Page 17 of Devil's Marker

“Ah. Boss is your road name. I wasn’t sure.”

“Not really a road name. Got a sister who’s fourteen months older. She started callin’ me bossy as soon as she could talk. It stuck. Sometime around puberty the y got dropped.”

Win looked around the office. “So it’s a case of people becomin’ what they’re named.”

Boss raised his chin and narrowed his eyes. “That the fact with you?”

It took Win a second to understand the question. When he got it, he smiled. “Sometimes.” He shrugged. “Maybe more than average.”

“Just so happens that’s what we’re needin’ around here. You could call your arrival extraordinarily opportune.”

“Why’s that?”

“Got some potential trouble brewin’.” Win remained expressionless. “What?” Boss demanded.

Win blinked. “I don’t know what you’re askin’.”

“I said trouble brewin’. You got a look. I want to know what you were thinkin’.”

Win knew for a fact that he had schooled his features into submission, which could only mean that Boss was phenomenally gifted at reading people. Maybe even telepathic. That fleeting thought had Win wishing he could take back his agreement to pay off the SSMC’s marker.

After weighing his options at lightning speed, he decided the truth was the best choice.

“It’s been a long time since I was a prospect, but the way I remember it, prospects aren’t usually asked what they think.”

“Well, first, and I was gettin’ to this, because of the special circumstances and your stellar record with the Huns, we’re goin’ to dispense with the usual formalities.” He slammed his big palm down on the desk for punctuation. “We’re votin’ you in tonight.”

“That’s…” Truthfully, Win didn’t know how to react. He’d never heard of such a thing. Bikers handing full patch to a total stranger? Even one with a resume from a sister club. Just not done. And for good reason. Win searched for the right word. “Unheard of. Far as I know. I’m not griping.”

“Right. Now, what was that look for?”

“Since you’ve invited me to speak freely, you said somethin’ about potential trouble, and I want to hear about that. The place just doesn’t give the appearance that you’re worried. Gates open. Women and children outside in the open. And the skylights…”

Boss laughed and shook his head. “Fuckin’ skylights. Cost us a fortune and keeps on costin’ in heavenly a/c bills, but it makes the place look good in the daytime, don’t it?”

“Yeah,” Win readily agreed. “Really good.”

Nodding with a smile, Boss said, “My daughter. Got a degree in interior design from the University of Texas. The one at Austin. You know?” Win nodded. “That painting?” Win turned to look at the wall behind him where Boss was pointing. It featured a painting of a cowboy coiling a rope. It was five feet high and, though Win was no art expert, he thought it was good, partly because the frame looked so expensive. “It’s a Kelly Pruitt original. Cost me two month’s take.” As Win turned back, Boss was shaking his head. “My little girl is a good saleswoman.”

“I’m no art expert.”

“Me either. She says it’s an investment. Anyway, about the skylights. That caused what you’d call a kerfuffle around here. I had to pay to rectify that situation out of my own fucking money.”

Win cocked his head. “How do you ‘rectify’ skylights?”

“Oh we have these inch-and-a-quarter titanium shields that automatically slide into place and lock in case of emergency.” Boss leaned forward a little. “That titanium. It’s lightweight, but a direct hit from a bazooka wouldn’t leave a scratch on it.”

Win stared straight ahead as he was imagining the tab for that. “Wow.”

“Yeah. Wow.” Boss leaned back in his tall tufted leather chair. “Far as the easy access and the families bein’ exposed. We’ve got eyes posted for blocks all around. Every one of them has remotes that would set off alarms and close those gates so fast it would take off your hand.”

He responded with a wan smile.

“What’s that about?” Boss pointed to Win’s face.

“Please don’t take offense at this, but I wasn’t expectin’ state-of-the-art high tech in Waco is all.”

“Why? We have internet, trains, trucks, and planes like anyplace else. You’re from here, right?”

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