MICHELLE

 

It was easy to tell that Sheriff Sutton had seen it all. Those tired eyes. The wrinkly, sagging, and blemished skin. Hair all but gone. The hunched-over posture. Sutton had been around as long as Ivory has. From the looks of things, he was going to be around even after it was gone. Even if somebody blew this town up, Sutton would find some way to remain standing.

“What’s this all about now?”

He raised his eyebrows at me in curiosity, his hands on his hips as he tried to keep himself standing up straight.

“I just… I need somewhere to stay,” I said. “Somewhere safe.”

“Now why would you need somewhere safe to stay?”

He knew the answer to the question as soon as he asked it.

The club never dealt with the cops. They would never be caught dead doing business with the Sheriff’s Department. Sutton was a bit of an exception though.

The sheriff had been around long enough to know how things worked around Ivory. He could never keep all of the MCs in check. The true one-percenters would always find a way to do what they wanted to do. Sutton only had to do his part to make sure that it never spilled into civilian territory.

Apparently, this was one of those times.

“Something is wrong when the wife of a club president is asking me for help.”

“Then you should know how serious this is.”

Sutton might have been the law in Ivory but he was still just playing a part. There was a big puzzle and he was only a piece.

He scratched his head and sighed as he looked around the clubhouse. Most of the patrons didn’t even seem to care that a cop was standing right there. I guess that’s what happened when federal agents were in town.

“All right,” he said. “I shouldn’t be doing this but… I can’t refuse a citizen asking me for help. Even though I should know better.”

“Thank you.”

He smirked at me then slowly turned around. I watched him shuffle out of the clubhouse toward the entrance.

I looked around but nobody familiar was near. The last time I spoke to Declan was the night before. When I woke up in the morning, he was gone along with the rest of the club. Whatever they were planning, it was taking all day.

I headed outside and Sutton was already waiting in his cruiser. A few people gave me curious looks but that didn’t matter. Sutton had become a regular around the club.

I got into the backseat of the cruiser and Sutton headed down the road.

“I’ve got a place,” he said. “It’s near the police station, so if there’s any trouble, it won’t take long to get you some help. You’re not expecting any trouble now, are you?”

“I’m not sure…”

Declan still hadn’t told me what he was planning on doing. I looked out the window and my thoughts raced as I tried to figure out what he was up to.

“I don’t expect you to give me the details,” he sighed. “But you can at least talk to an old man.”

“There’s not much to talk about. I haven’t seen the club all day.”

“The Black Reapers are planning something…”

“You’re not going to do anything, are you?”

“What can I do? If I shut down the Reapers, some other club will just pop up in their place. You just tell Declan the next time you see him to make sure he keeps whatever it is he’s doing quiet.”

If I ever see him again…

I was following Declan’s instructions so far. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary. I didn’t feel as safe as I would have with the club but Sutton was enough that I wasn’t worried about Tony for the moment. My thoughts were only focused on Declan and making sure that he got out of whatever trouble he was undoubtedly putting himself in.

We were heading down the road through town when Sutton slowly pulled over to the side.

“Shit…” he muttered.

“What is it? What’s going on?”

I looked around then noticed the car that had pulled up behind us. I saw a woman get out of the driver’s seat.

“Shit…”

Sutton got out of the car and I got out right behind him.

“Agent Lieberman,” Sutton said. “How can I help you tonight—”

“What are you doing, Sutton?” she said.

Lieberman eyeballed me, her mouth half-open like a question was lingering on her tongue.

I’d heard from others that Agent Jane Lieberman had arrived in Ivory more than a year ago. Now I was getting a look at her for myself.

I never questioned Declan or the club. His business was his business. I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a part of me that wasn’t concerned about Lieberman though.

She was intimidating. She wasn’t like most women. Her stare was always cold. Her posture was so rigid. She slicked her brown hair back into a ponytail and always looked like she was looking down her nose at everybody. And then there was the pantsuit she wore with the badge hanging comfortably on display on her belt.

Nobody knew what she was up to. That didn’t matter. When federal agents were in town, you knew something was wrong.

“I was just taking Miss Cunningham over here to my place,” Sutton said.

“Your place?” Lieberman asked.

“Sure. We’re old friends. Share a cup of coffee and catch up a bit. It’s been awhile since we talked.”

Lieberman kept her eyes locked on me.

“Old friends, huh?”

“That’s right,” Sutton said.

Lieberman took a step toward me, her nose up in the air. I stood my ground and glared back at her. She had nothing on me, so I wasn’t afraid of whatever she might do.

“I shouldn’t have to tell you that the sheriff being friends with the wife of the president of a notorious biker gang is a conflict of interest,” she said. “But that’s beside the point.”

She turned back toward Sutton.

“You’re up to something,” she said.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about—”

“Cut the bullshit. You think I’m going to fall for that? After that stunt you pulled with Lawrence and Gibson?”

“Look,” Sutton said. “Michelle here is an old friend of mine. If a man can’t have a cup of coffee with a friend, then that’s a problem.”

“Oh, it’s a problem. A big problem.”

She looked right at me.

“I’m detaining you.”

“What?” I exclaimed.

“You heard me.”

“Now hold on just a minute,” Sutton said. “You can’t just—”

“I’m here under federal orders,” Lieberman interrupted him. “Everything that pertains to my investigation is under my jurisdiction. You might be the law in Ivory but not while I’m in town. My investigation supersedes everything.”

“You can’t do that,” I said.

“I can.”

She turned around and motioned to the other fed that was standing behind her. He walked up to me and pulled out a pair of handcuffs.

“What’s it going to be, Mrs. Cunningham?” Lieberman said. “The easy way or the hard way?”

I looked at Sutton for an answer but he just stared back at me, his face clueless.

Shit.

I wanted to reach into my pocket and tell Declan what was happening. But there was no telling if he would even get my message.

“You’re coming with me,” Lieberman said. “One way or another—”

“Fine,” I sighed. “Let’s go.”

She gave me a satisfied smirk then headed back toward her car.

“It’s good to know that the club has some brains around them,” she said.

I gave Sutton another look but he just shrugged at me.

“Sorry,” he said. “Nothing I can do.”

“I know,” I replied. “It’s… It’s not your fault.”

I headed to Lieberman’s car and got into the backseat. The other agent with her sat right next to me and kept his eyes locked on me. I rolled my eyes at him.

“What?” I said. “Do you think I’m going to try something?”

“Don’t worry,” Lieberman said. “I just want to ask you a few questions. It won’t take long.”

I stared out the window as we rode through Ivory.

I didn’t know where Declan was. I didn’t know what he was up to. The only thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t do anything for him now.