Chapter 13 - Vince
The moment I get to the club I storm into Ric’s office. Thankful he’s gathered a few members already. Bear, Echo, Mac, and Chancy.
“So what’s the plan?” Ric asks behind his desk.
I run my fingers through my hair, “I need someone to track down the phone number, since it’s a burner I’m not even sure we could do that.”
“It can be done,” Echo states, “Though I’m not sure if we have the resources.”
“I know a guy,” Bear says.
I don't even question it, “Great. Bear can you get with your contact and get things started?”
He grunts in the positive.
“Thanks,” I say, “I’d like to run a perimeter around town.”
“I can do that,” Mac and Chancy say in unison. They look briefly at one another before looking back to me.
I nod, “Thanks guys. That’s as far as I’ve gotten, Ric you have anything to add?”
“Echo, why don’t you go with The Kid to do a second perimeter check around town,” Ric says.
“Meet back here in two hours, and keep your phones on,” I say.
⨳ ⨳ ⨳
Slowing and staring at every building, and person I come across with such scrutiny you’d think I’d come back after the two hours with something. But I come back empty handed. All that were riding out the perimeter had the same results. When Bear wasn’t back when we were, I started to get anxious. I couldn’t sit still, and by the way the other guys were watching me I was setting them on edge. I could care less about their comfort level. My girl was gone...taken.
“Would you sit down,” Chancy snaps.
“Piss off,” I hiss.
“I don’t even see why we’re bothering. It’s not like you can’t find another piece somewhere else,” Chancy says leaning back, crossing his arms over his chest, and I see red. He sees my fist coming, and blocks, but he doesn’t see my left hook that slams satisfyingly into his cheekbone. The resulting crack does nothing for my anger however. My right is about to make contact, but Echo grabs my wrists and twists it out of it’s trajectory. Following it instinctively so my wrist won’t break I find myself several feet from Chancy. He’s cradling his face. Echo stands, arms over chest, partially in front of Chancy, watchful of my movements.
“Thank you Echo,” Ric says, “Chancy you deserved that. Kid sit down, and keep your fucking hands to yourself,” straightening I take a seat as far as I can get from Chancy.
“Mac take Chancy to get some ice for his face,” Ric says, “Chancy take a few days, don’t come back until you get an attitude adjustment.”
I sniff. Chancy scowls as he gets to his feet. Ric looks over at me. “Nothing from the peanut gallery, or you’ll find yourself in the same position. Being that you need us right now, you’d be wise to keep your opinion to yourself.”
That effectively shuts me up. Chancy’s smug smile only lasts a second before he winces, but it’s long enough that it makes me want to break his whole face. What the hell is up with that punk? If he can’t work it out himself I’ll be happy to beat it out of him. Popping my knuckles I watch him and Mac leave the room. The remainder of us sits in silence. At some point my leg starts to bounce with nervous energy and can’t seem to get them to stop. I practically jump out of my chair when Ric’s phone chimes alerting to a text.
“Who is it?” I insist.
Ric scowls at me, “Let me at least get my phone out,” when he does his eyebrows go up. I have an urge to strangle him as the seconds tick by, “It seems Bear’s resource is having a bit of trouble, they have to reach out and bring someone else in,” he looks up to me, “They won’t have anything until tomorrow at the earliest.”
“Fuck!” I run my fingers through my hair, pulling at the ends.
Ric clears his throat, “Look Kid, there’s nothing more we can do for tonight, I suggest you go home and rest. Tomorrow we will start bright and early. We won’t stop until she’s back safe. Okay?”
I can’t seem to nod, or acknowledge that I’ve heard him at all. I’ve only tunnel vision, and it tells me to find Sara with or without anyone’s help. Finding myself at my bike I kick start it after a few tries, and stop at every establishment that is still open at 10 pm. When she isn’t among the patrons I get back on my bike going up and down every street in Chillowakie. As soon as I’ve exhausted that avenue I branch out even further until I’m encroaching on other territories. At 6 am when I’m leaving the diner with my to-go coffee I get a call from Ric.
“Hey, you ready?”
“I haven’t stopped,” I say.
“What?!” he shouts into my ear, “Are you crazy?! You can’t run yourself down like this,” he tries to reason with me, but I’m beyond reasoning.
“I can’t. Not until she’s safe,” I take a drink from my coffee.
“Go home Vince. We will let you know as soon as we get something, or we’ve heard from Bear.”
“You’re not hearing me,” I say frustrated, “I’m not going home. I’m not going to sleep knowing she’s not safe, so I choose to be useful. Don’t ask me again, just tell me where you need me, and I will be there.”
There’s a long pause, longer than my patience had to give, “Ric look, I’m a grown man now. You don’t have to look after me like I’m the kid of the club anymore. This is my own shit decision, and I will pay the consequences when they come. The truth is you can’t choose my mistakes anymore, you’re going to have to let me make my own.”
“Your mama, if she were alive would hand me my ass,” he says simply, “But you’re right. You are a man, a fucking dumbass man, but I have little control over that. I’m guessing you’ve scouted all of Chillowakie, so we should start today in nearby towns. Get to the club, we will divvy them up,” Ric hangs up.
When Bear and his contact finally came through for me, I had spent hours looking at buildings and people I didn’t know, convinced all of them looked suspicious. The other club members had long separated from me saying it would be more efficient. I suspect it had more to do with my thorough examination of everything slowing them down than anything.
Slowing my bike and parking in an abandoned lot I read all the information that came in from Bear’s text. It was more than I hoped for.
The phone was bought at a grocery store off the highway not too far from Chillowakie, with a credit card under the name Lucas Nole Walker. Address connected to the card is listed as 568 Unison Ave, Grandsonville Ohio 43198. Lucas is part of a MC club called The Snake Eye, he goes by Striker, and is Sergeant at Arms for the club.
If I wasn’t so determined to find Sara a shiver of apprehension might have made it’s way up my spine at the abundance of information that was given by only handing over a cell number. But time not being on my side I have to brush it off, and only thank whoever it is that had the resources to help me. Not bothering to inform anyone else, or caring if the information was already passed along, I start up my bike and head home for my truck. I wasn’t leaving without Sara, or the body of the one they call Striker. When I head towards the address along the way Bear appears riding his bike behind me.