Chapter 34

Peg

“Fuckin’ piece of shit.” I pick up the newspaper and read the article once more.

“Hey, that’s my son you’re talking about.” I swing around to offer an insincere apology to Ma, to find her face set and taut. “In the circumstances I happen to agree with you. Where’s that president of yours?”

“You want him, Ma?”

“Why d’you think I asked for him? Of course I want to speak to him. Now run along and get him.”

My feet are walking in the direction of Drummer’s office before I realise I’ve obeyed her as fast as if I was still in the services and had been given a command by a senior officer. Wryly laughing at myself, I knock on Drum’s door and enter.

“Peg,” Drum acknowledges, then turns back to Wraith. “Puts us back fuckin’ years. The Wheel Inn’s been makin’ a tidy profit. Sandy’s telling me people are already cancellin’ their reservations.”

“Viper’s worried about the construction business. He’s not heard anything yet, but if the suggestion gets out we’re using our businesses to launder money, we might lose some lucrative contracts. And while we’ve been told we’ve got it, the paperwork for the new mall hasn’t been signed.”

Prez slams the newspaper down on the desk. “We’ve got to put this right. Christ. What a thing to happen. Do a fuckin’ good deed and it blows up in our faces.”

I stiffen. “Couldn’t have left her there to die in the fire.”

“Of course not, Peg. But we should have sent her on her way.”

Instead of waiting for me to return, the door behind pushes open, and Ma wheels herself in. She’s puffing with the effort. “And I’d be off in a flash if I thought that would solve this mess out.” She glares at Drummer. “But the damage has been done, hasn’t it? I apologise for the fuck-up of my son. He’s always been hot-headed and selfish.”

“Ma…”

“You let me sort this out. My son isn’t the only one who can speak to the press. I’ll make them do a retraction.”

“Ma…” Prez’s voice softens. “Appreciate that, but what’s done is done. We’ve worked hard for years to clean up the club, but that article stirred old memories again. It’ll take time for us to recover.”

“I’m sorry, Ma,” the VP puts in, “but I think you need to leave. The club ain’t no place for a lady such as yourself, and once you’re set up with your son, at least everyone will know we’re not forcin’ you to stay.”

“I disagree,” Ma replies soundly. “I think here is where I should be. Oh, yes, I’ve got a vested interest. You boys remind me of my other sons. They say the good die young. They wouldn’t have put me into a home and left me to rot. And they’d have died laughing to know I living in a biker club.” She frowns slightly at her choice of words. “I feel useful, and that’s something I haven’t felt for years. Don’t expect I’ve got much time left, but if you’ll have me, here’s where I want to stay.”

I go to refute that her days are numbered, but one glare and I shut my mouth.

“I’ve already called the police. You should be getting visitors right about…”

Drummer’s phone rings.

“Now,” she finishes, a triumphant look on her face, trumping the fierce one on Prez’s, which confirms she’s right. We’ve got visitors at the gate.

Drum gets them escorted up to his office, and when they arrive, well, fuck me if it isn’t Detective Harper, the cop who gave Darcy such a hard time. Immediately I tense.

There’s a fake smile plastered on her face as she goes and sinks to her haunches in front of the wheelchair. “Now, Gramma. Your son’s very worried about you. But don’t worry, I’ll have you out of here in no time.”

“Ain’t your gramma. You treat me with respect, young lady. I’m Mrs Jones to you.” The vehemence in her voice has the detective rearing back. As the detective stands, Ma continues, “I want that son of mine arrested and charged with slander. What he told that newspaper is a bagful of lies.”

“I can’t arrest your son. He’s worried about you.”

“Well, he’s got no need to worry. These boys put their own lives at risk to rescue me. More than that, knowing I’ve got no home to go back to, they’ve given me and my great-granddaughter accommodation here.”

“But they’re making you work.”

The look Ma throws her could kill. Drummer’s studying her carefully, as though trying to memorise it. “You think anyone could make me do anything?”

“You do the cooking…”

“I’m sharing my old recipes, fool. You always believe everything you read? Fake news. Ever hear of that?”

She’s still not backing down. “Your son…”

“My son cares only for himself and his freaking reputation.” As Ma wheels the chair forward, the detective steps back. “I was looking out for myself when you were in diapers, and I’m still doing it now. I suppose you’re the sort of person who’d put your own mother in an anonymous retirement home just to get her out of sight. Oh, yeah. You’d be the type.”

“I, no, I…”

“I suggest you get out of here and go do what you can to put this mess right. And while you’re doing that, put some effort into putting this man’s woman’s rapist behind bars.”

My eyes widen. Ma certainly has her ear to the ground. A small smile comes over my face as I realise she’s got my back.

“My son isn’t the only one who can talk to the press. I’ll be giving an interview myself. And while I’m at it, I’ll suggest the police are holding back in young Darcy’s case because they’re in the pocket of Mercer.”

Wraith, Drum, and I exchange sharp glances. Ma huffs a laugh. “I’ve known Mercer since he was a snivelling brat. Never had a clean handkerchief on him, that boy. Always wanted more than he was prepared to work for. Nasty piece of work, then and now. Looks like his son’s turned out the same way, taking things he hasn’t earned or deserves.”

“Mrs Jones, there’s no proof he was the man who assaulted Ms Cavanaugh…”

“I suggest you look harder,” Ma snaps. “Volunteer for this job, did you? Easy work, taking an old lady off the compound. I figure you’re a lazy one, and the press might like that story as well. How the police don’t investigate the attack on a brave firefighter. Yes, I think they’d like to hear that.”

The detective starts sputtering, but Ma overrides her again. “Your boss will appreciate knowing you’re not going after the man responsible.”

“There’s no proof.”

“Then I suggest you find some. You know who the culprit is. Do your job and go catch him. Now, I think we’re finished here. I’ve got phone calls to make.” Ma turns the chair around, presenting her back to the cops. Giving me a wink, she wheels herself out.

Drum lifts his chin at them and waits.

Without a word, knowing they’ve been dismissed, they turn and leave. After checking the prospect’s outside to escort them down to the gates, I return to the office and shut the door.

Wraith’s staring at Drum, Prez looks bemused. They both look at me, and suddenly we all start to laugh.

“Think we should patch her in, Prez,” Wraith suggests.

“Don’t know about that, VP. I’m rather partial to wearing the president’s patch. And she,” he waves his hand toward the door, “could probably give me a run for it.”

I shake my head. “Wonder what the fuck she was like in her younger days?”

Prez grins. “Too much for you to handle, SAA.”

“Too right,” I don’t hesitate to agree. “Too fuckin’ right.”

“Take a seat, Peg.” He waits until I sit down. “What’s the word on your woman?”

My hand toys with my beard. “She’s hopefully gettin’ out of the hospital this weekend. Truck’s going to be stayin’ with her, as that fucker Mercer’s still walkin’ free.”

As Drum throws me a look of sympathy, I know he’s hearing the words I haven’t said. But he focuses on the practical solution. “We need to get Mercer taken off the street.”

“We do that.” I go cold at the thought of that bastard getting near Darcy again. “Might have to deal with him myself.”

“You’re too close, Peg. He disappears, you’d be the first place they look.”

“With Flash getting out, need to get this fixed as fast as we can.” I brush my hand down my beard. “I threatened Harper I’d go over her head to her lieutenant. It’s Diaz.”

Drum lifts his chin. “I can do that. Figure if I talk to him, and Ma has her say, Harper will definitely be getting a kick up her ass.”

I nod my thanks. “We need to get Cherry Orchard,” fuck it, I can’t say the name without smirking, “to retract her statement. I’ll go see Mouse and see if he’s found anything more.”

Drum raises his chin in dismissal, and I take myself next door to the darkened office Mouse holes up in, walking as usual into what seems to be a solid wall of smoke.

Our computer guru looks up and nods. “You were right.” He gets straight into it. “Someone’s put a flag on Orchard’s name, makin’ it impossible for him to get any financin’.”

“Has Cherry’s father ever had trouble before?”

“Nah, his financial report says no. Don’t know why he went to Mercer’s in the first place.”

“Cherry suggested he got low interest rates.”

“Hmm…” Mouse takes a tin out of a drawer and starts rolling another joint. “They may be targetin’ people who they want to keep in hand. Then, when they want to use them, raise the interest rates. It was probably in the small print, which no one ever reads. Hey, found something out that’s interestin’. Mercer Senior’s a member of a prestigious golf club. Orchard’s also a member. So’s the judge that heard Mercer Junior’s bail case…”

I inhale deeply and then sigh. “You think that’s how he does it? Makes friends, then coaxes them in with a friend’s benefits deal, then they find it hadn’t been so friendly.”

“Would make sense. I’m looking at other members.”

I nod. “See if any are cops. They’re not putting the effort into putting Mercer away like they should.”

“I’ll dig out who the members are and look at their occupations.” Mouse sweeps his long hair behind his ears to stop it flopping over his eyes. “It’s a private club, not big. And with the sky-high membership fees, I doubt there’s many that can afford to join.”

“And Mercer will be there to offer his help if anyone needs a loan. Stockin’ up favours he can call on for the future. Like keeping his son out of jail.”

Mouse offers me a drag on his joint, and accepting, I inhale deeply before passing it back. “What was going on in there?” He jerks his head toward the wall connecting his office with Drummer’s.

I laugh, feeling more relaxed than at any time since reading the fucking news article. “Ma’s going to give the newspaper a piece of her mind. And she let the cops have it too. Tore them a new one for not going after Mercer.” I break off, narrowing my eyes. “How the fuck she knew about him, I don’t know.”

“Has she not had a chat with you yet?” Mouse looks surprised as I shake my head. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s had a past in interrogation. Let’s see, she’s learned of my childhood on the reservation—and you know I never speak about that—and I believe I may have told her the name of my first girlfriend in school. I did manage to head her off on the date of my first fuck.”

I’m roaring with laughter now.

“Saw her havin’ a word with Wraith yesterday. Poor asshole probably doesn’t even know how much he told her.”

Ma’s special recipe fried chicken is on the menu tonight, and it’s a full house. Even Slick and Ella, who are now living off the compound, stay around to eat. Having had those words with Mouse, I steer clear and try not to be alone with the old woman, turning away to hide my grin when I see her cornering Drum.

The next morning a reporter arrives early.