Chapter 24
Best Friends
The boys were good sports about helping fill the care packages. Alina watched as they fussed over them to make sure they were just right. The doorbell rang and immediately there was loud pounding on the door. Just as her heart jumped into her throat and a thousand dark images crept from the corners of mind involving the Grim Crew, she heard Dianne’s panicked voice calling her name.
No sooner had she pulled the door open than Dianne stormed into the room. “Marlow said you call the cops on the Kingsmen. Why in the hell would you do that, not once but twice?”
Looking at her frantic friend Alina crossed her arms over her chest. “Hell, Dianne. It’s really nice to see you today. Would you like come coffee?”
Forcing her emotions under control, the woman glanced around the room taking in the boys who were staring at her in shock and all the packages.
“Freaking hell, you didn’t do it. I should have known better.”
Ushering her friend into the kitchen, she poured her a hot mug of coffee.
“Actually, I did. When Jaden originally began missing school, I got worried and paid Hammer a little visit. He totally blew me off and I didn’t feel like I had another option.”
Dianne frowned at her. “No shit?”
“Yep. Hammer was pretty furious but we worked it out. In fact, we pounded the pavement together to track Jaden down and finally got him back. It was pretty dangerous, I don’t mind telling you. It was worth it because we brought him home unharmed. I can’t figure out who called CPS this last time. It gave law enforcement the opportunity they needed to get to the club members. I don’t see how this could possibly be worse.”
“Jesus, you fell for that sexy biker. You’re in up to you neck at this point, aren’t you?”
Rolling her eyes, she shrugged. “I suppose. Not that how I feel or what I do for them will make a difference. Hammer’s already convinced that I ratted on him. Honestly, it’s like nothing I do even matters.”
“Who do you think made that call?”
“I don’t know. Thought it might be you for about half a second. Then I realized that Marlow probably never even told you Jaden was missing. He’d have wanted to keep you out of it. If you didn’t know anything, you couldn’t possibly have called to report anything.”
“You got that right. I didn’t know anything until he used his one phone call to contact me. Who does that leave?”
“I had Brian to look at some information I took from the man who took Jaden. He promised he wouldn’t call the authorities.”
“We should probably call him. Make sure it was him. If not…”
Alina immediately filled in the blank. If it wasn’t Brian, then they still had a rat among them to worry about. Grabbing her cell with a shaky hand, Alina called Brian on speakerphone.
“Hey Alina, I was just getting ready to call you. I found…”
“Sorry to interrupt, but we rescued the child.”
“Thank God. I don’t know who these men were but they were into some really bad shit, Alina.”
“Tell me something I don’t know. They tried to shoot me twice. Why did you call the authorities after you said you wouldn’t?”
“What the hell are you talking about, babe. I wouldn’t ever risk a kid’s life with some stupid stunt like that. You told me he was in serious danger. I understood that to mean that I wasn’t to tell a living soul. Hell, I even had lunch with your little friend the other day and didn’t breathe a word about this.”
Dianne nodded her head in verification. “Sorry, Brian. The authorities are being a real pain in the patootie right now. I didn’t mean to jump all over you, especially after your information proved to be the key to finding him.”
“Hold on while I do a freaking victory dance. Yea, that’s me. I’m a computer god. Okay, I’m back now. So, you want me to send you the rest of this information in an e-mail or what?”
Laughing at his antics she responded. “Yes please. You really do kick ass, Brian. You totally deserve a better handle than the one you got stuck with.”
“We’ll brainstorm that over a bottle of wine one night soon. Gotta go, sweets.”
“Got a hot date or something?”
“Yep. Muscle bound meathead from the gym. He can’t conjugate verbs or anything but he looks like a Greek god.”
“Well, have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Screw that, I’d never get laid.”
Placing her phone on the table, the women stared at each other. “Could be one of the whores.”
Alina shook her head. “I don’t think so. If one of them had done something like that wouldn’t they take off? Well, none of them have. Met with Shelby earlier. She said they were all broken up.”
“Maybe they have the place bugged.”
“They might have bugged the place when they were there the first time. Don’t they need to have a court order for something like that? I’ll ask Mr. Cavanaugh about that when I visit him.”
They watched the boys finish up the care packages. “Do you want to add anything to Marlow’s package?”
Dianne immediately folded her arms over her stomach and slid back in her chair.
Alina inferred from her closed body language that the answer was no.
“Look, my friend. It’s none of my business but whatever went down between you and Marlow is in the past. You’ve spent the last year mourning that loss. Now the first time you think he’s getting shafted by me, you’re here beating my door down. I don’t have to be a genius to work out that the man still means something to you. You’ve been really lonely. You’ve got to either let him go or jump back on the horse. You know what I mean?”
“I think, I’ll write him a letter and see what comes of a little honesty. Just getting it out of my system might make me feel better. You’re right about one thing. I can’t keep sitting shiver for a relationship that isn’t meant to be.”
Alina placed an empathetic hand on her knee and Dianne reached out to place a hand over Alina’s. They were both women, who were hurting in their own way. It bonded them closer somehow. Maybe her friend had the right idea. Alina decided to include a letter for Hammer in his package.