The Artful Bomber

On the way back from the rail yard that Thursday night, Contestabile--er, Toy Unit--tells Vert about a job offer. Earlier that day, the production manager of Walker, Texas Ranger called and asked Contestabile if he could paint some urban landscapes on a downtown interior wall for an upcoming episode. "They want it to be the offices of the bad guys. Images of mass destruction," he laughs.

"Oh, man, like, barbed wire and burnt-out buildings and stuff?" Vert asks.
"Yeah, and mushroom clouds," Contestabile adds.
How much are they offering? "Eighteen hundred."
How many days will it take to paint it? "One."
Not bad for a vandal.

The Dallas skyline grows bigger on the ride south along Central Expressway, the highway empty of cars at this hour. "Hey, are you hungry?" Contestabile asks his young friend. "I brought some apples. They're in the back if you want one." The dual life continues.