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His curse came from behind me as I shoved through the screen and hit the dirt lane outside the set.

Cold air struck my face.

The smell of crushed corn and damp soil replaced paint and timber.

My radio bounced against my jacket.

I grabbed it again.

“Rear lane. Heading for the bell exit.”

Damien answered immediately.

“I’m coming around.”

I did not leave the radio open.

I needed both hands free.

Grant crashed through the screen behind me.

“You think changing a few walls makes this yours?”

I kept running.

The lane narrowed between the structure and a temporary barrier.

He was closer than I wanted.

“You should’ve left me alone last year,” he shouted.

I reached the turn.

“You nearly hurt someone.”

“You cost me every decent job I had after that.”

The anger in his voice had nothing to do with tonight.

It had been waiting.

I cut around the next corner.

The rear exit was still one section away.

“What did Justin see?” I shouted without slowing.

Grant’s boots pounded behind mine.

“He caught me fixing what you ruined.”

He meant Thursday’s sabotage.

I pushed harder.

“And you killed him?”

“I did. He should’ve minded his own business.”