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Found 11 results

  1. TheZot

    Busted end notes

    Right, some notes for the end of the story, and (hopefully) an entry to hang people's comments about things that need fixing or addressing. Yeah, it's quiz time -- please weigh in with the problems you had with the story. I've got my list, but I can't fix what I don't realize is wrong. (This is not the time to be nice) I need a title! I don't know that 'Busted' really fits all the way through. The folder on my hard drive's labelled "Ghost Cop" but that's not all that good either. You've got the whole thing now, so have at it. The Notes: The funny thing is that this all started because of a traffic stop on Route 8 I didn't get tagged by. (It was on the southbound side, I was going north. Around exit 25 as I remember, give or take a bit) Nobody else did either, there was this state cop sitting in one of the pull-offs, just waiting. Probably doing paperwork while he was looking for people going way, way too fast. The initial scene kind of showed up with the semi-cliche mistaken identity bit and it went from there. Unfortunately I know even less about state police proceedures than local police, so Chris turned from a state police officer to a local one, and that's going to require a bit of a rethink on the setting for the initial stop. While it would work just fine for a local officer in a lot of the country, the open, relatively high-speed roads out here ('here' being connecticut) are all state roads and the local cops don't police them. I need to work our murdering psychopath into the story earlier. Not very much, since I do actually like the opening and it sets up the romantic plotline, but a little mention. Maybe Joe'll get cut off by the guy's Jetta, or some mention of a murder or something between Chris and Joe in the station. (Just because I didn't realize anyone was going to die at the beginning of the first draft doesn't mean it shouldn't be there when it's done) The story started out being told from Joe's point of view -- he was the only character I really had a handle on from the beginning. Chris had a cardboard stand-in, and I didn't know about Steve at all, nor the kids and related hangers-on. It grew into a larger thing as the story went on. I need, I think, more of Chris and Steve's interaction. Since we've got multiple third-person POVs here, the story needs more balance, and it'll let us see a side of Chris that we wouldn't otherwise. He is actually good at what he does, reasonably articulate, and caring. It's just when he's around Joe that he turns into a total idiot. Showing more scenes without Joe will help make the contrast clear, as well as move the B storyline forward some. Just to get it out of the way... yes, I do need to set up things so Joe and Chris adopt Stephanie. I'm still not sure that's going to happen, but there is a reasonable chance, so it's worth leaving things open that way. (And her therapy bills are gonna be hell for years, I'm afraid) Dunno what happens to Steve's brother-in-law. He kind of fell off the map after he found the body. Granted he's a secondary character, but he probably shouldn't be just dropped. Maybe a scene between him and Mary after Joe pulls the runner. Yeah, the bad guy is possessed, but he doesn't actually mind. It's not until he runs across Joe before the story starts that he manifests in the first place (about the same time that Alex first manifests, and for about the same reason) then goes on his dark 'o the moon killing spree. Running across Joe a second time (at Stephanie's) gives him the strength to break the pattern. The host may also be the kid brother of the boy that Alex kissed when Chris was a kid. I'm not sure. If he was, then the brother's a Sherrif now, and I could set the sequel out in Arizona and have them meet back up again. The dialog patterns need some work. Chris is generally articulate and thinks before he speaks. He rarely (if ever) swears. Steve is more open in how he talks, is mostly happy, almost always under control, and swears a bit but not much. Joe's more frenetic, tends to let his temper get away with him in non-professional settings, and swears like a sailor. You should be able to tell the three of them apart from a stretch of dialog, but I'm not sure that's consistent. Physically, Joe is Irish. Curly red hair, pale skin, freckles, gets crispy in the sun. He's also thin, though with some muscle on him. about 5'9", give or take a bit. His height is never specified since it's not a big deal, but he is shorter by a few inches than either Steve or Chris. Steve's more triangular, and while he's padded he's also got a good solid layer of muscle. He's a natural blonde who's gone brown as he's gotten older, fair skinned, about 6' tall, definitely imposing and not someone you'd particularly want in your face if things got unpleasant. Which is partly why he looks like he does, as it's useful when intimidating people. Probably old-stock connecticut, which means mostly english and welsh if you really, really had to trace it back. Chris is half italian immigrant, half native american, likely Navajo as his mom is from rural Arizona. He's less inherently solid than Steve -- he'd be considered a bit rangy if he hadn't worked hard in high school to bulk up. (Overcompensating from a childhood where there were days he had a hard time getting out of bed) He heavily favors the native american side in skin and hair coloring, as well as body hair distribution. There was a bit in there where he felt kind of inadequate since he doesn't really meet the whole 'manly' stereotype in some ways but I may cut that, I'm not sure. It does get across that he's uncomfortable with his body image, which is something that would sensibly spill over from his childhood. I don't know right now whether Chris' maternal grandmother is still alive. I don't actually know who his maternal grandfather was, though I'm pretty sure he wasn't human. That may or may not make for a hook into a sequel, or it could just stay as one of those things. Megan, Chris' ex, needs to get worked in more, though indirectly. Homophobia is pretty much nonexistent as a motivator or issue in the story. Yes, Joe's excessively up front about his sexuality, and Chris and Steve's boss is an insulting ass, but it isn't generally a worry. Chris' flinching from Joe in public is because of his relationship issues, not that Joe's a guy. Character motivations Joe: Joe grew up lower class (I always think somewhere in Waterbury, but never actually place him) and wanted out in the worst way. He worked his ass off through high school to get into college on a combination of loans, grants, and work. He left home and never went back, mostly because his family life was hell. The drive that got him out also got in the way of any real social life. He didn't have time for anything past casual, and his upbringing didn't really equip him for healthy serious relationships. (He's done enough therapy to know that, and to have a general idea what's involved, but there's a difference between the abstract and the practical in these things) He's certainly not been a monk, and he has dated, some short, some medium term. Nothing serious, though, not much past friends with benefits. He does sometimes regret this. Joe has always wanted kids. He gave the idea up in high school when he figured he was gay, but that never stopped him from wanting them. He's never done much about it -- he has a fear that he'd be the same sort of parent that his parents were, and he wouldn't wish that on anyone. He's relatively inexperienced with kids, and has, to date, only had to deal with them professionally (when people bring them into the office) or very casually. He's yet to have to be responsible in the face of a major meltdown. Being the flimsiest of the family he was on the receiving end of a lot of crap until he learned to fight back. What he lacks in physical strength he makes up for in viciousness, quick wit, and manic energy. (He's got a tendency to go for the throat, then kick you in the nuts. After that he gets nasty) He's had to deal with some homophobia and some near-bashings, and as a result he's very in your face about his sexuality when it becomes an issue, though he's good about leaving it go in professional settings. He does not take crap from anyone. Chris: Chris was born in rural Arizona, on the edge of one one of the towns. His mother was full-blooded native american (though always thought she was half), his father was the grandson of italian immigrants, and both his parents were arguably insane -- at least they saw things that weren't there. They both drank heavily. His father comes from a long line of guys who were mad. His father probably committed suicide while posted in the Korean War (I expect seeing spirits would be a bad talent to have in the middle of a war), and it goes back paternally from there. His mother was something of a pariah, as her mother got pregnant by a mystery guy she'd never own up to. If the slang went back far enough I'd have him named coyote and leave it for everyone to think he smuggled illegal immigrants across the border while she thoguht she'd bedded a deity. (Or at least a force of nature, depending on how you like to categorize these things) Chris had Alex, his imaginary friend, since he was about five. He was an escape from his parents, unfortunately Alex took a toll and left him weak and in bed on and off for years. When he was eleven his parents died when their trailer caught on fire, and he moved in with his paternal grandmother. He lost Alex at that point, and it gave him a determination to lose the sickly body he had. He spent a lot of high school hitting the weight room. Chris is crap with relationships; what he saw growing up really didn't prepare him for anything. He was also attracted to boys, though he didn't think about it too much given there was more than enough other crap going on for him to deal with. He did date occasionally, though never too seriously. He got bagged by Megan about six years ago. He'd done something that had gotten him some recognition, she decided she wanted him, and she went and got him. He didn't fight too hard, and it wasn't too long after that they were married. That didn't work out at all well. She was looking for prestige, good sex, and someone to make her a princess -- what she got was a tepid bedroom, mostly ignored, and a serious lack of sympathy. She's very much not a nice person, but Chris bears a lot of responsibility for the marriage getting as bad as it did. As a result Chris is gun shy and very insecure about relationships. It the major component of what makes him flinch from Joe throughout the story -- not that he's confronting his issues with being gay, but that he's scared to death to let anyone get close enough to hurt him. Steve: He's a secondary character, so he's not as immediately important, but he really wants his friend to be happy. He's known Chris since they were both eleven, and he's seen the misery Chris has been through, most recently with Megan. He doesn't give a damn about the whole gay thing -- Joe could be an alien or a sheep for all he cared, if he made Chris happy he'd be all for it. (Though he'd probably be disappointed with a sheep) I think that's pretty much it. I would, very much, appreciate honest commentary on things, most especially on things that were missing, didn't work, or were incomplete. Not that I don't mind a good ego stroke, but I think we can assume that the good bits will stay, so I'd like to concentrate on the bits that need fixing. I would very much appreciate folks taking the time to point things out that need work. It's been fun, that's for sure. 82K words, all because of a cop on a dark night and some writer's block I was procrastinating on. Go figure...
  2. TheZot

    Busted chapter 72

    [Only one or two parts to go. Racing to the end now] That sent a chill down Chris' spine and left a lump in his stomach. 'Hungry' was always bad with the violently insane. Not that he had a whole lot of experience with those. He was a detective in a small city police department. He had to deal with drugs and gangs and the occasional psychopath. As deep as he'd dived into the case, the state guys were right. He hadn't ever dealt with this stuff. Not that they had, but that was a problem for another day. What he did have was a connection with this guy, whether he wanted it or not. He also had a reputation as being big and not too smart. That was an image he and Steve had gone out of their way to cultivate, and most people were more than happy to accept. People were sloppy around stupid people. They made mistakes, and Chris needed this guy to make a mistake. If he didn't want food, what did he want? He was clearly insane. He'd killed seventeen people that they knew about, and probably had a trail of bodies left behind him in Arizona. Much as he hated to think about it, if this guy had preyed mainly on gang members and drug dealers, he wouldn't have been too high a priority to track down. The way he talked made it sound like he was looking for something exotic, or less tangible. Hernandez and his girlfriend had been killed normally enough. The hiker out in Woodstock had been in the woods for too long to tell if there was much special about her death. Mike's professor friend had been expertly gutted, and had part of his liver missing. The gang in Harford had their throats slit, though the palm reader that had been killed with them had been partly flayed and had her eyes removed. Chris shuddered to think what would've happened to Joe if he hadn't gotten free. What was likely to happen to him. There had been an element of ritual, of something supernatural, in all the murders but the first. That could mean a lot of things, none of them good. It chilled Chris' blood to think maybe something truly supernatural was involved. He shouldn't think it, it ought to be nonsense. But there was Alex. Alex changed everything, and maybe this was real. Flashes of horror movies ran through Chris' mind, and he regretted every single one he'd ever seen. They never ended well, and he feared this wouldn't, as the monster ate his soul, or something equally nasty. Which might well be what this
  3. TheZot

    Busted chapter 70

    [Y'know, simultenaety isn't so much of a problem when you're writing first-person...] Chris was swearing at himself the whole way home. He'd f**ked up, and he knew it. That meant it was time to break the news to Toby. He wasn't looking forward to that. He parked his car and walked around the back of Steve's house. Steve's car wasn't in the driveway, which probably meant he hadn't gotten back yet. He felt a twinge of guilt for leaving Steve with the paperwork, but better Steve than him. He was having enough trouble with the captain without having to deal with catching crap for badly done reports. "Hey, sport," Chris said as he walked into Steve's kitchen. Toby was sitting at the table with Bob and Amy. Steve's kids were doing their homework, while Toby was busy coloring. "Hi Papa." Toby didn't look up. His head was down and he was concentrating on finishing his picture, a masterpiece in browns, blues, and greens. Chris could only see bits and pieces of it around the boy. "What are you drawing?" "A picture, Papa. 'M almost done," he said. Chris sat and waited while Toby finished, his little hands flying over the paper. "All done," he said, putting the crayon down. "Can we go now?" "Sure, Toby. Can I see your picture first? Maybe we can put it on the 'fridge." "'K, Papa," Toby said brightly. He held the picture up for inspection. Chris' heart sank when he saw it. Toby had drawn a desert, the background filled with brown mesas and green cacti. There was a bright yellow sun in one corner, and what looked like a dog on one of the mesa tops. In the center was a little stick figure with a big smile on its face. He was flanked by two other, larger figures, holding their hands. The one on the left was wearing dark blue clothes and a hat with a yellow star on it. The other was in grey, a white and black spotted ball at its feet. On the left edge was a tent, with another little figure sitting in front of it. "That's me, an' that's you, and that's Daddy. Up there's coyote, and over there by the teepee is grandpa." "They didn't use tipis in the desert, Toby," Chris said. "Those were mostly used by the tribes in the plains." That just added to the guilt. This was a part of Toby's heritage, and he didn't know because his father had been too wrapped up in his own problems to teach him properly. "Oh, okay. Can we have dinner now?" "Sure, sport," Chris said. He opened the back door and they started walking across the deck. "Is Daddy gonna be home for dinner?" Kids, Chris thought, really knew how to twist the knife, even when they weren't doing it on purpose. Maybe especially when they weren't doing it on purpose. That was when they asked the questions that you didn't want to answer. "Maybe," Chris allowed. It was, after all, possible, so it wasn't really a lie. Not really. "Does he like meatloaf? I like meatloaf, Papa," Toby said. "I don't know," Chris answered. "Do you want some tonight? I think there's some in the freezer." Toby stopped in the middle of the yard and thought. "We should save it for Daddy. Can we have mac'n'cheese?" Chris gave a half-hearted smile. The conversation was intensely painful, and he started cursing at himself again. "Macaroni and cheese it is, Toby. With garlic bread," he added. "Yay!" Toby started dancing around. "Or maybe we could order pizza," Chris said, pretending to think about it. "That would be nice." "No! Nonononono! Mac'n'Cheese Papa! You said! Go cook," Toby insisted. He pushed at Chris, trying to get him into the house. "Are you sure? You don't seem very hungry." "Papa! I'll tell Daddy you were being mean!" Toby said with a pout. It brought Chris up short. "You're right," he said softy. "I'm sorry. I'll get dinner started." Chris wasn't feeling all that well right then, though. What Toby had said hurt more than he cared to think about. He knew it was only going to get worse. He owed Toby the truth, though, no matter how painful it was. Or how much it might make Toby hate him. That thought made his stomach churn, and started a throbbing behind his eyes. He was getting a headache, which just pissed him off. It seemed appropriate. He was going to break Toby's heart. Some pain of his own seemed fitting. "Papa? Can you make extra?" Toby asked. His voice sounded a little off, but Chris was having a hard time thinking clearly. The throbbing had spread, and his whole head was fuzzy with pain. "I don't know that Joe's going to make it in time for dinner," he said. "That's okay, Detective," said an unfamiliar voice. It was oddly harsh, and it tickled old memories. "We can wait before I eat."
  4. TheZot

    Busted chapter 64

    [Kind of a transition chapter. And setup for the future. The guys have been nudging for a vacation. It feels like a good spot for a plateau, before we race into the finish] Thursday morning Joe woke up and felt like hell. His left arm was stiff, his shoulder hurt like hell, and his whole body ached. The hotel bed had been fine as hotel beds went, but it wasn't his, and it wasn't Chris'. Not that he was going to end up in Chris' bed again. The closest he came was Snuffles. It wasn't the same. It was all he had, though. Cursing whatever part of his background that made it so he couldn't take anything useful for the pain, he walked carefully into the bathroom. That was another thing he wasn't looking forward to. He couldn't even shower for a few days. Tylenol and a damp face cloth. What a wonderful combination. He wasn't too bad off, not yet at least. Some product in his hair got it in reasonable shape, and he was limber enough that he could wash most places. He had to be careful. It wasn't tough to stretch in ways that made his shoulder twinge. Joe felt
  5. TheZot

    Busted chapter 63

    Joe stood on the sidewalk of his apartment complex and waved at Toby as Mary pulled away. It hurt, watching them go. It was the last time he was going to see Toby. He had a lump in his throat he couldn't get rid of, and it was all he could do to keep from crying. It was better this way, though. He'd been honest when he told Chris he wasn't going to hide. But Chris had been honest with him, too, at the hospital. He wasn't Joe's boyfriend. And that had hurt. It was a really shitty day when the most pleasant thing that happened was getting stabbed. Shaking his head, he turned and walked up to his building. He hoped the psycho that had jumped him earlier was gone. It didn't seem likely that he'd be hanging around. Joe just needed to pack, then he could get the hell out of there. Find a hotel for a while, find a job somewhere else, and go. The thought of leaving hurt worse than anything. There wasn't any other option, though. If he stayed with Chris he'd end up hating the man. If he stayed but left them alone, Toby would be hurt. He felt like he ought to be pissed at Chris. It was all his fault Joe was in this situation. Caught by a lover he couldn't keep, and tossed out by one he couldn't have. He couldn't manage any anger. Just sadness. Joe was preoccupied enough that he didn't pay much attention to the fact that his door was unlocked. "Excuse me, who are you?" The question brought Joe back to reality. Standing in his living room was a cop. He was young and nervous looking. Joe frowned. It was his apartment and he didn't feel like explaining himself to anyone. "Listen, it's been a really crappy day, and I don't need this right now." "I'm sorry, sir, but this is a crime scene. You can't come in here." "I'm not walking into a crime scene, I'm walking into my apartment. Now who the hell are you and what are you doing in my living room?" The cop looked a little uncomfortable. "Um, could I see some ID? Please?" That was the last straw. "ID? Are you f**king joking? You're in my apartment, standing next to a puddle of my goddamn blood, and you have the gall to ask me for identification? Who the f**K do you think you are? No, never mind, I don't care. Just get out." The cop had gone from uncomfortable to embarrassed. "You must be Mister Hennesy. Detective Russell said you might be back." "Figures. What does he want?" "He told me there was a stalker and I should make sure you were okay." Joe sighed. "I'm as fine as I'm going to be. You have to hang around or anything?" "He said I should gather some evidence if I had to." Joe snickered a little. "You're new at this, aren't you?" "How did you know?" "Just a guess," Joe said. "Nevermind. Listen, can you take a statement or whatever it is you guys need? I'm supposed to go down to the station tomorrow, but if I don't have to that's fine." "Uh, sure, I think. If, um, you have any paper?" "Oh, brother," Joe said. "Yeah, let me get some. I need to grab the boxes anyway." "Boxes?" the cop asked, as Joe walked into his study. "Are you packing?" "Yeah," Joe said. "I was getting ready to leave. Here," he said, handing the cop a legal pad and a pen, "you want to start writing while I throw things in boxes?" Joe opened the boxes up in the living room. The pile of charms and pictures had been knocked down when he'd been attacked, so he started there, carefully packing them in. He gave the cop a quick rundown of the attack as he worked. "
  6. TheZot

    Busted chapter 62

    Steve was quiet the whole drive back to the station. That worried Chris. When Steve was quiet it was a sign he was thinking, and Chris really didn't want him thinking about Joe. That was something Chris himself was trying not to do, not that he was managing it. He'd really f**ked up at the hospital. He knew that. Joe had needed him and he'd pulled away. Need might've been a strong word; Joe clearly could take care of himself. Chris was sure he didn't really need him. Still, he'd seen the hurt in Joe's eyes when he'd pulled away. Hurt and anger. Joe had been pissed. Chris couldn't really blame him. Chris had panicked when the captain had come in the room. Until then he hadn't thought about what he was doing. Joe was hurt and he was just acting on instinct. He hadn't been thinking then. He was thinking now. Was this what he really wanted? Joe had just waltzed into his life and taken over. Chris didn't have a choice, didn't have a chance. Things just moved around him, and he didn't have any say, or control. He hated that. He'd hated it when he was a kid, and he'd hated it with Megan. And now with Joe it was happening again. This time he wasn't just getting pulled along, he was participating it. That made it worse. He was as much at fault as anyone, and he still didn't have any control over it. Chris was jolted out of his thoughts when the car stopped. He looked up, but they weren't at the station. Steve had pulled off the road at one of the spots they used when they had paperwork to finish or were setting up a speed trap. It was secluded enough that they wouldn't be bothered. They just sat there quietly. Chris was waiting for Steve to say something. Steve was trying to figure out what to say. "So what the hell is your problem anyway?" Steve finally managed. It wasn't what he wanted to say, but he couldn't get anything better out. "What?" Chris was surprised. He knew Steve was going to say something, but he hadn't expected that. "I mean seriously, what's your problem? Are you going to f**K this one up too?" "I don't know what you
  7. TheZot

    Busted chapter 61

    [Ah, you knew it was too good to be true] "Well, I'm all done," Nurse Dave remarked as he gathered up his things. "Someone'll be along in a bit to take care of you." "Thanks, Dave," Chris said absently. His fingers were stroking Joe's hand. He wasn't paying much attention. Steve was, and he caught the wry smile the nurse had. "So what happened?" Steve asked. He'd pulled out a notebook and pen. "Why'd you get carved up?" Something flared inside Chris. He was feeling suddenly very protective. Joe had been hurt, when he wasn't there to protect him. He was there now, and nothing else was going to hurt Joe, not if he could help it. "Steve," Chris snapped. "Not now." "Yes now," Steve shot back. "You know the drill. Just 'cause you're jumping the victim doesn't mean we put this off." "It can wait, dammit." "It's okay, Chris," Joe said. He gave Chris a gentle smile and squeezed his hand. "My shoulder's numb, and I'd rather get this over with." "Are you sure?" Chris asked. He was worried about Joe. Going over the details of crimes was tough, especially attacks like this. They'd had more than one person break down trying. Joe had already gone through enough. "Boy, are you whipped," Steve remarked. He sounded amused. "f**K you," Chris shot back. "Not my job, man," Steve said. "Can we just get this over with?" Joe grumbled. He was tired and achy, and feeling shook up. He wanted to get his things, go home, and curl up on the couch. Even if the couch was damned uncomfortable. It'd be worth it. "I don't think
  8. TheZot

    Busted chapter 60

    [i keep feeling like I ought to have Chris have a harder time with all this. I dunno, it feels a little too easy] "What's going on? Dammit Steve, where the hell are we going?" "Hospital," Steve said. He was driving like a madman. The car's lights were on, and he was weaving in and out of traffic. "Why ware we going to the hospital?" "Busy driving here," Steve said as he cut off a green SUV. Chris spent the next fifteen minutes worrying. There wasn't any point in pressing Steve for information
  9. TheZot

    Busted chapter 59

    [This probably will end up getting rearranged and merged with chapter 57, but I was feeling cliff-hangery] "Toby! You shouldn't open the door for
  10. So I've been beating up Busted, and I've been finding (as so many people do) that making it good takes a whole lot more work than just making it exist. I'd planned on having it done and shopping it around by the end of the year, assuming my HR department was OK with it. I'm not sure if that's going to happen now, unfortunately. It may, given that it's not yet Halloween, but I'm not holding my breath. Still, the work going into the rewrite is definitely worth it. Even if the book ultimately goes nowhere, the thought needed to get the damn thing in shape means that the next one, and there will be a next one, will be easier. Or conceptually larger. Not sure which, I have a tendency to over-reach my current skills, so it's even odds which way it goes. Courtesy of my tendency to get captivated by the oddest things (in this case the phrase "combat mathematician") there'll be another Ben and William short in a few weeks. Not time wasted, they're always fun for a romp and a good twist on old standards. (And if I've repeated myself, well... I blame it on switching blog clients and laziness, as those're always good excuses... )
  11. And more rewrites. I'm not dead, but you'd never know it from the postings, would you? When Real Life hasn't been getting in the way, I've been beating up the draft of Busted, trying to get it in shape to shop around for publication. It's been a !@$! pain in the ass getting it ready, too. I thought the worst part about this would be throwing out scenes. I've already tossed 30K words, the last third of the book. Not that it isn't bad; some of the stuff I tossed I really, really like. I hate that bit. The worst part is going back, gutting, and reworking the stuff I I've already polished, stuff I thought was done. The only thing keeping me going at this is sheer bloody minded righteous indignation -- the first draft was better than some of the stuff I've paid money for, and dammit if that crap can get published so can my stuff. There's just no way in hell I'd let something in the shape Busted was go out with my name on it, even if it is a pseudonym. I should know better by now. Righteous indignation's gotten me in enough trouble over the years. (And no, not in the way you might expect) Oh well, ya gotta play with what you got, I guess. So one more plot thread gets thrown out, and another thousand words get to get rewritten again. At least poor Toby's not going to be getting sick, and Joe doesn't get stabbed. And I still get to knock Joe on his ass with the gun, even if I had to work at that. (As was pointed out by a friend who read part of the first draft, handguns just don't have enough kick to knock an adult off his feet, something I should've known. f=ma, and bullets just don't have that much mass) Start to finish this damn thing's going to end up taking a year. I hope it's worth it when it's all done.
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