by Sandy Kline
After hanging up with Alex I decide to go to Safeway to get something to cook for dinner tonight. For the first time since I called it off with Mark I feel like I can go out driving without having to worry about either running into Mark or one of his cronies who is just as likely to stop me and harass me. Lucky for me Alex had arranged for a friend to drop my rental car back by my house and I’m double lucky that Mark didn’t trash it. The sun is shining, it’s pleasantly warm out but not hot and there’s a nice cool breeze in my face as I cruise down Main Street. I am so relaxed that I fail to see the officer following me with his lights flashing. I just about jump out of my skin and nearly sideswipe a parked car when he hits his siren.
This has to be just a routine traffic stop. It can’t be Mark or one of his friends; Blade took care of that. I was just speeding or something I’m sure. I pull over to the side of the road at the first available spot, roll down my window and shut off my engine. As I wait for the officer to approach my car I dig around in my glove box for my registration and proof of insurance. Hearing the officer approach I turn and hold out my information.
“Well if it isn’t my ex-girlfriend and thief Jennifer Clarkson.”
To say I’m shocked is a vast understatement. I try to keep my voice from shaking as I reply.
“W-what are y-you doing Mark?”
“What are you doing Officer Brown?” He corrects.
“I’m sorry Officer. Was I speeding?”
“I’m sorry Officer was I speeding?” He parrots back in a snide voice.
“I-I’m sorry…”
I have no idea what to say to him to diffuse the situation.
“What do you want?” I finally ask. “If I have offended you it was the last thing I intended to do. “ I try my best to sound as contrite as possible.
“Oh no, you weren’t speeding.”
“Unsafe lane change?”
“You weren’t doing anything.” He says. Then he catches himself. “Well that’s not entirely true. You were drawing breath, taking up space, existing, and that’s enough to warrant a citation in my book.”
Suddenly his whole demeanor changes. He stands a little straighter, squares his shoulders, and clenches his jaws. I know he’s about to do something awful. I’ve seen this in him a hundred times before. Without saying anything he takes out his nightstick and strikes my driver’s side rear window. With a loud pop it explodes, showering me and the inside of my car with glass.
“Oh look.” He says. “You’ve got a safety violation right there.”
He points to the window he just shattered, then he takes his nightstick and draws it along the edges of the window knocking lose shards that were still stuck in place.
“There.” He says. “That looks better.”
Then he whips out his ticket book and proceeds to write me a citation for having a broken back window. After what seems forever he finishes the ticket and hands it to me.
“Now this is just a warning; a fix it ticket if you will. Just have your window replaced and take this to any officer and they can sign off on it and it won’t affect your insurance.”
“Thanks.” I say sarcastically. “I really appreciate that.”
“Oh there’s just one more thing. It seems that when you took that box of my money you returned it light twenty-seven bills so you’ll need to take care of that now too and I don’t take checks.”
“I returned every last bill. Maybe you should ask your buddy Blade where he put the missing bills.”
“Very funny Ms. Clarkson, but I trust him a lot more than I’ll ever trust you. You’re lucky I don’t arrest you right now and throw your ass in jail.”
“What are you going to arrest me for? Stealing your drug money and exposing you as a dirty cop? Go ahead asshole!”
I hold out my hands out the window so he can cuff me. It actually feels good standing up to the guy. I am confused about the harassment though. I guess that means that Blade doesn’t have as much pull as he’d like to think and that’s trouble for me. I’m thinking I should rush to the police right now with my evidence before things get really bad again; as if this wasn’t bad today.
“You think you’re so clever Jennifer, but you have no idea the world of hurt you’re about to be in. You break into my house twice, you steal from me and then you’re calling me an asshole? You got some army back there behind you that I can’t see or something?”
“Yeah,” I snap. “It’s called the legal system. You should get familiar with it sometime. It might save your ass one day.”
I know I’m pushing it here but I’m getting too pissed to think clearly and that’s probably why I tell him about the pictures.
“You think I just took a few dirty $100 bills, think again Crank!”
His mouth drops open and for the first time he’s at a loss for words.
“Yeah I know about your biker secret Crank. Though I can’t imagine how you got the nickname Crank.”
He’s still silent in shock. Looks like the last thing he ever expected was for me to find out his secret.
“When did you become a Death Crusader? Had to have been more than ten years ago because I saw Blade standing with you when you got your cut.”
He finally recovers and finds his voice and his attitude.
“Wow, you really are an idiot! No one in their right mind would ever believe those allegations, especially given our recent history. If anything you’ll get into trouble for accusing a police officer of being a rat. Man you really didn’t think this through did you?” Mark sneers.
He may have a point there. “What, do you actually think I’d make any allegations without proof? Now look who’s not thinking clearly.”
The second I say that I realize I have probably gone too far because soon as I said the word proof his right hand went down to rest on his pistol. I think I have just backed him into a corner and if he feels like a cornered rattlesnake he my just strike back.
“What’s this proof you think you have?” He asks. His voice is cracking and trembling with fury.
Oh shit. What can I say now that will calm him down? He’s looking around us now like he’s trying to see if anyone will notice it if he just shoots me right here and there.
“I could shoot you right here right now. That’s right, look around you. No one’s going to swoop in here and save you.”
He positions himself so no one can see his next move. He draws his gun and points it at my face and that’s when I nearly lose it. I have been shot at from a distance but no one has ever pointed a gun at my face. I feel like I’m going to piss my pants. My stomach is doing flip flops and I’m feeling sick to my stomach. I wonder how he’d react if I puked on his shiny black shoes?
“I have three pictures in a safe place and if something happens to me those pictures will end up in the hands of the police and you’ll spend the rest of your life behind bars.”
He doesn’t seem fazed.
“You think giving those pictures to Alex is going to keep either of you safe? You really are naïve. You’ve just doomed your best friend.”
To my great relief he holsters his weapon.
“You know, I actually considered just blowing your head off now but now I’d rather let you stew in your own thoughts. When you go to bed tonight just remember the day you doomed your best friend. Her blood is on your hands and when I kill her I’ll make sure she knows it was you that killed her.”
“Wait…wait I was just b-bluffing. I have the p-pictures in a safety deposit box in the bank. She has nothing to do with this so killing her will do nothing to keep you safe.”
“Now you’re just lying to me to save your friend and it’s not going to work. She’s dead. It’s just a matter of time before she stops walking around and lies down in her grave.”
Now I’m really sick to my stomach. I break out into a cold sweat and swallow repeatedly to keep from vomiting.
“Are you okay? You’re looking a little sickly Jen.”
I don’t trust myself t
o speak. If I don’t vomit immediately I’ll end up saying something else that will put my best friend in even more imminent danger. I just look at his mouth, refusing to meet his eyes.
“Well…it looks like you’ve had enough reality for one day. The next time we meet it won’t be so pleasant between us. Now get your ass out of here.”
I don’t need to be told twice to get out of dodge. I restart my engine and pull out into traffic. I need to just get home. I’m shaking so badly I can barely keep my car on the road. I have to call Alex to warn her. Actually I can’t. She’d be so distracted she would end up not passing her tests and the career she’s always dreamed of will just evaporate in front of her eyes. No…I gotta figure out a way to keep her safe. Blade. He’s the only one who can keep her alive until I can tell her what’s up. I have to talk to Blade.
Somehow I make it to my house and park safely in my own driveway. I’m just opening my car door when I hear the unmistakable sound of Harley’s coming down the street. Sounds like I won’t have to call him after all. I get out of my car and walk to my mail box nonchalantly. I’ll let him approach me. The four of them park across the street from my house but they don’t kill the engines. I grab a handful of junk mail and turn to go back to my house when I hear a sudden roar of their engines. I jump in spite of myself and turn around. They’re just sitting there on their bikes watching me and revving their engines. What is even more telling is that Blade is not amongst the four Death Crusaders who are watching me. I would have figured they are here to protect me but they’ve never done this. This is intimidation not protection and I know exactly what this is all about. Not only have I lost my protection from Mark and the cops, but I am no longer being protected by the Death Crusaders. This is really bad, really freaking bad. Trembling in my boots I go inside my house and straight into my kitchen for a drink. I can’t live this way. I am way too sensitive and too…to much of a chicken and a softie to live in constant fear like this. This is gonna kill me before any bullet ever will.
I sit at my kitchen counter drinking very bad wine and listening to motorcycles revving their engines over and over again. Maybe they’ll just run out of gas. I can’t believe Blade is turning against me. That’s what is really bothering me right now. It’s just not like him to act like this; I know it. Something has gone wrong to make him react like this and I wish I knew what it was. After three glasses of the awful stuff I start pacing around my house. The noise is so unsettling that I can’t relax even with a buzz on. My only hope is that one of my neighbors is home and complains about the noise. Of course it’ll do no good for me to call.
I have come to the conclusion that this is a new form of torture. At least for me it is. When they finally rev their engines for the last time and peel out of there I am a nervous wreck. I’m tired, sweaty, confused, and lost as to what I should do. Blade has either totally turned against me or the club has turned against him. I need to find out which is which so I can figure out what to do. I was really counting on the club to keep Alex safe over the next few days but that is obviously out.
Chapter Fourteen
Midnight Run
It takes me another three hours to get up the courage to call Blade. I have to talk to him and find out what is really going on here. I also want to do this is person regardless of how dangerous it might become. With my heart in my mouth I dial his cell number. It rings eight times before going to voice mail. I decide to leave a message hoping he’ll listen and call me.
“Hi Blade…we need to talk. I just got harassed by Mark; but you already know that. He is threatening Alex to get at me. You probably don’t know that. Please don’t let my best friend die because of me. The club can protect her. I don’t care about me. I just want her to be okay. And call me too. We need to talk. I don’t know what has Hap-”
His message box finally cuts me off. I don’t feel like leaving another message so I’ll just leave it at that. After leaving the message I hop into the shower to wash the sweat and stench of fear off my body. It’s approaching nine in the evening when my phone finally rings; it’s Blade.
“Surprised to hear from you Jen.” He says by way of a greeting.
“Well I’m a little surprised I called.”
“So what’s on your mind?” He asks.
“You’re kidding right?”
“Yeah I guess. So Officer Mark paid you a friendly visit did he?”
“I wouldn’t go so far as to say it was friendly.” I reply. “Look can we meet. I really need to know what is going on around here. You want me to stop by the club?”
“No!” He almost shouts. “I mean, why don’t we talk at your place?”
“You’re kidding right?”
“Well I’d suggest mine but the environment is a little hostile right now and I figure this is going to be a little too serious for chatting over coffee at Starbucks.”
“Fine…you can come over, but you have to bring something good to drink. I’ve been drinking that nasty stuff from the other day.”
“Yeah you definitely need something else. I’ll be there in about 45 minutes. In the meantime don’t answer the door for anyone.”
“I won’t”
After hanging up the phone I start pacing again. I’m far too worked up to sit still. Hopefully Blade brings something good. Every time I hear Blade’s voice it stirs something deep inside me. I feel like we are meant to be together. I don’t know why, but on some deep level we are made for one another. I know he’s a criminal. I know he can be a violent man as well. But I also know he is a caring and good person deep down and I can bring that out in him; I know I can. This is far more than a physical attraction. He is extremely good looking but it goes far beyond that. The question is can we get past our recent issues and if we do will there be anything left?
Despite my distaste for what’s in my own cupboard I find myself pouring another glass of the awful stuff. It’s the only way I can halfway calm down right now. I nearly gag as it goes down, but I only gag once this time. I guess it’s growing on me. By the time I hear the knock on my front door my head is buzzing along pleasantly and all thoughts of my troubles with my love life begin to fade.
That was quick. He must have forgotten to stop at the store for something to drink. Typical man, his mind was elsewhere. I start down the hall, glancing at the clock on the way. Wait a second. Only twenty minutes has passed. No way Blade could have gotten here this fast. There’s another slightly, louder, more insistent knock on my door. Something’s not right.
I grab my backpack and keys and go to the front door to see whose knocking. Just about the very instant I look out the peep hole there’s another knock. Actually it was more of a pounding and I nearly squeal in spite of myself.
No one’s there. I look again. I can see two bikes and two patrol cars parked across the street. Whoever is knocking is standing off to the side so I can’t see who it is. With my heart in my mouth I retreat to the kitchen. I’m just about to go into the pantry and out the back door when a thought strikes me. If I was trying to capture or kill someone and I was at their house I'd be posting people at every door. I run back to the spare room. The main window faces the side of the house. With a little luck I can shimmy out the window and climb over the fence into the neighbor’s yard. I can either hide in their treehouse or I can jump the fence to the next yard putting some distance between me and the bad guys.
I open the window and pop the screen off. So far so good. As I’m climbing through I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket. It’s a good thing I turned off the volume. I pause in my getaway long enough to see who texted me. It’s Blade. His message is simple, to the point.
“Get out of the house!”
“You’re a little late.” I mutter to my phone before stuffing it back into my back pocket.
If I had any doubts about my visitor’s intentions before I certainly don’t now. I am in deep shit. My fear begins to soar, nearing that blind panic level that makes you act without thinking. I take a deep breat
h willing myself to relax. My heart pounds a little less painfully and my head clears just a little. Now that’s progress. A couple weeks ago when my problems began when my car got shot up in the middle of the street I was a slave to my panic and it totally controlled me. That I was just now able to control it just a little speaks volumes.
I grab the top of the fence and pull myself up as far as I can, then I swing my right leg up, hooking my heel over the fence. It’s a technique Alex showed me from the Academy. Using the superior strength in my leg I am able to hoist my body up and over the six foot cedar fence. I let myself drop to the grass below and start across the McKenzie’s backyard. I’m about half way across when I get another text. This one’s from Blade as well.
“Are you out?”
I stop long enough to tap out ‘yes’ then I resume my flight. I wonder what happened and why Blade was not able to come to me and why the Crusaders and the cops are teaming up on me now. I reach the other side of the yard and am just about to hoist myself over when I hear the unmistakable sounds of pursuit. On the other side of the fence in front of me is a gravel alleyway and judging by the sound, someone is hurrying down the alley and headed in my direction. What the hell am I supposed to do now? A sudden burst of radio chatter tells me someone is like, ten feet from me. I hold my breath for fear the cop is going to hear my bones rattling, my teeth clacking together and my ragged gasps for air. I am not used to running like this and combined with the adrenaline I burn though my energy in the first five minutes. I stand as still as a mouse with nothing but a six foot one inch thick fence separating me from a certain jail sentence if I’m lucky and they don’t just up and kill me instead. I should move but I’m frozen in my tracks. I don’t know where to go but standing here is not a good idea. On the other side of the fence the cop’s radio bursts to life again. It’s tough to decipher all the static but I hear something about traversing a fence and that’s enough for me. He’s going to hop the fence that’s separating us.
Time to get out of dodge. I take off running but I soon realize I’m not going to make it across the yard before he climbs over the fence. I look around me. A kiddie pool in the middle of the yard sparks an idea. I charge over to the six foot round pool and flip it over. Fortunately it’s empty. I lie down next to it and pull the plastic pool over my body and lie as still as I can. I’m so terrified and I’m shaking so badly the pool must be vibrating with me. I only have to wait a couple minutes before I hear more radio traffic. The cop must be about ten feet from me, maybe even closer. I can’t tell from the traffic what’s actually going on. Mostly it just sounds like a lot of static.