Wednesday, January 17th The sun was high the next day when Patrick called Anthony. "You need a ride where?" his friend asked. "It's some huge house in the middle of nowhere. Michael's staying there." Patrick reeled off the directions. "Can you take me or not?" "Yeah, I guess. I'm at Twila's now. Let me get done, then I'll be over, a'ight?" "Cool. Just kinda hurry, huh? I gotta stop and pay the electric bill, and I don't wanna be out there after dark." "Yeah, yeah, whatever you say, man." Twila giggled in the background and Patrick knew what they were doing. "Catch you later." Patrick tossed the cellphone onto the couch, next to the envelope. Blood money. That's what it was, only it was for his own blood. Like the Red Cross. The difference was they only wanted a little. Michael wan