Page 7 of Dirty Dylan: Dirty Dusters

“We’ll be able to do that?”

“We have no choice.”

“And then?”

“We have to offer the information up willingly when they ask to audit, which will be imminent, going by the buzz of excitement inside the organization.”

“Best case?”

“We nip it in the bud at Play, get hit with a large fine, and life goes on as we know it.”

“Worst case?”

“They audit Play then move on to a criminal investigation when they’re not happy with their findings. They then use this as the catalyst to roll it out across the other Duster companies potentially unearthing a plethora of wrongdoings as they go. Over and above the substantial fines each company will be served, they may also try to make an example of the Dusters by attempting to incarcerate our boys.”

“That’s a death sentence right there.”

“Exactly. Now I can do what needs to be done from my side. There’s just one itty bitty problem.”

“I’m not sure I like the sound of that. Go on.”

“We need access to a tax lawyer.”

“Nope.” Her tone is firm.

“Paddy doesn’t have any experience dealing with the IRS, Jaine.” I realize I’m whining like a child that’s just been refused a shitty one-dollar toy at Walmart.

“JAL’s not getting involved.”

“I don’t think you have much choice. Paddy’s as much at risk as the others. Perhaps more so as he’s the Duster’s lawyer. They’ll cite he should have made sure the holding company adhered to its full legal obligations.” I realize I’m being underhanded, but needs must.

“For fuck’s sake.”

“Indeed.”

“Listen, Jessie. Let me think about it.”

“We need an answer like yesterday.”

‘I saidI’ll think about it.”

“I hear you.”

I pause before moving on to the next sensitive subject.

“Now, about my identity.”

“What, the revelation that you’re Lucifer’s daughter, Bailey’s sister, and Paul Delaney’s future sister-in-law?”

“Yes, that little tidbit of information right there.”

She lets out a long sigh. “Let’s allow the dust to settle on the Nevada shitshow, get this IRS situation put to bed, and then I can drop that bombshell on the O’Connells. It’s then up to them what they do with it. Sarah’s agreed not to mention anything. At the end of the day, you’re contracted to them through JAA. You’re not employed. It’s not for you to divulge any sensitive information. It’s for JAA to do that.”

“It could be deemed a blatant conflict of interest by the Dusters. Details that should have been declared as soon as the connections became known. The fact that my daddy’s MC now forms part of the alliance through La eMe.”

“I realize that, Jessie. But JAA was already too heavily involved. If we’d pulled out or been pulled out it could have spelled disaster. They’re Irish. They’re prone to making rash decisions. I don’t think those boys grasp just how serious this IRS situation is. How easy it would be for each of them to face jail time.”

“I’m sorry.”

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