by Jessie Cooke
“It’s fine, Brendan,” Zack said. “I didn’t commit any crimes in San Antonio…not since I was a juvenile, anyways.” Samuels laughed and then looked at Detective Flowers and said:
“Back in 2007 a boat on a midnight cruise to raise funds for pediatric cancer research was robbed at gunpoint by two masked and heavily armed people. There were a lot of important, rich people on the boat so of course it was guarded by armed guards, two of them, who were both killed by the robbers. One of the robbers was grazed with a bullet that was found lodged in the side of the boat. Blood and DNA found at the scene not matching either of the guards or anyone on the ship was checked through CODIS. There were no hits. Yesterday, after your friend called me, I had the detective run it again, this time against DNA on file for relative matches. It came back as a relative of yours, Mr. Leoni.”
“My father,” Zack said.
“No. Not your father.”
“I don’t understand. I don’t have any siblings or…shit…”
“I’ll guess that ‘shit’ means you just connected the dots, as did we. The blood belonged to a female and the possibility that female is your mother is 99.9999%.”
“I’ll be damned. She killed a guard?” Zack felt numb. He knew Mona as a lot of things…but a killer? It was hard to process.
“Two guards. According to the witnesses, the ‘skinny man’ shot both guards while the ‘big man’ collected their jewels and cash. Your mother is wanted for grand theft and two murders.”
“Shit,” Zack said again, still feeling stunned.
“You said you have jewelry, Mr. Leoni?” Flowers asked.
Zack’s mouth was dry. How does a man process that the woman who gave birth to him was capable of cold-blooded murder? God only knew what else she had done in her life that nobody but Swinger knew about. They really were meant for each other. “Um…yes, I mean, I don’t have it but I know where you can find it. It’s in a safe inside the Head Hunters clubhouse.” For the first time during the meeting, Detective Flowers showed a twinge of emotion. She looked as stunned as Zack felt when he’d heard about Mona.
“Inside the clubhouse?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.” She cleared her throat and took a drink of water. “My first question is how did you know they came from this robbery?”
Zack shook his head. “I didn’t. Years ago, my father bragged to me that he had stolen the jewelry in a robbery. He never gave me any other details and I never asked for any. As you know, he died recently.”
“Yes, that’s still an open case, by the way,” Samuels said. “You don’t have anything to share about that, do you?”
Brendan cleared his throat. “That’s not what we’re here for,” he said.
Samuels rolled his eyes but let it go and Zack went on. “I opened the safe on a recent trip home. I was looking for something else…a family heirloom,” he lied. “I saw that the jewels were still there. I wasn’t sure what to do at that time so I closed the safe and left them there.”
“What about your mother?”
“What about her?”
“Did she know the jewelry was there?”
“I don’t think so. I honestly believe she would have sold them if she had known. My father probably told her he got rid of them, or never told her about those at all. She didn’t have any knowledge of the safe or the combination.”
“But she does now?” Flowers asked.
“She knows about the safe and the jewelry, but she still doesn’t have the combination, or access to it.”
“Why wouldn’t she have access?”
“She doesn’t live at the clubhouse any longer She was asked to leave.”
“And where does she live now?”
“I honestly don’t know. If I were you, I’d check the local motels. When she left, she didn’t have much money.”
“Why was she asked to leave?” Samuel’s asked.
Zack shrugged. “Club business, I suppose. I didn’t question it much. She and I have never been close.”
“So, if I get a warrant and go into that clubhouse, those jewels will be in that safe? You aren’t going to tip off your friends down in Texas and have them move them?”
“Of course not,” Zack said, trying to sound innocent.
“Mr. Leoni, why are you doing this?” Flowers asked.
Zack smiled, looked her in the eye, and said, “To save my own ass.” That wasn’t completely true. If not for Nicole and Liam, he most likely would have taken the five-year deal and done the time. It wasn’t something he’d want to do, or be happy about, but in his life, it was all a part of paying your dues. When he got out after five years, if Spider was still alive, he probably would have killed him. Meeting a woman and falling in love with her and a little boy had changed all his standards, and now he had no idea if he’d ever even see either of them again.
The meeting went on for what seemed like hours, but when Zack walked out he walked out a free man, as long as he agreed to testify in court if he was needed. That would hurt in more ways than one. If they found Mona and she was convicted, she’d be looking at the death penalty in Texas. As much as he hated having any feelings for her other than loathing, there was still that little voice inside that kept telling him, she’s still your fucking mother. He wished that he could reach inside his head and tear that part out.
He got on his bike in front of the courthouse and just sat there for a long while. He had a decision to make. He was free to get back out on the road, but that meant leaving Nicole and Liam alone in Tennessee with Spider. Nicole didn’t want his help, or his protection. Spider was going to use Zack against her whether he had charges pending or not. Unfortunately, he knew the decision was really already made for him. He started the bike and headed back to the clubhouse to get his things and his next assignment from Stone. It might actually feel good to get back on the road where he belonged and be free again. That was his life, and being in “love” had only complicated everything. Maybe time and distance was what he needed. By the time he came back in six months, maybe Nicole and Liam would be a distant memory.
“You’re really leaving?” Hashtag sat watching Zack pack his things.
“Yep, it’s time.”
“And what about Nicole?”
Zack shrugged. “She doesn’t want me hanging around.”
“Bullshit. Stacey says she’s miserable.”
“She told me herself, Hash.” Zack sighed. It had been two days since his meeting with the cops. They had found the jewelry at the clubhouse and put out an APB on Mona. Nothing else was found at the clubhouse that they could charge anyone with. Detective Samuels had called that “Peculiar.” Zack was glad they were on the phone and not in person because he couldn’t hold back his smile. He was free to go and Stone had given him an assignment and he hadn’t heard a word from Nicole, so there was nothing stopping him. “She has to think about her kid, and I don’t blame her for that. I hope it all works out for her but I’m not going to sit around here and wait for her call.”
Hashtag nodded. “I feel you, man. But…”
“No buts. I’m hitting the road. It’s my job. She has my number if she needs me, and that’s the best I can do.”
“Where are you headed?”
“Stone is sending me to meet with a club down near the border of Mexico in Texas. They got some big deal going with luxury cars that he wants to get in on.”
“That might be fun. I might volunteer for that job if we get it,” Hash said. “Like Fast and Furious shit. I’d be one hell of a Vin Diesel.”
Zack laughed. “Okay,” he said with an eye-roll as he zipped up his bag. He put out his hand and Hash took it. “I’ll see you soon, brother.”
“Safe journeys, man.” Zack took his things downstairs and said his goodbyes to Stone and the others. As he got on his bike he realized it was the first time in the three years he’d been a nomad with the club that he had any regrets about leaving. He loved being on the open road and he used to love being wit
h a different woman every night. He had no idea what the fuck he’d do about that now. All he could think about was Nicole. Would he even be able to get it up for another woman? Shit. He started up the bike and headed out the gates. He turned to the left toward the highway that would take him toward Texas but before he got a mile down the road, he flipped a U-turn and headed for Memphis. It wouldn’t hurt to at least say goodbye…at least he hoped it wouldn’t.
41
Zack went to the bakery first. He didn’t see Nicole’s car but went in anyways and found Armand at the counter. “Zachary! Long time no see. How are you?”
Zack smiled at the older man. “I’m so good that it’s a damned shame I’m not twins, Armand. How are you?”
Armand threw his head back and laughed. “Not that good, but I could have rivaled you thirty years ago.”
Zack grinned. “I’ll just bet you could have.”
“Let me guess, though, you’re not here to visit me. This is about a pretty brown-haired girl with big hazel eyes and a smile that could charm the skin right off a snake.”
“You guessed it,” Zack said. “I didn’t see her car out there, though. She’s not working today?”
Armand frowned and then drew his brows together and said, “You haven’t seen her?”
Zack felt his chest seize up. “No, not for a couple of days. What’s going on, Armand?”
“I’m sorry. I was hoping you were here for her. She didn’t show up this morning and I haven’t been able to reach her. I even tried Stacey but with no luck.”
“Fuck…”
“I was going to go look for her myself. I was waiting for my nephew to come in and cover…” Zack was already on his way out the door. “I’m sorry!” Armand yelled after him. “Please let me know when you find her.” Zack kept going, jumping on his bike and pulling out his phone at the same time. He called Hashtag as he started the bike.
“Hash, have you talked to Stacey today?”
“No, not since night before last. What’s up?”
“Nicole didn’t show up for work today and Armand says neither of them are answering their phones.”
“Fuck. I thought you left town.”
“I don’t have time for chit-chat, Hash. I’m going to check the apartment. If they’re not there, I’m heading to Clarksville.”
“You think he’d take her to the mansion and not the clubhouse?”
“I need you to check the clubhouse for me. You’ve been riding with them. They wouldn’t let me within ten miles of that place before they shot me.”
“Okay, I’m headed out there now. Let me know what you find at the apartment.”
Zack ended the call and sped out of the lot. It was only a couple of miles to Nicole’s apartment but it seemed that he hit every red light and got behind every old lady in the city before he finally got there. Nicole’s car was in its spot. Zack parked the bike next to it and all but ran up to the door. He banged on it and it pushed inward. “Nicole?” he yelled out. He pulled his gun out of his waistband and stepped inside. “Stacey?” There was no answer and no noise coming from inside the small apartment. Zack looked around the living room/kitchen area. Nothing seemed out of place. He made his way into the first bedroom, Stacey’s room. There were clothes here and there on the floor and the bed was unmade, but nothing worrisome except that she wasn’t there – and she didn’t work until much later in the afternoon. He went across to Nicole’s and Liam’s room. The crib was empty and Nicole’s bed was neatly made. Liam’s diaper bag was gone, but that was the only indicator that they had gone anywhere. If her car was gone and it was her day off, he might think she’d just taken him on an outing and Stacey had gone with them. But it was not like Nicole to not show up for work. Besides the fact that she was much too responsible for that, she wouldn’t make Armand worry. Zack took out his phone and called her. It went straight to voicemail. He called Stacey and got the same result.
“Fuck!” he yelled out to the empty room before running out to his bike and heading for Clarksville. Spider Johnson was about to meet his maker…in hell.
42
Zack was about halfway to Clarksville when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He didn’t want to stop and waste time, but he was worried that it was about Nicole. He pulled over and pulled out the phone. It was Hashtag.
“Hey, man, I’ve got some really bad news.”
Shit. “What?”
“Spider got kicked out of the club.”
“What the fuck? When?”
“Last night. He got wasted and fucked up a big drug deal. This guy I’ve developed a relationship with here told me it went down all bad. He met up with the leader of the Bulldogs, the street gang that controls the whole south side of the city. The Defenders supply the meth and the Bulldogs push it on the street. Last night was supposed to just be a simple exchange, ten pounds of meth for a hundred grand. The guys that were with Spider said he was wasted before they left the clubhouse. He got mouthy with the banger, who had about ten of his guys with him. One of the guys pulled a gun and Spider killed him. There was a big shoot-out, and the Defenders lost three men and killed four of the bangers. Chaney went ballistic and told Spider that if he was anyone else, he’d kill him his self. Instead, he had him thrown off the property.”
Just when Zack didn’t think Chaney had any fucking backbone, he tossed Spider out at the worst possible time. “So, has anyone seen him since?”
“I wasn’t finished. About an hour later, their main meth lab was blown up. They are 99% sure it was Spider. Chaney sent men out to the mansion and according to my friend, they tore it up and didn’t find him. His mother claimed he wasn’t there at all, but they found his bike in one of their garages, along with his father, who was unconscious. The old lady finally broke down and told them he came in waving his gun around and demanding they give him all the cash they had in the house and the keys to one of the cars.”
“The only thing he’d want a car for would be to take Nicole and Liam.’
“And Stacey.”
“Yeah, man, sorry. I’m just fucking spun. Did they have any idea where to go next?”
“No. Even after all that, the old woman wasn’t cooperating. Johnson didn’t regain consciousness while they were there, but Chaney finally pulled them back and told them to let her call an ambulance. They took him to Vanderbilt in Nashville.”
“Then that’s where I’m going. If anyone knows where to find this asshole, it’s his loving parents.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
Zack ended the call and turned around and headed for Nashville. They were wasting time, and the longer Spider had Nicole and the baby, the more damage he’d be able to inflict if they didn’t get there soon. He opened the throttle up as wide as it would go and weaved in and out of traffic, for the first time in his life saying a prayer, asking God to keep them all safe because as bad as it was going to be, being far away from them, knowing that he’d never see Nicole or Liam again, would be more than he could stand.
The darkness was so black that it consumed everything, and when Nicole woke up, she was lying in three or four inches of water. She reached out in front of her and beside her; all she could feel was water and the floor beneath her. “Stace?” she called out in a voice so hoarse that she barely recognized it herself. If Stacey was more than a few feet away, she probably couldn’t even hear her. She cleared her throat and winced in pain as she did. “Stacey? Can you hear me?” She didn’t hear anything except for a sharp, annoying sound of water as it rained down from overhead and splashed into the water that already surrounded her. Panic was threatening to seize and paralyze her, but she couldn’t let it. She had to find Stacey. She pushed up on her knees. Her body was freezing and wracked with pain. Her mind flashed back on Spider, busting into the apartment the night before.
His eyes had been unlike anything she’d ever seen. He looked maniacal and she had no doubt that he meant to kill them all. He had punched poor Stacey full-on in the face even as Nicole hu
ng onto his big arm and tried to stop him. He had batted her away like she was no more than an annoying fly. She’d flown back into the wall, and as soon as her head snapped against it she knew she had to get to Liam. She didn’t want to leave Stacey but she couldn’t let Spider take the baby, not in the condition he was in. She had tried to go to Liam but Spider grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back against him, wrapping a beefy arm around her throat. She must have gone unconscious, because the next thing she remembered was waking up in the front seat of a small car. Spider was driving, way too fast, and she’d twisted around to look into the tiny back seat only to see an unconscious, bruised, and bloodied Stacey and her sweet Liam, lying on the seat, screaming bloody murder. She’d begged and pleaded with Spider to stop, but he only seemed to go faster and she was afraid to do anything more to distract him. She had closed her eyes and prayed then and she hadn’t opened them again until she felt Spider hit the brakes. It was dark out, but it only took her a second to register where they were when he turned off the ignition and the headlights. She had lived there her entire life…up until she met Spider. He had taken her home, to her parent’s house. He had dragged her and Stacey in through the kitchen door that he kicked in, and tossed them down into the basement. She didn’t know if he went back for Liam, or if her poor baby was still all alone in the car, and she didn’t know what he might have done to her parents. The water seemed to be coming from the fire sprinklers, so she also didn’t know if maybe he’d set the house on fire and left them all there to die. Her mind was working overtime with the what-ifs and it wasn’t helping. She had to shake it off and get moving, just in case there was a chance in hell that any of them were still alive.
She pushed up from her knees to her feet, standing on cold, shaky legs and taking slow, cautious steps with her hands out in front of her. She made a half-circle with each one of her legs before taking a step, both hoping to find Stacey and not…she was terrified that she was going to find her not breathing.