Read Online Blood Rites by Jim Butcher - Free Book Online Page A

dropped his bag so he could ball his huge hands into huge fists.
    "Whoa," Jake said, and stepped between us, facing the big guy. "Hey, come on, Bobby. It's too early for this crap."
    Bobby got a lot more aggressive once Jake was there to hold him back, snarling and cussing. I'd faced too many literal ogres to be too terribly impressed by a metaphorical one, but I was just as glad that it hadn't gone any farther. The kid was a hell of a lot stronger than me, and if he knew more than nothing about how to handle himself, he could ruin my whole day.
    The kid subsided after a minute, picked up his stuff again, and scowled at me. "I know what you're thinking, and you can forget it."
    I lifted my eyebrows. "So you're psychic too?"
    "Wiseass stunt double," he snarled. "It happened
once
. You aren't going to make a name for yourself. You might as well just leave now."
    Jake sighed. "Bobby, he's not a stunt double."
    "But he said—"
    "He was
joking
," Jake said. "Christ, he's newer at this than you. Look, just go inside. Get some coffee or springwater or something. You don't need this on a shooting day."
    The kid glared at me again and jabbed his index finger at me. "I'm warning you, asshole. Stay out of my way if you don't want to get hurt."
    I tried to keep all the panic and terror he'd inspired off of my face. "Okeydoke."
    The kid snarled, spat on the ground in my direction, and then stormed inside.
    "Someone woke up with his testosterone in a knot today," I said.
    Jake watched Bobby go and nodded. "He's under pressure. Try not to take it personal, man."
    "That's tough," I said. "What with the insults and violent posturing and such."
    Jake grimaced. "Nothing to do with you personally, man. He's worried."
    "About being replaced by a stunt double?"
    "Yeah."
    "Are you serious? What the hell does a stunt double do in a porno flick?"
    Jake waved a hand vaguely toward his belt. "Extreme close-ups."
    "Uh. What?"
    "Historically speaking, it doesn't happen often. Especially what with Viagra now. But it isn't unknown for a director to bring in a double for the close of a scene, if the actor is having trouble finishing."
    I blinked. "He thought I was a
stunt penis
?"
    Jake laughed at my reaction. "Man. You
are
new."
    "You been doing this work long?"
    "Awhile," he said.
    "Guess it's a dream job, eh? Gorgeous women and all."
    He shrugged. "Not as much as you'd think. After a while anyway."
    "Then why do you do it?"
    "Habit?" he asked with an easy grin. "Plus lack of options. I thought about doing the family thing once, but it didn't work out." He fell silent for a second, his expression touched with faint grief. He shook his head to come out of it and said, "Look, don't worry about Bobby. He'll calm down once he figures out his stage name."
    "Stage name?"
    "Yeah. I think that's what has got him all nervous. This is only his second shoot. First one is in the can, but it'll be a bit before they do final edits and such. He's got until next week to figure out his performing name."
    "Performing name, huh."
    "Don't make fun of it," he said, expression serious. "Names have power, man."
    "Do they. Really."
    Jake nodded. "A good name inspires confidence. It's important for a young guy."
    "Like Dumbo's magic feather," I said.
    "Right, exactly."
    "So what name do you go by?" I asked.
    "Jack Rockhardt," Jake replied promptly. He eyed me for a moment, his expression assessing.
    "What?" I asked.
    "You mean you don't recognize the name? Or me?"
    I shrugged. "I don't have a TV. Don't go to those theaters, either."
    His eyebrows shot up. "Really? Are you Amish or something?"
    "Yeah, that's it. I'm Amish."
    He grinned. "Maybe you'd better come inside with me. I'll introduce you around."
    "Thanks."
    "No problem," Jake said.
    We went on into the building, a place with sterile beige walls and invincible medium-brown carpeting. Jake led me to a door with a computer-printed sign that read, GREEN ROOM, and went inside.
    A long conference table ran down the center of a