{"product_id":"2940045592130","title":"Crossroads","description":"\u003cp\u003eSlowly, the boy pivoted, hands in plain sight.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"So, why'd that old man send you to me?\" I asked.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDave's reluctance to answer was written all over his hangdog face.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"What?\" I demanded. \"What'd he say?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"You sure you wanna know?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI slapped leather.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe boy gasped and spit, \"Never see this coming. Not in a million years. And something about irritation and,\" he winced and grimaced, \"arbitrary bastard.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMust've been the face I made, or maybe that sharp intake of breath prior to.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"No,\" Dave cried, showing his palms. \"Don't shoot me, man. I was just waiting for you to get back and the door was open, like that guy said. Didn't mean to fall asleep on your couch.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI holstered my weapon in a flash, pressing blood from my lips until it hurt.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"All right, all right.\" He waxed even more pitiful, like a pissing puppy. \"I found a biscuit and ate it. I'm sorry, man. I'll leave now, right now.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI said, \"Put your hands down,\" and grit my teeth. \"So, where were you headed when you ran into him?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"That old guy?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Well, who we been talking about here?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDave recoiled and snapped, \"How the hell would I know?\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI glowered, the boy backpedaled a step, neither of us saying a word for two drawn breaths at least.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"Can I go now?\" Dave said. \"I don't like the look on your face.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRight then, Sarah burst through the kitchen entry. \"What the hell're you doing here?\" she cried.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eI looked from Sarah to Dave and my lungs deflated.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerish the thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"What's that supposed to mean, Eli?\" she spit harshly. \"Perish what thought?\" She eagle-eyed Dave into a wincing cringe and said, \"I know who you are.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jigsaw Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47072299745520,"sku":"2940045592130","price":0.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940045592130_p0.jpg?v=1763977427","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940045592130","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}