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THURSDAY afternoon, Ronin was rearranging teaching schedules when his cell phone rang "Ronin Black"

"It’s Blue I don’t knohat kind of pull you’ve got, but man, thank you I spoke to the property rental couy prettythe lease that I’d end up staying So today I had a e fro the lease early except for losing first and last ured either TP or Max would step in "I’ht"

"The kicker is we have to be out of here by Saturday"

"How much equipment do you have?" Ronin jotted down items as Blue rattled them off That was less stuff than he’d anticipated But it’d take a crew to load and unload "Howmake the move?"

"Five"

"I can add"--he did a quick calculation--"sixWhen is final inspection?"

"Saturday afternoon at two" He paused "But here’s the thing I worry the protection dudes will vandalize the building before the lease coht make an example of you, so protect yourself"

"How am I supposed to do that?"

"Set up a periuys to stand watch from sundown to sunup They show their faces, e them in any kind of physical altercation and call the cops"

"What if the cops don’t show up?"

"Just say shots have been fired, and I guarantee you’ll get a response"

Blue got quiet "I’d ask how you know all this stuff, but then I’d know, and I’m not sure I want that"

"Smart choice Call me if you have any problems I’ll have people there at six a an eye out, not loading stuff"

"Thanks, Sensei Anything else I need to know?"

"You’ll have legal docu is unloaded here We’ll go over scheduling and all that the first part of next week I’ only you a keycard and the security codes until we decide who else will get access"

"I appreciate everything, and I’ether"

After Ronin hung up, he ru in his head But he couldn’t even find a damn aspirin, and it was too much trouble to head up to his place for a pain pill