“Linc wasn't interested in hearing replays of anecdotes that had already been old long ago. "So what's new?" he asked.

Chips stared down as his hands, spreading his fingers. He was wearing a lot of rings these days, Linc noticed.

"Kyle's still around, running the collections ...." Chips paused, as if considering whether to confide something weighty. "As a matter of fact, we might be working something out - you know, sharing some of the action. He made me this proposition ...."

It was strange. Linc had practically forgotten about Kyle. He could remember nights when he had lain awake nursing the rage that had burned in him, consoling himself by rehearsing in his mind how he would get even. And not just with Kyle but also the man called Carolton, whom Breece had said Kyle worked for.

But somehow over the months that had slowly changed ... and now it just didn't matter anymore. Linc had seen things that Kyle could never know. He could no longer hate a man he didn't envy.”