Sleep, Walker
Issues 68 to 69

Sleep, Walker commences in the early hours of April 7th 1962, as Axel Nagel is woken by his bodyguard Otto. Augustus Medici is on the phone, with news that cannot wait. Augustus has recently ascended to lead the House of Medici, following his father's death. his mother is still in a coma, and he informs Axel that he hopes, for her sake, that she never recovers. He is calling to inform Nagel that Neil Walker, the Agent in charge of the Minutemen, is dead, seemingly of natural causes.

Cutting to the present day in Atlantic City, Nagel and Otto walk through a hotel towards the lift. Axel is telling Otto to go fishing, as he won't be needing him any longer. He seems resigned to whatever fate awaits him here. He enters the lift, where a figure is waiting for him.

Elsewhere, Jack Daw is talking with Rudy, his fight arranger and manager. Jack needs more money, but as an undefeated sure thing, is unlikely to get any. Rudy tells Jack that the only way he will make money is if he takes a dive. He's heard that there is a new guy in town who's saying he can beat Jack. Rudy advises Jack to let him, but Jack is reluctant to lose his reputation. Meanwhile, the unseen newcomer is getting himself a new tattoo.

In another hotel, Megan Dietrich sits inspecting a bullet scar on her right breast, a memento from Victor's bullet. Her assistant Kate enters informing her that Mr. Medici would like to see her. Megan says she will see Benito later, but it is Augustus who requests her presence. She goes straight down to his room, her dress sense rather less revealing than before she was shot. Augustus comments on this amid the usual double talk. Downstairs in the casino, Vic and Loop discuss luck, Vic suggesting that you can't beat Lady Luck. Loop is winning small money on the slot machines, so Vic suggests they go and make some real money. There's a fight happening tonight, and Vic thinks they should back the sure thing.

Nagel is in the lift with Javier Vasco. He comments on the lack of a thirteenth floor in hotels. Vasco says thirteen is an unlucky number, prompting Nagel to enquire whether that is why the houses of the Trust are being "whittled down to ten", he pauses then, thinking of his own fate, adds "or nine". Vasco says that the plan seems to be just having one house. Nagel replies that that was how they used to be, as one. He sees this as the end, Vasco suggests it is a beginning, but Nagel says they both know that the end began long ago.

1962, Augustus and Vasco are in another hotel, with Graves, who is still a Minuteman at this point. Augustus asks if Graves is ready to retire. Vasco describes Graves as too young and too valuable to retire, saying that they all have great years ahead of them. Augustus reminds Javier that his father is still the head of the House of Vasco. Javier describes his father as having one foot in the grave, with the other soon to join it at Graves' hands. Graves reminds the others that this will only happen if he is made Agent, an appointment likely to be opposed by the liaison, Mr. Shore. Graves and Shore do not get on. Graves sees Shore as a Company Man, an opinion shared by his companions. Augustus decides it is best to find out where Shore stands.

Present day, and Jack's manager sits opposite an unseen gambler who is willing to put a large sum on Jack's upcoming opponent. Rudy says covering the bet is a sure thing. Nagel and Vasco talk about aging, the older man pointedly saying that it's better than dying young. He regrets backing the right horse, but not living to see it finish. Meanwhile, Jack sits alone in the back of a van, the Smith and Wesson Sigma pointing at his head. Rudy interrupts, shocked at what he is seeing. Jack merely passes it off as his preparation for the fight. Rudy explains about the large amount of money riding on him for tonight, in light of his opponent's huge wager. Jack can take a dive another day, but tonight is a payday. He describes Jack's opponent as a brawler, a bouncer type like all the others. As they approach the bout, he reminds Jack that the opponent isn't like him, and can't take a hit, he's just a puncher. The opponent steps from the shadows, it's Lono, with CROATOA tattooed across his stomach.

The crowd circle the two fighters, Loop and Victor among them. Loop sees the fight as already over, without a punch being thrown. Vic asks Loop to describe what he sees. Loop describes Jack as Conan, staggering around like he was half out already. Vic corrects his protégé, describing Jack as half awake. Loop says Lono will still beat him easily, and is glad he backed the right man. Vic corrects him again, saying he told him to back the sure thing.

Augustus and Megan discuss the forthcoming summit. Medici wants no mention of the attempt on Megan's life. Megan resists, expressing no surprise at the insincerity of the other Houses in their well-wishing. Augustus sees the summit as extending an olive branch, reminding Megan that she's not the only one at the end of a botched assassination. Megan raises the subject of Carlito and his sons, asking who ordered their demise. Augustus blames Lono's excesses, as discussed previously with his warlord. He says it is a time to forgive, but not to forget. He wants Megan to wear her scar like a badge of survival.

As the fight continues, Vasco and Nagel discuss the older man's demise. Javier thinks it would be best for Axel to take his own life, even offering him the pills to do it. He says Axel always likes to make things easier for people, pointing out that he never objected to the absorption of the Houses of Peres, Madrid and Carlito. Unlike Javier, Axel recalls. Javier says he would do so again, ensuring the continuation of the House of Nagel and the safety of his heirs, despite Axel's misdeed. it's not like he's the only person to have made a mistake...

...1962 again. Graves is meeting with Mr. Shore in the presence of Dietrich and Nagel. The men clearly do not get along, as seen in Graves' double-edged comment to Shore: "I'm afraid I don't follow you". Shore asks if Graves is ready to follow Walker, but when asked if he is offering Graves the Minutemen it is clear that he isn't. Dietrich interjects, telling Graves that Shore believes he murdered Walker. Graves denies this. Nagel says the autopsy found that Walker died of natural causes. Graves replies that Walker's heart gave out, his won't. Shore begins to object, but Nagel takes a firm hand, reminding him that the Trust do not pick the Minutemen, nor do they choose who leads them. If the Minutemen want Graves, then he is the Agent, whatever Shore has to say on the matter. As Nagel and Dietrich prepare to leave, they tell remind Shore that he and Graves must discuss the latter's replacement. Graves has some candidates in mind who he considers more than suitable. The two Trust men leave the Agent and the Liaison to their decisions.

At the fight, Jack is waking from his hypnotic sleep, and flashes back to an earlier visit to Atlantic City. He and Cole are riding in the back of a Mercedes, drinking tequila. It is apparent that Jack has an excessive taste for alcohol. Milo and the unseen character known only as Rome sit in the front, hearing with barely concealed disbelief that 'Highjack' is quitting the booze, again. They arrive on the pier where Wylie and Victor are waiting. Jack is keen to get started with the evening's agenda. He returns to the present, floored by Lono and bleeding, he is taunted into getting up so that Lono can finish kicking his ass. Jack sees it differently, and commences pounding Lono. Loop is surprised at the ferocity of the fight, but Vic calls it as he sees it, pain versus no pain. One of them can feel nothing but pain, whilst the other feels no pain at all because his head is fucked up. He just hasn't worked out which is which yet.

As the story closes, Augustus draws Megan as close as he'll ever get her, between the sheets, Axel Nagel lies dead by his own hand, and back in 1962, Shore is telling Nagel and Dietrich why the Trust have made a huge mistake in allowing Graves to become Agent. He says Graves believes fate is in his hands, that he is in bed with other Trust leaders, which corrupts the Minutemen, removing their independence and giving them an agenda. Shore believes that Graves is looking for a House of his own. Graves denies the accusations, saying that the Minutemen will remain as they are, judge, jury and executioner, which is all they ever want to be. Vic and Loop leave the fight. in the back of the car lay Jack and Lono's unconscious forms.

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