CHAPTER ELEVEN
Joshua glanced in the mirror and saw the girl she spoke of. His friend Amos had called him yesterday and asked him to come over. Joshua didn’t know what was going on but if Amos was calling around for help, it must be big.
A little while later they entered the city limits of Troy. All the way from Albany, they had been passing scores of men on motorcycles. Now as they entered the city, everywhere they looked, the men were present.
As Joshua searched their faces, he could see they were not happy men. He couldn’t help but wonder what the hell was going on. Then he glanced over at Cricket and wondered what she might have to do with all of this.
Cricket finally spoke, “You can drop us off anywhere along here.”
Joshua pulled the car over and waited while she got the kids and her stuff out. “Are you going to be okay?”
Cricket picked up the little girl and nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Reaching out to take Dusty’s hand, she turned and started down the street. Before she took a few steps, she turned back to Joshua. “Thank you for the ride. I wish I could warn you about Cordy but I have no idea what she’ll do next. Just be careful.”
“Don’t you worry about me, Miss Cricket.” Joshua chuckled. “I can take care of myself. I made it through the war. I think I can survive your sister.”
Hitching the girl higher on her hips Cricket turned and made her way down the street. Dusty walked beside her and when Joshua started the car again, she was gone. He made his way down the street in the opposite direction.
A few more turns and he found Redemption House. Joshua just watched the building for a moment or two then turned off the engine and got out of the car. He watched as the front door opened and three men came out. Joshua smiled as he caught site of them.
His grin widened as one of the men saw him. Sarge hadn’t changed much in the years since Joshua had seen him last. He still looked as ornery as ever. Joshua took a step forward and reached out his hand. “Sarge, you old sonofabitch, you are still the ugliest man I ever knew.”
Amos smiled. “Corporal Joshua Marky.” He grabbed the other man’s hand and shook it. “Thanks for coming. We need some good men on this mission.”
Joshua frowned as he looked at the other two men beside Amos. “What kind of mission are we talking about here?”
“Recon,” Amos said. “We need intel and we need it fast. We got two missing kids and the President of the local MC is a friend.”
Joshua finally understood the situation. “I don’t think I’d worry so much.”
Amos snorted. “You don’t understand what’s at stake.”
“No you don’t know what I do.” Joshua nodded. “Let’s go and talk about it. I’ll tell you what I know and you can tell me what you know. But right now, I could use a cup of coffee.”
~* * * *~
By late afternoon, everyone in the clubhouse was edgy. No word had been heard from anyone on the whereabouts of Sammy and Jemmia. Deke was pacing the length of the main room while Cassie sat at one of the tables.
She looked pale and she hadn’t eaten since her children had been taken. She knew she should, she had another child to nurture but she just couldn’t get the food past her lips. She felt her baby move from within and Cassie placed her hands on her belly. She smiled sadly, wondering if this child would ever know her brother and sister. She had to hope she would.
Cassie searched the room for Deke and found him over by the table with Zipper, Sam and Mountain. They were studying the security tape from Redemption House. Zipper had been trying to clear up the tape enough to see the face of the woman who had taken Sammy and Jemmia.
Zipper looked up from the tape. “That’s as clear as it’s ever going to get boss.”
Deke stared at the woman with tired eyes. Being up all night and half the day was exhausting. He stared at the woman on the tape. There was something familiar about her but he didn’t know what it was.
Sam leaned in closer. He was studying not her face but the mark on her wrist.
Suddenly the quiet within the club was shattered by a baby’s cry.
Deke’s head snapped up and he glared at the main door. His feet were moving toward it before he even realized what he was doing.
~* * * *~
Cricket and Dusty walked through the woods, just outside the city limits of Troy. It had been a long day and Cricket lifted the little girl higher up in her arms for the millionth time. She was getting heavy and Cricket was getting tired. She had to ask where the clubhouse was located and right now, everyone in Troy was nervous about strangers asking questions. She had a feeling it was because of what Cordy had done. But she finally made it. She was where she needed to get the baby girl to.
Just ahead, she saw a break in the trees. She was almost there. Her heart pounded in her chest and she stopped a moment. Looking into the face of the little girl, she could see the trust in them. Her blue eyes looked around her with the wonder of innocence she still possessed.
“Are we there yet?” Dusty asked. “I’m getting tired.”
“Yeah sweet boy, I think we’re here.” Cricket knelt down beside him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “As soon as she gets to the gate and someone finds her, we can go.”
“Good.” Dusty rubbed his nose with his fingers.
“You know this isn’t going to be easy,” Cricket warned him. “We have to be very careful because your mom isn’t going to give up on finding us.”
“I just wish we could have gotten her brother back too,” Dusty told her.
“Me too buddy.” Cricket patted his back. “Me too. Okay, now I need you to find a place to hide and I want you to promise me you won’t come out until I call you. I have to make sure someone finds her but I can’t do that if I’m worried about you.”
“I know what to do,” Dusty assured her. “You just be careful you don’t get caught.”
Cricket grinned. “I don’t plan to. Now hide yourself, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She turned and walked to the edge of the trees.
The little girl in her arms began to bounce with excitement. She saw the clubhouse and she knew her parents were close by.
Cricket put the girl down and watched her toddle off toward the front gate.
She squealed as she ran along the road. Suddenly, the door was flung open and Deke rushed out. When he saw his daughter he shouted, “Jemmia.” Then rushed to her.
Cricket watched from inside the trees. Tears filled her eyes as she watched who she assumed was Jemmia’s mom join Deke and together, they hugged their daughter. Then she watched as the mom turned toward the gate and called out, “Sammy. Sammy are you there?”
Cricket had to swallow hard knowing Sammy wasn’t there to answer his mother’s call. She was about to turn back when someone grabbed her by the arms. She screamed and fought back but the hold on her was strong. She struggled and got at least one good kick in before a fist came flying toward her head. When it connected, Cricket dropped to her knees stunned.
“Don’t you hurt my Cricket, you big bully!” Dusty screamed as he rushed forward.
She tried to tell him to run but she couldn’t get the words to come out of her mouth. The blow she’d taken had stunned her badly.
When Dusty reached them, he kicked the man standing over Cricket in the leg. When the man stumbled backward, Dusty sucker punched him in the nuts.
The man grabbed his privates and groaned as he fell to the ground.
Suddenly, the area was crawling with other people. One of them grabbed Dusty and lifted him off his feet. Another man shoved Cricket to the ground and wrenched her arms behind her back. She screamed as the pain in her back made itself known. Then she felt the bite of the rope as someone tied her wrists together but her head was too foggy from the hit she took to object.
“Hold it!” Deke shouted as he finally reached them. “What the hell is going on here?”
“We found her when you caught up with Jemmia. She’s the one that brought her back here.” The big man that Dusty hurt got to his feet. He looked to be in pain but was able to walk.