Page 127 of Wicked Pickle

Merrick nods. The sounds of Jude slamming drawers and rustling around filters in from the back room. He’s actually packing this time.

“What did Sherman bring?”

I look down at the folder. “Beats me.” I open the top and slide a sheaf of papers out.

Merrick peers at the top sheet. “Is that the deed to the Leaky Skull?”

“Looks like it.” I glance through the pages. “He bought it from our broker, apparently, and put it back in our names.”

Merrick pulls another sheet out. “And he got the new liquor permit approved.”

I slide out the next one. “And we got the approval for the repairs.”

“Shit. And we threw him out,” Merrick says.

“I guess that’s what he was trying to tell us,” I say.

“Fuck. Now I feel like shit.” Merrick shoves the papers back in the folder.

“Greta comes first,” I say.

Merrick nods. “He’ll get that. So, I guess we better show up for Christmas this year.”

I nod. “I guess so. Seems like we’re back in the biker bar business.”

Merrick flips through the pages. “We going to hire Vicki back?”

I laugh. “I guess we have to. She’ll show up either way.”

A clattering sound makes us look up. Jude approaches, two suitcases in tow, mumbling under his breath.

“Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out,” Merrick says.

“And don’t come back for your porn,” I tell him. “You have shitty taste.”

We watch as Jude struggles with the bags on the stairs and unlocks his SUV.

Only after he’s gone do we shut the door.

“Want to raid their fridge?” Merrick asks.

“Hell yeah, I do.”

As we head to my sister’s kitchen, I’m glad we could help her out.

And with this paperwork, we’re kind of back to where we were. Better, even.

Which begs the question, what do I do now?

And will Symphony be a part of it?

CHAPTER 39

SYMPHONY

Itry not to think about Diesel throughout the next week as I get used to my new schedule for both school and work. The only thing I find out is that Diesel and Merrick are staying around Jersey. Greta sent me a message a few days after I dropped her off.

My new boss is terrific, and while the tasks I’m assigned aren’t going to change the world, I’m learning a lot about the gears and cogs that keep the federal government machine running. It’s not glamorous, doing research on water treaties and building reports on gas line rights.

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