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Rust would argue that he has a good balance too, and his balance earns a helluva lothow e and RTM each year--which I’e--co in "What’s the risk?" It s Not in an "I don’t knoay, but in a "who cares" way "The cops are too busy chasing the idiots The gangbangers, the joyriders I’ve protected h layers that very few people could ever point out my involvement The ones who do have asfor five years now and I knoho to trust and who not to Besides" His face screws up with doubt "I have police along the entire Western seaboard in ation"

An eerie silence fills the space as I absorb his words, his confidence

"Isn’t it dangerous, though, having all this sitting here? It wouldn’t be hard for the cops to figure out who’s behind this if they see Deda’s naer coer "It’s not about what they know It’s about what they can prove"

"Deda used to say that"

"And he was right" Another long pause "So?" His arms stretch out in front him "You wanted in Now you’re in"

I always knew I’d be doing so cars This? Well, this is definitelyso Ford F-250 It’s probably three years old, but it’s been well taken care of Whoever owns the fuzzy dice hanging from the rearview mirror must have been pissed when their truck disappeared

The phone in Rust’s pocket--I’ve seen hinize that they’re burners--breaks into the eerie silence No s up, the air around hiy He’s excited "You ready?"

I siet your hands dirty"

The sky past the hten as we pass by the security gates at Pier Two in Astoria, slowing down to take in the black so ship about to set sail The gray-haired guard glances up but then lets his attention fall back to the book he’s reading I wonder how ar He has two daughters--one already in college, one about to start," Rust explains as if readingto look the other way for help in paying that That’s the trick in this businesseveryone has a weak spot You just have to find it, and then buy the on down the street about five minutes, Rust pulls into the driveway of a quiet ravel of the parking lot The few spotlights actually working highlight a rental office with blue plastic waiting chairs and those faux wood panel walls that , but then again, I’ welcohts are all burned out I can’t eventhein there," I mutter

Rust chuckles "My prissy little nephew" He parks alongside a black SUV Therolls down, and Vlad appears, another day’s worth of scruff aging hiaze flickers froht of pulling apart cars--and back to Rust In Russian, he spits out, "Why are you here?" I’ civil, ever

Rust answers in English "Why not?"

Another gaze my way, this one harder Still in Russian, "Do my father and I need to be worried about the future of our business relationship?"