Day, Hour, Minute...Man
Issue 8

In a warehouse on the edge of Miami, Graves conducts a drug deal with a Jamaican gangster named Topper. Graves has sold Topper a hybrid marijuana seed, which contains nicotine. The seed was stolen by Lono, back in LA, as seen in Shot, Water Back. Topper is nervous about any further involvement from Lono, so to prove their trust, Graves offers Topper some information he could use. He tells him that a Detroit bookmaker’s was recently shot up by some cowboy, and that Topper should move in on the territory. Topper is happy and relaxes, believing Graves is on the level, but as Graves takes his leave, he tips the nod to the DEA, who storm the warehouse, guns blazing.

At a Miami Beach restaurant, waitress Sophie is being chatted up by boyfriend Carlo, whilst his friends hang out by their car. Graves walks in, reserving a table for two. He is being watched from across the street, by Lono. Lono crosses the street and sits with Graves. It’s their first meeting since before Atlantic City, seven or eight months ago. Lono was convinced his relationship with Graves was over after what happened there, but it is apparent that Graves contacted Lono recently and contracted him to steal the drugs, although he believes Lono’s actions, particularly shooting down a helicopter, were excessive. Lono says that they started it. Graves disapproves of drawing so much attention, saying that it isn’t the way he trained Lono.

Lono retorts that at least he’s still alive, unlike “the rest of us”. He asks Graves if he’s found out “why they did it”. Graves says he has theories to the puzzle set by the Trust, but at least they didn’t succeed. Lono disagrees, saying the Trust wiped them out and he is the last of the Minutemen. He is looking for revenge on Shepherd, who he believes set them up. Shepherd was the point man, and the liaison to the Trust, which to Lono, makes him the ideal candidate.

Graves says Shepherd’s job also put him in the perfect position to save them. He reminds Lono that he wasn’t in Atlantic City when the shit hit, and that Graves is only alive because of Shepherd. Shepherd told the Trust that all of the Minutemen were dead, and yet he and Lono are there talking. Lono thinks it’s just an angle, and doesn’t care anyway, so long as the Trust believe him to be dead. Graves explains that the Trust may have reason to believe he is still alive, as he recently sent someone after one of them. Lono rebukes Graves for his ‘game’, but Graves says it is never a game.

As the two men talk, Carlo and his friends work over a man walking his dog. Lono asks if the hit was successful, and who was involved. Graves responds that it was no-one important, not like Lono or the others. Lono queries this, believing the others to be dead. Graves reminds him that there are always seven Minutemen, going on to say he activated one in Chicago last month. Not a game, a test. A test of how far a person will go across the line to put something right that was wrong. Lono asks what Graves’ problem is, but Graves thinks Lono is all too aware. He asks Lono to join him, but Lono declines. He’s finished with all that, and if he wants justice, he’ll do it himself.

Lono leaves, and Sophie comes to clear Graves’ table, asking if everything is all right. Graves says he has a bad taste in his mouth, having just given the man who is leaving two million dollars in cash. Sophie quickly runs to tell Carlo what she has heard, as Graves knew she would. She returns with Graves’ change, but he insists she keep it for her excellent service. As Graves makes to leave, a bug is revealed beneath the table. Listening at the other end is Shepherd, who receives a phone call, just as Lono walks by, followed by Carlo and his friends.

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