Milo’s terrified. He’s holding his breath under saturated mud. His eyes and mouth are squeezed shut and he senses a malignant evil coming at him fast. In his head he hears Bludgy saying the words, “You’re not going to make it.” Then he’s suddenly back in the bath thrashing around. He can hear Tex shouting at him over Cookie’s calming voice.

“You’re okay Milo you just blacked out again,” said Cookie. Milo stops the chaotic movements. His sight goes cloudy and dims to a dot in front of him, and then immediately just as quick he’s back with a whoosh to a colossal headache.

“You’ve been blabbering Bludgy’s name over and over,’’ said Tex, “why is that?”

“I have no idea.”

“Who’s the silent backer?”

“There’s a silent backer?”

“Do you think this is funny?”

“No, what about Bludgy?”

In his head Milo hears Bludgy saying the words,”I get made good.”

“Is he the silent backer?” Asked Tex as he repeatedly clenched his right fist.

“No.”

“Then who is?” Shouts Tex.

“Who is what? I don’t even know what you’re talking about. My head has this pounding headache and my eyes feel like frying eggs.”

“Have you guys seen that crew that’s been following Bludgy around?” Asks Cookie.

“They’re all psychopaths, the whole lot of them,” said Tex.

Cookie retrieves an image from his mind under the file of “Hot Chicks” and looks close to drooling. “Oh my god, one of them is gorgeous,” said Cookie. The conversation triggers a flashback in Milo’s mind as well. He’s laying on his back, the woman in question is having sex on top. Blood is poured over her as loud emotional crying oscillates to tribal drum beats. Then he’s back in a flash, looking twice as frazzled.

Tex grimaces as he stares at the hole in the wall to a bed room covered with a tea towel, while his mind is somewhere else. “That Bludgy gets around town like he’s the most popular guy on Earth, but when you get to really know the fucker, you’ll never ever see him the same way ever again. That lunatic is capable of anything.” He turns to Milo. “But you wouldn’t do anything as stupid as dealing with Bludgy though, would you Milo?”

“I don’t remember anything about anyone. I’ve got a concussion.”

“You’re fucking liar. And why did Ozil want to kill you?” Have you remembered that yet? Milo shrugs. “And how did he know about the tunnel and its exact exit spot? Got that one yet? Milo shakes his head without expression.“ And how did you know forty minutes before, that you would need me there, with a rope, at the exact moment we were going to be raided? Do you still remember nothing at all Milo? Maybe I should bash your head again to knock some fucking sense back in.” Cookie feels the need to interject.

“Once again Tex, that’s not helping.” Tex looks at Cookie as if he’s a mouse lecturing a lion. “Milo how about you go back to where you left off before you blacked out. You said you were talking to your Dad on the phone and Jet and Riley walked out the door. What happened after that?” Milo thought about it as tex slumps in the corner with a look of tensed up frustration.

“Well then I went to work.” He pauses to contemplate. “For the last time.”

Next Chapter: 6