“I’m ready,” I say, “but I need a guaranteed payout.” “How about several?” I run my hand through my beard and consider this. Multiple close-to-home hits right after getting out of jail? Doesn’t seem smart. “I can do one, but not several. I don’t think it’s a good idea to work too close to home right now.” “I don’t pay you to think,” George says with a dry laugh. He should lay off the cigarettes. “You don’t pay me at all,” I say. “Fair enough, but leave the thinking to me all the same.
