Jasper

The day flies by. Emma splits her time between the wounded and the kitchen. I spend it getting reports about the damage we inflicted. We wiped out nearly the whole MC. The others seem to have gone to ground. While the Spiders were a large group and had a solid pipeline set up, they were an independent MC. We’ll keep our runs on a need-to-know basis and stay vigilant in our territory; but things are looking up.

Emma’s husband’s death hasn’t been reported yet, and that’s what I’m holding my breath on; I had sent Flint back early with instructions about that. Using the cover of the explosions, we dumped his body and car at their doorstep.

Late afternoon, Probie seeks me out.

“Pres, Sheriff Michael’s at the gate. He wants to talk to you.” He looks around the packed bar area and waits for my decision.

“Listen up!” I yell after a moment. “Sheriff will be walking through in a minute, if you look wounded get yourself upstairs until he leaves. Women and kids can stay, we’ll look real friendly that way. Roy, you go close yourself in the game room with our patients. The rest of you keep things on the up and up out here. Probie, bring him in.”

Emma approaches me as I wait for him

“Can we eat together? Take a little break?” She asks.

“Sheriff’s about to walk in. Can you give me some time? I’ll come find you afterwards.” I pull her in for a kiss, holding her against my body until I see the Sheriff approaching.

“Jasper, Emma.” He greets us. “Heard about your troubles in Boise.” He says, looking at my bandage.

“I’ve never prayed so hard for anyone, Sheriff.” Emma says, looking him straight on.

“Well, I need to talk to you too, Emma. Mind joining us?” He looks to me, as if for permission.

“Your office, Jasper?” Emma confirms, leading us after I nod.

Instead of pulling a power play, I motion Emma to the couch and turn one of the chairs away from my desk to face it. The Sheriff takes the seat beside her.

Sheriff Michaels

Walking through the clubhouse, I’m met with either aggressive stares, curiosity, or just those who stare past me like I’m not there.

Jasper stands on the far side of the room, holding Emma against his body like he needs her to survive another moment. He cradles her like she’s still the same beaten woman who arrived.

She was bruised and weak when I interviewed her a couple months back, but today I see a light shining in her eyes and confidence in her step as we head back to Jasper’s office.

“I’m not sure if you have heard,” I start, watching for their reactions. “A motorcycle club just across the border in Utah, was targeted yesterday.”

Emma’s eyebrows raise, but I can’t see any expression on Jasper’s face.

“The Spiders?” He asks.

“Yep.” I nod, still watching him. “Nearly forty dead, believe it or not. Town’s smaller than we are and they’re desperately trying to keep it quiet.

“The thing is, Ms. Jones, your husband’s car was found in the parking lot of their clubhouse and there’s a charred body inside one of the strip clubs they own. Male, but no ID yet.”

“What? But…But he,” She stutters, clearly shocked. “Sheriff, he dropped the divorce papers off at Mr. Jessop’s office, right around the time Jasper was shot!” She looks at Jasper, wide eyed. I was aware of Jessop filing the papers last week.

“I think, with this new connection, we need to assume that he may have been involved with the attack on you, Jasper.” I look at him, knowing damn well what happened, but as usual – nothing fucking happens within my jurisdiction and these assholes are smart enough to lock up all the details.

“Now, I understand that there was some sort of group ride around here the past few days, but mainly seen heading north. Need to ask what was going on.”

“Huh?” Jasper manages to look confused. “Oh, a couple of the guys on probation are gonna get patched so a bunch of them went out riding together. I’ve been around with Flint and Roy – actually, Emma here has Roy glued to my side, what with this head wound.” He shrugs with a smirk in her direction.

“Seriously, Sheriff, if I could have you bring him back to the hospital, I would.” Emma hasn’t been anything less than honest in her replies. Preacher’s daughter and all, she answers everything without fully lying. I get that Jasper saved her, so there’s no way she’ll betray them.

“Ms. Jones, could I have a few minutes with Jasper?” I ask her. She clicks her tongue but gets up, caressing Jasper’s cheek before leaving the office.

“Here’s what I’m thinking, Jasper. Just so you don’t sit there thinking I’m the village idiot.” I start. “The Spiders have been moving on your men and product more and more in recent years. The only hint of drugs in this town trace back to them. Then, what a couple of them got a shot at you in Boise?

“That was the final straw, right? Your boys waited until you got back here before attacking them?”

“My boys?” Jasper softly chuckles. “Sheriff, I may wear this President Patch, but God knows I couldn’t stop any of them if they heard you call them that.”

“Can’t quite figure out the Reverend’s connection? Did he point them to you or was that a body dump?” I sit back, maintaining eye contact. Jasper’s a cool one though. He doesn’t blink or flush, Flint chose his successor well.

“Nothing to say?” I ask after a few moments.

“Been watching a lot of movies lately, haven’t you?” He raises an eyebrow. “Don’t get me wrong, Sheriff. You’ve really kept the crime rate in this town under control, but like you said none of that happened in your town.”

“You and I both know I have jack shit to do with the crime rate around here.” I fume. I’m not even sure why I came here today; must be pride, and not wanting this man to think I can’t see the shit they do, even if I have no evidence of anything in my jurisdiction.

“Well, I have some work I need to tend to before Emma forces me to rest again.” Jasper stands up, extending his hand. “If you don’t have any other news for me, Sheriff?”

“This MC might own half this town, but you don’t own me, Jasper.” I say, gripping his hand. “You’ve kept shit quiet but that can’t last forever. Don’t expect me to roll over when it does go sideways.”

“We appreciate the work you do,” Jasper says, meeting my stare. “Keeping this town peaceful is in all our best interest.”

Flint

I hang back and wait for the Sheriff to leave. He does not look happy when he does. I text Gunner and Vice to meet me in Jasper’s office.

“You still look like shit,” I say upon entering. Wrench is already scanning for listening devices, so at least Jasper is on top of that.

“Yeah, well, you go get shot in the head and tell me how you feel.” He glares up at me.

“Prefer to use my head for other things,” I volley back as Gunner and Vice enter and Wrench gives us the thumbs up as he exits. “What did our Sheriff want?”

“He informed Emma that her ex’s car was found, and potentially his body. Then without any evidence, he laid the Spider thing at our feet. They don’t seem to have any evidence and Wrench has wiped the memory cards from the drones.” Jasper shrugs. “How are things looking out there, Vice?”

“Women and children all over the place, but things seem normal otherwise.” He shrugs and bums a cigarette from Gunner, who’s lighting up. “Guys are wondering when we’re letting the rest of the Girlies back. Getting bored.”

“Not all the test results are back yet,” Gunner grunts. “I got four guys who came back dirty. I made myself pretty fucking clear they’re restricted to their hands until they test clean.”

“That reminds me. Smithy’s got a girl here, don’t think she’s been tested. Have Betsy run her to the clinic first thing tomorrow.” I interject.

“Yeah, Amy or something like that. She just started working the desk at the clinic and was there the day Betsy and I went in. She cleared.” Gunner shrugs at me. “Using the surveillance tapes, Wrench, Betsy, and I worked out a list, keeping it updated as results come in.”

“Alright, so we stay locked up tight for a week or so, extra eyes on our businesses and we’ll loosen things up if all stays quiet. Flint, you keep in touch with your guys down in Utah and see if anyone tries to fill the void.” Jasper starts laying things out. “We should be able to pick up some contacts for our transportation services. We’re agreed that we’re staying away from skin clubs, right? I don’t want to be taken unaware the next time we have Church. I won’t deal in that shit, especially not now with an Ol’ Lady.”

“Agreed. Dealing with all that shit is too big a hassle and there’s too much potential for blowback on us.” Gunner quickly speaks up.

“Uh huh,” Vice nods along. “The goddamn drama in the one place we have is fucking unreal. And half the bitches that work there get pissy we don’t let them have ‘dates’ in the parking lot.”

“They’re keeping that shit away from the premises, though?” I ask, wishing, again, I had shut that shit completely down.

“Yeah, Flint.” Vice assures me. “Most the girls are fine, but then four of them want to party and we need them for the draw but fuck it – I say we knock out the stage, clean it up and turn it into a breastaurant. Y’know, have them serve food in bikinis with assless chaps.”

“Fuck yes!” Grunts Gunner.

“I like that actually,” Jasper laughs. “Look into it. It’ll weed out the problems too, won’t it?”

“OK. We’ll keep tabs on everything, but I gotta let you know. I’m gonna head out in the summer to spend a couple months with my kids, maybe see some of you at the rally in South Dakota after that?” I let them know. “Jas, Vice, this winter I’ll start introducing you to more of my contacts. Need to get them comfortable with you both now.”