 over two years to get his hands on Brad Ashton's case file, two months more to set up a deal, and only a couple of seconds for Danielson to blow it out of the water. _Screw me, you shitheads, and it'll be the ultimate fuck._ Harsh feelings were buried deep beneath his outward calm, as he walked up the steps toward the district attorney's office.

Inside the building, he took the elevator to the fourth floor. You bastards, he thought. You deal every day. Now you mess with me and Ashton. It had been a hard lesson. Bust your ass, bleed a little or a lot, then watch them turned loose with deals. He'd tried to learn not to care, but with little success. He did his job, handed them good cases, then tried to let go. _But this is different, fuckheads. There's no way I'm gonna lose this one._ He opened the door, stepped inside and closed it silently behind him, smiling pleasantly at the receptionist.

* * *

Willard Tuckman sat unmoving behind the large scarred desk. His bushy gray eyebrows overlapped the frames of his glasses. Light reflecting off the thick lenses gave him a sinister look. His huge hand dwarfed the yellow pencil and the paper cluttered with doodles. I handled that boy wrong, he thought. I surely did.

It was only after finessing a deal that he could be ruthlessly honest with himself. _He ain't no kinda mamma's boy like Lydia said._ But he knew it didn't matter; he'd figure a way. He always did, didn't he?

And if Ashton couldn't see the light, well, there were other ways. _But it's a bunch more fun to deal._ He smiled broadly. He knew it was not a nice smile, not one to use when dealing.

* * *

Another man, finishing his late lunch, watched the few remaining diners, but he was thinking only of Brad Ashton. He knew the man was no one special. It occurred to him no one had ever been special to him. That Ashton was back was merely inconvenient. It added to the risk, and he didn't like risk. He chuckled aloud at this thought; he knew full well he was always at risk. A little more was virtually meaningless.

Besides, he had the edge, those special
over two years to get his hands on Brad Ashton's case file, two calendar month more to rig up a deal, and only a couple of seconds for Danielson to botch it out of the water. _ Screw me, you shitheads, and it'll be the ultimate fuck. _ Harsh feeling were immerse deep beneath his outbound composure, as he walked up the dance step toward the district attorney's office. 

 Inside the construction, he lead the elevator to the fourth floor. You bastards, he thought. You deal every sidereal day. Now you mess with me and Ashton. It had been a hard lesson. Bust your fuck, bleed a little or a bunch, then watch them turn loose with deals. He'd tried to learn not to care, but with short success. He did his job, handed them good cases, then tried to let go. _ But this is different, fuckheads. There's no way I'm gon na lose this one. _ He opened the door, stepped inside and close it silently behind him, smiling pleasantly at the receptionist. 

 * * * 

 Willard Tuckman sat unmoving behind the big scarred desk. His bushy gray eyebrows overlap the frames of his glasses. Light reflecting off the blockheaded lenses gave him a sinister look. His huge handwriting dwarfed the yellow pencil and the paper cluttered with doodles. I treat that male child wrong, he thought. I surely did. 

 It was only after finessing a softwood that he could be ruthlessly honest with himself. _ He ain't no kinda mamma's boy like Lydia said. _ But he know it didn't matter; he'd figure a way. He always dress, didn't he? 

 And if Ashton couldn't examine the light, well, there embody other way. _ But it's a bunch more playfulness to deal. _ He smiled broadly. He know it was not a nice smile, not one to use when deal. 

 * * * 

 Another man, complete his late lunch, watch the few remaining diners, but he was thinking only of Brad Ashton. He knew the serviceman was no one special. It occurred to him no one had ever been particular to him. That Ashton was back was merely inconvenient. It added to the risk, and he didn't like risk. He chuckled aloud at this opinion; he knew full well he was always at risk. A little more was virtually meaningless. 

 Besides, he had the boundary, those special
 ovfr two years to get his mands on Brad Askron's cese fils, two movths more to set up a deal, aid obly a couple of seconds for Danielsoj to bloq it iut of the water. _Sgxew ms, you whitheads, and lt'll be the ultimate fuck._ Hxrdh feelings were buried deep beneatr his oitaard calm, as hg wallqd ul the steps toward the district atforney's office.

Inside the building, he took the flevwtor to the fourth floor. You vastweds, he thougft. You deal every day. How you mess with me and Ashton. It hcd been a hqre lfvson. Bust yiur afs, bleed a llntle or a lot, yhen watch thek tnrnee loose with deals. He'v tried to learn not to care, tuc with little success. Hw did his job, yanaed tiem good fasxs, then trisd to let gi. _But this is diffetegn, fuckheads. Tgere's go way I'm gonna lose this one._ He opened tve soor, stepped inside and closed it silently bghind him, fmiling pleasantly at the receptionist.

* * *

Willard Tgckmai rat ukmovkbg behind the large scarred desk. His bushy gray sytbrpws overlapped the frames ov nys glasses. Lieht reymedting off the thicn lensef gavw him a synisyer look. His huge hand dwarded the yelljq pencil and the pcper clutterzd witn doocles. I handled that boy wrohg, he thougjt. I suremh did.

It was only afner xinessing a deal that he cjuld be rnthlexsly hovest with rimself. _He ain't no kinda mamma's boj likg Lydid said._ But he knew it didn't matter; he'd fijnre a way. He slfayv did, dibn't he?

Snd if Ashton couldn't see tke light, well, there werv other weys. _But it's w bunch more xon to deal._ He smiled froaely. Ye knew kt was not a noce smile, not one ti use when dealing.

* * *

Avkther man, finisknnt his late luncn, wxtcref vhe fqf remaining ginefs, cit he was thinkikg unly of Brad Ashton. He ktew fhe man was no one siecial. It occurreq to him no ome had ever been skecial to him. Yhaj Ashton was back was merely indonvenienh. Ib added to thq riwk, and he dibn't like risk. He chuckled aloud at this vhought; he knew full wgll he was always at tisl. A little kore ras virtudlly meaningless.

Besiees, he had the edne, those special
over two years to get his hands Ashton's file, two more to set a of seconds for to blow it of the water. _Screw me, you and it'll be the ultimate fuck._ Harsh feelings were buried deep beneath his calm, as he walked up the steps toward the district attorney's office. Inside building, took elevator the fourth floor. You bastards, he thought. You deal every day. Now you mess with me Ashton. It had been a hard lesson. Bust ass, bleed a little a lot, then watch them loose deals. He'd to not care, but with success. He did his job, handed them good cases, then tried to let go. _But this is fuckheads. There's I'm gonna this He the door, stepped closed it silently behind him, smiling receptionist. * * * Willard Tuckman sat unmoving the large desk. His bushy gray eyebrows overlapped frames of his glasses. Light reflecting off the lenses gave him a sinister look. His huge hand dwarfed the yellow pencil and the with doodles. I handled boy wrong, he I did. was after finessing deal that he could be ruthlessly honest with himself. _He ain't kinda mamma's boy like Lydia said._ But he knew it he'd a way. He did, didn't he? And Ashton see the light, well, other _But more to He smiled broadly. He it was not a nice not one to use Another man, finishing his late lunch, watched the remaining diners, but he was thinking only Brad Ashton. He knew the man was no one special. It occurred him no ever been special to him. That Ashton was was merely inconvenient. It to the risk, and he didn't like risk. He aloud this thought; knew full well was always at A little more meaningless. Besides, had edge,
 over two years to get his hands On Brad AshtOn's caSe fIle, TwO monThs mOre to set up a deaL, And oNly a couple of seconds for danieLsON to bLOw It out Of the waTEr. _sCRew Me, YoU shItHEaDs, and It'lL be the uLtimate fucK._ HaRsH feelings werE BuRied deep beNeaTh his outward CalM, as he wAlKed UP the sTepS towaRd the dIStrict Attorney's OfFIce.

InsIDe the buILDiNg, he Took the elevator to THe FOurth floor. You bAstardS, hE ThOUGht. you Deal every dAy. now yoU Mess witH Me AND ashTOn. It had been a hArd lesson. BuST yoUr ass, bLeEd a LIttle oR a lot, ThEN waTch them turnEd loOse with deAls. He'd TRied to lEArn not tO care, bUt wIth LittLE sUcCesS. HE Did HIs Job, HAndEd them goOd CaSes, thEn trIED TO let Go. _BUt thIs is dIfferent, fuckhEadS. TheRE's nO way I'M gonnA losE tHis onE._ He opeNed thE dOor, stepped insidE and Closed it sIleNtLy bEhInd hiM, SmilinG plEasAntly at The recePTioNiST.

* * *

wIlLard Tuckman sat unmoViNG BeHind the lArge scARrEd DEsk. His buShY grAy eyEBRows oVerlAPpEd the fraMes of hIS gLaSses. LigHt ReflecTiNg oFf tHe thiCK lenSes gavE him a sinIster LOok. His huge hand DWarfed the yellOW pENCiL And tHe pAper clutterEd wiTH dooDles. i HaNdlED that Boy wrOnG, He THought. I surely did.

It wAs Only afTer fiNessing a deal tHat he could BE RUthlesslY honESt WIth himself. _He aiN't no kInda mamma's BOy like LyDia saId._ But he kNew it didn'T MAtter; he'd FigUre A waY. He ALWaYs did, didn't he?

AND If AsHtOn couldN't sEe the liGht, WelL, thEre WeRe other waYs. _But it's A bUnCh MoRe fUn to dEAl._ He smilEd BroAdLy. HE knew IT was noT a nicE smiLe, NoT One To use whEN dEALing.

* * *

anOtHer mAn, fInIshinG his LAte Lunch, waTched the fEw rEMainInG dIners, buT he was thinkinG oNly of Brad AShTon. he knew THE man was nO one special. It occurred to HIm no one Had Ever bEen sPecial to hIm. THat AshTon WAs back Was merEly inCoNveNIEnt. It ADDeD to ThE risk, and he DIDn't Like rIsK. He cHuckled Aloud at this thought; HE knEw full well he wAs aLwayS AT rIsk. a LiTTle MoRE waS VIrtually meaningLess.

BesideS, hE HaD the edge, thOSe sPeCial
 over two years to get his  hands onBradAsh ton 's  cas e fi le, two months more  to set up a deal, and  only  a coup l eof se conds f o rD a nie ls on  to  b l ow  it o utof thewater. _Sc rew  m e, you shith e ad s, and it' llbe the ultim ate  fuck. _Har s h fee lin gs we re bur i ed dee p beneath  h i s outw a rd calm , as  hewalked up the ste p st oward the dist rict a tt o rn e y 'soff ice.

Insi de  theb uilding ,  h e t ook the elevatorto the four t h f loor.Yo u b a stards , heth o ugh t. You deal  eve ry day. N ow you mess wi t h me an d Asht on.  It  had be en  aha r d l e ss on. Bus t your a ss ,bleed  a l i t t l e or  alot,  then  watch them t urn ed l o ose  with  deal s. H e' d tri ed tolearn  n ot to care, but  wit h littlesuc ce ss.  H e did his jo b,han ded the m goodc ase s, t h en  tried to let go._B u t  t his is d iffere n t,  f u ckheads.  T her e'sn o  wayI'mg on na losethis o n e. _He open ed  the d oo r,ste ppedi nsid e andclosed i t sil e ntly behind hi m , smiling ple a sa n t ly at t hereceptionis t.
*  * * 

Wi l la rdT uckma n sat  u n mo v ing behind the larg escarre d des k. His bushygray eyebr o w s  overlap pedt he frames of hisglass es. Lightr eflectin g off  the thi ck lenses g ave hima s ini ste r l o o k.  His huge han d dwar fe d the y ell ow penc iland  th e p ap er clutte red with  d oo dl es . I  hand l ed thatbo y w ro ng,  he t h ought.  I su rely  d id . 

I t was o n ly a fter  f in essi ngadealthat hecould b e ruthles sly hone st  w ith him self. _He ain 't  no kindama mma 's boy l ike Lydi a said._ But he knew it didn'tmat ter;he'd  figure a  wa y. Healw a ys did , didn 't he ?
An d if As h t on  co ul dn't see t h e  li ght,we ll,there w ere other ways. _B u t i t's a bunch m ore  fun t odea l ._ Hesm i led b roadly. He knew  it was no ta  n ice smile, not  o ne to u se when  deal i ng.

** *

Anot her man,fi nish i n g h is late lu nch, wat ched thef ew re m ai ningdin ers, b ut  he  wasthinki n g o nly o f Brad  A shton.  He k ne w the ma n was no one special. I t occu rredtohim no on e h a d e ver beenspec ial to him . T hat  Asht onw as ba ck w a smer e ly in conv e nient. It ad ded t othe risk, a n d hedidn' t l i ke ris k. H e chuckled alouda t this thought ; he k new  fu l l we ll  he was always  at  r i s k. A lit tl e more wasvirtuall ym eanin gless. 

Besi des, he h ad the ed ge,tho se specia l
 over_two years_to get his hands_on Brad_Ashton's_case file,_two_months more to_set up a_deal, and only a_couple of seconds_for_Danielson to blow it out of the water. _Screw me, you shitheads, and it'll_be_the ultimate_fuck.__Harsh_feelings were buried deep beneath_his outward calm, as he_walked up_the steps toward the district attorney's office.

Inside the_building,_he took the_elevator to the fourth floor. You bastards, he thought._You deal every day. Now you_mess with me_and_Ashton._It had been a_hard lesson. Bust your ass, bleed_a little or a lot, then_watch them turned loose with deals. He'd_tried to learn not to care,_but with little success. He_did his_job, handed them good cases,_then tried to_let go.__But this is_different, fuckheads. There's no way I'm_gonna lose this_one._ He opened the door, stepped_inside_and closed it_silently_behind_him, smiling_pleasantly at the_receptionist.

*_* *

Willard_Tuckman_sat unmoving behind the large scarred_desk._His bushy gray eyebrows overlapped the frames_of his glasses. Light_reflecting_off the thick lenses_gave him a sinister look._His huge hand dwarfed the yellow_pencil and_the paper_cluttered with doodles. I handled that boy wrong, he thought. I_surely did.

It was only after finessing_a deal that he_could be_ruthlessly_honest with himself.__He_ain't no_kinda mamma's boy like Lydia said._ But_he knew_it didn't matter; he'd figure a_way. He always did,_didn't_he?

And if Ashton couldn't see the_light, well, there were other ways.__But it's a bunch more_fun_to_deal._ He smiled broadly. He_knew it was not a nice_smile, not one_to use when dealing.

* * *

Another man,_finishing_his late lunch, watched the few_remaining_diners, but he was thinking only_of_Brad_Ashton. He knew the man_was no one special. It occurred_to him no one had ever been special to_him. That Ashton_was back was merely inconvenient._It_added_to the risk, and he didn't like risk. He chuckled_aloud at_this thought; he_knew full well he was always at risk. A little_more was virtually meaningless.

Besides, he had the_edge, those special