“To stay out of jail, I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“I don’t even know what to say,” I replied. “This just sounds too unbelievable. I’m sorry.”
“I know it sounds crazy but we’ve known each other for over three years. You know I’m not crazy.”
I’d thought she wasn’t. Now, I wasn’t so sure.
As if reading my mind, she let out a ragged sigh. “You have to believe me, Raina. Billy is alive. After what I saw, last night, I know he is.”
“I’m sorry. This is just…” my voice trailed off.
“Hon, I saw him with my own eyes. I did. Now, if you ever want to see your son again, we’ve got to get back to the cabin, before Phillip moves the boy somewhere else”
Chapter 21
I was brewing myself a pot of coffee when Raptor and Tail showed up just after nine a.m.
“They certainly did a number on your windows,” said Tail, walking through the doorway. “Good thing you weren’t in your usual spot on the couch jerking off to pornos or you’d be dead, brother.”
“Good thing your mother wasn’t in her usual spot, down there on the carpet, blowing me. We’d both be goners,” I answered, grinning back.
Tail flipped me off.
“This is some serious shit,” said Raptor, examining some of the bullet holes in the side of the wall. “And you said the neighbors called the cops?”
“Yeah,” I replied.
“Are they investigating?” asked Raptor.
“I don’t know. They recovered most of the bullets and said they’d be looking into this, but I told them I wasn’t interested in pressing charges.”
“I’m sure they weren’t expecting that,” said Tail, plopping down into an oversized recliner that used to be Slammer’s.
“Actually, they were,” I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. It was still sore from sleeping on the sofa. “They know we’ll handle this our way. Like we usually do.”
“What about the girl? Raina?” asked Raptor, picking up a piece of glass I’d missed from the carpeting.
I shrugged. “Like I said last night, she’s suffered enough, with her kid being killed.”
“But, she murdered your old man,” said Tail, looking up at me. “Are you really just going to let that slide?”
“What do you propose I do? Rough her up? Put a bullet through her head? Toss her into a pit of snakes?” I replied testily.
“You could have her ass thrown in jail,” he said. “She shouldn’t get away with killing Slammer that easily.”
I stared at him for several seconds and then smiled. “I like you. Your dedication to this club is already shining through.”
“Thanks. I just think he was a great guy. He deserves some kind of retribution.”
“And that he will get,” I said. “When I find and kill the fucker who set him up. I know it was probably the leader of the Davenport Chapter, but I’m not going on assumptions. I need to find out for sure. I’m sure Cole knows. We just need to find him.”
“What if he doesn’t talk?” asked Tail.
“Oh, he will,” I replied.
Raptor, who was thumbing through a girly magazine, looked over at me. “Raina tell you where he is?”
“No, but we know where she is. In fact, I want you two to find a cage and follow her around. Something tells me he’s going to meet up with her, today.”
“What if he doesn’t?” asked Tail.
“Then we shadow her until he does,” I replied.
Raptor stood up. “We’d better get moving then. You have an address for us?”
I grabbed a piece of paper and wrote it down. “She drives a newer Impala. It’s silver,” I said. Raina hadn’t noticed when I’d followed her back to her vehicle which she’d parked down the street. She’d sat there for a while, talking to someone on the phone before finally leaving.
Raptor took the slip of paper from me. “Okay. We’ll stay in touch.”
“Appreciate it,” I said.
He gave me a quick hug. “You doing okay?” Raptor asked quietly.
I nodded. “It’s strange but, now that I know who killed him and why, I feel like the real victim in all of this was Raina.”
“That is strange,” he said.
“I mean, don’t get me wrong… I miss my old man. I miss him like hell. But, I had a lot of years with him. Good ones. Raina only had a few with her kid, Billy. She’s barely hanging in there, now. I could see it in her eyes.”
Raptor stared off into space. “Yeah, I can’t imagine what I’d do if something like that had happened to my son. Probably go after the entire charter, myself, guns blazing.”
“We need to find out who set up Slammer. We also need to find her son’s killers,” I said. “Something tells me that it’s the only way she’s going to move forward.”
“Why do you care about this chick so much?” asked Tail. “Especially after what she did?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t explain it. I just feel impelled to help her out.”
“That’s why he’s our new Prez,” said Raptor, squeezing my shoulder. “He’s got a heart almost as big as his balls.”
“I find that hard to believe,” chuckled Tail.
I smirked. “Ask your mother. She’ll tell you.”
He flipped me off again.
Chapter 22
Joanna, Billy is dead,” I said, blinking back tears. “I saw his body. His ashes are right in front of me.” I picked up the urn and ran my thumb over it. “I don’t know what you think you saw, but it wasn’t my Billy.”
“Do you remember last Christmas, when Phillip was talking about his friend Jacob Sleffer?”
“No. I’m sorry, I guess I don’t.”
“I didn’t think so, but I thought I’d ask. Jacob Sleffer is a chemist. He works for this big-time pharmaceutical company, Fairfield Enterprises. Anyway, Phillip mentioned that Sleffer was testing some new drug that could actually make one appear as if they were dead.”
I clutched the phone tightly. “Really?”
“Yes. Something containing tetrodotoxin, I believe.”
“Sorry, I don’t know what that is.”
“It’s something that’s found in puffer fish. Apparently it’s deadly, but Sleffer has been experimenting with it and last fall, he created a powder that not only slows a person’s heartrate, but paralyzes them so that they don’t react to any stimuli.”
“You can’t really think that they used this powder on Billy?” I asked, the blood rushing to my ears. It seemed like a crazy notion, but the mother inside of me wanted to believe anything that might bring my son back to me.
“I know they did. I saw him with my own eyes. It was your boy. I know it.”
“Why would Phillip use it on Billy?” I asked, thinking back to the night Billy was rushed to the Emergency Room. By the time I’d made it there, Phillip and Joanna had already been there, in the waiting room. “And how?”
“Why?” She sighed. “I hate to say this, but ever since Mark died, Phillip has wanted custody of Billy.”
“He’s my son. Why would he want to try and get custody of his nephew?” I asked.
She sighed. “You know that we can’t have children, don’t you?”
“Actually, Phillip told me that. Today.”
“I was fine with adopting, but he didn’t want that. Instead, he wanted Billy. He has always believed that you’re an unfit mother, and when the shooting incident occurred, I think it must have sent him into action.”
“You really believe that Billy is alive?” I asked, sitting down.
“I do. In fact, I saw Sleffer that night at the hospital. I didn’t think anything of it until I saw Billy at the cabin. When was the last time that you saw your son?”
“Early the next morning. They had to do an autopsy, because of the shooting. It was the last time I saw him,” I said, remembering his pale little body, lying there in the hospital bed, before they wheeled him out. I’d been given only a few minutes alone with him afterw
ard.
“Are you there?” she asked.
I cleared my throat. “I remember Billy’s skin had still been a little warm. I hadn’t thought too much about it since I was in shock. He had no pulse, though.”
“The powder given to him would have made him appear that way. He had a pulse, believe me.”
“But, Phillip wasn’t the surgeon who’d been working on Billy. You can’t tell me that they’re all in on this?”
“All I know is that Phillip left the waiting room for a while before you got there. To check on Billy, he said. Maybe he delivered the powder without anyone knowing.”
“This sounds like something out of a movie,” I said, wondering who was crazier. Her, for telling me this story. Or me, for considering it.
“Life is sometimes stranger than fiction. He’s alive. Now, just like I said before. We have to get up to the cabin before Phillip moves him.”
I stood up quickly. “Where are you?”
“I’m at Shultz’s drug store. The place on Cannon Drive.”
“I thought Phillip had someone watching over you.”
She snickered. “Yeah. He did. A woman, from the hospital. Supposedly she’s some nurse. Anyway, the old bat gave me a sedative to swallow, but I didn’t really take it.”
“Where is she now?” I asked, worried that the nurse would call Phillip.
“On her laptop. She didn’t even notice me leave.”
“Okay,” I replied. “I’m on my way.”
“I’ll be watching for you.
I hung up the phone, grabbed my purse, and rushed out of my apartment. It seemed so hard to believe that my son could be alive. But, if there was even a slight chance, there was no way that I’d let it slip through my fingers.
Chapter 23
I was just getting on my bike, when Raptor called me.
“She’s on the move,” he said.
I slipped my sunglasses on. “Okay. Follow her and let me know where she goes.”
“Will do,” he said, before hanging up.
I clipped my phone back onto my belt, started the engine, and drove to the clubhouse. When I arrived, Hoss and a few of the other guys started in on me right away, asking about the drive-by.
“They did some minor damage, but fortunately, nobody was hurt,” I said and then smiled coldly. “Someone will be, however, when I find out who it was.”
“You have any idea?” asked Hoss, lighting a cigarette.
“I’m sure it was the Devil’s Rangers, but I need proof before I come down on them. Jesus, didn’t I tell you to smoke outside from now on?” I said, waving it away.
“This isn’t the gym, Popeye,” he replied, smirking. “Just because you’re trying to quit smoking, doesn’t mean we all have to cross the parking lot for a few puffs.”
Hoss was in his fifties and looked closer to seventy. He was a chain-smoker and there was hardly a minute that went by without the sound of him almost coughing up a lung. Unfortunately, he refused to see anyone about it. I’d asked him to quit smoking in the clubhouse, mainly because I was worried about him and thought he’d slow down a little. Unfortunately, he was as stubborn as his cough. “That hacking of yours is getting worse. You should see a doctor.”
“Now you sound like my old lady. Let me tell you something, Tank, I’ll see a fucking doctor, but only when he’s standing over me and pronouncing my time of death,” he said in his gravelly voice. “Until then, I’m not seeing any of those quacks.”
I sighed. “Fine. Can you at least try one of those vapor cigarettes? Aren’t they supposed to be better for your health?”
“I don’t know but I’m not smoking those yuppie things,” he said, blowing out another stream of smoke. “Hell, Slammer would turn over laughing in his grave if I started smoking those things. Maybe even fucking poltergeist me or some shit. I’m sticking with what I know and enjoy.”
Hoss had been one of Slammer’s closest friends. I knew enough to let it be. Out of respect. If he wanted to kill himself, that was up to him. “Fine. I get the point.”
“For all you know, those things could be injecting you with something that makes you crave what they’re selling even more so. Or hell, maybe that’s how the government is going to control everyone in the future.” His eyes grew really wide. “Right over the counter, too. You purchase a refill of that liquid stuff and who knows what you’re really inhaling.”
Some of the guys chuckled.
“Hey, laugh all you want, but someday, you’ll know. It’s the beginning of the end. They’re going to control us one way or another,” he said. “It’s nothing but a damn conspiracy.”
“Conspiracy or not, let’s get back to what we can control,” I said, knowing that if someone didn’t stop him, he’d be on a roll. “Or at least try to. I was going to hold church later, but I want to start getting to the bottom of the drive-by as soon as possible.”
“The one at your place?” asked Horse.
“That… and the one we were blamed for a couple of weeks ago. The snipers who shot up the Devil’s Rangers party.”
“Why in the fuck are we looking into that?” asked Buck. “I mean, they probably did us a favor, right?”
“The only person killed during that raid was a child,” I said, frowning. “From what I hear, everyone else recovered.”
“Oh hell, I had no idea,” replied Buck, looking ashamed. “Sorry.”
“It’s all good, brother,” I said, squeezing his shoulder. “But, this shit needs to be stopped and the hell if we’re going to be blamed for murdering a kid. That’s why we need to find out who’s behind it.”
“Agreed,” he replied.
“So, I want you all to start asking around town. See if anyone knows anything,” I said, looking around.
They all agreed.
My cell phone began to buzz. I looked at a text from Raptor, telling me that Raina had picked up some chick and now they were heading out of town.
Good. Maybe they’ll lead you to Cole, I texted back.
Will let you know.
Sounds good. Keep me in the loop.
I was putting my phone away when Frannie called.
“I heard about what happened,” she said, sounding worried. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. A couple of broken windows. No big deal.”
“No big deal? You could have been killed.”
“If I’m going to die, it’s not going to be from some drive-by,” I said.
She let out a ragged sigh. “Why don’t you come and stay with me and Jessica? She’s worried about you, too.”
I smiled. “Look, I appreciate your concern, but I’m not letting something like that drive me from my home. Plus, how would it look for the president of our club to be running home to mommy?”
“You might be worried about your reputation, but I’m more worried about your life,” she scolded.
I scratched my chin. I’d forgotten to shave. “Relax. I’m not going to be alone tonight. There will be a couple of prospects posted outside my door, keeping watch,” I said in a low voice. The last thing I needed was for anyone to hear me talking to my stepmother about needing protection. I certainly didn’t think I needed any, but I knew she wouldn’t leave it rest until I placated her.
“Good. I want you to stop by tonight for dinner. Jessica is trying out some meatloaf recipe.”
“She’s cooking?” I asked, surprised. “I thought she didn’t like to.”
“Normally, no. All of a sudden she’s ‘Betty Homemaker’. Making me breakfast, lunch, dinner. She’s been going onto Pinterest and searching for recipes, too. I think she’s worried about me,” said Frannie, her voice trailing off.
I remembered the way Jessica been making out with the Judge the other night. Something told me her sudden interest in cooking had more to do with him. “What’s Pinterest?”
“Oh, it’s a website for sharing stuff.”
“Huh,” I said, not really interested. I normally couldn’t sit in front of a computer
for more than fifteen minutes without getting frustrated or antsy. Hell, I couldn’t sit in front of television for very long, either, which is why I had it on in my workout room in the basement.
She laughed. “I’ve lost you already, haven’t I?”
“You know me. I’m not into surfing the web or any of that crap.”
“I know. But you are into eating, so be here by seven if you want to try Jessica’s meatloaf. She’ll be hurt if you don’t show up.”
“I’ll be there,” I promised.
“Good. We’ll see you then.”
“Okay.”
After we hung up, I went into the office and sat down in Slammer’s old leather chair, which still had cigarette burns on the armrest. I leaned back, closed my eyes, and thought about the picture I’d seen in Raina’s apartment of her kid. He’d obviously been the apple of her eye and the fact that she’d gone after the person she thought had been responsible for killing him, made perfect sense. I couldn’t even really blame her for killing my old man. She’d been used like a pawn. I wasn’t exactly sure who the real opponent was yet, but I was bound and determined to find and bury the motherfucker.
Chapter 24
When I picked up Joanna, she was nervous as all hell.
“I’m sorry it took so long to get here,” I said, watching her put the seatbelt on.
“It’s fine. Let’s get out of here,” she replied, looking around nervously.
“Don’t you think that nurse is going to find you missing and call Phillip?”
“I put some pillows under the blanket. Hopefully, she won’t figure it out for several hours.”
“How far away is your cabin?” I asked, pulling out of the parking lot.
“Only two hours. We’ll need to take the I-80 West. It’s in Waterloo.”
“Okay,” I replied.
“That’s right, you’ve never been there.”
“No,” I replied, not surprised now that I knew how much of an asshole Phillip really was.
As if reading my mind, she smiled. “Don’t take it personally. He never allowed anyone there, and Lord knows how many times I asked to invite you and Billy. He’s not much of a people person.”
Breaking The Biker (The Biker Series) - An MC Gold Vipers Motorcycle Club Biker Romance Novel Page 9