuck out the knife, hilt first, to Jake. At least I figured it was Jake, holding his shiv.

He took it, and gave a quick check of the balance.

"Nice one."

"Take care of it."

"I'll do that."

I turned to Harry. "Now Harry, I figgered you'd reconnected the Claymores to the key as soon as Solly gave you a ring. Thus seemed like the safest way for me to knock on the door. After all, I wasn't selling encyclopedias."

"Solly called?"

"C'mon Harry. If I see you at a track and there's a boat race. I don't have to track the entire chain down to know you're behind it. Solly didn't have a car."

"So why are you sticking you beak in my business? It's not healthy."

"You're the one who dognapped VR, and tried to use me as a bagman. I thought you knew enough to pick a dumb bagman."

"Who's holding the guns, Redneck."

A smart man doesn't annoy people holding guns on him, so I let that pass.

"Besides, Red, I like to keep an eye on all the players. This way I could use you to get the money flowing, and not have you show up at an inopportune time. You have that habit."

"Speakin' of inopportune times, Harry, just how long do you figger it'll be before the cops and the fire trucks get here for the weiner roast out there."

"Not fast enough for you, Red..."