"That operation wasn't pretty, that's for sure. I have to confess, I'm one of the people that had you figured for long gone with some complimentary financing underneath you."

"I pinched two lousy stacks of small bills before the feds counted the cash. A total of fifty thousand bucks. Big deal. It lasted about six months. What lasted longer was realizing that contract work for those guys is a bad deal. I quit the secret cop team for good."

"Then whose team are you on now, Hank?"

"I got myself into a deal with a local business. I'm the top dog in security for Lexicon Industries right around the corner here in San Jose."

"I never figured you for a nine-to-five job," Roger ventured. "How do you keep things interesting around there?"

"We've got a new project going on right now. Sort of on the side from normal operations. It's pretty hush-hush though." Hank seemed to realize he had already been talking a little too freely to his old friend.

"Could you use any of my many services, Hank? I've been working outside the old gang for quite awhile too. I don't have anything good going right now and more hospital and doctor bills keep showing up every day."

"Roger, it's a very small group and the team is full. I have no say in it at all. And besides, this isn't your style."

"What do you mean by that? You don't think I'm tough enough to play with you and your new friends?" Roger sounded hurt.

"Well that's not what I meant, but it is a good point. What I meant was we're not exactly the good guys on this one and that's all I can say about it."

"You better be careful, Hank. Your new team may be harder to quit than the old one was. And it may be even harder to get any quality sleep."

"Look, this is a risk for me. I know that. But you were right about the nine-to-five routine. It's not for me. I'm gonna be able to get out of that soon and I can't wait for the day. I gotta get cleaned up and head back to the office. I'll get in touch with you in a few weeks, Roger."

"Okay, Hank. Let me know if you change your mind though."

Hank was in up to his eyeballs. It was scary to think about. He's a pretty normal guy who just happens to be crossing the line for a onetime shot at the brass ring. He got himself tied in with John Lexicon and now he's on board for the duration. He probably didn't even see the direction this thing was headed. Roger knew that under the right conditions almost anybody could fall into the trap that had caught Hank Brooks. And the way the cards were laid out, Roger was going to be working to trip up his old friend and make him pay for this for the rest of his life.



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