Book Beginnings/Friday 56

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"MANNY DIAZ HAD THIS DEAL WHERE sometimes he's play the voiceover to his own life in the back of his head. "Here's Manny, down the sidelines--thirty, twenty, ten!" Or..."As Supercop walked along the dark alley, demons and serpents fled from his path." Or, more poignantly..."Manuel Diaz occasionally wondered whether he was the hero of his own life or if someone else had landed the part." In Iraq, when he was part of an EOD team, Manny would run a voiceover while looking for tripwires: "Lieutenant Diaz, fifth call of the day and not even two in the afternoon. One-twenty in the shade. Dust thicker than paint from a spray can. He approaches the target with caution, knowing that one false step could mean the end."

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"This was perfect--just perfect. He wouldn't even need to risk using a flash. Manis closed the bathroom door and took a tape measure from his coat pocket. He extended it eighteen inches and laid it parallel to the arm on the table, then snapped a series of pictures, making sure to get all sides and every angle."