GRIPPED (Romance Mystery & Suspense Box Set)

by Abbott, Alex

  After everyone finished, Justin walked to the front of the room and asked for everyone’s attention. He thanked everyone for their efforts during the time of Amy’s disappearance and the love and support they all gave them during this tragedy. As he looked towards Big Red, Justin told the crowd that they would continue to need that love and support until justice was rendered for Amy. The club members vowed to help. Someway, somehow, Amy’s murderer would be brought to justice either by the police or by the WWMC.

  *****

  Justin decided to have Aaron move in with him and Big Red. As soon as the police were finished with Amy’s home, Justin would sell the place. Police discovered blood on the kitchen floor and cabinets, despite the killer’s cleaning job. No way would Justin allow Aaron to remain in the same home his mother was killed in. He and Ginger would remove Aaron’s personal items when the police released the home.

  The days after the funeral were dark ones. Big Red could barely function and Aaron just wanted to be left alone. Justin did all he could to help them, but he was suffering too. He spent his nights at Ginger’s condo, the only place he could find solace and some type of normalcy. The only emotion besides grief he could allow in was the love growing between him and Ginger. They say there is a time for everything and Justin felt Ginger had come into his life right when he needed her.

  If Ginger had met Justin during a different time or setting, she may not have fallen for the tattooed biker. Justin could come off very alpha to women, and for some that was okay. But Ginger had been on her own for many years and while she was willing to help those in need, she wasn’t a pushover either. No man was going to tell her when and what to do. She’d made her own decisions far too long for that to happen. She’d seen the tough Justin, but because of the timing of their meeting, during Amy’s disappearance and ultimately her death, Ginger also saw the vulnerable side as well. If she had never seen this part of him, Ginger may have never fallen in love. Justin wasn’t the type to allow people to see him in what he thought were weak moments. But the situation with Amy was beyond anything he had ever lived through. Or so he thought.

  A week after the funeral, Justin called for a church meeting. His grief transferred to anger. He couldn’t sit around and wait for the police to do something. He called everyday to find out information and what they told him was close to nothing. Either they were holding back or they really didn’t have any suspects. Hell, he didn’t even know if they were interviewing anyone. He told the police about MacGregor and Sam Pennington. They said they would look into it, but who really knew. It was time the WWMC took over.

  “As you all know the police haven’t made an arrest in Amy’s murder,” Justin told the club. “Fuck, I don’t know if they’re even doing anything to find the person. I know forensics finished with her house so I can put it up for sale, but that’s it.”

  “Maybe we should have our own interview with MacGregor and Pennington. I bet we could get them to squeal,” Trick said.

  “I don’t want to go off half cocked,” Justin said leaning back in his chair. “I’m fucking angry and it would be easy to go in guns blazing, but I really want to be smart about this.”

  “So how do you want to handle this?” Connor asked.

  “We’ve been watching both of them for the last week right? Anything suspicious?”

  “Pennington is a weird fucker,” Merlin admitted. “But honestly I don’t think it’s him. He goes to work during the day and then works on his house at night. Yesterday Trick and I decided to look around the house while he was at work. The kitchen is gutted, but the living room he’s remodeled. It still looks like a shit hole though.”

  “Yeah, he’s definitely no designer,” Trick agreed. “And I don’t think he’s a murderer either. Just fucking loco.”

  “So what about MacGregor?” Justin asked, growing impatient with the answers he was getting.

  “Trigger and I have been watching him along with some of the prospects,” Connor said motioning his head towards Trigger. “He seems twitchy to me. I’d like to get into his office, see if there’s anything on his computer that may indicate how his relationship was with Amy.”

  “Do you think he’d have anything at his house?” Merlin asked.

  “No…if he’s trying to keep this from his kids why put anything incriminating in the house where they could run across it,” Connor told the group.

  “Good point,” Justin agreed. “So how do we get in the office? They’ve got cameras everywhere and the building is high security.”

  “How about we hack into his computer?” Connor asked. Connor was known for his technological skills, not just with the computerized equipment used in the auto body shop, but also by hacking. He’d spent six months in jail when he was a teenager for hacking into the local bank system and siphoning off money. He wouldn’t have gotten caught either, but being a teenager he was sloppy and left a trail for investigators to find him. Since then he’d put his knowledge of computers to more legal endeavors. He became an IT consultant right out of high school and made good money for five years. But he hated the job and eventually came back to the club and the auto shop, talking them into upgrading to computerized equipment that he could run himself. But now he was offering to hack into MacGregor’s computer in an effort to find incriminating evidence.

  “Wouldn’t the cops have gotten his computer by now? Hell, he probably wiped out the hard drive,” Trick said with disgust.

  “You can never wipe everything from a hard drive,” Connor replied. “And the police may have taken his personal computer, in which I don’t think anything is on anyway. But they may have more trouble getting the work computer since it’s not his personal property. The police would have to get a warrant and a company as big as Spectrum Inc. would likely put up a fight with their expensive lawyers. This is a place with secretive automotive designs and I doubt they want some two bit town officers going through their computer files.”

  “Well, that also means it’s going to be harder to hack into right?” Trigger asked. “Hell I don’t know a computer from a trash can but from what I’m hearing, it’s not going to be easy.”

  “Oh but you underestimate me Trig,” Connor smiled. “I still have some tricks up my sleeve.”

  “Okay,” Justin said. “I want to keep surveillance on both the fuckers, at least for a few more days. Connor, you get to work on the hacking shit. But do not get caught. I don’t want you going to jail for this.”

  “It would be worth it to find Amy’s killer.”

  Justin reached over and grabbed Connor by the shoulder. “I love you for that man, but you’ve got a wedding coming up and the rest of your life to live. I couldn’t stand it if you sacrificed yourself…not even to find Amy’s killer.”

  “I’ll be careful, I promise.”

  Justin adjourned the church meeting. If the police couldn’t find Amy’s killer, the WWMC would. Justin was glad to have such a dedicated club to help him through this time. Aaron had gone back to school, which took his mind off his mother, at least for part of the day. Lily was particularly helpful as well with Aaron. Lily watched Aaron grow up so he felt close to her, especially now in his mother’s absence. Ginger would have helped with Aaron too, but he didn’t know her as well as he did Lily so it was natural for him to want to be with her.

  Ginger helped Justin with Big Red, who was failing rapidly since the funeral. He was so weak he could no longer bathe or feed himself. Ginger would feed him, comb his hair, and read to him. Hospice came a few times a day. They would bathe him, adjust his pain medication, and take his vitals. Justin was grateful for Ginger’s care for his dying father as it was too hard for him to witness the decline for hours everyday. Ginger took a two week vacation to sit with his father while Justin kept the auto shop going and performed club business. His love for her swelled. He knew it should be him taking care of his father, but the fact that Ginger took over in a place she knew he couldn’t meant so much to him.

  It was in Ginger’s
nature to take over and fill the need Justin couldn’t bear to handle. She’d never had the chance to take care of her parents as they were taken from her all too quickly. So she had no qualms in helping Justin with Big Red. While it relieved Justin of the duty, it also benefited her as well. There was a peacefulness she felt when combing Red’s hair. Much of it had been lost from the chemo treatments, but there were still some unruly gray strands left and she remembered how he would get his comb out every five minutes to tame them. He wouldn’t say much, just look at her with soft eyes. Sometimes he would call her Amy and that was alright.

  The portable oxygen tank was replaced with a stationary unit that looked like a window air conditioner. It sat next to the hospital bed in Red’s bedroom. It forced more oxygen into his nostrils than the portable one. He’d only eat for Ginger, never for the hospice nurse. She didn’t know if he thought she was Amy or Ginger when feeding him, but it didn’t matter, as long as he would sip his soup or applesauce. He mainly slept, which was also good. The morphine kept him pain free for the most part and for that everyone was grateful.

  As the end drew near, Justin and Ginger moved into the house and Aaron stayed with Lily and Connor. One night Red was restless. He normally didn’t have much breath and wasn’t talking above a whisper, but this night he bellowed for Justin.

  Ginger looked in on Red not five minutes before and he was sleeping restfully. Justin and Ginger were sitting together on the couch watching a crime show on television when they heard him yelling. Both jumped up and ran to the bedroom. Red was trying to sit up but his weak nature prohibited it. Justin ran to his father’s side and tried to calm him.

  “Dad! What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

  “I’ve got to talk to you Justin. I’ve got to tell you before it’s too late…before I die!”

  “Dad, calm down please. I’m right here, you can tell me anything.”

  Ginger, who ran into the room with Justin, now stepped back to allow father and son a private conversation. She quietly left the room and headed back to the living room. She sat on the couch, unaware of her wringing hands.

  Red had found his voice. Maybe it was the adrenaline running through his body as it started to shut down or perhaps the urgency he felt at getting his confession out before his heart stopped. Either way, nothing was stopping Big Red from telling his story to Justin.

  “It’s my fault son…it’s my fault Amy was murdered.” Red took in gasps of air, determined to keep talking.

  “Dad, that’s crazy. You had nothing to do with Amy’s death.”

  Red shook his head and said in a raspy voice, “She’s paying for my sins Justin. She’s paying for something I did that I never accounted for.”

  Justin was confused and afraid for his father. This wasn’t like him. Maybe the closer death came the more incoherent he was becoming? He wasn’t sure, but he didn’t like him getting so excited, but Red was determined to get it out.

  Red grabbed the fabric of Justin’s shirt and said, “I killed your mother.”

  Justin felt like someone slapped him. What the hell was his father saying?

  “She was a drunk and a whore and always leaving then coming back to us. I noticed bruises on you and your sister from the times I’d be away for club business, but she’d always explain it away that you two were wrestling or some shit like that.”

  He coughed for about 10 seconds, barely having the strength to do so, and then continued.

  “One night I came home after being away for three days. It was early evening but you and Amy were already in bed, which I thought was strange. I checked on you and your sister, and saw more bruising, this time on your back. It was summer and hot without air conditioning so you weren’t wearing a pajama top. I knew she had done it.”

  Red started wheezing.

  “Dad, please calm down.”

  “No!” Red raised his voice. Ginger heard him yell and debated on whether to go back to the bedroom. But she decided Justin would holler if he needed her.

  “I went to your sister’s room, afraid of what I might find. That bitch of a mother had cut off all her beautiful hair. When I looked closer I could see cigarette burns all over her scalp.”

  Justin winced. A bad memory was trying to take form. He pushed it back down into the vault his mind built for it.

  “I was furious. I came in through the back that day so when I walked into the living room I found your mother passed out drunk on the sofa. The ashtray sitting on the coffee table was filled with butts. I grabbed her by the back of her head and yanked her up to my face. I cursed her, asked her why she would do that to her own children. She said she was bored and it was something to do. I couldn’t contain the hate and rage I felt for her in that moment so I put my hands around her neck and squeezed. She fought, but she was no match for me. It took several minutes to kill her and I relished every moment of it. But now my sweet Amy has paid for my sins. I had to tell you Justin…before I left this earth I had to tell you.”

  Red leaned back, exhausted. Justin’s mind was racing. His dad always told him she’d ran away, but in the back of his mind he knew, even as a child, he knew it wasn’t true.

  “What did you do with her body?” Justin wasn’t sure why he felt compelled to ask…it just came out.

  Red looked at his son with tear rimmed eyes. “I took her to the Forestry and buried her.”

  The same place where Amy was found, Justin thought. No wonder his Dad was blaming himself for Amy’s death.

  At that point Red started to wheeze and his breath became shallower. Justin saw Ginger’s shadow in the doorway. “What can I do?” She asked.

  “Let’s give him a little more morphine. See if that calms him down,” Justin said as he looked upon his father. Ginger squeezed tiny drops of morphine into Red’s mouth. In a few minutes his breathing quieted and he went to sleep. Justin remained sitting by the hospital bed and held his father’s hand.

  “Do you want me to stay?” Ginger asked, not wanting to intrude on this emotional moment.

  “Yes,” Justin said still staring at his father. “I have to tell you something.”

  He turned to Ginger and told her what Red told him about his mother’s death. Ginger was shocked. Red didn’t seem to have a wicked bone in his body, but who knows how anyone would react when they see their child beaten and abused. She was not passing judgment, that’s for sure. She could see the pain in Justin’s eyes however. Not only had he lost his sister only weeks prior, but his Dad was dying and he’d just learned an awful truth about him. How much more could he take?

  As the hours of the night stretched on, both sat in silence. They were alone in their thoughts, trying to make sense out of what seemed absurd. Ginger hadn’t known Red long, but in that short time he became quite special to her. The man she knew now couldn’t be the man he was when this occurred. And however much she tried to push it away, a little nag festered in her mind. Was it possible that Justin could have that same inability to control his rage? She’d seen his anger bloom when they were with Pennington. Ginger was able to control it somewhat when they interrogated MacGregor. But she couldn’t be with him all the time. There was also the fact that a young Justin may have been aware of his father’s deed and buried it deep in his subconscious. It takes several minutes to strangle someone and there could have been a struggle that awakened him. She was not about to push the idea onto Justin, at least not yet. Right now belonged to him and his father.

  As daylight approached, Red’s breathing became shallow. They knew he was slipping away and hoped his last minutes would be peaceful. They got their wish. Red let out one long last breath and never took another. Justin held his father’s hand and wept while Ginger stood behind him, her arms around his shaking body. It was time for another funeral.

  *****

  The funeral procession was lead by the WWMC on their motorcycles. Red himself had been a part of many motorcycle funeral processions over the years for other chapters as well as his own. Sometimes he knew
the club member and sometimes not. It was a show of respect to be a part of the funeral procession of a fellow club member. Red’s procession was five miles long of motorcycles, not including the vehicles taking up the rear.

  Red was buried next to Amy, her plot still fresh. It seemed like déjà vu to Justin and the others in the club who attended Amy’s funeral. They headed once again to the clubhouse after the burial, but this time there would be no dinner. Justin had cancelled it. It was time to get down to business and find Amy’s murderer.

  He called a church meeting to find out any new information on Pennington and MacGregor.

  “How’s the computer hacking going?” Justin asked Connor.

  “Unfortunately it’s tougher than I thought it would be. I’m a little out of practice too so it’s taking a bit longer.”

  “Don’t worry about it Connor. I don’t want you to get caught. We’ll find another way.”

  “I may have to. Word is the police are finally getting a warrant for his work computer.”

  “Well let’s hope they don’t botch it up and can find something useful on it,” Trick said.

  “Not much going on with Pennington either,” Merlin reported. “Keeps working on his house. We peeked in the windows the other day and he’s about done with the kitchen.”

  “Thanks for the report home and garden network,” Connor said. The boys chuckled and then quietly hushed when they saw Justin wasn’t smiling.

  Justin told the group to stop the surveillance on the two men for now. It wasn’t providing any new intel and he didn’t want to take up anymore of his men’s time. He adjourned the meeting, grabbed Ginger and Aaron, and left.

  That night at Ginger’s, she made him and Aaron a nice dinner of pot roast, carrots and potatoes. Despite attending another funeral so close to his mother’s Aaron ate with gusto. Ginger talked Justin into having him and Aaron move in with her for a while until they could decide what to do with Red‘s house. Ginger owned a large condo, with two bedrooms and baths, so there was plenty of room for everyone.