by Brook Wilder
“What do we do, just bust it open?”
“The statue ain’t worth nothin’. It’s what’s inside that matters. I helped my dad make this one. There is ten grand, an identical packet, a handgun and an ammo clip. Don’t worry, the gun’s not loaded.”
“There are emergency hammers in each side pocket. Grab one and we’ll find an out of the way place to crack it open.”
Non and Jaden both slid their hands into the side pocket attached to each door and pulled out a little metal hammer with a pointed tip. Alina could see they were confused.
“I always had this irrational fear of being trapped in a car as it sank into a river. Having an emergency hammer at each door makes me feel safe. You can just grab one and crack the window open.”
Non quipped, “You sound like a boy scout.”
“Try a girl scout, for five years. Got a badge in everything they had to offer.”
The boys chuckled as she pulled behind a mini-mart. It was relatively isolated and she flipped the passenger side seat forward and turned to the boys. Jaden held the statue which was still upside down in the brown bad. Non handed her one of the emergency hammers. Alina snatched a plastic bag from her glove box and laid it over the flat bottom of the statue, hoping to keep chips from flying when she cracked it.
“Here goes.”
She gently tapped it with the pointed end of the hammer and nothing happened. She tapped it again, harder and then once more with even more force. The next attempt fractured it down the side. Opening the bag, she found that about a third of the statue had fallen away. Turning it slightly they saw a tight roll of cash, a gun, an ammo clip and a small tin about the size of a passport. Each item was carefully wrapped in clear plastic. Alina took out the gun and clip and stashed it in her glove box, locking it securely. She opened the tin and discovered a blank passport and a small passport photo of each individual Kingsmen.
“Hammer had been serious when he told me about what was in a cache.”
“He shouldn’t have told you about that all.”
“Well, you can talk that over with him when you see him. Right now we need to get his money to Shelby and…”
Jaden’s head jerked to look at her. “We ain’t giving the whores ten grand. The brothers might need supplies while they’re on the inside. We need to give them whatever amount they normally shop with and a little bit for unexpected expenses.”
Alina mused out loud. “You’re probably right. We’ll need to pay attention to the bills for the clubhouse and make sure nothing gets missed. Hammer won’t be too happy if the water or electricity got turned off while they’re all in the can. Who was assigned to handle this if they got arrested?”
Jaden spoke without hesitation. “It was supposed to be whatever brother was still on the outside.”
“Great. Guess it falls to us.”
“It will have to fall to us. No one else is allowed in his office.”
Taking out the wad of cash, she peeled off grand. “This ought to keep the girls in food and incidentals for a couple of weeks. We can use my smart phone to access the county website. They should have a list of what kinds of things we are allowed to bring for the brothers. We’ll get ahold of that then place a pick and pay order at the local warehouse club. That way, we just need to pick up the goods and separate them into packages for the guys.”
“Makes sense to me.” Jaden looked at her with a strange expression on his face. “You know something? I don’t think you did call the cops on us.”
“Sometimes the truth gets lost amongst all the opinions flying back and forth. Let’s get to the coffee house. I’ll get you two some hot chocolate and muffins. How about that?”
“It’ll be nice. I feel like we’re doing something at least. It’s better than setting at that shelter they had me at worrying myself sick.”
“We just have to believe we’re going to get through this.”
Non spoke up. “My brother wouldn’t be in jail, if I hadn’t gotten him involved with the club.”
Jaden smiled. “You should be happy that you did. They’ll probably beat this wrap and guess what? Every prospect who serves time for the club gets and automatic patch. He’ll probably be thrilled.”
Non still looked worried. “I just need him out.”
Alina responded soothingly. “Your brother is going to be fine, Non. The prospects aren’t real club members, so they probably have the best chance of getting out. Shelby said your brother doesn’t even have any ink on him. The police will see him as the least threatening of all.”
The boy’s hopeful expression just about broke her heart. She wanted to reach out to him but knew he abhorred physical contact.
Sitting at the coffee shop nursing their drinks and half eaten muffins, the conversation stalled as they took care of business on Non’s ever present lap top. First they went to the county jail website and pulled up the list of approved items.
INMATE ITEMS ALLOWED
Beverages including dried beverage mix (no plastic containers)
Bread-in sealed packages no twist ties)
Candy- no alcohol filled must be hermetically sealed
Coffee.
Dried coffee Creamer
Magazines
Paperbacked books
Deck of Cards (new and sealed)
Dominos
Honestly, the list went on and on. They pulled the website for the local warehouse club and ordered a couple of dozen hygiene bags and small duffel bags. They began picking items based on their knowledge of what the men would like.
Alina murmured, “With any luck, they’ll be out before they get to use this stuff.”
Non whispered. “Head’s up. Shelby’s here and she looks like she’s been crying.”
Jaden stood up, “I’ll get her a drink. I know what she likes.”
Alina frowned, unsure if he opted out because he didn’t like her or because he didn’t know how to handle her overly emotional state. Waving Shelby over, she quickly hit the Buy Now button on their order.
Shelby slid into the chair beside her and burst into tears. Alina grabbed her hand.
“Hey there, no crying. I know this sounds like the end of the world but it’s just a moment in time. We’ll all get through this. We just need to stay strong and stick together.”
Between sobs and sniffles the woman choked out her worries. “I know. I really do but I just can’t stand to think of our guys all sitting in jail cells. Mal’s claustrophobic. Can you even imagine what he’s going through right now?”
Jaden slid a coffee in front of her and sat back noncommittally as the women continued to talk.
Alina was totally at a loss, yet somehow her mouth was moving. Whether it was her speaking or Hammer’s words being channeled through her, she didn’t know. “He’s busy conquering a weakness. When he comes out, he’ll be stronger for having endured it.”
The other woman looked at her and blinked once before wiping at her eyes with her sleeve. “You’re probably right. I didn’t think of that. He’s strong. He’ll get through this and when he does, he’ll find me waiting for him.”
“Oh, he’ll find a helluva lot more than that. He’ll find that you stayed strong for him, helped keep the clubhouse safe, and that you worried over him. Trust me, these are the kind of guys that appreciate strong women, especially ones who are devoted to them.”
“God, you’re so right. I really needed to hear that.”
“That’s why we women need to keep the dialogue open. How are the others doing?”
“They’re torn up pretty bad. This just really caught us all off guard. We never expected them all to disappear on us at the same time.”
“Well the way I see it, it’s a chance to prove that we’re more than just pretty little dolls they take off the shelf to play with every night. We need to keep the balls in the air.”
“Hell, no one knows what kind of shit they’re into.”
“I’m not suggesting we run their club business. I’m talkin
g about keep the clubhouse safe, the utilities turned on, the garage running and making sure the men have what they need while there’re on the inside.”
Shelby seemed to come alive. “You’re absolutely right. We need to pull on our big girl panties and get our asses in gear. I have some cousins that we can trust to keep the garage going.”
“That would help. Don’t let him have the run of the clubhouse though.”
“Oh, I won’t. I’ll have them come and work their shift and leave. We’ll keep the place locked up tight after they leave.”
“We’re making care packages for the guys today. I plan to visit with that attorney…what’s his name?”
“Cavanaugh…George Cavanaugh. You be careful with him, Alina. He’s got claws and fangs.”
Alina laughed. “Don’t worry about me. When it comes to protecting Hammer, he’s the one who should look out. I’m not taking any shit from him. If he tries anything, I’ll rock his fucking world.”
Shelby huffed out a relieved breath. “Wow. You’re beginning to sound more like Hammer every day. Okay, I’m beginning to think we can really do this.”
Alina bumped shoulders with her and slipped her a wad of cash under the table. “You better believe it, sister.”
Chapter 24
Best Friends
The boys were good sports about helping fill the care packages. Alina watched as they fussed over them to make sure they were just right. The doorbell rang and immediately there was loud pounding on the door. Just as her heart jumped into her throat and a thousand dark images crept from the corners of mind involving the Grim Crew, she heard Dianne’s panicked voice calling her name.
No sooner had she pulled the door open than Dianne stormed into the room. “Marlow said you call the cops on the Kingsmen. Why in the hell would you do that, not once but twice?”
Looking at her frantic friend Alina crossed her arms over her chest. “Hell, Dianne. It’s really nice to see you today. Would you like come coffee?”
Forcing her emotions under control, the woman glanced around the room taking in the boys who were staring at her in shock and all the packages.
“Freaking hell, you didn’t do it. I should have known better.”
Ushering her friend into the kitchen, she poured her a hot mug of coffee.
“Actually, I did. When Jaden originally began missing school, I got worried and paid Hammer a little visit. He totally blew me off and I didn’t feel like I had another option.”
Dianne frowned at her. “No shit?”
“Yep. Hammer was pretty furious but we worked it out. In fact, we pounded the pavement together to track Jaden down and finally got him back. It was pretty dangerous, I don’t mind telling you. It was worth it because we brought him home unharmed. I can’t figure out who called CPS this last time. It gave law enforcement the opportunity they needed to get to the club members. I don’t see how this could possibly be worse.”
“Jesus, you fell for that sexy biker. You’re in up to you neck at this point, aren’t you?”
Rolling her eyes, she shrugged. “I suppose. Not that how I feel or what I do for them will make a difference. Hammer’s already convinced that I ratted on him. Honestly, it’s like nothing I do even matters.”
“Who do you think made that call?”
“I don’t know. Thought it might be you for about half a second. Then I realized that Marlow probably never even told you Jaden was missing. He’d have wanted to keep you out of it. If you didn’t know anything, you couldn’t possibly have called to report anything.”
“You got that right. I didn’t know anything until he used his one phone call to contact me. Who does that leave?”
“I had Brian to look at some information I took from the man who took Jaden. He promised he wouldn’t call the authorities.”
“We should probably call him. Make sure it was him. If not…”
Alina immediately filled in the blank. If it wasn’t Brian, then they still had a rat among them to worry about. Grabbing her cell with a shaky hand, Alina called Brian on speakerphone.
“Hey Alina, I was just getting ready to call you. I found…”
“Sorry to interrupt, but we rescued the child.”
“Thank God. I don’t know who these men were but they were into some really bad shit, Alina.”
“Tell me something I don’t know. They tried to shoot me twice. Why did you call the authorities after you said you wouldn’t?”
“What the hell are you talking about, babe. I wouldn’t ever risk a kid’s life with some stupid stunt like that. You told me he was in serious danger. I understood that to mean that I wasn’t to tell a living soul. Hell, I even had lunch with your little friend the other day and didn’t breathe a word about this.”
Dianne nodded her head in verification. “Sorry, Brian. The authorities are being a real pain in the patootie right now. I didn’t mean to jump all over you, especially after your information proved to be the key to finding him.”
“Hold on while I do a freaking victory dance. Yea, that’s me. I’m a computer god. Okay, I’m back now. So, you want me to send you the rest of this information in an e-mail or what?”
Laughing at his antics she responded. “Yes please. You really do kick ass, Brian. You totally deserve a better handle than the one you got stuck with.”
“We’ll brainstorm that over a bottle of wine one night soon. Gotta go, sweets.”
“Got a hot date or something?”
“Yep. Muscle bound meathead from the gym. He can’t conjugate verbs or anything but he looks like a Greek god.”
“Well, have fun and don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
“Screw that, I’d never get laid.”
Placing her phone on the table, the women stared at each other. “Could be one of the whores.”
Alina shook her head. “I don’t think so. If one of them had done something like that wouldn’t they take off? Well, none of them have. Met with Shelby earlier. She said they were all broken up.”
“Maybe they have the place bugged.”
“They might have bugged the place when they were there the first time. Don’t they need to have a court order for something like that? I’ll ask Mr. Cavanaugh about that when I visit him.”
They watched the boys finish up the care packages. “Do you want to add anything to Marlow’s package?”
Dianne immediately folded her arms over her stomach and slid back in her chair.
Alina inferred from her closed body language that the answer was no.
“Look, my friend. It’s none of my business but whatever went down between you and Marlow is in the past. You’ve spent the last year mourning that loss. Now the first time you think he’s getting shafted by me, you’re here beating my door down. I don’t have to be a genius to work out that the man still means something to you. You’ve been really lonely. You’ve got to either let him go or jump back on the horse. You know what I mean?”
“I think, I’ll write him a letter and see what comes of a little honesty. Just getting it out of my system might make me feel better. You’re right about one thing. I can’t keep sitting shiver for a relationship that isn’t meant to be.”
Alina placed an empathetic hand on her knee and Dianne reached out to place a hand over Alina’s. They were both women, who were hurting in their own way. It bonded them closer somehow. Maybe her friend had the right idea. Alina decided to include a letter for Hammer in his package.
Chapter 25
Putting the Puzzle Together
The next morning Alina found herself sitting at a table with Jaden, as they waited for Hammer to be brought into the room. The crass institutional atmosphere was cold and impersonal. The thought of facing Hammer left her feeling totally shaken. Would he be furious that she’d taken the initiative to arrange for Jaden to live with her? If he was hating on her, he wouldn’t want his son with her. She rubbed her moist palms on her pants and tried not to let her anxieties run away with her.
; Thinking of Hammer sitting in a cage the last two days had worn on her. Every horrible thought of the kinds of humiliations prisoners were subjected to ran through her head. It ate away at to think of Hammer enduring even more than his disadvantaged life had already dealt to him. The man just couldn’t seem to catch a break.
Suddenly, the door was flung open and he was standing there. His massive form filled the doorway. Alina swallowed hard at the image that filled her eyes. He’d ripped the sleeves off his jumpsuit, which was stretched tight across his massive chest. His narrow hips and crotch were hidden from her view by his muscular arms and gigantic hands, which had been chained in front of him. Jesus, he was a primitive sight with his angry green eyes, wild tousled dark hair and sinister tattoos. He looked like he hadn’t shaved since they picked him up.
