by Sandy Kline
The Next Night…
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this.” Alex complains for the tenth time. “I get caught and my law enforcement career is over.”
“You’re not a cop yet sister.”
“Hey I’m on Whispering Pine’s PD payroll while I’m taking the class so I’m almost a cop.”
“You don’t have to do this you know.” I reply.
“Forget it.” She says with a long sigh. “Let’s just get this over with.”
We’re standing at the back door of Mark’s house while I fumble with my keys looking for his house key that I never ended up giving back. This is going to be a short mission if he happened to change his locks but knowing him I seriously doubt he did. The last thing he would ever imagine is me breaking into his house. I know for a fact he doesn’t have a dog; he hates dogs. How could I have trusted a man who hates dogs? Something is seriously wrong with that!
“Relax,” I tell her for the tenth time. “He’s on duty, he doesn’t have an alarm system, doesn’t have a dog, and no one lives here but him.”
“Fine, let’s just get this over with.”
“Ah, here it is.”
I finally locate Mark’s house key. Now for the moment of truth. Did he change the lock or not? With a soft click the lock the locking mechanism is tripped and the door quietly opens. I take a deep breath before crossing the threshold. Even though I know for a fact that he is on duty and all the way at the opposite end of town I find am extremely nervous! Something just occurred to me. Something that I should have thought about before now. Mark has had me followed more than once and tonight I didn’t even check to make sure I didn’t have a tail. A long time ago he trained me how to spot a tail and lose one without your tail even suspecting you and I did none of that tonight. That was stupid of me! Well, it’s too late now. I take one more breath, wipe the sweat from my forehead and step across the threshold. In my backpack I have two small bottles of clear liquid. I have a third bottle that is empty. A friend of mine has supplied me with the two chemicals which by themselves smell like nothing. But when mixed they smell like hell! The plan is to mix them together in the third bottle then pour it all over his bed sheets. Within minutes the whole house will smell like someone has died inside; about a week ago. I know it’s childish, but I want to send a message. I can get to him too. He doesn’t hold all the power here and he should be afraid of me!
“You do realize if we’re caught this is the end of my law enforcement career right?” Alex says.
“I do and that’s why you should leave now.”
“Don’t worry about me. You’re my best friend. Jobs come and go but best girlfriends are forever. This is me supporting you and being your best friend.”
I squeeze her hand in silent gratitude as we creep down the hall. Even in the dark with little moonlight I can navigate around in his house. In no time we’re standing at the doorway to his bedroom.
“Can you hear my heart?” I ask.
“Nope.” Alex whispers back.
“I’m surprised because it’s nearly deafening to me.”
“Mine is too. Maybe that’s why I can’t hear yours. Now hush up and let’s get this done.”
For an answer I walk around to the head of the bed. Sitting against his pillows is a small box. I recognize it. I’ve seen it on the top shelf of his closet. As far as I know there’s just some old family photos. I’m just about to ignore it when I see a picture of me standing in front of my old Honda. I looked good back then. I still look good. I stick a gloved hand in the box and flip through a couple pictures. I’m right. It’s a bunch of old family photos. There’s one upside down. I flip it over and I just about drop dead in my tracks! My knees start to give and I stumble backwards. Alex has to grab me to keep me from falling to the floor.
“What’s wrong?” She hisses.
For a second there I can’t talk. My heart is pounding painfully in my chest, my breath is coming in ragged gasps and I feel like I’m going to pass out.
“What is wrong?” She asks, louder this time.
I hand her the picture. She takes one look and drops it on the floor in shock. It’s a picture of Mark, Blade, the Crusader’s President, and several other biker brass all posing in their cuts for the picture. I can tell from the photo that Mark’s cut is brand new. I look at the date on the photo. It was taken about three years ago. I cannot believe this. Mark is one of the Death Crusaders undercover brothers who is also a cop. And Sean knows him! I can’t believe this. It’s just too horrible to be true. My worst enemy in the entire world is a secret Death Crusader and a cop. I am stunned. I don’t even know what to do with this information.
Alex is the first to overcome her shock. She takes the photo, sets it on the bed and takes a picture of it with her phone. Then she puts it back in the box exactly as it was. Then she turns to me and holds out her hands for the containers of liquid.
“Here, let me do it.” She says.
I shake my head. I’m not sure I want to do it now. I just want to get the hell out of here. Yet, we took an awful risk coming here so maybe we should finish what we started?
“Give them to me.” She insists.
“Wait, we can’t.”
“Why not?” She asks.
“If he knows I was here he’ll know I would not have been able to resist looking at the pictures and he’ll know the big secret is out. He could try to kill me just to keep people from knowing this Alex.”
“Oh shit, I didn’t think of that. Yeah we better get the hell out of here while we can.” She agrees.
I quickly stow the bottles back in my pack. As we’re turning to leave the room I see bright lights outside as a black and white patrol car pulls up to the house.
“Oh fuck! Oh shit, we gotta get out of here!” Alex swears as she grabs me by the arm and propels me out of the room. Any second now we’re going to hear the front door opening.
As we hurry back down the hall towards the dining room and kitchen I hear a car door open and close. What the hell is he doing back at this time? As we enter the dining room it sounds like a herd of elephants are stampeding. My breath is coming in short jagged gasps. We cross the kitchen floor when I hear the distinctive sound of the dead bolt unlocking. That sound shoots a bolt of adrenaline through my body and I literally jump out ahead of Alex and grab the kitchen door knob. We have to open the door before the front door opens otherwise Mark will hear his backdoor squeak and come running with his gun out.
I fling the door open, this time pushing Alex across the threshold. She stumbles, windmills her arms, catches her balance and sprints across the law with me in hot pursuit. She squeezes through the small opening in the back fence and holds the boards aside so I can run through. I have no idea if we’re being chased or not. I am scared to fucking death and running like mad without regard to noise. I just want to get out of here without getting shot.
Alex leads the way, sprinting down the alleyway. We only parked a half block away but it feels like I just ran a mile when we finally get to her car. We get in and she starts the engine and immediately peels out down the gravel alley a good hundred yards before finally easing up on the gas. We come to a stop a little farther down the alley. She turns to me, wild-eyed and crazy looking.
“Don’t ever ask me to do anything illegal again or I’m gonna kill you!” She yells, sweat and saliva flying from her face and into mine.
“Never again.” I promise, wiping my face with my sleeve. “Never again.”
“Thank you!” She says, then pulls out onto the main streets.
We’re both so traumatized that neither of us say a word the whole way back to my house. When we get to my place I get out and without a word I close the door and she takes off. If that won’t test the bonds of friendship I don’t know what will.
I am so sweaty and grimy I decide to take a long shower. Despite the late hour there’s no way I’m going to be able to sleep. I’m probably going to be awake all night. The entire time I�
�m showering my mind is racing. I have no idea what to do with the new information. I remember Sean telling me a while back that three members were cops. Two of them were motorcycle cops. I know Mark isn’t a motorcycle cop and I was pretty sure he’d never even ridden a motorcycle. But I know that can’t be true because you can’t be a member of an outlaw biker club if you don’t ride. He must keep his bike at the compound or something. I can’t believe the whole time I was with him that he didn’t tell me and I didn’t figure it out.
I look at the clock when I finally get out of the bathroom. It’s nearly 4:30 in the morning. I think I’ll just put on a pot of coffee and watch TV or something. I am still way too wired to sleep. I really need to talk but I think I better give Alex some space. That was just too close and I never should have talked her into coming with me. Now she knows that someone on the force is an outlaw biker. What is she supposed to do with that information? If she tells the cops she’ll be a hero and Mark will be arrested and they will come after the club in full force to find out who else in the force are bikers with the Crusaders. That will of course lead them to my doorstep. They’ll think I knew about it and didn’t tell them. Any amount of protesting I do won’t be believed because my new boyfriend is in the picture with Mark when he got his cut and became a new member. I’ll wind up in jail too. Shit! If Alex doesn’t tell right away and it’s discovered later that she knew, her law enforcement career will be over and she might end up in jail too. I can’t believe this. The only thing to do here is to tell Alex to spill the beans and protect herself and her career. I’ll have to get a good lawyer and roll the dice with the criminal justice system.
I wish to god I had never turned over that damn photo! We would have pranked Mark and we’d both be in our beds having sweet dreams right now and not sitting here drinking coffee and in full panic mode. Soon as the coffee’s ready I pour a giant mug full and start pacing around the house. I need to talk to Alex. I can’t talk to Blade for obvious reasons so I have to talk to Alex. I locate my phone and call her. She finally answers just as I’m about to hang up.
“I’m not going to say a thing.” She says before I can even open my mouth.
“But you have to.” I protest. “I’ve looked at this every possible way and the only way you can protect yourself and your new career is if you go to the police with your information. You took a photo of the picture so you have your proof. You’ll be a hero.”
“For starters, I can’t go to the cops with the photo. Any evidence gathered illegally cannot be used in court.”
“But you’re not a cop yet.” I protest.
“Yes, but I am on the departments payroll as a police recruit so I’m pretty sure I can’t use the information. I have no idea what the police would be able to use and what they can’t.”
“I guess that sorta makes sense…” I reply without much conviction.
“So what are you going to do with that information?” Alex asks. “Does Blade know you used to be with Mark?”
“You know, I’m not sure I ever said Mark’s name.”
“You’re kidding right? All those times you complained about the guy you never even mentioned his name? I find that hard to believe.”
“I’m not lying to you Alex. I re-”
“Oh I know you’re not lying to me sweetie. I just wonder if you’re forgetting. It just seems unlikely that you’d never say his name even once.”
“But if I said his name don’t you think Blade would have moved to put a stop to Mark’s harassment?” This is getting creepy. “I mean, if he knew and let the guy continue to bother me, what’s that say about the guy I’m dating now Alex?”
“Yeah that’s a scary thought. If he knew and refused to help you… that means the guy’s psychotic.”
“Yeah,” I reply. “That’s a pretty accurate assessment. But I really like the guy Alex.”
“I think it’s more than like. You never just like. Its jump in with both feet, head over heels in love or it’s nothing at all. So which is it?”
“I’m gonna plead the fifth.”
“Yeah you better.” Alex replies. “You know this is eventually all gonna blow up. This whole biker war and the deal with crooked biker cops, it’s like you’re sitting on a powder keg. It’ll blow sister and you’re gonna be smeared to smithereens if you’re not careful.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants.”
“I think it’s more like what your lady parts want Jen. I’ve seen that guy. To say he’s easy on the eyes is the understatement of the year. Let him know what you found out about Mark and give him the chance to explain himself and maybe make things right if that’s even possible.”
“Why is there always so much drama in my life and so little in yours?” I complain to her.
“Oh I think mine’s about to get very dramatic. You know I too have to live with what I saw tonight too and I’m not sure how I’m going to do that and still keep my job and my sanity and my friendship too.”
“You don’t have to worry about us.” I assure her. “We’re golden, whatever you decide to do. Just, if you’re going to turn over the photo give me a heads up so I won’t be blindsided.”
“Of course, but I can’t say anything. I can’t do that to you ever.”
She says that right now with supreme confidence, but after a few days and some time away from the incident and from me and I think she’ll be singing a different tune. Which is why I need to confront Blade; and the sooner the better.
“You’re awfully quiet now.” Alex observes.
“Yeah I guess I’m just winding down finally and I’m running out of stuff to say on the subject. We could talk all night but nothing’s going to change the fact that I have to talk to him. You know what I mean?”
“Yes, and I should be there with you when you do. Things could get a little dicey, if you know what I mean.”
“No. I have to do this alone. This is my life and I have to deal with it. He wouldn’t do anything to me. He might get pissed - he will get pissed actually knowing him and what I know about bikers, but he’ll never lay a hand on me. It’ll just complicate things if you’re there too.
“You’re right. Okay, goodnight.”
“Night. If and when you do say something call me right after and tell me how it went.”
“You’ll be the first person I call. Unless I have to dial 911. But that won’t happen so don’t worry about me.”
“Oh come on, it’s not going to be that bad is it?”
“It won’t. He’s a biker but he also adores me so I’ll be safe. Good night Alex.”
“Night girl.”
Chapter Eleven
The Talk
When I finally wake up the next morning I have about two seconds of blissful ignorance before last night’s revelations comes barreling down at me like a freight train. When the memory hits me again I feel physically ill. Am I so bad a judge of character that I have completely misread Blade? And should I even be surprised? He is an outlaw biker after all. If you’re going to play with snakes you’re gonna get bit. How could I not know that? I have a rattlesnake for a boyfriend and I’m expecting bunny kisses on my cheek. How stupid am I?
I can’t do this over the phone and I don’t want to meet at the club either. I’ll invite him to Starbucks for coffee and a bagel. Hopefully he’s not so buried in club business that he can’t break free to talk. I fish out my phone and dial away.
“Hey Jen.” Blade answers. “How are you this morning?
“We need to talk.” I just blurt it out.
“Something wrong?” He asks.
“Meet me at Starbucks on Montgomery Street in a half an hour. We can talk there.”
“Whoa, a public place. You’re afraid aren’t you? That’s why we’re meeting at Starbucks instead of the club. Given what’s been happening lately do you really think it’s safe for you to be out and about?”
“Long as I’m not with you yes. Soon as I’m with you I become a target.”
“
Exactly! And that’s why we shouldn’t meet at the coffee shop. Let’s meet at the compound. It’s much safer here. I’ll send an escort to your house and you can either take your own car or ride with them. Do you have your car back?”
“I got a rental and I’ll be driving that.”
“That’s not safe. I’ll send some guys over right now. They should arrive at your place in about a half an hour so please, just sit tight and everything will be fine.”
I start to nod my head when I remember we’re on the phone. “Fine. I’ll see you in a bit.”
I hang up and start gathering my stuff. On impulse I stash a can of pepper spray in my purse just in case. I really can’t imagine this day going anywhere but in the toilet. Maybe I should call Alex and have her meet me for moral support. Nah... I’ll meet up with her after it’s over.
A half hour on the nose and three Crusaders pull up and park in front of my house leaving their engines running just in case we have to make a hurried departure. These guys think of everything. I hop on a seriously modified black and silver Harley driven by a guy who goes by the name of Spook, and let me tell you, he’s a spooky guy. He’s average in height and build, has long brown hair and a long beard. In that he is like just about every other biker in this town. Then there’s the eyes. I’ve seen scary eyes before but nothing compares to Spook’s eyes. They’re vacant, devoid of emotion and character. For some odd reason he appears to not share the same need to blink as the rest of the human race. I once watched for five minutes waiting for him to blink before I had to give up and look away. I just couldn’t look at his eyes any longer. The saying, lights on but nobody’s home, was coined with him in mind. But he is a loyal longstanding member so I feel perfectly safe being on the back of his bike; just so long as I don’t have to see his eyes again.
We pull into the compound a half hour later. Immediately I can tell that security has been beefed up. I also notice a small crater and a large blackened area. It actually looks like someone chucked some kind of explosive device over the wall. Looking back towards the wall I notice something new. Sitting on top of the razor wire is another looks like four feet of chicken wire. It’s just a guess but I’m thinking that now if you wanted to chuck a pipe bomb over the wall you’d have to lob it a good fifteen feet or so high to clear the wire. I don’t know how heavy pipe bombs are but I would guess it’s still pretty easy to throw one that high. Although the walls do look pretty damn fortress like so maybe that’s all that’s needed the look of invincibility and not the actual invincibility.