Gunner

What a shit show. Took nearly a week, but I got the evidence needed to prove who was skimming the take. Fucking Needle and Deb. Their fate was decided on by the group, now I have to carry it out.

Each one swearing that the other one planned and got it rolling. No help for Needle now regardless; over a lousy ten grand that they probably already snorted. Deb makes it difficult. No one wants to give her a death sentence, but she’s got MC ink on her and those ain’t going back out the door with her.

We decide fire is the quickest way to deal with Deb’s ink. Roy will treat her for a few days afterwards, then she’ll get a one-way bus ticket away from here. She hears that and starts blubbering, looking for mercy; talking about other deals Needle’s cut himself in on, so I got to go down and break more ribs until he gives that shit up, too. Not only fucking taking money from all our pockets, but he’s got a cousin in what’s left of the Spiders and he’s dealing meth for them in our town.

Big fuck-up there. Keeping shit outta this town has always been a priority and he’s fucking dealing to the high school behind our backs.

It’s nearly four in the morning before I get back to the clubhouse and retrieve my phone from Jasper’s office; Riley’s upset, but this is the life sometimes. I go out back to get my bike; approaching the gate, Probie waves me down.

“Man, your Ol’ Lady was here, looking good in her cut. You know we couldn’t let her in or tell her anything. She looked worried, just wanted you to know.”

“Thanks for the heads up. My old room is still empty, why don’t you crash there when you get a break?” Probie waves his thanks and I head out.

Hoping she reached out to Bree when she couldn’t get me, I push the limit trying to get home. Roads are rough this time of year but I still don’t think anything of it when her truck isn’t out back when I pull under the deck. Heading up the icy stairs and through the bedroom door, I’m surprised to see an empty bed. I follow the light to the front room and freeze. Easily seeing she isn’t there, I check the kitchen counter for the spot she leaves me notes, seeing only the one she left before leaving for the clubhouse. My gut twists and palming my phone to call her, I walk back through looking in the still empty second bedroom then going to our bathroom, finally the closet.

Her clothes are either missing or in stages of having been pulled from hangers, what makes me drop to my knees is her cut. It’s perfectly laid out in the center of the mess.

Scrolling through my phone, I recheck my messages before trying her again. Heading to the front window, I can see that her truck isn’t on the street in front either. Checking her note again, “G – Worried about you, running to the clubhouse. Charge your phone and call me, I’ll come right back. Love you, R”

Heading down to my bike, I set my helmet’s Bluetooth so I can start calling people from the road. Driving towards Mrs. R’s I call Flint first.

“What.” He sounds pissed.

“Brother, can you ask Bree if she heard from Riley. She’s gone, I…she had tried to reach me earlier.” I drive around Mrs. R’s house but see no sign of Riley’s truck. It’s too early to knock there.

“Calm down, I’ll wake her and ask. Let me call you back.” Flint’s voice is low and calm.

Calling Probie next, I have him repeat the entire conversation. I can’t figure out anything that would have made her run. Thinking that she ran from me sets me off again.

Approaching my shop, my fuel light goes on. There’s no sign of her from the outside, and I never gave her a key; so I head next door to Jasper’s house. He’ll have fuel or a truck I can use.

The porch light comes on as I approach, turning off my bike and holding my hands up so he can see it’s me; Jasper steps out onto the porch.

“What’s wrong, Brother?” He asks; just then Flint calls back, so I hold up a finger.

“Flint, anything?” I ask. “I just rolled into Jasper’s.”

“No, Bree was working until two. She double checked her phone and never heard from her.”

Looking at Jasper, so he can hear this also, “I went home, Riley wasn’t there. She couldn’t reach me earlier so had run to the clubhouse; Probie and the Nomad turned her away. Probie said she headed back towards town. Her truck wasn’t there, closet was ransacked and her cut was laid out on top. Someone fucking took her, I know someone took her.”

I’m nearing freak out mode and I see Emma come up behind Jasper. Jasper looks pained as he opens his mouth. I know what he and Flint don’t want to say.

“Fuck!” I want to kick myself. “She has a lockbox with some serious cash at home. I cut a hidey hole into the drywall of the closet. I didn’t think to look. I don’t believe she left me, I sure as hell don’t deserve her but she lov…we love each other. I’m low on fuel, can I?” I motion to his truck.

Jasper looks back to Emma, sharing a look before saying. “Come on, I’ll drive you back to the apartment. We can check it out.”

“Stay in touch,” Emma says quietly, looking up at Jasper before he kisses her.

“Jas, I’ll meet you both at the apartment. Emma, Bree’s up now and worried; could you use some company?” Flint pipes up from the speakerphone. Jasper’s obviously concerned about her and their twins, so he quickly accepts Bree’s help. That all worked out, he and I get in his truck.

Pulling out, Jasper takes a deep breath. “You weren’t planning on claiming her so soon, were you?” At my grunt, he continues, “I saw the surprise on both your faces when you did it. Have you two argued since then?”

“No. Not even when I told her that Deb grabbed my cock that night, she let me explain; I had told her at the beginning I’d never apologize for what I did before we met.”

“Did you two have plans? Before all that shit went down tonight?” He pushes.

“Yeah, dinner at her Gram’s. She called and texted me when she was there. She went home, left me a note and showed up looking for me at the clubhouse; Probie said she was wearing her fucking Property cut, Jasper.” Looking at the clock again, I internally debate waking Mrs. R. for the tenth time since I got home. “It’s got to be her fucking parents.”

Just as Jasper’s pulling up, I realize I hadn’t given him directions to our place. Narrowing my eyes at him, he shrugs and smirks at me. “Flint told me about the talk he had with her. My Sergeant at Arms moves out of the clubhouse, I’m gonna fucking ask ‘where to’ you asshole.”

As he follows me upstairs, we both check the doors, looking for obvious signs of fuckery. I walk around the island, grabbing the note from the corner of the counter where she left it for me – handing it to Jasper, we head back to the bedroom.

Along the back wall of the closet, I quickly shift her shoe boxes, seeing no sign that drywall was moved I pop the panel out of the way. Grabbing the box, while Jasper watches from the doorway, I key in my birthday. It opens to show the money’s all there. Jasper lets out a low, “Fuck.”

“Now you gonna tell me my Ol’ Lady willingly left me? Left the building she owns? And left ten grand behind?” I slam the box shut and shove it into its spot. Picking up Riley’s cut, we both turn as Flint calls out from the front room.

“Flint, gotta get on this now. Get Connal and Jake rolling and have them trace the route from the clubhouse to her place slowly. Look for any signs of her truck or an ambush.” Jasper greets him, before looking back to me. “Gunner, have you called her grandmother? If not, now’s the time.”

Flint looks between us, nods, getting on his phone. I make my own call.

“Alex? Why are you calling?” Mrs. R picks up on the second ring.

“I don’t know where Riley is, the closet was made to look like she left.” I pause, “Mrs. R, she’s not with you?”

“Not since dinner when she made some cockamamie excuse for why you weren’t there, then kept going to the bathroom to call you.” She exhales. “Let me call Rogers, can you come here to meet him?”

“Something came up and I couldn’t reach out. She came looking for me though, now I can’t find her. Jasper and Flint are with me.”

“Well, you’ll need those two with you if her parents are responsible,” It reassures me she thinks the Maddocks are behind this also. If for no other reason than Riley won’t be seriously harmed. “Be here in twenty minutes. Like it or not, I’m calling the Sheriff about this.” She disconnects before I can say anything.

“Fuck.” Jasper and Flint were talking but look over at me. “Mrs. R wants us to meet her man over there, but she said she’s calling Michaels about this also.”

“Didn’t you say her attorney was filling some paperwork again Kennelly? Do we know if that has gone through?” Flint asks.

“Shit, I forgot about that. Let’s head over to Mrs. R’s to talk.” They both stand there, blocking the door.

“You cool, Gunner?” Jasper asks bringing himself up to his full height, matching mine.

“I’m not fucking cool, Jasper, but I’m getting my Riley back.” I take a step towards him.

Flint, as always, steps in when my temper flares. “No enemies here, Brothers.” Looking to me, “Sheriff’s gonna be involved, you gotta stay frosty, Gunner. No threats made, nothing.”

“We’re wasting time. She needs me. Let’s go.” I ground out, opening the door.

Rogers

Answering Mrs. Riley’s call, I quickly walk the three blocks to her home. As she lays out her directives I consider calling her physician. After thirty years in her employ, this is the second time I’ve seen her look this poorly and she was much younger when her husband unexpectedly passed.

After bringing her tea, I step into the foyer to await her guests. Soon, I’m shaking my head as I watch Gunner approach the door, Flint and another man in tow. I can’t help but wonder about the wisdom of he and young Miss Riley together, but right now I would not want to be the person keeping them apart.

Opening the door before he can ring the bell, I step out into the cold, closing it behind me.

“Mr. Sorenson,” They all pause to watch me, “You must keep in mind Mrs. Riley’s age. This is a shock to her and while she will move heaven and earth for Miss Riley. As we proceed, I ask that you bring any information obtained to me first. Understand?”

Studying me for a moment, “Is she alright?” He asks.

“Upset, as we all are, but she’s in her seventies and it is my job to protect her,” I reply. “Now, I won’t hold you up any further.” I stand back to allow them entry to the home, pleased they all wipe their feet.

Bringing coffee to the parlor, Mrs. Riley is updating them on the notice that was served to Officer Kennelly yesterday and is picking up the phone. “If you all swear you’ll stay silent, I will call my daughter with the speakerphone on.” She said this as more of a command than question.

Nods all around precede her dialing the phone.

“Mother?” A sleep wary voice answers. “What is it?”

“I was hoping you could tell me what, exactly, you might have done with Riley?” Mrs. Riley asks in a calm voice that perfectly expresses how irate she is.

“Riley?” Ann Maddock mumbles.

“Yes, I trust your opioid addiction hasn’t caused you to forget your daughter’s name?” She snaps, releasing information that causes the four of us to look at each other in stunned silence.

“WHAT?!” Well, that certainly got Ann’s attention. “How dare you suggest…”

“Save it, Ann. I’ve been aware of it for many years now. What’s important is that Riley is missing…”

“And you don’t think to call the police on that scumbag she moved into the apartment you gave her?!” She shrilly replies.

Gunner looks ready to commit murder, and I can’t help but wonder if that won’t soon happen.

“Alex is anything but, and he’s also the one dragging people out of bed searching for her.” Mrs. Riley is staring straight at Gunner, silently willing him to stay calm. “What about that husband of yours or an overeager security person, perhaps?”

Just then the doorbell rings, moments later I usher in the Sheriff. He and I announce ourselves so Mrs. Maddock will know that we, at least, are present.

“For the love of God, Mother; did anyone check our house before you started upsetting the authorities? Maybe she came to her senses and wanted to get away from that criminal? I can just imagine the headline if the local press gets ahold of this!” Ann continues on, alerting us to her main concern in this matter.

“Ann, so help ME GOD, if one hair on that girl’s head is harmed and I find out you or Bill had any part in this I will make you regret your very existence!” I have never heard Mrs. Riley raise her voice nor seen her hang up on anyone. Until this moment.

Taking a deep breath, Mrs. Riley looks to me. “Rogers, take Gunner and search their house and property, please? You know where the key is.”

Gunner goes to Mrs. Riley, whispers in her ear then kisses her cheek. She watches him as he walks from the room, and although I’ve known they’ve become close over the years; I’m still surprised at the love for him that I see shining from her eyes. Nodding to Mrs. Riley as she notices me watching her, I follow behind him.

Motioning him through the kitchen and picking up the keys we continue on to the garage; getting into one of the trucks as his phone starts ringing.

“Go Connal.” His harsh voice rings out then he’s silent for a moment. “Ok, stay where you are, either the Sheriff or Flint will be out.”

Holding his hand up to stop my question, he dials his phone. “Mrs. R., my guys found a patch of nails near mile marker one forty-seven, looks like a vehicle recently skidded off the road near there. Maybe the Sheriff could look into that?” It seems Gunner is willing to let Michaels chase evidence.

Gunner quickly makes another call, all I hear is, “Wrench, call Connal, get the information on the truck that Riley just bought and do what you can to track that down.” Click.

“Mr. Sorenson?” He looks at me as if he had forgotten I was here. “Mrs. Riley is quite ill, she’s been hiding it for a while now so I do not believe Riley is aware.” As the silence stretches on, I continue, “If you’ll forgive me for talking out of school?”

“I have thought so too, these past few months. She’d never say anything, though would she?” He finally acknowledges my thoughts. “What do Riley’s parents stand to gain from Mrs. R’s death, do you know? I would guess there’s a Trust?”

“There was a sizable Trust set up by Mr. Riley, Ann would be next in line for that.” I pause, weighing how to balance loyalties. “Let’s say, while unnecessary to be used so, the Trust has been tapped for Mrs. Riley’s living expenses and her charitable expenditures.”

“Unnecessarily?” He grunts. “She had other money that could have covered expenses with, but she chose to use the Trust?”

“Precisely.” I pause again, letting him think about why it was handled that way – allowing me to merely confirm his guesses.

“Because Mrs. R can’t stop Ann from inheriting the Trust, but she can leave her own money to anyone or thing she damn well chooses?”

Mr. Sorenson catches on quickly. “Indeed.”

“So she’s been bleeding the Trust dry?” He smirks at the thought.

“Don’t get me wrong, she’s funded childcare centers for working mothers and drug rehab centers with it; however, day to day items and my salary come from the Trust instead of her own funds.”

“I suppose you’re paid quite well?” He raises an eyebrow at me, so I shrug and he continues. “Do Riley’s parents have any idea about this?”

“That is, indeed, a worry we have shared for some time.” I acknowledge. “She keeps close tabs on them, however, and their spending habits would say otherwise. Ah, here we are now.”

Gunner

Once again I’m left to wonder about the man sitting next to me. He quickly unlocks what looks like an empty house and directs me to the entrance to the basement as he goes upstairs. I make my way down, past a game room and movie theater and into the storage rooms he told me I would find. No one seems to have been down here for a while.

Heading back up, I check the rooms on the main floor with growing impatience. Rogers rejoins me and looking around, I finally realize what I haven’t seen in any room.

“There aren’t any pictures of Riley here?”

“Who was around to take them, Mr. Sorenson?” He looks at me intently. “Under Mrs. Riley’s orders, her nannies started taking some. Mrs. Riley keeps albums at her house including pictures she took, if you’re interested in them one day.”

“Fucking bullshit.” Slips out before I can stop myself.

“Exactly my feelings, Mr. Sorenson.” Rogers quickly confides.

Next, we walk out through the garage that houses the SUV that Riley’s parents reclaimed from her, then a long empty barn.

“The Maddocks’ stopped bringing ‘riding parties’ here on weekends and sold off the horses one day. Miss Riley was ten and so upset, I don’t think she’s gone near a horse since then.” He explains. “I’m not aware of any other buildings on the land. Let me check back in with Mrs. Riley before we go.”

Coming up empty here has me furious; calling Jasper he gives me two addresses to check. ”Wrench is searching for property in Kennelly’s name, it’s a long shot but all we have right now. The Sheriff called all the Deputies in and he was the only one who didn’t respond. No one’s seen him since yesterday morning.”

“Rogers!” I yell over to him. “It’s Kennelly, give me your keys; I’m driving.” I’m honestly surprised when he tosses them to me and runs to the passenger side of the Lexus.

Racing to the nearest of the two properties, Rogers and I ride in silence. I control my breathing as I wonder at the man beside me, wondering what Jasper was thinking having him accompany me; then it hits me. He’s here as a witness. A witness in my defense.

I nearly slam on the brakes, but keep going. Thirty minutes later as I’m pulling into the drive, Flint calls.

“Hey, where are you?”

“Just pulling into the first address,” I say, slowing down.

“Yeah, I just checked that, it’s a bust. Go to the other one Wrench gave you, see that you check around back for an old storm cellar.” My nerves are stretched so tight I’m about to snap when I realize it’s an open line. They’ve somehow gotten Riley’s location and that’s what matters most to me. For now.

Until later, when I will skin the motherfucker that took her alive.

Without another word, I head to the second location. Rogers stays silent.