“Do I need to read minds?Go out and get some tarot cards?What the fuck?”Dutch prompted.
“Cool it, son,” Hound said.
“Notfeelin’ cool with you allhere, acting weird,” Dutch returned.
“We’re not acting weird,” his mom said.
“No one’s answering my question, that’s weird,” Dutchreplied.
“Gotta admit, itisweird,” his mother said underher breath to Hound.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Dutch said to the ceiling.
“You haven’t been to the shop in five days,” Hound declared.
Dutch looked to him.
“And you came to the Compound, got toasted, when you neverget toasted, and crashed there, when you rarely crash there,” Jag put in.
“On top of not being in the shop for five days,” Hound said.“In fact, you haven’t been back on Chaos at all since you tied one on.”
“A brother does what he does.The shop not been covered?”Dutch asked.
“You know it has, but that’s not the issue,” Hound answered.
“What’s the issue that means you all show up unannounced atmy house and act weird?”Dutch pushed.“I haven’t disappeared.It’s not likeI’m not answering texts.I’ve just been busy.”
“With what?”Jag asked.
“That’s my business,” Dutch answered.
“Dude, we’re just worried about you,” Jag replied.
“There’s nothing to worry about,” Dutch stated.
“Now, Dutch,” his mother said.
And that was all she said.
Shit, shit,shit.
“I’m good, Ma,” he lied.
She gave him a look that said she knew he was lying.
Fuck.
“Listen, I just got something I’mworkin’out.I’m on it.It’s cool.And when I feel like sharing, I’ll—”
Dutch didn’t finish that.
His back straightened.
Jag and Hound both looked toward the side door.
Murtagh called, “Mwrr.”
And Georgie could be heard shouting, “Oh myGod!Remind meneverto agree to do anything like thatagain.I donot care how righteous the cause.You wereso right.That Jackson guyispond scum.He—”
