CHAPTER 12

Bunkhouse, Higgins’ Compound, 15 Months Ago

Little better now for movin’ around some. Damn this place gets chilly of a night. ‘Nuff light to see without trippin’ over every damn thing. Raided the wood pile yonder for a club, found me this nice piece ‘bout half meter long. Feels good to my hand, oughtta do fine.

Now if only these sumbitches’d go to sleep instead of playin’ cards! They been at it since I slid over here and don’t sound ready to quit any time soon. They don’t knock it off afore shift change this could get a little dicey.

“C’mon, Zeeb, one more hand. Give you a chance at winning some of that back.”

“That’s what you said an hour ago and look where it got me. I’m deeper in the hole now than ever. I didn’t know better I’d swear you were cheating.”

“I don’t need to cheat, I’m just lucky tonight.”

“Lucky, hell. Deal ‘em out, but I’ll be watchin’ you close this hand.”

Awright, PLAN B. ‘Stead of takin’ out the sleepers, I’ll bushwhack the two comin’ off shift ‘fore they get here. Sneak up behind as they’re walkin’ and clobber ‘em both. Come back here, and take out these two. Maybe they’ll have quit by then. If not, well, we’ll just have to see.

Need a good spot for the ambush, sumthin’ ‘bout halfway to here. There’s that fountain, statue, whatever the hell that is. Follow the next pair out, then tuck up in the shadow ‘round the base

of that. Might be a little rough gettin’ in motion fast enough from there, though.

Mmm.....that’d do temporary, let me work closer to the house. From there to.........that tree. Shadow’s good and deep under it. Suck up tight, make myself part of it. Works.

Now all I need is for a little cooperation. Two comin’ off don’t come back together this could all go sideways in a hurry.

Hera: Jeb’s place, early evening

Finally caught me a break. Guess my not fallin’ for the setups at Gordy an’ Abbie’s is makin’ ‘em a tad impatient. Watched ‘em both get brung to Jeb’s in the hover, trussed up, but didn’t see any bruises or bloo