New Beginning 677

It's a long way from the gutter to the back seat of a limo, Chuck Mallory thought as he sat in the back of the stretch Lincoln. Recessed lights cast a discreet glow and a hint of sandalwood lurked in the climate-controlled air. It's not my limo, but still, it's a long way from the gutter.

Mallory looked at the two men sitting across from him. They were dressed in dark suits and wore serious faces. He didn't know why he'd been asked -- summoned, really -- to meet Seth Davies, Chairman of the Board