She had every right to be startled when I came out of the alley. I was startled, too. I don't think either of us expected to see anyone on the street at that time of night.

"Little chilly, eh?" I said in the most reassuring tone I could manage. I started to move past her. I wanted to get home quick.

She jumped back and yelled, "No!"

Great. Another paranoid self-defense wacko. "What? You think every guy on the street after dark is a mugger?"

She fumbled with her purse.

I went on ranting. "Maybe I should be scared about you. Maybe you're going to pull out a gun and shoot me."

"I can defend myself," she yelled, ending in a squeak.

I wondered how many times she'd recited that line in front of a mirror.

She pulled out a set of keys and jabbed a few shaky ones in my direction.

"Oh, hey, lady." I put my hands up in mock horror. "You sure know how to take care of yourself. I'd better let the muggers' union know. I'd just die if one of my buddies went after you and got messed up." I stepped forward. "Get lost, before I really do become a mugger."

She took off running into the alley.

Okay, maybe I shouldn't've scared the crap out of her. But I'm tired of wannabe victims like that always acting like I'm a predator. It's insulting. I'd be the one stepping in to help her out if I saw someone jump her. I'm a regular knight in shining armour. All she saw was a common thug.

And now she might run into Jimmy down that alley. Stupid. That would be bad news if she ran into him. Worse, my little outburst probably made her go for the shortcut. Everyone else in that highrise uses the front door around the corner. For a woman as scared as she was, the quickest way to get locked up safe and snug at home wins out over the smartest way.

I wanted to go home, but I had to make sure she didn't stumble across Jimmy. It'd be my fault if she did. And, if she did, those keys sure weren't going to save her.

I stuck my head around the corner. I knew I'd totally freak her out if she saw me following her. She was gone.

A scream.

I ran toward it.

She was clawing at the back door.

A trickle of dark liquid had formed a pool in the middle of the cement. The trickle led to Jimmy's body, which I could barely see lying under a parked car.

She saw me and started crying hysterically. The keys fell to the ground.

I picked up the brick I'd used on Jimmy not ten minutes earlier and caved in her forehead.

I'm not a common thug. I had good reasons.

She could've nailed me for doing Jimmy.

And doing Jimmy was strictly business.

Copyright 2000 Jordan McPeek