Page 66 of Minus

“Why never mention youknewhim?”

“I suppose it never seemed relevant,” he replied. “Your relationship with Cutter is quite different than mine. He sent you here foryouto work onyou, not formeto talk abouthim. You get me?”

“Not entirely, being as I never recall enrolling in a self-help ranch program. You’ll have to forgive me, if the fact that y’all have been playing with me like some goddamned chess piece is still a bit unsettling to me.”

“Aw, grow the fuck up, boy. Cutter saw something in you, so he sent you to me so’s I could see if he was right. It’s as plain as that. I may never have patched in with the Saints,but I rode with them for years back in the day. I’ve always been an ally to the club and this place has always served as a safe haven for any Saint that needed a place to lay low or get patched up. Cutter would always make sure we got help when we needed it, and from time-to-time, he’d call on me for help with one of his brood. If he saw potential in someone, he’d sometimes send ’em my way. I’d work ’em hard, try to knock a few lessons into their heads, and send ’em back home when I felt it was time.”

“Act two:Our hero is sent to Dagobah to receive further training,” I muttered softly.

“My ears are old, but I ain’t deaf. Besides, Cutter’s no Obi-Wan, and I sure as shit ain’t fuckin’ Yoda,” Duke snapped back.

I looked at him, shocked.

“What? You think you’re the only one with a fuckin’ VCR?” Duke asked.

“I think you’re the only oneleftwith a VCR,” I replied.

“Look, Minus, you’ve got to understand something. Just because we’re old dogs, don’t mean we’re completely out of touch, and I ain’t just talkin’ about movies, ya understand?” Duke looked at me with a softness in his eyes.

“Yes, sir.”

“Cutter may be a tough bastard, but he loves his club. He probably loves it more than anything, so if he’s askin’ you to run it, you can bet he’s given it plenty of thought.”

“So, you know about what’s goin’ on?” I asked.

“Cutter filled me in. I didn’t know you’d be comin’ back so soon, though,” he replied.

“We’ve run into some trouble with a local club, and I had to get outta town as quickly, and silently, as possible.”

“If you’re having local trouble, what are you doing here, and why all the cloak and dagger?”

“We appear to have some holes in our security. These pricks have been a step ahead of us everywhere we go lately.”

“Your leaks tech or personnel related?” Duke asked.

“I’m not sure yet, so I didn’t want to take any chanceswith this.” I pulled Cutter’s ledger from my duffel and set in on the coffee table in front of us.

Duke glanced at the leather-bound book and then looked back at me blankly. “Thanks, Minus, but I’ve already got a Bible, and I can’t say I spend much time readin’ that one.”

“You know it’s never too late to pursue that dream of being a standup comic.”

He grinned. “Duke the Cable Guy’s gotta a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”

“Sure, your catch phrase could be “I’ll get ‘r done… tomorrow.”

“How ’bout this for a catch phrase? ‘Hey, Minus. Shut your Yankee mouth or I’ll put a boot in your fuckin’ ass.’”

“Perfect, we’ll call Carnegie Hall for a booking as soon as we’re done here,” he said picking up the ledger. “Now, what the hell am I lookin’ at?”

“A ledger containing current club financials, business contacts, and laundering sources.”

“Jesus, Minus. There a specific reason such a hot item is currently in my home?”

“I had to get it as far away from home as possible and I couldn’t think of a better place than here in your safe. I’m gonna talk to Zaius about posting a couple of patches here until all of this blows over, and I’m going to need you to get some more of the younger guys around here up to speed. I’ll need all the allies on my side I can get both in Savannah and Portland.”

“So, does that mean you’re gonna do it? You’re taking over when Cutter retires?”

“I was hoping to get your advice on that too,” I admitted.

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