A Split Decision
Issue 80

In a derelict Warehouse in El Paso, Victor tends to Branch's wounded hand, telling him he will live, for now. He has questions for Branch, and threatens his remaining fingers if he doesn't receive answers. They are interrupted by the arrival of Remi and Cole, replete with the usual bitching. Cole asks after Dizzy, Victor asks after Graves and Wylie and learns of Remi's overactive trigger finger. Remi still defends himself, believing Wylie was going for a gun. Cole seems increasingly ill-at-ease as Graves enters.

Elsewhere, Lono's group silently return from Mexico. Lono tells Loop to stop at an out-of-town porn shop, grabbing the wheel and crashing into a parked car. The owner protests. Lono offers him a choice, money or a bullet, expressing his utter frustration. Entering the store, Lono pays for all four men to watch the peep show together.

Graves is shown to where Dizzy is being held. He is unhappy at seeing her beaten and bound, and orders her release. Dizzy tells Graves she will kill him. Graves thinks otherwise, and orders the other men out of the room so that they may talk in private.

Lono and his group discuss anal sex as they watch the show. The small talk is a distraction as they are grouped behind Benito. Lono wants to know why he has been left alive.

Victor, Cole and Remi wait for Graves, drinking tequila. There is menace in the air as the men brood. Victor throws the empty bottle at Remi. Guns are drawn. Victor states plainly that if Wylie had been drawing a gun, both Remi and Cole would be dead. Cole agrees, he's had enough of Remi. Victor leaves the room to visit Branch. He tells him that the only reason Branch is still alive is now dead. Thinking Victor means Dizzy, Branch comes at Victor with a set of pliers, and is heard to scream in pain as Graves tells Dizzy of Wylie's death. Not by his hand or his wishes. Dizzy mentions Shepherd, and Graves reminds her that his death wasn't by Graves' hand either, implying Dizzy's direct involvement. She once again promises to kill Graves. He agrees, saying that he has ensured that she will do exactly that. He knows Shepherd was aware of this plan, and believes Wylie had worked it out too. He tells her that the two dead men weren't protecting her, they were protecting him. They both died keeping Dizzy and Graves apart.

Lono explains to Benito how he sees that they are connected. Graves will kill Augustus, Lono will kill Graves. He points out that Wylie should have killed Benito, and that when he sees Victor, who he believes betrayed him, he will kill him too.

As Branch lies on the floor, Victor explains that Wylie is dead, not Dizzy. He returns to the others, and Cole realises that he must finish what was started and kill Branch. Graves enters the room, and introduces Isabel Cordova as the newest Minuteman. They will be heading for New York, Victor and Remi are to "make a mess" in Tahoe, whilst Cole has his own mess to clean up. As Branch backs into a corner, Cole tells him he should have gone to Italy when he had the chance.

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