“I know, Violet. I know,” he says. His voice is gentler, caring. “What do you need me to do?”
“We think he might be keeping her in one of those cabins on forest service land. We need you to break into the records office in city hall and get us any information about any cabin that might be rented out by any members of the Death’s Disciples.”
Bowen Dale nods. Once. “Seems simple enough. But there’s something I’m going to need from you.”
“What?”
“Five thousand dollars.”
I gape. “What? Are you joking?”
“Nothing in this life is free, Violet. And I certainly don’t work for free, either. My price is commensurate with the risk and the time it would cost me.”
I want to cry. To come so close to help, to finally have the attention of a man who I am sure can get the information we need to locate my missing best friend, and to be thwarted by pure greed. I’m sure Crash would lend me the money, but I refuse to even entertain the idea — tying myself even further to a criminal? I mean, who knows where he got that money? Would I be buying information to help my friend with blood money?
“BD, I don’t have that kind of money.”
“I’m sure you’ll think of something. You know, it’s like Oscar Wilde once said: ‘Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination.’ So, do some thinking, go find the money, and look me up when you’re ready to pay me for my work.”
Heartbroken, I turn and leave without saying goodbye. I’m in such a rush to leave and I don’t want to give the ruthless old man the satisfaction of seeing my tears.
Outside, Crash and Snake are waiting for me, pacing. I can’t meet their eyes at first, because I know if Crash sees the tears I’m barely holding back, he’ll charge inside and probably kill BD. Or maybe get himself killed — seeing how quickly DB was able to pull that gun earlier has me thinking his tall tales of his exploits might not have been so tall after all.
“Well?” Crash says.
I shake my head. “He won’t do it.”
“That dick,” Snake says.
Crash and I both look at Snake expectantly, and I half hope that he’ll make his usual offer to go stab someone so I can finally and enthusiastically give him the ‘yes’ that I know he’s looking for. But he doesn’t.
“So, what now?” Crash says.
“You two get back to searching for Kendra and keeping an eye on Josie. I have a bar to open. We’ll figure something out,” I shrug, though my imagination is already at work on an idea.
If BD won’t break into city hall for me, I’m just going to take care of business myself.
Chapter Twelve
Crash
The entire day and night passes with an odd feeling sitting in my gut. It’s something I can’t shake, can’t drown with a glass of whiskey or a shot of vodka, can’t rationalize away or chase off by keeping busy — even as I check in with Max Paisley and find that work is progressing on our truck, thanks to us doing our best to keep our promise to Violet, and even as I spend a pleasant day in the company of the little Speed Demon, Josie, and an even more pleasant night as Violet’s bouncer and bartender’s assistant, something still feels wrong. Really wrong.
Can’t shake it, can’t get over it, but can’t figure out what the hell it is.
“That’s a night. Thanks for all your help today, Crash,” Violet says, kissing my cheek and putting a full glass of bourbon in my hands. It’s like she knows that I’m feeling off and wants to help put me at ease. This chick sure is something special. “I’m going to head home. See if Josie’s still up and maybe her and I can chat a bit. I haven’t had much time to check in with her and it might be time for a heart to heart, you know?”
I sip the bourbon and nod. Josie’s a tough kid, but it can’t be easy going through the day wondering what kind of danger someone you love is suffering through. “I get it. You want me there?”
She shakes her head. “No. Actually, you think you could give me a few minutes? Maybe hang out here for a bit, help yourself to another glass and then lock up the bar for me? I think it’d be better for Josie and I to talk alone.”
“Yeah, sure,” I say. “Give the little Speed Demon a hug for me, will you?”
“Of course. And thanks, Crash.”
She leaves and I sit for a minute, trying to quell my stray thoughts with bourbon and, somehow, still failing to get a handle on just what’s bothering me. A few more minutes pass and I pick up my phone and give Blaze a call. Violet should be about home by now and I’m sure she’ll want the place to herself while she talks with Josie; Blaze is better at listening and understanding family drama than some other guys in the club, considering the lifetime of shit he’s gone through with his mom, but it’s still got to be hard to have a heart to heart with a big guy like him looking over your shoulder.
The phone rings twice before he picks up.
“Yeah, Crash? What’s up?”
“Violet should be home in a minute. Once she’s there, I will need you to clear out for a few. Maybe spend some time hanging out in the driveway.”
“Something wrong?”
“No, she just needs a little privacy to chat with Josie. Make sure the kid’s still doing OK.”
“Got it.
