Mike Norman plopped down on one of the wooden chairs beside John's kitchen table and looked up at his grandson, squinting. "You got any beer?"

"Not for you," John said coldly. "Smells to me like you've had your share tonight."

"You ain't my daddy," he grumbled. 

John opened the fridge and pulled out a beer. He popped the top and sat down at the other chair at the kitchen table."Since I'm not kicking your ass and beating your momma, I'd say that's a pretty safe bet I'm not your daddy. How'd you get in here?"

"Pulled my car around back and jimmied the back door," Mike said proudly. "Did it in thirty seconds. Goddamn door wasn't even deadbolted."

"That's my fault. I guess I never expected an old sot like you would darken my door."

Mike silently stewed. John could tell from the look on his face that he was trying to push his drunken brain to conjure up a comeback. Failing, he just shook his head and leaned forward on a shaky elbow, his bony right index finger stretched out and pointing at John.

"I'm here doing you a favor, boy."

"Not that I'm not grateful for your charity," said John, "but I'm not. Probably be best for all of both of us if you stated your business and got the fuck out of here as fast as your legs can carry you."

"Goddammit," Mike roared, slapping the table with his hands. "You best watch your fucking mouth, boy! You know who you're talking to?"

"Yeah," John said with a nod. "An old drunk who can't stand the fact nobody gives a goddamn about him anymore."

Mike stared at John through narrow slits and leaned forward on the table to stare harder. "You think you're so much better than me, don't you?"

"It's more of a fact than an opinion."

"Well," he said. "You ain't. You may think you're hot shit because you grow a little pot. But who the fuck do you work for? Billy goddamn Brown! Think of all the shit he's done to our family. Your uncles-- my brothers -- and your own goddamn daddy! You're fucking trash. Just like your father, and me, and my daddy, and his daddy. "

John stared back at his grandad, not wanting to give the son of a bitch the satisfaction of looking away. "You got a minute to tell me what you came here for, old man. Take too long and I will beat you half to death. I am not afraid to kick an old man's ass"

"Fine," he said, holding his hands up. "Fine, I'll say my peace. I ran into Mary Johnson at the store earlier today. She said you were asking about Carol. A lot of folks said you been asking around about her and some tweaker she was fucking. Just a few days after some sheriff boys was asking about them. Words getting around town that you're working for the cops. Jed came to see me too and he wasn't too pleased."

"Happen to ask him if he knew where Carol was?" John asked.

"No, but he said you'd do well to stop asking about her. Wanted me to come over here and talk some sense to you."

"I got a job to do," John said with a shrug. "It's either find this meth head or go to jail for a long fucking time. I'm sure you can understand that, can't you? I mean, you being such a force in Pickett County for so long... pick the battles you can win and run away from the ones you can't. That's why you're still standing and all those brothers of yours are in the ground, right?"

"Look," he sneered. "I don't give a good goddamn what you think about me, but think about what Jed said, alright? That man you don't fuck around with. The guy he works for you especially don't fuck around with. I know the two of us have had our differences--"

"Like how I always wanted something to do with my grandpa, but he felt apparently different?"

"You may not believe it, boy, but me staying the fuck away from you was the best thing I ever did for you."

"I'm not your boy," John spat. "And asshole behavior is asshole behavior any way you try to square it."

"Same with your daddy," Mike said without acknowledging John's insult. "He died before he had a real chance to fuck your life up."

"Get the hell out now," John said quietly. 

Mike stared at John and tried to read his face for a bluff. John brought both hands down on the table, slamming his big fists against the table. The blow caused Mike to jump from his seat. "NOW, GODDAMMIT!"

"You asshole," Mike said, standing. "Just remember what I said, stay the fuck away from Jed and his girl, alright?"

Mike scurried out the kitchen and towards the back door. John sat there, slugging down his open and beer and listening to his grandfather's car stutter a few times before it turned over. He stayed seated at the kitchen table while the car pulled out the backyard and left. He simmered in the darkness of early evening. Ever since John could remember, the son of a bitch had been taking his anger out on him. Mike Norman always felt hurt that John ended up working for Billy, the man who took everything he had from him.

John sat at the table in silence and contemplated his next move. Mike was an asshole, but he was rarely a liar. There's no way in hell he would have made up that story just to sling more abuse John's way tonight. Jed had talked to him sometime today. And he had told Mike to give him a message that was more like a warning. Good, John thought. That meant he was starting to get somewhere. Also meant that there could be more to this piece of shit job than he first thought.

It was ten past nine. This time of night, Jed had to be only one place: Ray's. John stood up from the table and went into his bedroom. He pulled the metal box from under the bed and opened it. Inside was a black Colt 1911 with brown grips inside a holster. John checked to make sure there was a full clip in it, double-checked that the safety was on, and then tucked the holster into the small of his back so that his shirt and jacket covered it.

It wasn't often that he armed myself, he got by on rep alone, but he'd much rather have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. John had been through a few rough situations since he started growing and dealing, but most of them he got out of without much bloodshed. If he was going to deal with an already pissed off Jed, he was certainly bringing backup. John checked to make sure the gun was secure one last time before he headed for the door and towards the trouble that was waiting for him outside.