Page 63 of Paladin's Hell

“What else?” It’s time I show my interest as well.

“The current system is hard-wired. That relies on phone lines. Anyone wanting to fuck with us would just need to cut them, and no notifications would be sent. There’s a lot of benefits in a wireless system. Cameras can be placed where we want them, moved around if need be. They’re fairly cheap, so we can have more of them. Oh, and one other thing, most now have heat sensors, so can give early warning in the event of a fire.”

“We’ve got fire alarms.”

Paladin takes Taser’s comment seriously. “Sure. But a camera can show where the fire actually is.”

“Okay. So what about cost? Gismos like this sounds like they’d be fuckin’ expensive.”

Pal runs through some estimates he’s brought with him. It’s certainly not as much as I thought, and that seems to be everyone’s impression. Cheaper than putting the original system in ages back to the best of my recollection.

As the new member appears to have run out of steam, I turn to Demon. “Anything you want to add?”

“Nah, Prez. Pal’s covered about everything. If we go ahead, he’ll be workin’ with me on the installation.”

“Cad?”

“Yeah, Prez. Pal and I have been discussin’ this. Personally, I can’t wait to get my hands on the new toys, and it will save me a lot of time reviewin’ the recordings. Having spoken to Pal, that’s old hat now. I’ll be workin’ on the technical side. I particularly like the idea of more cameras which can be easily moved around and hidden.”

“Hang on,” Lizard’s brows are drawn down. “If you’re putting in more cameras, does this mean all areas will be covered?”

“Liz?” I ask, not sure of his meaning.

Now his eyebrows waggle up and down, “You know, the dark corners where…”

“… we take girls and fuck ‘em,” Taser completes the sentence for him.

As laughter ensues along with predictable discussions of sexual antics being broadcast in real time to all brother’s phones, with most for and only a couple against the idea, I pull my smokes out of my pocket, glance at them, then put them away. My mind drifts to Moira and my little problem. Maybe cutting down on the drink and cigarettes might be a start in the right direction.

Demon’s head tilts in question, I shake my head. There are some things not up for discussion between father and son.

“I still say I don’t want to see Cad’s pasty white ass on my phone.” Mace is grinning. “Now that would put me right off my rhythm.”

“Could there be a voting system? Thumbs up or thumbs down?”

Ink raises his chin toward Pyro. “Or marks out of ten.”

“Thirty,” Thunder joins in. “Ten for effort, ten for technical skill and up to ten for how horny you get.”

“What do you think, Pal?” Bomber, sitting next to Paladin, asks him with a nudge to his arm.

“Depends on what you want to come on your screen.” Pal says it so seriously, the emphasis he uses takes a second or two to sink in. When it does, the whole table erupts in laughter. I throw him a chin lift. That’s the way to fit in.

While the merriment continues, I let them have their moment of fun, raising my eyebrow at Buzz as he studies the estimate Pal had passed to him. A practiced unspoken conversation between us. Got the funds? Yes.

I bang the gavel for attention. “I’ll okay the upgrade in security. Demon will lead, Pal and Cad with him. Get that shit installed as soon as you can, then we’ll have a meeting to go through it. In the meantime, try to think of anyone you’ve come across who may have taken a disliking to us, doesn’t matter how small, even if you’ve cut in front of someone when you’ve been riding. Cad. Look into the new police chief some more.”

Pal raises his hand. “Any street gangs wanting to cause trouble?”

Thunder is the one who replies. “I’m lookin’ into that. Can’t rule out the little bastards getting too big for their britches. I’ve got meets set up with the leaders.”

Raising the gavel I glance around, but it seems everyone’s said anything they needed to.

“Prez, before you bring that down.” Demon waits until I raise my chin. “Family barbeque Sunday. Best behaviour as Pal’s young girl will be there.”

As Bomber bumps Paladin’s arm again and says, “Interested to see this girl you followed from Tucson. She must be fuckin’ something.” I bring the gavel down. Meeting over. I’ll let Paladin fend off any other witticisms himself.

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