“Yeah, I need to spend some time with Chelsea and Shawna anyway. Is it okay that I brought Asher? He’s well behaved.”
“Sure. I’ll get you a room ready. I’m sorry you have to share, but we’re on lock down, and all the kids are here.”
“That’s fine, right Cass?” The young girl nods.
“I didn’t know you had a daughter.”
“I’m her foster child. She got me off from killing my stepfather.” I raise my eyebrow. “He was molesting me.”
“Excellent job, Cass. Head on in and tell everyone that I said yes to the damn dog. They know I’m a softie, when it comes to animals.” I say, and they both smile and walk away from me, heading into the clubhouse. I run my hand down my face, realizing I’m in trouble, because when I look at Melissa, I don’t see a stuck-up bitch. No, all I want is her writhing under me.
Melissa
“Come on, Asher.” I click my tongue for him to follow me, as I pull open the gray steel door, hoping I’m not about to walk into something out of every MC movie, television show, or book that I’ve read. I don’t want to see a bunch of guys having sex with women or half naked girls running around.
“He was hot. I think he likes you.” Cass tells me, as we walk down the hallway. After I got the call from Chelsea, I called up the DA and arranged for Cass to be put in my care. I’m already registered to be a foster parent.
“Knock it off. I’m here for my sister, and not too ogle some cute guy.” I say, rolling my eyes, as we enter a large room. There are about six guys all wearing the same black leather cut that Gamble had on, sitting around the table playing cards.
“Can I help you?” The female bartender asks me.
“I’m looking for Text or Chelsea.”
“Text! You got company.” She yells into the kitchen. “You’re not allowed to have a dog in here, until we talk to the president.”
“Gamble said Asher could stay. I ran into him outside.”
“It better be that mother fucking detective coming here to tell me they found my son.” I hear Text, spouting off to no one in particular.
“Nope, just your stick up her ass sister-in-law.” I smile sweetly at him.
Text is a good guy. I do like him, and he loves my sister. He’s also a great father. He’s always done right by my parents, including paying for their house. I just don’t understand his obsession with the motorcycle club. In Seattle, I had a run in with a member of a rival club, and it was scary for me. They found out I was related to Text, so they decided to target me. It made me dislike this lifestyle, and not him as a person, but Chelsea says they are one in the same.
“Who is that?” He asks, pointing to Cass.
“Cassandra, my foster daughter, and you remember Asher, right?”
“Hey buddy. Come here.” Asher runs right to him. “Shawna’s going to love you being here. I’ll take you up to Chelsea.”
“Thanks.” He nods, as I follow. “Hey, stop for a minute.” He looks at me with such sadness in his eyes. “How are you holding up?”
“Why do you care? I’m just a dumb biker.”
“I never said that about you. I was terrorized, which gave me bad vibes with all MC clubs in general. You can’t blame me for that, and right now, you’re not doing anything to change my mind. Point me to the damn room, and I’ll go find her myself.” He tells me his name is on the door.
“You’re a bitch, you know that?”
“And you’re nothing but a bastard.” I open the door, seeing my sister on the bed, clutching a family photo.
“Melly.” She sobs, as I run over to her, and we hold onto each other and cry. My sister means the world to me. I know her heart must be breaking right now because mine is too. I also explain who Cass is, before she asks.
“I also brought Asher.”
“Shawna has taken him from us already.” I see he’s lying on the bed cuddled up, as Shawna feeds him popcorn.
“Of course, she did.” Chelsea nods her head.
“Gamble is giving me the detective’s number, when he gets back, so I can deal with him.”
“Oh, you met Gabe already?”
“Knock it off. Yes, he was outside, when I pulled in. How are you holding up?”
“I’m miserable. Every time I close my eyes, I see and hear Rocko yelling for his dad. I never should’ve gone inside.”
“This isn’t anyone’s fault, so stop blaming yourself. We’ll find him and bring him home.”
“How can you be so sure? What if he’s dead?” She whispers, so Shawna doesn’t hear.
“Stop it. Don’t think like that. You can’t give up hope. I bet wherever he is, he’s annoying them with his twenty thousand questions. The kidnappers are thinking we picked the wrong kid to grab, and maybe we should take him back.” I say, getting a laugh out of Chelsea and Text, who is standing in the doorway.
“Gamble sent me up here to let you know he’s back. I can take you to his office, if you want.” I nod, and then start walking behind Text, thinking of all the ways to knock some manners into him.
“Melissa, I’m sorry for what I said.” I ignore him for now.
Reaching the office, I knock on the open door, and Gamble looks up at me. “Can I come in?”
“Sure.” He says.
“Here is the card with his name and number, but forewarning, he’s an asshole.”
“Oh, I love dealing with assholes. Is the police department far from here?”
“It’s about five minutes. Why?”
“I think I’m going to go speak to this detective face-to-face. That way he can’t hang up on me or blow me off.” I take out my phone and start looking up the directions.
“I can take you.” Gamble remarks.
“I’d appreciate that.” I get up and head to get my things.
******
When I walk in the front room, Gamble is standing at the bar talking to a few people.
“Are you ready?” I ask.
“Yeah. Call me on my cell phone, if you guys need anything. Bike or truck?”
“I don’t have a bike.”
“I was talking about my bike.” He laughs, as we step outside.
“Oh, truck I guess.”
“There’s nothing like all that horsepower vibrating between your legs.”
“I do just fine with vibrations between my legs. I just don’t want to be frazzled, when I get there.”
I walk away, feeling my cheeks getting red. Once we’re in the truck, neither of us say a word. Instead, I pretend to check my emails. Before I know it, Gamble pulls into the parking lot at the police station, and I go to get out, but he stops me by touching my thigh.
“I don’t know what kind of answers we’re going to get, and who knows if they are even looking for Rocko. Just don’t get your hopes up. I’m working on putting out a reward and do some things myself to find him.”
“Do you think he’s alive?” I ask him directly.
“I pray to God that he is, because I don’t know what would happen to Text and Chelsea, if he isn’t.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Yes, I think he’s alive. He has to be because I can’t lose him.” I grab his hand, entwining our fingers.
“We’ll find him because I can’t lose Rocko either. He’s my everything, and so is Shawna.” We sit in silence for a few minutes, before he clears his throat, releases my hand, and we get out. We walk in to the police station, and then to a big, tall desk with a man in a black police officer’s uniform, sitting behind it.
“Hello. I’m looking for Detective Freeman.”
“And this is regarding?”
“My nephew’s kidnapping.” I say.
He picks up the phone and calls someone, and they talk in hushed tones. He hangs up, looking right at us. “He’ll be right with you. Have a seat.”
“You didn’t ask for my name. How will he know me?”
“He knows him.” The officer points to Gamble, and I open my mouth to an O.
<
br /> We take a seat, and I open my phone clock app and hit the timer. I want to clock this detective. I’ve always done this being a lawyer in Seattle. I respect their job, but I clash with them.
“Gamble,” I mutter, putting my hand on his bouncing thigh. “Calm down.”
“Freeman hates us, so be warned.” I nod.
“I don’t have the best track record with police either. When I was being terrorized a few years ago, I’d go every day to get an update, until they stopped talking to me.”
“I’m sorry that happened to you. I never meant for you to be involved.”
“I know. Chelsea explained everything to me. I don’t hold the club, or you guys responsible. I used too, but not anymore.”
We continue to make small talk, and I look down at my phone, realizing it’s been almost forty-five minutes.
Gamble
“I’ll be right back.” She says, standing up and walking to the desk. I sit waiting to see what is about to happen.
“Listen, I’ve been here for forty-five minutes, waiting on this detective to come talk to me. I don’t want to be a bitch, but I’ll be one. This is ridiculous. I’m here because my ten-year-old nephew was kidnapped, and the lead detective can’t be bothered. I see him sitting right there with his damn feet up on the desk. I don’t care that my nephew’s father is part of a motorcycle club. A child is missing, and no one is doing a damn thing. You tell Freeman to get his ass out here, or I’m calling the mayor. Oh, did I forget to mention he’s also my uncle.”
Holy shit. This woman is on a tear. I watch Freeman nearly fall out of his chair, when he hears how she’s related to the mayor.
“Ma’am, I’m Detective Freeman, and I’m in charge of your nephew’s kidnapping case. How can I help you?”
“I want copies of the files. What are your leads? What are you doing to try to find him?”
“I can’t give you copies of an ongoing investigation. There are no leads, and I have officers out canvassing the neighborhood.”
“I’m a lawyer. I know I can have a copy, so don’t play me. Shouldn’t you be out there canvasing, too? I mean, you’re a detective. I haven’t heard anything on the radio or seen anything on the news. Why isn’t his picture being circulated? Do you not have a good picture of him? I have plenty.” I watch, as her hands shake, trying to get her phone to unlock. I get up, rushing to her side and take her phone.
“Gamble.” Freeman says flatly.
“Freeman.” I match his tone.
“No, don’t do that.” Melissa looks at the detective. “He’s not just a motorcycle club kid. He’s an innocent child, and he didn’t ask to be born into the club life, so get your head out of your ass about that. Get me that file, and don’t worry I’ll wait.” She walks past me and sits down in a chair that has the perfect view of his desk, as he scurries to the back and starts making copies.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him so scared.” I chuckle.
“I wasn’t putting down the club. He needs to learn to separate the difference. I used to blame you guys for things out of your control, so I know first thing about that, but this is entirely different. I won’t stand for a child to be treated like this.”
“I agree. Rocko is innocent and shouldn’t be treated like this. Thank you for being here.”
“I’d do anything for my sister. I’m glad she called me.”
“She wasn’t sure that you’d answer her.” I tell her.
“I was in court, when she called. I feel bad now for not answering.”
“You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. Look.” I motion for her to see that Freeman is talking to the police chief.
“Who is that?” I explain to her that it’s the police chief, and we both stand, as the chief comes out.
“Would someone care to explain to me what’s going on?”
“I’d love to. Your detective isn’t doing a damn thing to find my nephew. There’s been no updates, no news, and he hangs up on everyone who is trying to help. I understand he’s prejudices about the MC, but that doesn’t give him the right. I want something done.”
“You threatened to call the mayor?”
“Yes. Rocko is the great nephew of the mayor. The detective couldn’t see past the cut to find out this information. I want copies of everything, and I want to be called with every lead. Here is my card.” She pulls out a business card from her back pocket.
******
We spend an hour waiting on the file, and I want to wipe the smirk off Freeman’s goddamn face, as he hands us the papers. Melissa can feel the tension, so she starts pulling on me to leave with her. We walk to the truck in silence, and once we’re inside, I hit the steering wheel, making her jump.
“I can’t believe that jackass. Two pages! Two fucking pages is all he has on a kidnapping.”
“Listen…” she starts, but I’m pissed so I continue right on.
“We’re never going to find him with what he has in there. I can’t let Text and Chelsea down. I’m going back in there and knock him the fuck out.” I grab the door handle, but she tugs on my t-shirt.
“Gabe.” She says, using my real name, which makes me stop. She slides closer to me, putting her hand on my arm. “Calm down.”
“I’m sorry, but this shit pisses me off. How can they…” I’m stopped mid question by her lips, crashing into mine. I deepen the kiss by tilting her head back. She moans into my mouth, which opens it enough for me to slide my tongue into hers. Her hands move up under my white t-shirt, and I feel her fingernails dig into my stomach. I’m so turned on right now, as I move my hand to her jeans. Her phone starts to ring, and she breaks away from me panting, “Hold that thought.” She says, before she answers, putting it on speaker.
“Hey Cass. What’s up?” She says, trying to hide the fact that she’s panting.
“When are you coming back? I don’t know anyone.”
“We’re on our way.” She tells her, as I start up the truck.
“I’m sorry. If it wasn’t Cass, I would’ve let it ring.” She puts a hand on my shoulder.
“It’s probably for the best. I’m never going to be more than the president of the club.” I say, snapping the last part of the sentence, and I instantly regret it.
“You’re an asshole. I thought you were different.” She crosses her arms and moves closer to the door. We ride in silence the rest of the way, and once we pull into the parking spot, she jumps out.
“Wait.” I yell at her, but she’s already running inside the building. “Goddamn it.” Taking a few minutes to collect myself, I finally walk in, and Text is waiting for me.
“Sorry we were gone so long, but Freeman took forever, and he called the chief in. Your sister-in-law went toe to toe with both of them. It was awesome. I think Freeman almost shit himself, when she got in his face.” Text laughs, saying he wished he could’ve been there.
“Do you have Wi-Fi?” Melissa asks without looking into my eyes. I didn’t even realize she had walked up.
“Yeah. We can get you the password.” She nods and heads outside with Cass.
“What happened between you two?”
“I don’t know. We were having an enjoyable time talking, and then something changed.”
Suddenly, there’s a loud bang from outside in the parking lot. Shit! Melissa and Cass are out there. We all get up and start running outside. “Call 911,” I yell. There’s smoke everywhere and flames coming from a couple of cars towards the gate. One of those cars is Melissa’s.
“Melissa! Cassandra!” I yell, but I don’t hear anything in return. Everyone is trying to find them, but the closer we get to the fire, the thicker the smoke gets.
“Melissa!”
“Cassandra!”
The sirens from the fire trucks grow louder, and I finally see feet laying on the ground, but there’s no movement. I race over to Cassandra, laying there lifeless and barely breathing. Text scoops her up to move her, and it takes me a bit, but I finally spot Melissa. I run
over to her, and cradle her in my arms, moving her over to a different location away from the smoke.
“Wake up. Come on, babe. Open those pretty hazel eyes for me.” There is no response, and I feel sick to my stomach. The paramedics finally arrive, and start working on both girls.
“Who would do something like this?” My VP asks, and I notice a white van parked across the street.
“Son of a bitch. Look.” I say, nodding towards the van.
We take off, but the van pulls out of there, burning rubber. I try to get the license plate, but I can’t. I notice a random garbage can is now sitting, where the van was parked, so I take a deep breath and head over there, peering inside.
“Rocko,” I whisper. “I need some help. Freeman! It’s Rocko.” I try to check for a pulse, but I can’t find one. Freeman comes over to help me, and we both pull his body out of the garbage can. There’s bruising all around his wrists and ankles.
“I can't find a pulse.” I say, before starting CPR.
Freeman runs over to the third ambulance that has arrived, and they rush to where we are, and then take over. Once they hook up the defibrillator to him, there’s nothing but a flatline.
“God, please no. Rocko don’t die on me man. I need my little buddy.” The paramedics shock him about five more times, before telling me there’s no pulse. He’s gone.
I pick him up, cradling him in my arms and cry. “I’m taking him to his parents,” I say, trying to catch my breath.
“No, you can’t. He must go to the hospital for an autopsy. I need to find out who did this to him.” Freeman says, putting his hand on my shoulder.
“We’ll find the bastards responsible for this and make them pay.” I stand up with Rocko in my arms. “I need for Text and Chelsea to hold him, before you take him. Gather up the garbage.” Walking long, slow strides towards the club, as the lifeless body of my godson lays in my arms, I hear a loud earth-shattering scream come from Chelsea, who is sitting next to Melissa’s body.
Melissa
“The guys in there are weird.” Cass whines, as I go to grab my suitcase and laptop from the car.
Twisted Tales of Mayhem: 2019 MMM Special Edition Anthology Page 51