The morning still looked like night as the ambulance sped down the north route of Spalding over Holcomb Bridge. The stiff rain was sure to shatter the front windshield at any second. Traffic wasn�t really the problem at this point, in fact traffic could help set the bearings straight again.

�Dan, this guy is gonna die if this shit doesn�t clear up, and it doesn�t help that you move like some bitch with braces in drivers ed.�
�I�m being safe, there�s a difference. You obviously can�t do any better since I was assigned this job.�
�That�s just cause you give better head than me.�
�What?�
�The turn is coming up, watch for it.�
�Asshole.�

They found Willshire, dispatch had warned them to keep up their guard and to not forget their purpose. They were the first to arrive; usually the police took that title. The flashing lights extinguished and Steve gathered their materials, gunshots were very unpredictable. The residence was being suffocated by rust and decay. The kind of house that vagrants walk past and think how lucky they are to not live there. The door felt bloated and soggy as Steve�s fist hit it for the eighth time.

�Oh thank god you�re here, he�s in the bathroom.�

He lay in the tub; she didn�t want the blood to stain her mother�s couch.

�Sir, everything is going to be alright, we�ve got things under control. What�s your name, sir?�
�Raymond.�
Dan turned to address the wife. �Ma�am, I need you to go out and wait in the living room, thank you.�

As Dan manipulated the body into a more operable position, he noticed Raymond�s flesh had already begun to turn cold; the temperature of the porcelain did nothing to help.

�Press harder and put on more gauze, you�re not getting anywhere with that.�
�Will you shut your fucking mouth and let me work. You always have to condescend me, why don�t you get your hands dirty for once?�
�I do the same amount of work as you do Dan, navigating is tougher than you think. Without me, you wouldn�t be able to get to these people that you usually let die anyway.�

�I�m getting assigned to a new partner, you make me sick with your irresponsibility and lack of ethics. Consider this the last house we visit together.�
��Look at me, I�m Dan. I love being a tight ass all the time, blah blah blah���

Dan turned his attention back to Raymond and his now blue hand, the gold from his wedding band was the only sign of life left. Perhaps he would skip the process of getting a new partner and quit altogether.

She sat on the couch, her almost clownish makeup smeared and moist. This was one thing he would not miss.

�Ma�am, I�m sorry to tell you this, but his wounds were too severe to recover from. We tried everything we could, but your husband has passed.�
The woman�s puffy face suddenly changed from sorrow to exasperation.
�Husband? Do most husbands get shot trying to rob their wives?�