Paladin's Hell

by Manda Mellett

  Again, I shake my head. “Want is the wrong word, Moira. After what happened to me, I doubt I’ll ever want any man to touch me. But yeah, Paladin will probably expect it. He’s a man after all.”

  Her face flushes as if I’ve said something to upset her. “Then he’s not right for you, Jay.”

  I shake my head again, but she’s put doubts in my head. He is my one, isn’t he?

  “You ever talk about sex with Ella?”

  My eyes widen. “Of course not.”

  “You want dessert?”

  For a second I don’t know what she’s asking, but when I see she’s waving toward the menu, I say, no. She asks for the bill, then looks at me carefully. “Jay, one day you’ll meet a man. When he walks in the room your heart will start to pound. When he looks over and your eyes meet, your palms will sweat. When he comes over and talks to you, you’ll get tongue-tied. That’s what you deserve. Don’t settle for a man who you think is safe. Who you think you owe something to. From hearing you speak, I think Paladin’s been a good friend for you, but no more than that.” She must see from my expression that I’m far from thinking she’s right.

  But aren’t her words just echoing my thoughts before I came here? That Pal might have expectations I’m far from being sure match mine. I’d put that down to the things that I went through, but Moira could have a point. He doesn’t make my heart race, does he?

  “Think about what I’ve said, okay?”

  I agree. I can do that.

  After not hearing from him all day, when I get a text later saying Paladin will be over at nine, my reaction is relief he’s okay, and annoyance he hadn’t bothered to get in touch with me before. I get none of the symptoms Moira had described.

  Perhaps she’s right. I feign a headache and tell him not to bother.

  He doesn’t reply. If I was as important to him as I’d thought, wouldn’t he try to persuade me to see him? Or is he relieved I don’t need him to come over? Have I pushed him straight into the arms of one of the club girls?

  I realise I don’t like that thought one bit.

  Chapter 19

  Paladin

  I feel unsettled. Don’t like not seeing Jay. It’s been my job to take care of her for years, and now I’m feeling restless. I text her the next morning.

  Pal: You okay? Settling in? How’s your head?

  I wait for the response, but there’s none. The idea that I might be losing her hits me, followed by the thought if she doesn’t want me here, there’s nothing to stop me from returning to Tucson. A longing to shoot the shit or play pool with Shooter and Road comes over me. Shooter, when he was known as Spider, and me still going by my real name Marsh, prospected together. We’d worked side by side through some shit, a bond that’s hard to break, and which I’m unlikely to find here.

  It’s like being a new boy at school, viewed with mistrust. I walk into the kitchen for breakfast, it’s even worse than the day before. Yesterday I was a mystery, the stranger. Then, when everything went to shit, someone looked on as at the very least, responsible for bringing bad luck to the club.

  I take a plate of breakfast from Jeannie. It smells and looks fine, but I eat mechanically, feeling eyes upon me. Nobody would miss me if I upped and left. Least of all, it seems, Jayden. It’s all become fucked up. Our new start together. I haven’t even seen her since we arrived.

  “Want a word.”

  With a mouth full of bacon, I acknowledge Demon and hastily swallow. “Sure VP.”

  “Finish up. Then come find me.”

  Having handed my empty plate to Jeannie, I go off in search of the VP. He’s sitting at a table at the end of the bar, an open bottle of beer in front of him even though it’s early, and papers spread out around.

  “VP?”

  “Pal. Sit.” He waves toward a chair.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “Wanted to pick your brain.” He puts down the pen he’d been holding, and leans forward, his elbows on the table, his chin lightly resting on his clasped hands. “The trouble you had in Tucson, that brought you and the girl here. Could it have followed you?”

  I don’t have to give it more than a moment’s thought. I shake my head and say adamantly, “No.”

  He raises an eyebrow. “You sure about that?”

  “Logistics,” I reply. “No one outside the club knew we were coming here. Well, not unless there were leaks from this end.”

  He sits up straight again and jots something down. “Doubt it. But I’ll have a word around. We haven’t got brothers known for running their mouths. I trust them.”

  “And I trust my brothers in Tucson.” More than I trust the ones here. “Jayden’s safety depends on no one knowing where she is.”

  He half stands, getting into my face. “Reading an undercurrent there, Brother. What the fuck do you think has gone down? They might not have known the details, but we don’t fuckin’ advertise when someone’s comin’ for protection. You think a brother here blurted it out? Who would they fuckin’ tell? Who, in Pueblo, would be interested?”

  I start to shake my head. Put like that, it does sound ridiculous. I open my mouth, but he hasn’t finished, though he has sat back down.

  “You don’t like that you’ve got to earn trust. Works both ways, Brother. Seems you need to start giving some to receive it.”

  I hear what he’s saying. As hard as it is for me to get the measure of my new brothers, if they’re feeling the same, I need to cut them some slack. I return to his earlier question, this time offering in a more reasonable tone, “If we’d picked up a tail, then it would be too fast to get a team together. One man, perhaps, but it seems there were disturbances at all your businesses the night before last. That would take manpower. Smacks of something local to me.”

  Demon nods. “We’ve got street gangs, ‘course we have. Pimply faced kids for the most part who have difficulty finding their noses to pick, let alone getting organised and coming after us.” He pauses. “Could the Herreras have links to any of them?”

  Again, I reply in the negative. “Herreras are a Tucson based crime family. If we were in Arizona, maybe, but I don’t think they’d cross state lines to step on somebody’s toes. They’re not known for getting into bed with other people. They keep themselves to themselves.”

  As he thinks for a moment, I slide out my phone and glance at it.

  “That there,” he points to the device in my hand. “Taser says you’re always on the phone to somebody.”

  I roll my eyes. “Right now I’m checking the time. Need to get to the police station to get my fingerprints taken. Not that I’m particularly happy about them going into the system, but neither do I want to be caught for a murder I didn’t commit.” My eyes narrow. “I presume Taser is going to back me up when I say I jumped into the dumpster not knowing what to expect?”

  Demon rears back, then comes forward, again up close to my face. “Taser may have taken a dislike to you, but we put brothers before cops any day.”

  I raise my chin. “That’s certainly how it worked in Tucson.”

  “You’re a Satan’s Devil. Might not have put the patch on your back ourselves, but you’re one of us.”

  “Yet there’s that little thing you mention, trust.” I state the fact.

  He scoffs. “More that we don’t know you. All we know is you’ve had a cosy time of it babysitting a bitch.”

  I bristle at the word he’s using. Jay’s just a kid. Well, not so much nowadays. I lose my focus as I think about how she’s grown and changed. Almost time to move our friendship up to the next level…

  I realise I’ve zoned out when his hand crashes down onto the table. “Pay attention, damn you.” He waits for a second while I snap my eyes to him sharply. “You’re with me today, okay?”

  My plan to go see Jay, demand she sees me and tells me what the hell’s going on disappears in a flash. I can’t say no to the VP. “Sure,” I reply, trying to inject enthusiasm into my voice.

  “My mom’
s looking after your girl.” Astutely he gets to the root of my problem. “Might do you both good to have some space. Look, Pal. Reason why I want you with me? You’re a sharp lad. Things you came up with in church? Would welcome your fresh eyes on our security. Our cameras came out of the Ark, and need updating, more maybe, and better placed.” He breaks off, places his hand against his mouth and looks thoughtful. “Fact is, Brother, I’ve been thinking about a new business.” He gives a short laugh. “Fuckin’ stupid idea it’s now turning out to be. Security. When we can’t even mind our own premises.”

  “Easy to get complacent and rely on a reputation.” I give him an out.

  “Well, it’s just at the idea stage. Whatever you might think, I happen to have taken to you. Like that head on your shoulders. You and I do okay today? Then let’s think about both of us throwing in with Cad and getting a new business off the ground.” He gives me a wink. “Get’s you away from Taser at least.”

  Wow. I hadn’t expected that. “Security was a priority in Tucson,” I respond, eagerly. “We were all hot on that shit with the Herreras and others gunning for us. Learned to spot weak points. I’m all up for that. Thanks, VP.” I’m excited. A new opportunity for me. A chance to get in on something from the start. A challenge I could get my teeth into. Part of me had been worried I’d just be a lackey for one of the brothers running the other established businesses.

  “Let’s get going, shall we?” Demon puts his paperwork away and stands.

  As we go out to the bikes, the VP throws an amused look my way when I start to enthusiastically talk about vantage points and computer monitoring systems.

  He’s coming with me to the police station first. It could be moral support or just practical as I don’t yet know my way around. When we get there, I’m pleased to see it’s all been organised as I’m immediately introduced to the club lawyer, a man called Sykes, who’s already there. While Demon waits, glaring at the officers in the reception area, Sykes takes me to a quiet corner and has a few words with me. Then I’m soon called back to go meet with one of the detectives. Initially he seems as suspicious of me as the men in the club.

  “Dominic Marsh.”

  My government name takes me by surprise. I haven’t been Dom in years. During school and my prospecting days I was just called Marsh, then Paladin over the last two plus something years. It seems an alien handle now as though it belongs to somebody else. I realise even Jay doesn’t know it.

  “Yes, sir.” I decide to show respect. The lawyer beside me nods as the detective consults his notes.

  “You came up from Tucson two days ago. You ever been to Pueblo before? Got contacts with anyone here?”

  “I’ve met some of the MC, the Satan’s Devils before, when they’ve come down to the Tucson chapter, but otherwise, no. I’ve no contacts with anyone in the city.”

  “Why did you, what do you call it, transfer?”

  I shrug, unable to tell him I’ve come with a girl who needed to get away from a criminal gang in Tucson. “Just wanted a change of scenery. Hellfire had an opening, I jumped at the chance.” Sykes had already coached me.

  “Got a dirty record in Arizona?”

  “Nah, I’m clean.”

  “As you’ll see if you check.” Sykes leans forward. “Mr Marsh has no convictions. Not even a ticket.”

  “Hmm.” The detective looks between me and Sykes, then leans back and folds his arms. “Tell me how you found the dead body? Take me through it from the beginning.”

  I tell him the truth. No need to hold anything back. “The security footage of Tits Up showed some suspicious activity at the back of the club. I was assigned to go along with Taser…” I break off as the detective raises a brow.

  “Jesse Devin,” the lawyer supplies.

  I resume at the nod. “We looked around, didn’t find much. A few cigarette butts which could have been left at any time. There was a dumpster. The security camera wouldn’t have been able to cover it, I thought I should have a look inside.”

  “Why you? Why not this,” he consults the notes in front of him, “Devin?”

  “I’m younger, more athletic. Didn’t think twice about hauling myself up. Didn’t expect to find anything inside.”

  “One look would have showed you the dead body. Why did you jump in?”

  “I’m clearly not as familiar as you are with dead bodies. Thought there could be a chance he was still alive.”

  “Did you touch the body?”

  “Yeah. I turned him over. He could have been drunk, hurt, needing help. But one look at his face showed me he was gone. His skin was stone cold.”

  The detective again moves his eyes toward Sykes who’s sitting impassively, then they come back to me and narrow. “Now, the thing is, Mr Marsh, I’ve got to consider that you were responsible for killing the man, and that you conveniently were the one to find him so any fingerprints could be explained away. What have you got to say to that?”

  “The truth, sir. I didn’t kill him. I didn’t know him. More than that, I didn’t have the opportunity. I was at the clubhouse and didn’t go off the compound all night.”

  “Have you got any evidence to the contrary, Detective? How about time of death? Do we know that yet?” Sykes butts in.

  The detective raises and lowers his shoulders. “Medical Examiner is backed up with cases. He’s not given this one priority.”

  “Have you ID’d the man yet?” Sykes asks.

  “Not yet. You sure you don’t know him?” That’s to me.

  “I’m certain,” I stress. “Never seen him before. He looked like a bum to me, but of course, the smell and staining could have come from the dumpster.” I’m trying to be as helpful as I can.

  It’s hard to stay silent, not adding more protestations of my innocence. A guilty man is more likely to do that. But as the time stretches out and no other words are spoken, I realise the detective’s waiting for me to let my mouth run.

  I start to comprehend just how bad my position is. I’m a stranger in town. A biker. A member of a one-percenter club, and my fingerprints are all over that dumpster and body. I’d rolled him over, even touched the man’s face to make sure he was cold. If they find no one else, I could be facing a murder charge. All I can hope for is that the man was killed, or crawled into the dumpster and died, before I arrived in Pueblo. My concern grows that I’m going to be arrested. Fuck this. I start to grow angry.

  As if he can see my body tensing, Sykes speaks. “My client has come here voluntarily, Detective. He’s told you all he knows. He’s willing to give you his fingerprints for the purposes of elimination. I suggest you tell him he’s free to go.”

  The detective stares at my face, clearly searching for signs of guilt. After another pregnant pause stretches out, he finally sighs, then his eyes sharpen. “You’re free to go. For now. But stay local. I may want to question you again.”

  I’m taken to another room where I obediently press the tips of my fingers against the tablet screen. Doing so, I wish once again I’d never left Tucson. My fingerprints are now in the system. Something all of us try to avoid. Fuck it.

  Demon’s still waiting, and not very patiently. He jumps to his feet as soon as I appear. I don’t miss the flicker of relief that I’m walking out of here a free man. The club might not trust me, but no Satan’s Devil wants to see a brother behind bars.

  Then we’re all outside in the fresh air. I’m taking in a deep lungful as Demon gives me a nod and discreetly steps aside as he begins a quick head-bowed discussion with Sykes.

  When that’s done, as we go toward the bikes, the VP turns to me. “Two days you’ve been here and you’re already costing the club. ‘Bout time you got working and earned back the lawyer’s fee.”

  I suddenly round on him. “You saying Taser wouldn’t have jumped in to check if he’d seen the body first? It could have been him here, not me. You seriously think he’d have let that shit go?”

  The VP shakes his head. “Taser would know enough not to to
uch a dead body. You’ve got a lot to learn, Brother.”

  “I didn’t know he was dead…”

  “Fuckin’ obvious, wasn’t it?” He’s shaking his head. “Get on your ride and follow me.”

  “Where we going?”

  “To the bowling alley. Let’s go check out the set-up there.”

  At least I’m not going back to the strip club and Taser. Rusty I’ve not had a lot to do with yet. All I know is that he’s older than the others, one of the originals who founded the club. I can only hope he, at least, is prepared to give me a chance.

  Unlike Tits Up the bowling alley is a family place. Brightly lit lanes, a food bar with a licence to one side, arcade games with lights flashing, and four pool tables. Already there are a few people knocking down pins. Music is playing, but it doesn’t drown out the sound of the balls rolling down lanes or the clattering of the pins falling then the machinery churning as they’re reset.

  “Rusty!” Demon calls out to get his attention. When the older man approaches, I notice he walks with a slight limp. “VP. What can I do for you?”

  “Want to check out your security system. Can you take Pal and I through where the cameras are?”

  “Sure can. You helping out the VP, kid?” I bristle at the term; it must show in my eyes. “Brother,” he hastily corrects. But I suppose I could let it go. He’s probably old enough to be my grandfather. “What kind of experience have you got?”

  I hate having no skills to speak of. I dredge up memories of some of the stuff I’ve done. Helping to bury dead bodies probably isn’t a great resume. “I helped out with setting some of that shit up back in Tucson. Installing cameras and the like. Checking positioning.”

  Rusty’s eyes gleam. “Sounds like you could be useful.” His eyes meet the VP’s. “Where do you want to get started?”

  Demon’s brow furrows. “I can take the inside. Can you take Pal out back?”

  As the VP moves off, Rusty eyes me up. “Okay, then, lad. Let’s go see what you’re made of.”