“What brings you all the way out to Paradise, Prudell?” I asked.

He looked at me for a long moment. A log on the fire gave a sudden pop like a gunshot. He drained the rest of his glass and then put it on the bar. “Why don’t we discuss this outside?” he said.

“Prudell,” I said. “It’s cold outside. I’ve had a long day.”

“I really think we need to discuss this matter outside, McKnight.”

“Let me buy you a drink, okay?” I said. “Can I just buy you a drink and we can talk about it here?”

“Oh sure,” he said. “You can buy me a drink. You can buy me two drinks. You can get behind the bar and mix ’em yourself.”

“For God’s sake.” This I did not need. Not tonight.

“That’s the least you can do for a man after you take his job away.”

“Prudell, come on.”

“Here,” he said. He stuffed one of his big paws into his pockets and pulled out his car keys. “You forgot to take these, too.”

“Prudell…”

I didn’t expect the keys to come at me so quickly, and with such deadly aim. They caught me right above the left eye before I could even flinch.

All five men rose at once from their table. “No need, boys,” I said. “Have a seat.” I bent over to pick up the keys, feeling a trickle of blood in the corner of my eye. “Prudell, I didn’t know you had such a good arm. We could have used you back when I was playing ball in Columbus.” I tossed his keys back to him. “Of course, I got to wear a mask then.” I wiped at the blood with the back of my hand.

“Outside,” he said.

“After you,” I said.

We went out into the parking lot and stood facing each other in the cheap light. We were alone. The pine trees swayed all around us as the wind picked up. The air was heavy with moisture off the lake. He took a couple swings at me without connecting.