Damon woke at dawn. His body was filled with pain.He lay on the couch for thirty minutes, staring at the water stain on the ceiling. His ribs clicked with every breath. His knuckles had swollen overnight. His right eye was half-closed from a bruise he didn't remember getting. He sat up slowly. One inch at a time. His spine cracked in three places. The envelopes were still under the couch cushion. Five thousand dollars. He checked twice. Three times. The money was still there. Still real. He showered. Cold water only. Hot water made the swelling worse. He stood under the spray until his skin turned red and his muscles stopped shaking. Then he dressed. Clean jeans. A black button-down shirt. The only nice clothes he owned. They were two sizes too big now. He had lost weight. Too much weight. His face was gaunt. His cheekbones stuck out. He looked like a man who had been through war. Because he had.""""" """"" """" Elaine Park's office was downtown. Not the fancy downtown