--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After a moment, he shook his head…" description: "\"“After a moment, he shook his head. “Quickly and mercifully is best. Clay? Go out and ask her into the alley.” Clay looked at Jeremy as if he’d just be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/kelley-armstrong-581_time_after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly_1826706.jpg" --- # After a moment, he shook his head. “Quickly and mercifully… ![“After a moment, he shook his head. “Quickly and mercifully is best. Clay? Go out and ask her into the alley.” Clay looked at Jeremy as if he’d just been told to dance the rumba on a public thoroughfare. I bit back a laugh. “Just walk over to her and point at the alley. Maybe say…I don’t…” quote by Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/kelley-armstrong-581_time_after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly_1826706.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/kelley-armstrong-581_time_after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly_1826706.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/kelley-armstrong-581_time_after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly_1826706.jpg) > ““After a moment, he shook his head. “Quickly and mercifully is best. Clay? Go out and ask her into the alley.” Clay looked at Jeremy as if he’d just been told to dance the rumba on a public thoroughfare. I bit back a laugh. “Just walk over to her and point at the alley. Maybe say…I don’t know…something like ‘fifty bucks.’ ” I looked at Jeremy. “Does that sound right? Fifty?” His brows shot up. “Why are you asking me?” “I wasn’t—I just meant, as a general…” I threw up my hands. “How am I supposed to know how much a hooker costs?” “Your guess is as good as mine.” I sighed. “Fine, fifty bucks sounds good. It’s not like she knows what the going rate is anyway. Just say that and nod at the alley. She’ll follow.” Clay continued to stare at us in silent horror. “Oh, for God’s sake, you’re ready to break her neck but you can’t—” “I’ll do it,” Jeremy said, then shot a look my way. “Not that I have any more experience soliciting prostitutes than Clay does.” “Never crossed my mind.” A mock glare, then he headed out.”” [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A character seeks a quick, risky solution to a problem, highlighting moral ambiguity and desperation for a simple answer. **In simple terms:** People look for easy fixes even when they’re unethical. Key Takeaway Consider the consequences before acting. Themes morality desperation decision making risk ethics Mood tense conflicted dark Type narrative dialogue ethical When to use this quote - street negotiation - prostitution - peer pressure - ethical dilemmas - quick fixes Key Concepts utilitarianism consequentialism human behavior Questions to Reflect On - What are the hidden costs of taking the easy route? - How does desperation cloud moral judgment? A Different Perspective The plan ignores legal and personal safety risks. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Go out and ask her into the alley.” Clay looked at Jeremy as if he’d just been told to dance the rumba on a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/go-out-and-ask-her-into-the-alley-clay-looked-at-jeremy-as-if-he-d/) [Kelley Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelley-armstrong/) > [“Clair put down her knife and pickle, then wiped her hands. As she came toward Clay she pulled a large bobby pin from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/clair-put-down-her-knife-and-pickle-then-wiped-her-hands-as-she-came/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [“Conception is the beginning of human life. 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Fifty?” His brows shot up. “Why are you asking me?” “I wasn’t—I just meant, as a general…” I threw up my hands. “How am I supposed to know how much a hooker costs?” “Your guess is as good as mine.” I sighed. “Fine, fifty bucks sounds good. It’s not like she knows what the going rate is anyway. Just say that and nod at the alley. She’ll follow.” Clay continued to stare at us in silent horror. “Oh, for God’s sake, you’re ready to break her neck but you can’t—” “I’ll do it,” Jeremy said, then shot a look my way. “Not that I have any more experience soliciting prostitutes than Clay does.” “Never crossed my mind.” A mock glare, then he headed out.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kelley Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly-and-mercifully-is-best-clay/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Time" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelley-armstrong/after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly-and-mercifully-is-best-clay/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/kelley-armstrong-581_time_after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly_1826706.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/kelley-armstrong-581_time_after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly_1826706.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f8/kelley-armstrong-581_time_after-a-moment-he-shook-his-head-quickly_1826706.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“After a moment, he shook his head. “Quickly and mercifully is best. 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