Timothy Carrier, having a beer after work at his friend's tavern, enjoys drawing eccentric customers into amusing conversations. "Ten thousand now. "The stranger walks out, leaving a photo of the pretty woman marked for death, and her address.

But things are about to get worse. In minutes another stranger sits next to Tim. Thinking fast, Tim says, "I've had a change of heart.

You get ten thousand--for doing nothing. " He keeps the photo and gives the money to the hired killer. and as relentless as evil incarnate.

From the Hardcover edition.