Chapter 14

Dart

As the old lady epidemic hasn’t hit the San D chapter, I ask Snips if any of the club girls would be dependable enough to look after a young boy. Before I finish getting the question past my lips, a pretty woman who looks to be in her mid-twenties approaches, her eyes fixed on Tyler.

“And who have we got here?” She’s got a pleasant, musical voice, and I immediately take to her. She’s different from the typical club girls, not so flighty, and with a caring expression on her face.

“Yep, her.” Snips claps his hand on her shoulder. “Dart. This is Eva. She’s got a kid herself, ‘bought the same age, I reckon.”

“That I have.” She gives an easy grin. “He’s with his dad this week. And I happen to know all little boys like cookies.”

Tyler, who’s hiding behind my legs at the moment, gives a small nod as he cautiously eyes the strange men around him. Then his face looks up at the woman. “And bikes,” he tells Eva in a solemn voice.

“Hey, kid likes bikes,” Snips announces to one and all. “Anyone ‘ere got one?” He’s greeted by a round of laughter and sarcastic comments.

Putting his arm around Eva, Snips plants a kiss on her cheek then turns to me. “Dart, Tinder will show you where to take the woman you brought back to get some answers, and Eva and I will entertain young Tyler here.” He crouches down to Tyler’s level. “Cookies, then we’ll take a look at some bikes? How does that sound?” As Tyler lifts his chin, and even in the tortured state of mind I am currently in, the gesture brings a half smile to my face, Snips continues, “Bet we’ve got better ones here than at the Tucson Chapter.”

I give Tyler a little push, and bend down to speak into his ear, but loud enough for Snips to hear. “And I bet they haven’t. You’ll have to tell me later.”

A little more at ease, Tyler gives a small grin then skips off, holding Eva’s hand. I hold my middle finger up to Snips. Better bikes, my ass.

Thompson’s girlfriend is brought in and pushed alongside us as Tinder shows Slick and myself down to a basement. It looks like it’s used for much the same things as our storage room back home. Pulleys are attached to a ceiling with chains hanging down, and various tools are scattered around. There’s a faint lingering odour of blood and urine, not totally disguised by the slightly stronger smell of disinfectant. The woman is looking around with scared eyes and looks almost ready to piss herself.

Ignoring the equipment, I pull a chair into the middle of the room. “Sit.”

Her eyes flick around her surroundings, and she’s gone very pale. She opens her mouth, then clears her throat before speaking. “I don’t understand why you brought me here. And why you’ve taken Tyler. My boyfriend’s a cop. You won’t get away with this. He’ll be angry if you hurt his son.”

Thinking causing Tyler any harm is the last thing on my mind, I pull up another chair and turn it around, straddling it with my forearms resting on the back. I regard her intently until her eyes shift away. “Way I see it, it’s your boyfriend who’s in trouble. He was the one doing the kidnappin’. He took his ex-wife and her kid away from their home.”

“His kid.” Her voice has more spirit in it. “His wife was keeping him from seeing Tyler.”

I nod as if she’s said something completely reasonable. And then bark out, “He brought his wife to San Diego too. Now why the fuck d’ya think he’d do that?”

Again her mouth opens, but all she does is gape like a fish. She’s not got an answer. In the end she resorts to denial. “I don’t know anything about his wife coming back.”

I wonder whether she’d spoken to Tyler, but she must have. Tyler’s first words to me had been concern for his mom. She’s lying. “Where’s he taken Alex?”

Something in my face communicates I’ll have nothing but the truth. Her eyes narrow as she snaps, “I don’t know what he’s done with that bitch. All I know is I haven’t seen her. He wouldn’t bring her to me, not after the things she’s done to him. She’s a cruel, cold-hearted woman. That kid’s better off with us.”

“What do you know about Tyler?” I wonder how deeply she’s involved, and how much Thompson’s told her. “You know that he’s sick? That he needs tablets and stuff?”

She sneers. “That was just his wife being over protective. There’s nothing wrong with the boy. Ron says he just needs toughening up.”

Even if I was going to make damn sure there wasn’t any possibility of it happening, there’s no way I’d consider leaving Tyler to be ‘toughened up’ by his dad. The memory of that child’s pain when he had his episode that day makes me go cold. What would they do to help him through that if it happened again? Which reminds me, I’ve got to keep a close eye on Tyler here and make sure everyone’s aware how to help him.

Her head’s gone down, and now comes back up, and her shoulders slump. “Alright, I admit I know she’s in San Diego. Ron told me she insisted on coming to keep the boy company for the journey. Ron left her at their old house so she could get some of her stuff, and then was going to get rid of her.”

Slick comes up alongside and stands with his arms folded across his chest. “Get rid of her? Your words or his?”

“His,” she replies sulkily.

Slick bends his head to mine. “Move along with it, Dart. We might be runnin’ out of time.”

That was exactly my thought too. “Look, lady. Hell, I don’t know what your name is.”

“I’m Belle. Belinda.”

“What’s your last name?”

“Winscott.”

“Look, Belle, Belinda. I don’t think you understand what this boyfriend of yours is capable of.” In the back of my mind I recall the story of the Satan’s Devil he’d killed. “When Thompson says he’ll get rid of her, he doesn’t mean put her on a train or buy her a bus ticket to get home. He’s going to stash her somewhere, kill her, or at least hurt her.”

Again, she glances down at her feet. “He wouldn’t do that. He’s a good man.”

Slick’s eyeing her carefully. Suddenly he moves and pulls up her sleeves. There are fingermark shaped bruises on one of her forearms. He raises his hand and touches her cheek and she flinches. “Wearing a lot of makeup there, sweetheart. Your man did this?”

She refuses to answer, neither to deny or admit it.

“I think you do know what he’s capable of. And that includes gettin’ off on makin’ people hurt.” Perhaps that’s why she’s not talking. She’s more afraid of Thompson than of us.

“He wouldn’t kill her. He’s a cop.” Or very naïve.

Cops can do anything, and get away with it too. Who better to know how to disappear a body? Well, except perhaps for us.

I decide to go straight for info. “Has Thompson any property which he owns, apart from the two houses? A garage? Lock-up?”

“If he has, I wouldn’t know.”

Slick crouches down on his haunches. “Look, Belinda. There may well be a woman whose life is at risk at this very moment. Even if we’re wrong, we want to find her. Can you think of anythin’ at all that might help?”

She scrunches up her face, and then shakes her head.

At that moment, Snake walks into the room. He nods at me, then his eyes narrow as he sees the woman sitting on the chair. “You got yer phone on ya?”

He’s a striking man, a snake tattoo winding around his neck. His hair is almost as long as Mouse’s, and currently tied back. At about six-foot-two and massively built, he can be quite intimidating. One look at his face and she doesn’t delay putting her hand in her pocket to pull out an iPhone.

“Unlock it.” He holds out his hand. She passes it over to him. Quickly he scrolls through the contacts, looks at something, and then shakes his head. “Doesn’t look like he shares his location.” This is addressed to me. Well, it wasn’t going to be easy.

“Dart, Mouse is back. He’s got Thompson’s computer. Go and sit with him, see if the two of you can put your heads together and come up with somethin’. I’ll stay here with Slick and we’ll see what else she knows.” And then he removes his attention from me and focuses on the woman in the chair. The last thing I see is her cringing in fear.

Going up to the clubroom, I find Mouse in a corner looking at a screen. “Anythin’, Brother?”

“No. Token’s gone to look somethin’ up. I’m just seein’ what I can find on here.”

As if hearing his name, Token appears. “Got somethin’, I think. I know she doesn’t keep in contact much with her parents, but they own a cabin up in Big Bear.”

“Why would he take her there? That’s a long shot, man. There’s not even anythin’ linkin’ him to them.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. You missed somethin’, Mouse.” Token looks extremely pleased with himself. “He’s got a separate bank account, they pay him an annual sum.”

“Why the fuck would they do that?”

“Don’t know, man, but there’s obviously some contact there.”

Mouse is rubbing his face. Suddenly he takes out his phone. “Got their number, Toke?”

“Sure have. Was wonderin’ if you’d need it.”

I’m not quite certain what he’s going to do. I put my hand on his arm. “Mouse, if they’re in tight with Thompson, don’t blow it. They’ll go straight to him…”

He shrugs of my touch and gives a grin. “Trust me, my man.” Then he dials the number.

Well my mouth drops open at the poshest accent I’ve ever heard coming out of the half Native American’s mouth. “Good morning, Mrs Argent. I’m very sorry for troubling you, but I’m ringing from the SD Vacation Resort Group. We understand you and your husband own a cabin at Big Bear and were wondering whether you were considering making it available to rent? It’s in a desirable area, and I’m sure the rental income would be very attractive…”

“Uh huh.”

“Mmm.”

“Oh, well it’s an ideal location for that.”

“So sorry to trouble you, ma’am. But if you reconsider, please get in touch.”

He ends the call and turns to us with a grin, while opening the phone and taking the battery and sim card out. He chucks the pieces of the burner phone into a nearby bin.

“Well?” I prompt, rising up on my toes in impatience.

“She might have been interested, but her daughter and son-in-law have started using it. It’s an ideal place to take a young boy apparently. And,” he pauses for effect, “sounds like she’s fuckin’ there now. Thompson picked up the keys last week.”

She’s hiding in plain sight? Some of the tightness in my chest eases. It would be a crazy place to kill her, far be too obvious, and able to be traced back to him. But it doesn’t mean he won’t hurt her.

“Someone give me the fuckin’ address. I’m checkin’ it out, now.”

“Not on yer own, Brother,” Snake growls from behind me. “Bitch downstairs had nothing else to give. But we’ll leave her enjoyin’ our hospitality until we find yer girl.” I nod. If nothing else, if we find Thompson but not Alex, using his girlfriend as a bargaining point might make him loosen his tongue to tell us where Alex is.

I glance around. Both Slick and Mouse are standing up, ready to go. Snake nods at Lost, who raises his chin in return. Grumbler’s close by and lifts his hand.

“Reckon we’re only dealing with Thompson, so the six of us should do.”

Then I hear a child’s voice and know we can’t all go. “Slick, man. You stay here and look after Tyler. You know his problems.”

Slick looks puzzled. “I know what he suffers from and what you said, Dart. But what the fuck do I know about lookin’ after a kid?”

“You’ve got Jayden.” I try to explain to him my reasoning, by referring to the teenage girl he’s all but adopted, and add, admittedly a bit lamely, “And you’re tryin’ to get Ella pregnant.”

His eyes open incredulously and his hands open in a what the fuck gesture.

Snake’s quick to decide. “Eva will stay with him. Her nursing skills might come in handy. But if he’s got issues like Dart said, someone who knows somethin’ about what his problems are could be useful.”

Taking in a deep breath and letting out a sigh, Slick accepts he’s staying behind.

“Thanks, Brother. I’d feel happier.” I raise my chin at him.

A sudden slap on my back takes me by surprise, and I stagger slightly as Snake announces, “Let’s go get the kid’s mother back.”

I need no further encouragement to leave the clubhouse and go to my bike, hoping and fucking praying we’re right, and we’ll find Alex at the cabin. I’d hate to waste more time following another false lead.

Snake’s out in front with Lost and Grumbler riding behind him, Mouse and me at the back. The two-hour ride seems to take forever, and for once I just want it to come to an end, not even feeling the normal enjoyment of being out on the open road, and seeing none of the scenery we’re riding through. My only desire is to get there, find Alex, and return with her up behind. Yeah, me, who’s never had a bitch on the back of his bike before, and suddenly I can’t think of anything better, having her breasts squashed against me. Ain’t letting any of my brothers have that pleasure instead. Thompson’s a dead man for even thinking of putting his hands on my woman. My woman? What the heck am I thinking? I admit I want her, desire her, but I also don’t want or need a woman in my life. She’s my friend. But the thought of those tits against my back… Perhaps I should just fuck her and get her out of my system once and for all.

But first, we’ve got to get her out of the hands of the man who’s got a legal claim on her. But he won’t that have for much longer. The shit he’s put her through? Separating a loving mom from her kid if nothing else? I’m aiming to make their separation more permanent than any piece of fucking divorce paper.

At last Snake gives us the signal to slow down, and then waves us to a stop. Cutting our engines, we gather around him. “Cabin’s aways up that track.” He points it out. “I say we ride up, bust in and don’t give Thompson a chance to escape.”

“We gonna kill the cop?” Grumbler flexes his fingers as though getting ready. Yes! I mutter under my breath.

But I’m in Snake’s territory, and have to be guided by him.

Snake only takes a second. “Play it by ear. See what’s goin’ down. But we already know it won’t be a loss.”

“If he’s hurtin’ Alex…”

“Dart! This is a cop we’re talkin’ about. If there’s no other way we’ll do what we have to, but got to do it clean so it doesn’t fall back on the club.”

I don’t care what he is. I’d rather see him dead and unable to be a threat to her anymore. But I give Snake a nod, letting him know I’ll follow his lead. He’s a Satan’s Devils prez after all.

Back on our bikes in the same formation, we ride up the track, kicking up dust as we come to a halt. Mouse and Lost slip away to cover the back as Grumbler goes to the front door. It’s locked, and no sound is coming from inside. He lifts his leg and kicks at the flimsy wood. It gives on the second try and we walk into a living room which is musty and dim, crusted dirt on the windows as if no one’s been here for some time. Snake tries the light switch, but I’m not surprised when there’s no bulb glowing as a result. Out here we’d be able to hear a generator running if there was any electricity.

Snake heaves a sigh. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s been here in a while.”

My heart sinks, realising we’ve come to the wrong place. Mouse and Lost come back, shaking their heads, they’ve found no rear entrance and nothing suspicious to the rear of the cabin.

Lost touches my arm. “Sorry, Brother. Wrong call. Seems we’ve wasted our time.”

I can’t give up. “Let’s look around before we go.”

“There’s nothin’ to see, Brother. You can tell that from here. The dust’s undisturbed on the worktops. No one’s been here.” Snake’s speaking patiently as though to a child. “Faster we get back to the clubhouse, faster we can start searchin’ again.”

“Dart’s right,” Grumbler says, going to the back of the room, giving me support. “Can’t leave no fuckin’ stone unturned. Let’s have a quick look around. Won’t take but a minute, and will make our brother feel better.”

But I’m getting the feeling Snake’s right. It doesn’t look like anyone’s been here in years. I’m impatient to get back now that there’s no sign anyone’s been here. I’m tapping my feet as Grumbler disappears down a short hallway, not even thinking it’s worth going with him.

“Dart! Oh fuck! Get in here!” Grumbler’s voice has me running in the direction he’s gone. I meet him in the hallway outside a bedroom door. His hand swings out and bars my way. “It’s bad, Brother. You need to prepare yourself.”

But nothing will stop me. Reading into his words that she’s probably dead, bile rises into my throat as I enter the room.

She’s lying on the bed. Her chest has been cut up, and when I move closer I can see what appears to be cigarette burns all over her gorgeous breasts. And, oh fuck. With her legs splayed open, I can see the bastard has fucking sewn up her pussy! He’s fucking violated her so badly. I can’t help it, the sight makes me turn and vomit, the little I’ve eaten today coming back up. She’s so still, she has to be dead. There’s too much blood…

“She’s breathin’!” Lost announces.

Turning sharply, I see his hand resting on the pulse in her neck.

“Get a fuckin’ ambulance,” I scream.

Snake takes out his phone. “Doc, need you to come to the clubhouse. Bring your emergency kit.” Then he places a second call, requesting someone to bring up a truck, and Doc when he arrives.

“She needs medical care,” I scream at him. “No fuckin’ quack can fix this.”

“Steady, Brother.” The San D prez grabs hold of my shoulders and gives me a shake. “The medic on our payroll is a fuckin’ qualified emergency room doc. If she goes to hospital Thompson will know she’s alive. It’s obvious he left her for dead. Until we know what the fucks going on, she needs to be kept under the radar.” Turning away from me, he looks at Lost, who’s fiddling with the handcuffs. “Can you get her out of those?”

“Give me a moment, Prez. Standard police issue, shouldn’t take too long.”

“He’s fuckin’ gonna die slowly for this!” I say, watching Lost work.

“That he is, Brother. That he is.” Grumbler’s hand is on my shoulder, his voice gravelly with disgust.

A snick, and one arm’s released. There’s no way Alex would have had a chance if we hadn’t found her. Even if she was conscious, there’s no way she could get herself free. Just how long has she been left like this? And now we’ve got at least two hours to wait until the truck and the doc gets here.

“We’re wastin’ time.” I cross to the woman on the bed, now seeing her chest just about rise and fall as she’s breathing so shallowly, and that's only if I look hard. And there I was thinking she’d be riding back on my bike. Fuck, now I don’t know if she’ll be getting to the clubhouse alive. I’m frightened to touch her, can hardly see her through the moisture blurring my vision. Gingerly I place my hand on her head, and then gently start massaging one of her arms, trying to get the blood back into them again. Mouse goes to the opposite side of the bed and mimics my actions on the other. We’ve all strung up men and know the pain and cramp that comes from being trapped in one position too long.

“Alex,” I begin, my voice soft and low. And then stop. I don’t know what to say, how to comfort her. To tell her I wished I’d got here in time before Thompson started hurting her? To tell her how sorry I am that we got here too late? I can’t tell her it’s all going to come out right.

He’s maimed her. And violated her, almost worse than if he’d raped her and there’s nothing to say he hadn’t done that as well. Those fuckin’ stitches are messing with my head. I leave her and go to the end of the bed, taking out my knife, wanting to cut them away.

Grumbler is quickly at my side. “You can’t take them out, Dart. Think of infection. Leave it to the doctor to do it properly.”

He’s right, but it’s killing me. “I can’t stand it. That fucker…” He’d touched what was mine. Violated her in such a horrific way. And I hate that she’s lying their naked. “Can’t we at least cover her up?” I hate to see her so exposed.

“Look at those wounds, man? There’s nothing here clean enough to put over her. I assure you, no one’s getting a fuckin’ hard on from this.”

“She’s fucking freezing to death.”

Lost’s looking around. “Try and find something that at least looks clean.”

Which gives me an idea. Running out to my bike, I take a sweatshirt out of my panniers, and running back in, place it gently over her from the waist down. I’m not lifting her up to put it on properly, her injuries look too bad for me to want to move her. At least I’ve given her some semblance of dignity now.

“He’s not gonna die easy,” Lost growls.

No. He’s fucking not.

Mouse is staring at her. I want to scream for him to give her some privacy, but then he looks at me, his eyes narrowed and angry. “Dart, it’s hard to see through the blood, but have you seen what he’s carved into her?”

I can hardly bring myself to look at the deep, angry wounds. But I force myself. And then scream out, “Motherfucker! For fuck’s sake. Look what’s written on her chest.”

Lost’s arms come around me. “Keep it together, Brother,” he snarls. “Look to your woman. She’s needs you more than fuckin’ ever now, man. Breathe. The bastard’s a dead man walkin’, ain’t no chance of him livin’ now. Keep that in your mind, but your woman needs you.”

I close my eyes and shake my head. My breath’s coming in pants, and it’s hard to calm myself down. Lost is right, even if we can save her she’ll need my strength to help her through this even if I can only be there as a friend. Gradually bringing myself under control, I move back to her head, feeling about as helpless as I’ve ever done in my life. She won’t be able to hear, but that doesn’t stop me trying. “Alex, oh Alex, darlin’. Just hang on, doll. Help’s on its way.”

I watch as moisture weeps down her face, but that’s the only sign that she’s still with us.

Lost has got her legs free now, but she doesn’t wake.

I go back to massaging her arm, and then wipe that tear from her eye.