Broken

by Sandy Kline

  I meet Blade in the bar and we retire to his apartment to talk. Judging from the his looks I’m getting from him, he has no idea why I wanted to meet and talk. Fine by me. He surprised the hell out of me last night so turnabout is fair play in my book. I decide not to pussyfoot around and just blast away.

  “So how long have you known that your undercover guy in the force was the same cop that’s been stalking and terrorizing me?”

  Phew…I said it. I didn’t soften it with a smile or a shrug or any gesture to take the sting out of my accusation. My heart has been pounding painfully in my chest ever since I woke up and realized I was going to have to talk to him today. What I don’t know is just how honest and forthright he’s going to be or if he’s going to give me the runaround. Judging by his expression he is shocked and unsure of just how to respond.

  Then after a moment he speaks. “Look babe yo-”

  “Don’t even think about taking that tone with me mister! You of all people know the extent of which that guy has harassed, stalked, and tortured me yet you said not a single word nor did you lift a finger to help me.”

  “How di-”

  “How’d I know? Well I finally decided to stand up for myself and I broke into his house to leave a message for him and for some reason he has this box of photos out on his bed and I just couldn’t help myself and I took a peek. And guess what I saw? A picture of him getting his cut and standing on one side of him is the Pres. and on the other side are you and some other dude I’ve never met. Imagine that.”

  “I am so sorry you had to find out this way jen.”

  “No you’re not. If you didn’t want me to find out this way you would have told me the day you realized it was your undercover guy Mark who was fucking with me. So you don’t have the right to say you’re sorry. You’ll have to earn that and I’m not even sure that’s possible.”

  “It wasn’t just my call Jen. I’m only the Sargent at Arms. Ultimately it’s up to a vote and Pres. has the authority to overrule which he certainly would have in this case.”

  “What? He would have voted to keep me in the dark and further tortured by this asshole?” I am livid. I can’t believe what I am hearing.

  “I’m not saying I would have supported that decision or followed his command-”

  “But you did. Well, he didn’t give the command but you followed what you thought he would order didn’t you?”

  I don’t know what to say babe. We spent years grooming him for the job. Then he went through 20 weeks of intensive training risking his life 24/7 for the club and never once complained because he knew just how important it was…is for the club. Thanks to him and a couple other brothers we have been able to build up and start over again right here in Whispering Pines. Mark and the guys keep the heat off our backs. I’m sorry, but the club needs them. Eliminating Mark would set us back years.”

  “Well, like you said, it’s not entirely up to me.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I wasn’t the only one there last night. Alex was with me and she saw the photo too. In fact she took a picture of it.”

  “So…what does that mean?”

  “Alex is an employee of the Whispering Pines Police Department and is a new recruit in the academy. She may end up feeling like it’s her civic duty as a police recruit to report what she…”

  Oh fuck! I said too much. I can literally see his mind. He’s thinking about doing something to Alex to get that picture from her. Or worse, he’ll do something to her. I gotta act fast.

  “That was not a smart move on her part. I can’t believe you let her take the picture. You know what will happen if Pres. finds out about you and Alex knowing the secret?”

  I’m almost don’t want to know. “What?” I force myself to ask.

  “Well she’d be dead in a heartbeat. As far as you’re concerned, it’d be put to a vote immediately. The outcome of the vote would partially depend on what I have to say and how I feel about you. If you were my old lady you may be given leniency. Bottom line Jen, the club as a whole is more important than any individual. Since you’re new to the picture I’m not sure it would go well with you. If you were an upstanding old lady with years of unquestionable loyalty it would be different.”

  “Oh my god! So what do I do? I can’t let anything happen to Alex. She’s been my best friend since grade school. If something ever happens to her because of me I could never forgive myself.”

  “I’d suggest she go somewhere for a while but Pres. would follow her to the ends of the earth and I doubt she’d leave the academy behind. Some cop she’d be if a little threat made her tuck her tail between her legs and flee.”

  “Don’t you start judging my friend!” I snap, dangerously close to slugging him in the schnozzle.

  “Hey I’m just sayin’.”

  “Well don’t just say. And why are you still talking to me anyway. How can there ever be any trust between us after this?”

  “If it was just me in the equation I could totally understand your anger.”

  “No…you should have trusted me to do the right thing and told me you knew. And then you should have supported me any way you could, given your position in the club. I didn’t understand your position before but now I do. But I also know you did not do everything you could have done in this situation. You’re almost as bad as Mark.”

  “Oh no, don’t you even compare me to that freak. I’m not a stalker and I don’t take advantage of or abuse anyone, especially not women.”

  “How am I supposed to know that after the way you acted?”

  I can’t believe this is happening. I have been pinning away for this guy from the second I saw him and for his dad my entire life. Not that I would have even gone near the man at my age, but the idea of him…that’s what has stayed with me all these years and I think I’ve transferred that idea and those feelings onto the son. In fact I know I have. Oh man, this is some serious psychotherapy shit. Either that or Jerry Springer fodder. Now I don’t know what to do or what to think. I have built Blade up in my mind as this super human person that I am stunned by his fall from grace. I need some space; that’s what I need right now.

  “Are you alright?” He asks.

  “No…no I’m not alright by any stretch of the imagination. I have to go. I can’t be near you right now.”

  I stalk out of his apartment and over to my rental. To his credit he still makes sure I have an escort home. By the time I get home my mood is as black as it’s ever been. I don’t feel like talking to anyone so I just text Alex telling her I’m home now and fine. I crawl into bed hoping to pass the time sleeping and I’m pretty sure I won’t have a hard time falling asleep. When I’m down and depressed I sleep. I expect to be doing just that for the next few days. As expected I’m out like a light soon as my head hits the pillow. Over the next four days I sleep something like fourteen hours or more a day. It’s a good thing I had some vacation days I still hadn’t used up.

  Finally on the morning of the fifth day I actually feel like taking part in my own life. Before getting into the shower I decide to check my phone. I have maybe a dozen missed calls from Blade but they stopped two days ago. There are also a number of calls from Alex. The odd thing is that the day before yesterday she called like ten times each day. Why suddenly so many calls? I decide the messages can wait till after my shower. I set my phone on the bed and turn to get some clean clothes when my phone rings again; it’s Alex. I should take it.

  “Hey Alex.”

  “Oh my god, you finally answered. You heard my messages right? Tell me you know what’s going on and have seen him already.”

  “What? No, I haven’t seen or talk to him. I was going to check messages after my shower.”

  “Oh shit!”

  “What happened?”

  “Two days ago Blade had another fight against another of Surge’s fighters who supposedly is one of the Devil’s Advocates bikers. Given the recent war between the two clubs that fight got top bill
ing. It didn’t go well and when he lost there was nearly a riot in the arena. Jen I don’t know how things stand between the two of you but he is hurt and supposedly there’s some problem between him and his club as well.”

  I’m stunned. First of all, I can’t imagine anyone being able to beat him in a fair fight. The man’s an animal. To hear that he got beat and really hurt in the process? It’s a lot to take in.

  “What do you mean something wrong between him and the club?”

  “Not sure really. They just seemed to be super pissed off about the loss, almost like they were shunning him. That’s kinda weird given his position in the club. But maybe I’m just reading more into the situation than is really there.”

  “Okay…”

  “There’s something else Jen.”

  I don’t like the sound of this. “What else Alex?”

  “I’m going to come forward with the information about Mark and the moles in the department.”

  Suddenly I can’t breathe. My heart is pounding so hard in my chest it actually hurts. I feel like if it doesn’t stop soon my sternum’s going crack.

  “When?” I breathe.

  “If I pass the last of my tests I’m set to be sworn in to the Whispering Pines Police Department in two weeks. I have to come clean before then. I just haven’t figured out how to do it.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask her.

  “Have you forgotten what we were doing when we stumbled across the evidence?”

  “Oh yeah. We were breaking into Mark’s house.”

  “They can’t use what I have on my phone as evidence because of how it was attained. I could also get into deep shit for breaking and entering. In short, I haven’t figured out how to give up what I know and still keep my job and a clear conscious.”

  “I see…”

  “But bottom line Jen, I have to and I will come clean at some point. I’ll figure it out.”

  “You know the club will come after you with everything they have. And me too. I mean I won’t come after you I mean they’ll come after me too. I seriously doubt Blade will be able to keep either of us alive for very long.”

  “Yeah this is pretty much a mess Jen.”

  “I’ll do it.” I say.

  “What?”

  “No way in hell you can. You’ll lose your job with the police and if you don’t get arrested you’ll be lucky. I on the other hand can tell them.”

  “What’s your proof?” She asks. “It’s not like you can just tell them what you saw. Given your history with Mark there’s no way they’ll believe you. Me they’ll believe.”

  “Wait, I know how to do it.”

  “How?”

  “I’ll do it again. I’ll sneak back in there and take pictures on my phone. I know what box to look for and what pictures to find. I’m not a cop so I can gather evidence in a way that you can’t.”

  “I’m not sure it works that way Jen.”

  “I’m sure it does. I’m not bound by the same rules. Besides, it’s technically not breaking and entering. I have a key. I’ll say I went there to get some things back that Mark wouldn’t give to me.”

  “That’s pretty thin.”

  “I’m sure it’ll work.” I say. “And I’m going to do it. He’ll be at work tonight so I can do it today. I’ll go there at 3:30 or something and I can be in and out in five minutes.”

  “Let me at least keep watch for you then.” Alex replies.

  “Fine, but no more. You just text me if someone comes and then you leave. I don’t want you any closer to his house than you have to be. Understood?”

  “Fine. Well meet in that alley behind his house at 3:15 tonight.”

  “Thanks Alex.”

  “Have you considered the possible fallout here?”

  “Like what?”

  “How is the club going to react if you rat on one of theirs?”

  “They’ll be pissed I’m sure but as long as I keep Blade out of it I should be safe.”

  “I don’t know Jen. I have this ugly feeling that we’re missing something important here. I just don’t know what it is.”

  “Well, call me back if it comes to you. But in the meantime I’m gonna take a shower, eat and relax. And you should get back to your studies. You still have your final test to pass.”

  “Don’t remind me. I’ll see you tonight.”

  “See you later Alex.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Again

  Two forty-five cannot come soon enough. I spend the entire day wandering around the house, cleaning, wandering more, cleaning more, and a lot of pacing. I try not to think about what could go wrong tonight. There’s no point in it. It’ll just make me paranoid and more afraid than I already am. By the time I finally leave my house I’m a nervous wreck. I arrive at the appointed alley a half hour early. Probably not a good idea. If someone sees me sitting here for very long they might just call it in. When Alex finally pulls up behind me my adrenaline begins to soar. There is nothing to be afraid of here. I checked earlier with the precinct just to make sure he would be on duty tonight and his service area would be well away from his house. I could not have been more careful.

  Alex gives me the thumbs up as I get out and I flash her a quick smile. I look at my watch. It’s exactly 3:30 in the morning. This whole thing will be over in five minutes. What could possibly go wrong in five minutes at this time in the morning? Nothing. The answer is nothing can go wrong tonight.

  Sixty seconds later I’m unlocking the back door and closing it behind me. I tip toe down the hall to his bedroom. I’m being as quiet as a mouse even though I don’t have to be. The closer I get to his bedroom the more paranoid I become. I just have this nagging feeling that we missed something today when we were planning this whole thing but I still can’t think of what it could be. There’s plenty of moonlight so I don’t need the Maglight I brought with me. When I get to his room I go straight to his walk in closet. On the top shelf are maybe ten shoe boxes. I wish I would have paid more attention the last time to what the shoe box looked like so I guess I’ll just have to check them all. The first one I pick up is surprisingly heavy. This can’t be pictures. I’m just about to set it aside when I get curious. I set the box on the floor and turn on my light. I open the box and gasp in spite of myself. The box is full of cash. Stacks of cash. One hundred dollar bills to be exact. My hands start shaking so badly I drop my light. I scoop it up again and promptly drop it again. It’s a good thing I’m alone in here. I should take pictures. No, I should just take the money. Let’s see how many more boxes there are. Five minutes later I have six shoe boxes full of 100 dollar bills. There must be several hundred thousand dollars here at least.

  As luck would have it, the last box I check contains the photos. In all, there are four pictures of Mark with his cut on posing with other members of the club. The last photo is of him in his police uniform standing with a group of about a dozen Crusaders. They all look happy. I ponder actually taking the photos but decide to just leave them there and just take pictures of them with my phone. I reach into my back pocket and discover mistake number one. I left my phone at home or in my car. How is Alex going to warn me if Mark comes home? It also means I have to steal a picture or two in order to have proof. I take one of Mark in his cut posing with biker brass including Blade. It’s a picture from last year. The other one I take is a candid one of Mark partying with a couple guys I don’t know. On the table in front of them is a mirror and a mound of white powder. On impulse I grab another of Mark and the guys with their motorcycles. I stuff the pictures in my back pocket and start putting back the boxes. I’d like to take them all but they’re kinda heavy. I decide to take two. I grab the boxes into and turn to go back out of the closet when I hear a phone ringing. I just about panic when I realize he’s just left his phone home.

  “Hello?”

  Oh fuck! Oh my freaking god. Someone’s in the bedroom. Oh my god I can’t believe I didn’t even look at the bed. I was so focused on getting to th
e closet.

  “Seriously, right now?” Asks a female voice. Then after a short pause. “Just two boxes, that’s all you need?”

  She listens for another minute or two then asks. “When you coming by?” There’s another pause. “Now? Okay just a second. I’ll grab the boxes and have them ready for you. You want them in your backpack right?” Another pause. “Alright see you in a minute.”

  I’m in trouble! I’m in deep shit. My first impulse is to just dash out of the closet and try to make it by the woman. Problem is I’d just end up running into Mark coming in the front door so instead I shrink back into the clothes as far as I can. There’s a tiny chance that she’ll be tired and careless and not notice me standing behind a couple long overcoats. I can’t believe this is happening to me. I’m breathing as quiet as I can but to me it sounds like I’m snorting like an elephant. There’s no way she won’t hear me. Mark will kill me for sure. He’ll know I know he’s a dirty cop and tonight will be my last night on earth. I lean back as far as I can as the closet door opens and a tall blond woman wearing a lacy bra and thong walks in. As I watch her walk over to the part of the closet where the boxes are stacked my hand settles on a long smooth metal barrel. I’m pretty sure it’s a shotgun. If it is I may be saved. If not I’m a dead girl.

  Blondie grabs two boxes and stops mid motion. She looks at the two she took down and the others still up on the shelf. Suddenly the light in the bedroom comes on. Blondie turns around and addresses whoever just walked in the room.

  “Honey, how many boxes are there supposed to be?” She asks.