Chapter 15
Levi
Not knowing but half of what’s going on is what’s driving me crazy, but hopefully, they can help me. I might as well tell them everything I know.
“Friday night, I did a small local race for money.”
“What the hell were you thinking? What about TT?” Zant says before I can continue.
“I know what you’re thinking. Let me finish before you ask your questions. A deep pocket challenged me in front of a sponsor a couple months ago. He went on about how I was always lucky and not talented. This was before I was told we were going to the Isle. The sponsor ate it up. Said if I could win, he would sponsor me. With that sponsorship, the TT would be easier on us all. So, I took it. It was stupid, but I knew I could beat him and anyone he hired.”
The Isle of Man TT is the ultimate high to my racing career. I want to compete there and then take a long break. That has been the goal this whole time.
The Isle of Man is an island in the Irish Sea, stuck right between Great Britain and Ireland. Every year in May or June, depending on how it falls, is a race that takes over the whole island. I’ve wanted to be a part of this race for years. It started back in 1907. Since then, it has transformed into something spectacular.
I’ve watched countless videos on races through the years. It is nothing short of spectacular.
The biggest attraction is the island itself. People have lived on this tiny island, that is just 221 square miles, since 6500 BC. The lifestyle and general habitation has sparked my curiosity since the beginning.
They literally close the whole island down for two weeks to welcome tourist, racers, and fans from all over the world.
I can’t wait to go. I get excited just thinking about it.
“So, we got to the race Friday and everything went as planned. I won, I got my money, and we left. Last night, I went out for a drive after eating and ended up on the other side of town.” I look at Kathleen. I don’t want to offend her, but I think she knows what I mean. She gives me a little smile.
“A car was in the middle of the street. I looked over to see if the person was coming back to move the car, and I saw some guy come up from behind and grab her.” I throw my thumb in Kathleen’s direction and watch as Micah and Kelly’s eyes grow to the size of saucers.
“I hit the guy, grabbed Kathleen, threw her in my car, and got out of there. By the time we got to her house, he was already there.”
“The kidnapper?” Chance says.
“Yea. He was coming around the side of the house. He saw me, but we got pulled out of the driveway and back on the road before he could get to us.”
I take a breath and looked at everyone. The girls are still looking at me in shock and the guys are clenching their jaw.
I know they are all thinking about what happened to Micah. It’s different, but it’s still a victimization and that hits home for us. I reach out and touch Micah’s hand. She gives me a tight-lipped grin and I continue. I need to tell them the rest.
“I just hit the highway. I didn’t know where else to go because I got a text from Deep Pockets that said I screwed him over again, and I quote, ‘he was going to get the girl’.” Micah gasps and Kelly rubs her back.
“I don’t know anything else. We talked to Kathleen’s dad. Surprisingly, he is one of my sponsors. One of the first actually.”
“What’s your last name?” Zant asks Kathleen.
“Roberts,” she says in a whisper. Retelling this story can’t be what she wants to hear either. I give her a sympathetic look and she gives me the same look Micah did.
“Your Danny Roberts’ daughter?”
“Yea.”
“Does this have anything to do with him?”
“Not that I, nor he, can think of. He hasn’t had enemies for a long time.”
Zant nods, but I know he is thinking something. He’s been around. Things get talked about at his shops and he just keeps his ears open. That’s the thing about Z. You never know what he knows.
“When she was kidnapped, she had just walked out on a date with a guy named Wilson.”
“What is his last name?
“Stables,” Kelly answers. I’m surprised she isn’t asking questions. She’s got to be freaked out. She was almost taken last night for God knows what and now she’s in a house full of people that she never even knew existed.
While she must be scared, she’s still magnificently beautiful. I plan to look at her a lot once we get back to my house. I know I need to keep my hands off her, but I don’t know if I am going to be able to.
I look back at Z and he is deep in thought. We all silently wait him out. I know something is coming soon.
Micah and Kelly keep cooking and Chance and Kathleen start a conversation. I half listen to it. I keep my eye on Zant.
I’ve known him over twenty-five years. We’ve been through a lot. I know him as well as I know myself.
He takes a deep breath and looks up at me. I hold my breath.
“Levi, have you heard from Fred?”
I slowly close my eyes. How did I know I was about to be gutted?
“Who’s Fred?” I hear Kathleen ask. I don’t bother answering her. I get up from the stool and walk out the back door. Chance and the girls will fill her in.
A minute later, I hear Z behind me. “I haven’t heard from him, but I knew it wouldn’t be long.”
I turn around and face Zant. His hands are tucked in the pockets of his jeans. He’s watching me.
“I don’t know if any of this is related. It could be coincidental. I have heard of a connection between Fred and Wilson. Apparently, Fred sought him out to help with getting fast cash.”
“Fast cash for what?”
“That, I don’t know. Yet.”
We stand in silence, and I think about his words and what this could mean.