Chapter 13
Jack
Teddy takes a seat halfway up the table, leaving me standing alone. The Crows look up from their business and they stare into my soul. I’ve been looked at like this plenty times before, but it always means something when it’s coming from guys like this.
“Take a fucking seat.” Abbott says, motioning for me to sit at the opposite end from him. I do as he says and pull out a cigarette, lighting it up. The smoke lifts up to join the hazy cloud of cigarette smoke from every other guy in the room. I look around the table and the table looks back. Apart from myself, Abbott and Teddy, there are six other guys. Probably Presidents and Vice Presidents from the three other Crow chapters in this county. The asshole from outside with the glass eye is immediately to my right. He puts his thumb to his neck and draws it across slowly, like he’s slicing his throat.
I look up the table at Abbott, he’s old. Much older than me. But I can tell from the look in his eyes that age hasn’t softened him any. If anything it’s made him harder. We’ve never met before, but everyone’s heard stories about Abbott Chance. The guy makes me look like a saint.
“Start talking.” He says. “Who are you and why are three of my men dead?”
I look at Teddy, waiting to see if he’s got anything to offer. He shakes his head at me and takes a sip of his drink.
“For those of you who don’t know. My name’s Jack Shadow. I used to run a club up in NY city. Notorious motorcycle club.”
“I’ve heard of you guys.” A gravelly voice interrupts on my left. I look across and see an older guy sitting halfway down the table. “One of my boys err…” He looks to his VP for a prompt.
“Kent.” His VP says.
“Yeah Kent. He did business with you a few years ago. I thought Bill Chambers ran that outfit?”
I shake my head blowing out smoke.
“He used to. There was a big turf war a few years ago. Notorious practically got wiped out. Bill decided to call it quits and asked me to take his place.”
“Enough of the history lesson.” Abbott clears his throat. “Get to the point already.”
I stare at the old man for a moment and then I continue.
“Long story short, I fucked up and I came down to New Orleans to get away from the law.”
“What did you do?” Abbott asks but doesn’t look at me, instead he digs a cigarette into an ashtray.
“Killed a cop. It was an accident. He was undercover. Dumb, but there you go.”
Someone starts laughing on my right. I look and see the old guy with the glass eye from before. Cole. This guy might be senior but he’s really fucking winding me up.
“That it? Shit son. Back in my day we did that for fun.”
“Shut the fuck up Cole.” Abbott snaps from the other end of the table. Cole glares back at him for a moment. “Things are different now, we all know that. Why did you kill the fucking cop?”
“Routine drug deal with a rival club. Cop had been in deep cover for a while. We all thought he was legit. Well – after the deal he starts acting funny. Asks me if I’m interested in another trade.”
Abbott clicks his fingers and a topless girl walks over from the corner. He whispers something into her ear, she nods and walks off. “What sort of trade?”
“He pulls out this folder, opens it up. He’s got pictures. Of kids. The kind of pictures that no one should have.”
General murmurs of disapproval spring up from around the table and Abbott waves his hand, signaling for everyone to shut up.
“And that’s it? You shot him there?”
“I told him to go fuck himself. He laughed and started walking back to his van and threw his folder inside. That’s when I saw that he had a kid in the back.”
A chill runs down my spine at the memory.
“And then?”
“I shot the fucker and called the cops for the kid. After that I got out of there. I found out he was a badge afterward. The Police Department knew it was me. One of my boys found out and I got a head start. My friend Deacon hooked me up with his old friend Teddy.” I nod at Teddy and he looks back at me. “Deacon said he’d handle Notorious while I was gone. Then he flips and now we’re here.”
The Crows start talking amongst themselves for a few moments, weighing up my story.
“First of all.” I look at the Crow on my left. “Name’s Charge. Good to meet you Jack.”
“Likewise.” I say and nod my head in respect.
“I think I speak for everyone here when I say we all would have done the same thing.”
I look around the table and see everyone nodding in agreement, except for Cole and his VP, who are burning holes in the back of my skull.
“What I don’t understand though, is why your man would flip on you like that, and come down here with…who is it. The Salt Dogs?”
I nod my head. “I don’t understand that myself, but I’m planning on finding out before I kill Deacon. I figure they’ve got some dirt on him or something. Whatever it is he’s pretty fucking motivated.”
Abbott knocks his finger on the table and everyone turns to face him. “You think he’s involved in this somehow? The kid thing?”
I run a hand across my head and think. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t have thought so, but I guess it’s possible.”
“How do we know you’re not involved?” Cole speaks up again from my right.
“The fuck you trying to say?” I growl, balling my hand into a fist.
“He’s saying that until yesterday none of us had a fucking clue who you where.” Abbott speaks up. “And he makes a good point. What do you think Teddy. You know this guy better than anyone else. You buying this?”
“I am.” Teddy says after an unnecessarily long pause. “I’ll vouch for him. I never really liked Deacon, I took Jack in as favor. He’s completely different. I wouldn’t be surprised if Deacon was involved in something like this at all.”
“Alright I’ve heard enough.” Abbott pushes his chair back. “Who reckons we put candlestick Jack here in a pit and call it a day?”
I look around the table, only two of the Crows raise their hands. Cole and his VP, Kane.
“Settled then.” Abbott stands up. “We’ll stand by you if you want Jack, but you owe us. Big time. Talk with Teddy and we’ll work out the specifics later. Now if you gentlemen excuse me, I’ve got to go fuck a woman.”
Suddenly Cole stands up on the right and slams his fist down on the table.
“This is fucking bullshit! Our men are dead because of this asshole and we’re going to stick up for him? You’ve gone soft Abbott. You’ll run this place into the ground.”
“Nice as it to see you again Cole, if you ever speak to me like that again… I’ll fucking kill you.”
They stare each other down for a moment and the air feels tense.
“We voted Cole. That’s the end of it. It’s done.” Teddy stands up.
“Meetings adjourned. Now if you’ll excuse me I need to go and get my dick wet.”
Everyone else at the table stands, including me, and Abbott walks out the back with the brunette girl from earlier around his arm.
The rest of the members sit back down, apart from Cole and his VP.
“You’re all queers.” He snorts and spits on the table. “That’s what I think of this club.” He turns to his skinhead VP. “Let’s ditch this shit hole.” They storm out the room and back into the bar.
“God I fucking hate that guy.” Teddy sighs then looks over at me. “Come on.” He says, motioning for me to follow him. “Let’s figure out how we’re going to deal with Deacon.”