Page 2 of Devil's Marker

“Sure about that?”

“No. But I’m too busy to think about it today.” Russell looked around the coffee shop. “Notice that nobody else is readin’ a newspaper made of actual paper?”

Brant glanced around. “Why would other people’s intellectual laziness be of concern to me?”

“I’m not sayin’ they don’t keep up with the news. Although that’s likely true for most. I’m just sayin’ you’re way behind the times. You could read the same stuff on your phone.”

Brant took a swig of coffee. “Thanks for the tip.” The sarcastic tone was anything but subtle. “Old school suits me fine.”

“Can’t say that surprises me any.”

The waitress stopped at the table’s edge with a carafe of coffee in her hand. “You want coffee, darlin’?” she asked Ranger Russell.

His answer was a soft grunt and a slight shove of the empty mug in her direction. While she was pouring, she said, “What else you havin’?”

“Three eggs over easy. Double order of bacon. No potatoes. Breakfast is not time for potatoes.”

She smiled. “Butter on your toast?”

“That’s a silly question, young lady,” he said. “I’m not havin’ toast. I’m havin’ biscuits.”

“Butter or gravy?”

When he looked up, she shook her head and grinned. “Let me guess. I’m thinkin’ gravy.”

Russell nodded. “Damn straight.”

When she was out of earshot, Brant said, “Eggs. Not one. Not two, but three. Double bacon. Gravy. Jesus, Russ. You must be tired of livin’.”

“When did you get prissy about food?”

“When I decided I want to stay alive to see next week.”

“Yeah? Well, some of us do this thing called work. Uses up energy.”

“You think I’m a lady of leisure? That must be why you’re actin’ like I have nothin’ better to do than talk about the Chinese.” Russell took a swig of coffee. “If you’re waitin’ for me to beg, you and your bacon are gonna die sittin’ in that spot right there and I’ll insist on bein’ the one to eulogize you.”

Russell laughed out loud. “Maybe I’m masochistic but I’d like to hear that.”

Brant shook his head. “I don’t think so.”

“Alright. Here it is then. I’m callin’ a marker.”

Eyes narrowed slightly, Brant said, “’Cause of the Cannon Johns thing? That’s a pretty fast turnaround. You let the one before that sit for over twenty years.”

“Sign of the times.”

“Well, spit it out. What do you want? I can’t sit here all year havin’ my reputation tainted by bein’ seen with you.”

“Just keep your pants on. I’m gettin’ there. We’ve been monitoring the activities of a couple of Waco clubs. Marauders and the Stars & Bars for a few months. Waco is what you’d call strategically situated halfway between Dallas and Austin.” Brant looked blank. “Our two most biker-dense cities.”

“You keep stoppin’ like you think I know what you’re talkin’ about. I don’t.”

“Something’s up.”

“Nothing to do with us. We’re legit. You know that.”

“Yeah. But you’re still bikers.”

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