For the first time Shane took a look at her friend and even in the dark alley she could make out the crimson blood covering his grey hoodie.  In shock she lifted up her own arms and noticed that she two was covered in blood as well.  Backing up against the wall she slid to the cold ground, not seemingly bothered by the puddle of mud she landed in.  “What did you do?”  She asked mechanically.

Sobbing Clive’s face fell into his stained hands.  “I didn’t…I just found her, but they think….I didn’t…”  He was sobbing as her fell to the ground cross legged and began rocking back and forth.  “He’ll kill me…he’ll kill me…”  He began a mantra.

After a few moments, the young woman managed to collect herself enough to interrogate her friend.  “Who Clive?”  She shook him harshly with both hands.  “Who is going to kill you?  Who and why?” 

“The guy…the one I was staying with…he’s important, connected or something…” 

Irritated she resisted the urge to slap Clive senseless, instead settling on gripping his boney shoulders harder.  “Who the fuck is he?”

“I don’t know…I don’t know…” the teenager mumbled.  “He said his name wasn’t important and I didn’t care about anything besides staying fucked up.  All I had to do was fuck him a few times a week and I had run of the guest home all amenities provided.”

“How do you know he is so connected and important then?” 

Clive tucked the cord on his hood tight, effectively closing off his face and causing his voice to be muffled.  “I met a few of his friends, wanted friends.  Fuck Shane…I think he is a mobster or something!” 

Clenching her fist tightly and grinding her teeth she jerked the hood off of his head.  “Mob?  Are you fucking stupid?  This is the west coast Clive!”

“Well they weren’t like any gang I have seen and they all had fucking foreign accents and business suits.  Like Armani and shit.”  Clive flailed his arms out.  “Guns Shane…they carried fucking guns.”

Shane stared mutely at the ground, her body shivered from being wet and muddy.  She wrapped her arm around her body seeking a bit of warmth and searched her brain for a reasonable answer to all those points.  “Are you sure they weren’t just role playing for a character or something?”  She pleaded.