The Sin Eater

by Lee McIntyre

  “Now, I got to run all these, but Randall, I can see already that you’re a naughty boy. This license expired four years ago. What else am I gonna find when I run your NCIC?”

  If Adam were playing poker, he’d surely win this hand. How the hell should I know?

  Chapter 51

  The bench along the wall had only four seats, and four of the Reapers had taken them. Tugg and Adam sat on the floor opposite two more Reapers.

  No one had made a sound, but a couple of hand gestures were sufficient to get the point across. You didn’t need a Ph.D.in biker science to understand that two fingers in a V at the throat didn’t mean “I love you.”

  The other cops had gone for the night and Mike was sitting alone at his desk with his back to the cell, speaking in a low voice on the phone.

  Earlier he’d said that they might go to Vale overnight, but now it looked like no luck. If Mike left, it would be over. They’d come back in the morning to see who was belly up in the fish tank.

  Adam tried to make out the words, but Mike’s voice was too low. Tugg hadn’t said much, but after twenty years of non-verbal communication, Adam suspected that Tugg must still have a weapon somewhere on his person. Unless it was a six-shooter, they were probably still overmatched.

  Would Kate even learn what had become of him? All the news would report was that Randall Oppenheim and Tugg Morgan had been killed in a small town jail. Unless she read the report, or someone told her, how would Kate ever put two and two together to figure out that it was really Adam?

  Maybe he should confess. If he told Mike who he really was, surely he’d take him out of the cell and transfer him tonight. He couldn’t leave a triple murderer unattended with these guys all night. For their own protection!

  But what a waste of luck to blow the fact that somehow Adam hadn’t been recognized so far. He’d hold on for now. He could decide at the last minute. Incarceration was better than a death sentence, wasn’t it? And somehow he’d convince Mike to take Tugg along.

  Mike’s voice was a little more animated. Maybe he was talking to a higher authority, who was giving him instructions on how to handle so many prisoners. Maybe they were telling him he had to stay all night and keep an eye on things.

  Adam could only hope.

  When Mike hung up the phone, Tugg shot to his feet. “I will fucking kill all of you tonight,” he screamed. “I’ll cut your balls off. My club will hunt down your families.”

  Geez, where did this come from? Had Tugg gone crazy?

  The Reapers looked stunned. Yellow Beard was off his seat and over in Tugg’s face like a shot.

  Adam couldn’t remember the moment he decided, but the next thing he knew his fingers were full of Yellow Beard and he had his knee in the man’s groin.

  The other guys erupted toward Adam and Tugg’s side of the cell, when Adam heard the shotgun cock.

  “Hands up, gentlemen,” Mike said.

  Everyone froze in place as Adam suddenly understood Tugg’s gambit.

  “Officer, you can’t leave us in the cell with these guys overnight,” Adam said. “It’s six to two.”

  “Okay, everyone in Reapers jackets, face down on the floor.”

  “Oh hell,” Adam heard from the pack. “Goddamn home town sheriff.”

  “Shut up,” Mike said.

  When the Reapers were all down, Mike opened the cell door and let Adam and Tugg step out. After he locked it again, he did something that was shocking. He put down the shotgun.

  “Okay, you guys. You’re free to go.”

  “WHAT?” Yellow Beard roared.

  Mike gave a scowl, then turned back to Adam and Tugg. “You guys can follow me.” He led them over to his desk, where he opened a drawer and retrieved Tugg’s Glocks, his Ka-Bar, the Remington, and his wallet. Then he handed Adam back “his” driver’s license.

  “I just got off the phone with Doc at the clubhouse. He says you guys are due back in Ontario tonight.”

  Tugg checked the magazines on his Glocks and buried them in his pockets.

  Adam was too stunned to move.

  “Randy, let’s go,” Tugg said.

  “Huh?”

  “Let’s go. It’s time.” Tugg turned back to Mike. “Can you get us our bikes?”

  “They’re out front.”

  Another cry of protest came up from the cell, but Mike and Tugg ignored it.

  Adam looked over. “So what happens to them?” Adam asked the cop.

  Mike gave a tiny smile. “Doc said to hold ’em for 48 hours. Then he’ll be down. We don’t screw around with turf disputes. This is Immortals country. We let you settle it yourselves.”

  Mike stared off into space for a minute, then looked back at Tugg. “But Doc said he wants you guys back pronto. He wouldn’t say why.”

  “We must be late. Randy, let’s go.”

  “Yeah, that’s kind of funny,” Mike said. “About being late.”

  Tugg already had the door open, but Adam hesitated. “What’s funny?”

  “Randall, you must owe back dues or something. Doc said he thought you’d been dead five years.”

  Chapter 52

  In a thousand years, Adam never would have thought that an outlaw motorcycle club would look like home. Sealed in the bubble of his helmet and unable to talk to Tugg for the last hour, Adam had spent the entire ride alone with his thoughts. Thank God we escaped. But how much more did they still have in front of them?

  The wheels on his Harley bit into gravel as Adam followed Tugg’s taillight up the road to the clubhouse. What came next he wasn’t sure.

  The Indian situation made sense, but how did Emma fit into it? Maybe if they told Wanda what they’d learned at the council meeting, she would be able to help them put the pieces together.

  Adam saw a light by the gate up ahead and one of the members swung it open for Tugg. Adam sped up so they didn’t have to wait for him.

  Adam parked in the yard, took his helmet off, and took a few ginger steps off the bike.

  “Hey, prospect.” It was Kurt, the sergeant-at-arms, coming out of the shadows. “Good ride?”

  “Decent,” said Adam. “I didn’t fall. I had a good teacher.”

  “Yeah, but we heard you had a little side trip. Handled it well, though.”

  Kurt looked happy, then feigned irritation as he turned to Tugg. Last time Adam and Tugg had arrived in the compound, Kurt had greeted them with an elaborate practical joke.

  “Hey, other prospect.”

  “Hey, Kurt,” Tugg said, slapping the dust off his jacket. Tugg wasn’t even off his bike yet.

  “We’ve been waiting for you. We really appreciated that little call from Mikey telling us you’d be home for supper. It gave us time to set something up.”

  Adam looked at Tugg, whose eyes never left Kurt. Was this another joke?

  “What?”

  “Your last little test for the club.”

  “Okay,” said Tugg.

  Adam didn’t think that Tugg did a very good job pretending to be excited, but maybe it was a macho thing. Until you actually got your patch maybe you weren’t supposed to show that you expected it. But who would expect it this soon?

  “Yeah.” Kurt spit on the gravel and broke into a smile. “We’ve seen that you can ride, that you can fight, and that you’ll defend the honor of the club — but now we need to see if you’re a man.”

  Whatever this was, the stakes had just gone up. Pass this test and Tugg was stuck. Maybe he should try to muff it on purpose?

  “Okay,” Tugg said. “Where to?”

  “In the clubhouse.” Kurt yanked his thumb up the driveway. “Now.”

  Tugg put down his kickstand and got off his bike, then looked at Adam.

  “So you’re gonna come too, right?” Kurt said.

  “Well, should I? I’m not really a prospect.”

  “Are you a fag?” Kurt said.

  Adam’s blood pressure went up. “No.” What the hell is this?

  “Then you�
��ll want to watch. C’mon.” Kurt took a step toward the clubhouse, with Tugg following close behind him.

  Where is everybody?

  The walk across the compound seemed endless.

  They must all be inside. Good. That meant they’d probably see Wanda.

  Chapter 53

  Adam had never seen so many nude women in his life. With the exception of Wanda, who was fully clothed and standing next to Jed, the crowd consisted entirely of men, smiling and laughing, overjoyed to see the look on Tugg’s face when he caught a glimpse of the fate that awaited him. On the ground, lying face down on a strip of carpet, lay eight naked women, all lined up side by side with their asses in the air, waiting for him.

  The crowd erupted.

  “Some test!” somebody yelled.

  “I wish I was a prospect again!” said another.

  Oh no. How could Tugg intentionally screw this up?

  Doc and Spider stepped forward and stood on either side of Tugg, like coaches with some last-minute advice before their fighter steps into the ring.

  “Okay so you’ve got a pretty good idea of what happens next,” Spider said, suppressing a grin, “but here’s the catch.”

  “Hey, let me tell him,” Doc said. “This is the best part.”

  Tugg stood staring at the women, some of whom were looking back at him and smiling. A few wiggled their hips.

  “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Doc said. “But you’ve got to do it WITHOUT COMING!” He broke into a horse laugh and slapped himself on his good leg.

  “One after the other,” Spider continued. “While we watch. You got to do all eight in a row and you can’t blow it until the LAST ONE!”

  “The girl who makes you come gets a hundred dollars,” Doc said. “You last all eight and you get your patch. Then we party.”

  The girls were cat-calling him. Slapping their asses, some reached back to spread themselves even wider.

  Adam was horrified.

  How the hell could Tugg get out of this one?

  Could they just turn around and leave? Could Adam fake a heart attack?

  Tugg nodded and walked up the line. Not a glance at Adam.

  The crowd broke into a cheer.

  Kate was at home sitting in a wheelchair and he had to endure this?

  “I’ve got to go,” Adam said, turning toward the door.

  Was it wrong to abandon Tugg at a time like this? Would he want him to stay? All Adam knew was that he couldn’t watch this happen.

  “He’s probably goin’ to call his wife!” somebody yelled.

  “No, I think he’s goin’ to the men’s room to find a stall that locks,” came the reply.

  Adam sucked in the cool desert air as the door banged shut behind him. He had the compound all to himself. As he headed toward the garage, all Adam could hear was the gravel crunching under his feet and the roar of the crowd imploring Tugg to get to work.

  Chapter 54

  Some tough guy. Adam had a tattoo and he’d ridden a few hundred miles on a motorcycle over the last few days, but what was he doing now? Hiding in the garage until it was safe to come out.

  It was dark and quiet again. Adam had heard the crowd a couple of times over the last twenty minutes, but nothing for a long stretch. Then he heard a collective shout, followed by the clubhouse door opening and shutting, but no one was out in the compound yet. There was no music. No party. Was it still going on?

  Adam heard a rustling over by the garage door. He remained still. Adam didn’t want any part of this place anymore. Tugg would have to find him. Or maybe Tugg would find a way to talk to Wanda, get what they needed, and they could get the hell out of here once and for all.

  “Adam?”

  Had anybody else even used his name in the last week? It had to be Tugg.

  “Over here,” Adam said. “In back.”

  Tugg negotiated around a few tool cribs and assorted junk until he finally flicked his lighter.

  “Over here,” Adam said. “Ten steps forward.”

  Tugg walked over and snapped his lighter shut. Some conversations were best had in the dark.

  Adam turned in the direction where he thought Tugg was standing and put his hand out until they bumped.

  “Okay, so what happened?”

  “Why did you leave?”

  “I couldn’t stand there and watch that,” Adam replied. “Maybe I’ve been married too long, but it made me sick. They looked so helpless.”

  “It wasn’t my idea of straight-up respect for women either, Adam, believe me. But what could I do?”

  Adam took a breath. “So what happened? Did you lose it?”

  “No, it didn’t work.”

  Adam hesitated. “You mean you couldn’t get it up?”

  Tugg’s chuckle was as welcome as a candle. “No, believe me, that wasn’t the problem. I got hard the minute I came into the room. Have you ever even imagined some shit like that?”

  “Not really, no,” Adam said. “Maybe when I was fifteen. So you came, then? You screwed up the test? I thought you might. Probably the easiest way to keep from getting patched. Plus, I’ll bet you couldn’t last.”

  Tugg’s voice was strong and low in the dark. “No, they couldn’t.”

  “Huh?”

  “The club called it off. They disqualified me.”

  “So you were hard and you didn’t come, but they disqualified you? Did you actually screw anyone?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Then what the hell happened?”

  They both heard the noise up the path as the clubhouse door opened and shut. Someone would be looking for them soon.

  “Tugg, tell me quick. Do we still have to stay and talk to Wanda or can we go now?”

  “We don’t have to. I didn’t talk to her yet, but it’s okay if we stick around. We’re sort of in a holding pattern now.”

  Adam felt strangely relieved. “But you still haven’t told me what happened.”

  “Keep your voice down,” Tugg said. “I think I hear somebody.”

  They waited in silence.

  “Hey, if you wanted to know, you should’ve stayed,” said Tugg.

  Chapter 55

  “Okay, so just tell me.”

  A finger of light found them as the moon shone in the window, but other than that it was still dark and quiet.

  “Well, I had to do something. It would’ve been easy to get disqualified the way they expected, I guess, but it wasn’t fair to the women. What do you do? Dip into each one for ten seconds? I didn’t know them. I didn’t know how willing they were.”

  “Some of them looked pretty willing.”

  “Yeah, with a hundred guys standing there watching? Every girl’s dream. Some of those girls are on the ragged edge. Candi was there. I’m sure this wasn’t her idea. So I asked who wanted to go first and it was Crystal. Remember her? From Ashland.”

  Adam nodded, but he didn’t know if Tugg could see him.

  “I started in real slow. I read about a position once where a man can hold out for a long time, but it helps the woman along. So I asked Crystal to lie on her back and I entered her and got into this position and then I didn’t move.”

  Adam couldn’t help himself. “Someday when this is all over, you’ve got to tell me about this position.”

  “Yeah, well shit, Adam, are you fifteen? Anyway, the bikers are all standing around wondering when the show is going to start and the other women are starting to get a little pissed. I just keep sitting there not moving a muscle and pretty soon Crystal scrunches up her shoulders, throws her head back and has a sheet-ripping orgasm. Well, I guess that answered the question of how you know you’re done with one girl and it’s time to move on to the next. One of the bikers says ‘You gotta be shittin’ me,’ and at this point three of the remaining girls have their hands in the air yelling ‘Me next, me next!’ It got a little weird. Then another guy says ‘Give him a hundred bucks!’ but then a bunch of guys got pissed and started grabbing their girls ou
t of there. I guess it’s one thing to watch somebody fuck the club skank because you told her to, it’s another thing to see her want it. So at this point they kick my ass out of there. The test is over. No patch, and no idea what happens next.”

  Adam just stood there.

  “So you never — uh — finished?”

  “No, I didn’t want to pass. I guess I didn’t, but it all happened so quick. They had me off her and everything was over.”

  “So you’re sort of in the clear then, right?”

  “Maybe, but who knows what happens next?” Tugg said. “You think that Jed’s going to let me next to Wanda now, even with a bodyguard?”

  “I don’t know,” Adam said. “But for the time being, I think I know what happens next.”

  “What’s that?”

  “Why don’t you go look for a cold shower?”

  Chapter 56

  “Adam, where are you?” Kate’s voice was as welcome as the morning sun, which had just peeked over the white pine trees and was angling into the windshield of the 1978 Plymouth Duster where Adam had spent the night behind the garage.

  “I borrowed someone’s cell phone. Everything’s okay. I just had to hear your voice.”

  “I couldn’t get ahold of you. I didn’t know if you were dead or alive.”

  “Why were you trying to reach me?” Adam sat up in the back seat and snaked his foot down toward his boots that were caught in the wheel well.

  Kate’s voice was stressed. When she got stressed, her mobility deteriorated. Adam wanted to ask about her health. About the baby. About whether she was actually real or just a figment of his imagination.

  “Steve Carnap called three days ago. He said Emma’s in trouble.”

  “Trouble? Is she hurt?” Adam lived a lifetime in the next two seconds.

  “No, but he wouldn’t say anything more specific than that she needs to get out of there. Physically she’s fine, but there seems to be some sort of issue coming up. I begged and pleaded, but all he’d say was that things are moving faster than he’d like and we need to get Emma out of her current placement.”