by Sam Crescent
“You’ve predicted the future.” Preacher was growing bored with the conversation. There was no reason to continue it. With his grilled cheese sandwich finished, he left the kitchen.
“What do you suggest I do about Robin?”
“Figure something out. You’re a smart kid.” He slammed the door of his office and sat behind his desk.
Taking a bite into his sandwich, he looked over the documents that had been sent to him. O’Klaren, the latest chief of police, and one who seemed to have a clean as they come work ethic, smiled back at him. Something didn’t add up about the man. Why send a guy with an amazing arrest record like this to his town, if he was so good? Milner was once a good cop, but they’d sent him to this town to keep him out of the way. It could only mean one thing: O’Klaren had a dark secret and he’d have to do some digging. On the surface, he looked like a good man, but he knew people. O’Klaren wasn’t a good cop. Nah, there was something there spiraling beneath the man, something dark, and Preacher was going to find out what.
Preacher had gotten Dog and a few other associates, including Billy and Ryan, to try to figure out the best way to get this son of a bitch on his side. So far, there had been a couple of warnings.
Just last week he’d been in town, and O’Klaren had sought him out. It was the first time any of the cops on his payroll hadn’t given him the heads-up. He’d been right to keep quiet and lay low.
He’d been in charge for a long time and was used to getting what he wanted. This was the first time in a while where he had to literally do nothing and just wait for the all clear.
“Let’s get one thing straight, Keats, and I’m not going to justify calling you by your road name, you will always be Keats or Caleb to me. This is my town, and whatever shady shit you think you’ve got going down, it stops now. I will end you. I’m not Milner. I can’t be bought. You step out of line, I will make it my personal mission to see you rotting in jail and becoming someone’s bitch. I may even watch.”
Preacher would give the man some credit. He had a pair of balls, that was for sure. No one spoke to him like that, and because O’Klaren decided to go on the offensive and seek him out, well, he was more than willing to fight him back if he needed to.
With that in mind, he flicked open the file. It had only been a week, but there was sure a lot of information on the good old man of law.
He never had a bad word said against him. Always checked his leads. Took care of rats. He was, for all intents and purposes, a good guy.
Sitting back, Preacher finished his sandwich with a good look at the man’s family. He was a married man with five kids. The oldest was already away at college, and the kid had a history of problems. Assault and petty theft.
It intrigued him to know a good old guy like O’Klaren had a kid misbehaving, acting out. Taking a note of the kid’s age, Preacher saw he was only a year older than Bishop.
“Bishop, get your ass in here,” he said.
He didn’t have to wait long. Even as his kid was dragging his feet, he still arrived. “What’s up?”
“I’ve got an assignment for you.” He handed him a picture. “I need you to get close to this kid.”
“He’s in college.”
“Last time I checked you had a bike. Besides, I’m not asking you to enroll into college. I’m asking you to get close to this kid. Find out what his deal is. Why he’s always in trouble. It doesn’t require you to actually do anything about it.”
“I’ll go and start now.”
“Anyone home?” Bear called.
“In here.”
“See you later,” Bishop said.
As his son left, Bear entered.
“I thought you wanted to talk over the O’Klaren problem. Rebecca’s shitting herself. Apparently, he approached her at the grocery store. He wanted to take her for coffee. That kind of thing. You think he’s after free pussy?”
“Does it bother you?” Preacher asked.
“With Rebecca? Hell no. If she can help us get this son of a bitch out of our business, I’m all for it. You know I don’t like it when it gets too slow.”
“I’ve got Bishop on the son’s case. He should give us some information.” He rubbed the back of his neck. The urge to kidnap and torture O’Klaren was strong. The biggest problem was it would all come back to the club for now. He needed to know exactly why O’Klaren was here and what he had to do. Preacher was a patient guy when he needed to be, and he wouldn’t get what he wanted for just killing. It would be fun, but not necessary, not right now.
He had to be smart about this, even if he was begging for blood, and he was.
He wanted to wipe that smug smile off the bastard’s face. He really thought he’d won this little war, but he hadn’t even come close.
“You think the son’s going to give us info on the dad?”
“There’s a reason a kid acts out. Think about it, his dad is right up there, being one of the proudest men on the force. Any crew that gets him, always know their figures are going to improve. He’s known for getting the crook and tossing away the key. How does someone who is all about the law and rules, deal with a son who is starting to look like one of mine?”
“Bishop doesn’t have this much on his rap sheet,” Bear said, lifting up a copy of the official document. He let out a whistle. “Attempted sexual assault?”
“It’s not clear. They were in a public restroom. Whoever made the statements didn’t have the best kind of handwriting.” He groaned. “It would be so much easier if I could slit his throat.”
“I know you. If it could be done, you’d have done it already.”
“You’ve got that right. What’s going on with your kid?” Preacher asked.
“Robin?”
“You got any other kid I don’t know about?”
Bear snorted. “Hardly.”
Preacher knew if Bear had fathered any kid, he’d have laid claim to them. He held family in high regard, and even if he hated Rebecca, he still stayed married to her for Robin’s sake.
“Well, how is she?”
“I don’t know. In all honesty I haven’t really seen her. The few times I have, she looks like she wants to say something. I don’t know. She has this guilty look, which makes me wonder if she’s had sex.”
“Do you think she has?”
“Again, I don’t know.” He shrugged. “If she has, then it had to be on Bishop’s birthday, right?”
“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s Bishop,” he said. He shrugged. “Forget I even mentioned it. I don’t know why I even bothered. My kid, he’s worried about her.”
“I’ll go and talk to her. See what’s up, but she is still a teenager. It was probably girl stuff.”
“I wanted to thank you,” Preacher said.
“For what?”
“The girl you sent me on Bishop’s party night. She was amazing.”
“I didn’t send you a girl.”
“What?”
“I didn’t send any girl to your room.”
“There was one waiting for me.”
“Then I guess you got lucky. The boys and I only took care of you having a good time, keeping you plied with drink, and to have fun. We didn’t organize any girl.”
“Well, I wonder who the fuck that was then,” Preacher said.
“Do you know what she looks like? I’m sure one of the guys or girls will know.”
Preacher shook his head. “Nah, it’s all a little vague. The fact I fucked her is a miracle.”
“You were pretty wasted. There is no doubt about that, but you deserved it. I had my fun that night as well. Finished it with screwing Rebecca. Not my highest moment, but still.”
Preacher laughed. “I still can’t believe you two managed to make a kid like Robin. How that girl is sane is beyond me.”
“I guess two wrongs really do make a right, because there is nothing right about Rebecca and me.”
He burst out laughing.
****
Robi
n sucked at lying.
Wherever she went, she was sure people could see she was nothing more than a lying whore. That’s what she was, right? A horrible person.
Closing her locker, she stared at the grey surface, wondering if she would be able to bash her head in multiple times.
“Hey, baby,” Bishop said, touching her waist and kissing her neck.
She quickly pulled away, not wanting his touch.
He looked at her, again, like she was weird, which she was. How else could she describe the way she was being?
“What is going on?” Bishop asked.
“Nothing. Nothing is going on. I’m just really busy.”
“We’re supposed to be hanging out tonight. Hello, did you forget?”
“Don’t you have that assignment to do for your dad?” Bishop had called her up after his first day of getting to know someone called Thomas. Preacher had trusted him with a mission to find out what was going on with all things Thomas and to report back to him. He’d been doing this for a couple of weekends now.
“I know, and you’re supposed to be coming with me. You know, make me look stable, and help me out. You promised. You have this way about you that draws people in, Robin. Don’t bail on me.”
She stared at her best friend and felt close to tears. Averting her gaze, she shook her head. “I’m sorry. I can’t.”
Without waiting for an answer, she walked out of the school and headed toward town.
Bishop didn’t bother to follow her, and she was so grateful he didn’t. She didn’t want to talk to him or have anything to do with him right now.
I slept with his dad.
She’d been trying to deal with everything going on in her life. From the events of the party, which she still had nightmares about. In some of her dreams she was unable to move while each member took turns, which was just crazy because nothing like that happened. Then it would change, and she’d actually be enjoying what Preacher did.
Was he raped too? Did he know what he was doing to her?
Did he even know it was her?
She hadn’t spoken to him or seen him since.
There was no way she was going around the clubhouse either. Not with Milly there, waiting, watching, probably mocking her from where she stood.
The other woman was vile to the core, and she wanted nothing to do with her.
Rubbing at her temple, Robin tried not to feel sick.
She entered the small library. It only had two floors, and the books were limited. She knew they’d been struggling for funding for a long time. She’d tried to write to the necessary boards and people to offer more funding, but so far, nothing. Next, she planned on talking to her dad. At least she knew through the club, stuff would be done.
Finding the science department, she grabbed her books and sat at the table, opening them up, and just hoping no one tried to talk to her. She had to be alone with her thoughts, and always looking deep in study helped her a great deal.
Don’t think about it.
Don’t think about it.
Look, biology.
It’s great.
You have to think about it.
No, I don’t.
Physics.
You haven’t had a period.
Shut up. It doesn’t matter.
You know what no period means.
It means I’m stressed and I’ll get it tomorrow or when I do.
You’re not this stupid.
It doesn’t mean anything.
What about the good old morning sickness? Have you got a good explanation about that?
Sitting back, she swiped the tear that fell down her cheek.
If she pretended for long enough, it wouldn’t exist. She wouldn’t be in the middle of a crisis and everything would go back to the way it was supposed to. Resting her hands on her stomach, she closed her eyes, taking deep breaths.
It was all she could do right now.
Pregnant.
That one word terrified her more than anything. She didn’t know what she was supposed to do about it, if she could even do anything at all.
The hours ticked by, and in between trying not to panic, she flicked through the pages of the musty old books, feeling … empty.
There was no way she could tell her best friend what had happened. He was her boyfriend. She’d never thought of Bishop as her boyfriend.
When the library was about to close, she put her books away, put her coat on, and headed outside. Her home wasn’t too far, and she started to walk, only to pause when a truck, one she recognized, came to a stop.
She turned and offered up a smile even as her heart raced and her entire body tensed.
“You okay, Robin?” Preacher said.
“Yeah, fine.”
“I thought you were helping Bishop out tonight.”
“I was, but I had to study.” And panic like a crazy person because I think I’m pregnant with your child. See, had to study.
“It’s getting cold out. Jump in. I’ll give you a ride home.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind the walk.”
“You’re turning down a ride?” he asked.
She forced a smile to her lips. “No, of course not.”
Grabbing the door handle, inside her mind she was screaming at herself. Why the fuck was she going through this? She had to leave.
To get away.
What if he remembered that night?
If he remembered, you’d have known long before now.
She sat right near the door, and Preacher turned up the heat.
“Looks like we’re in for a cold winter.”
“Yeah, very cold.” She lowered her hoodie and tried to get comfortable.
“I haven’t seen you around in some time. Everything okay with you?”
“Yeah, studying.”
“That’s what Bishop said.”
“You and Bishop have talked about me?” she asked.
“He doesn’t know what he’s done wrong,” he said. “He thinks he’s upset you.”
“That’s crazy. He wouldn’t do anything to upset me.”
“That’s what I told him.” He patted his hands on the steering wheel as he navigated through the streets. It had started to rain, and the truck smelled like him. She remembered now the last time she’d been in this truck. He’d taken her to see the doctor because of Bishop’s prank.
The cut on her arm seemed so long ago now, a lifetime ago.
“Can I ask you something?” he asked.
“Yeah,” she said.
“It’s about the party.”
If she got any tenser, someone would have been able to snap her with a blade and she’d have been torn in two. “What about the party?”
“Did you see a woman head to my room? Or a woman who said she was going to … be with me?”
“No.” She hoped she hadn’t said it too soon. “No, I didn’t hear anything.”
Her house was up ahead, and she saw the lights were on.
The moment he stopped the truck, she climbed out. “Thank you for the lift, I appreciate it.”
“Anytime. Hey, Robin,” he said.
She had no choice but to stop and turn toward him. Tilting her head to the side, she waited.
“You know if there’s anything bothering you or you need to talk to someone, you can come and talk to me, right?” he asked.
“Yes, I know. I do totally know that.” She nodded at him again. “I better get inside. It’s cold.”
She walked into the house and immediately heard her parents arguing.
“You will not speak to him again, do you understand me?” Bear’s voice was loud, scary. She was used to him yelling, but this held an edge of anger, real anger.
“Or what? You can’t tell me what to do or how I can live my life. You’re nothing to me, Bear. Why don’t you go and screw all those little bitches I know you love so much? It’s what you’re good at, remember? Screwing meaningless sluts. Do they even know what you’re doing? I bet you’ve
got kids all over the place.”
“If I did, they would be right here.”
“You would not bring your bastards here.”
“I would, and I’d make you take care of them. Even make you watch me as I fuck their mothers.”
She heard her mother gasp, followed by the unmistakable sound of a slap.
“You’re a bastard.”
“And if you even dare to talk to that bastard again—if you think you can go shooting shit with the law, the only place you’ll end up is six feet under, and believe me, I will take great fucking pleasure in pulling the trigger.”
Closing the door, she hoped her arrival would stop any arguing.
Seconds later, Bear came around the corner, all smiles.
“Darling, how are you?” he asked.
He wrapped his arms around her, and she didn’t push him away even though she was tempted to do so.
“I’m fine.”
Her mother didn’t say anything, just sniffled as she walked upstairs.
Robin felt sorry for her. She and her mother didn’t always get along, but it didn’t mean she wanted her to suffer. This wasn’t the life she’d want for anyone, regardless of how they treated her.
“I’ve got to talk to you about something,” Bear said.
“What is it?”
Bear took her arm, leading her into the living room.
Removing her bag and coat, she sat down, looking at her father, wishing she could tell him, confide in him, but she had no way of knowing how they would react.
“There’s a new cop in town.”
“Chief O’Klaren, I know.”
“Has he been to talk to you?”
“No. Why would he want to talk to me?”
“He’s asserting himself as the one in charge.”
She laughed but stopped when she saw how serious he looked. “Oh, hasn’t … Preacher dealt with him?”
“We’re dealing with it, but until we know everything, I’m going to need you to keep quiet. Don’t talk to him. If he insists, you come to me. You don’t talk, remember.”
“I remember the drill.”
“Good.” He pulled her in close, hugging her. “I feel like I haven’t seen you in forever. What is going on with you lately?”
“Nothing.” She’d been saying it a lot lately. “You know, studying.”
“You’ve always been the studying kind, but it has never stopped you from hanging out with Bishop. I haven’t seen him around.”
