sam hill pulled the truck off the road.
you can come in if you want, he told johnny. i won’t be but a couple of minutes.
in where? johnny thought, but when sam opened the truck door he could make out some sort of building ( a bar? a diner?) in the dark and rain. there were no lights on in it.
johnny got out and followed sam inside the building. it looked like a diner, but with nobody behind the counter.
won’t be but but a minute, sam repeated, and disappeared into a door to the side of the counter.
there were two small booths and johnny sat down in the one closest to the door.
and waited.
the couple of minutes stretched out to fifteen.
by this time johnny’s eyes had accustomed to the gloom.
then he thought he heard a faint sound behind his head in the other booth
he got up and looked.
there was a woman sitting in the booth, sipping from an ugly looking coffee mug and looking at him with the greenest eyes he had ever seen.
waiting for someone? she asked.
the old man - he said his name was sam hill.
he might have gone out the back door and left without you. sam can be kind of forgetful.
but i will never forget you, johnny thought. he went to the door and looked out.
the rain had let up a bit, and the truck was gone.
need a ride? the woman asked behind him.
i could use one.
i can give you one, if you do me a favor.
what’s your name?
why, can’t you do me a favor without knowing my name?
just curious.
salome delilah jezebel smith.
quite a mouthful.
people get used to it. salome delilah jezebel smith put the mug down on the table. do you want to do me a favor or not?
what’s your name?
will due. d u e, like postage due.
i want you to kill a man.
i figured as much.
you did, huh? i see you must be a real sharp guy. but din't worry, you don’t have to feel bad about killing this individual, he is a bad person - the worst. he has deserved to die from the day he was born.
i will take your word for it. why don’t you kill him yourself?
i can’t get close enough to him. so, are you up for it?
i don’t have much choice.
a simple yes or no will do.
yes.
then let’s get going.
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