by Evelyn Glass
She nodded. “Yes.”
“Shit. That’s the last thing we need. That’s going to bring heat we don’t need. I’ll be alright but I get a nice little bump four times a year.”
Dix nodded. “Let Cale know if Leo comes back. Try to keep him here if you can. We’d like to have a word with him.”
“Yeah, I wish I had known that before.”
“We weren’t sure before and we didn’t want to be Chicken Little, but now we know. We’ll spread the word. Can you help us with that?”
“Yeah. I’ll give Steve and Greg a call as soon as we’re done here and let them know. We have a good thing going here and we don’t need a bunch of thugs coming into town and screwing it all up.”
Dix extended his hand. “I’m sorry about this, but we’ll handle it. Don’t worry.”
Randy smiled and took the hand. “Thanks, Dix. I know you will. When are you going to bring that rocket ship of yours by again? I have a new guy who wants to see it.”
“I don’t know. Maybe someday.”
Sensing the meeting was over, Daisy rose. “Excuse me, Randy, did you happen to see a little boy, about five years old, with Leo?”
“No, sorry. Why?”
She looked at her feet. “It’s my son. Our son. Leo took him. That’s why I’m here, trying to find him and get him back.”
Randy softened immediately. “I’m truly sorry to hear that. I hope you can find him and get him back soon.”
She struggled not to cry. “Thank you.”
“Thanks for giving us the heads up, Randy,” Dix said as he put his arm around her waist and began to steer her out of the room. “We’ll keep you and the others in the loop.”
Randy nodded. “If there’s anything we can do, I’m sure Greg and Steve will be on board, too.”
“Cale will let you know.” He escorted her outside, going through the shop because it was quicker, raising a hand in acknowledgment as several of the mechanics called his name. The moment he was outside, he pulled out his cell.
“Cale? It’s confirmed.”
“Shit. Okay. Meeting at Dunes at six. Bring Daisy and let’s see what else she can tell us.”
“We’ll be there.”
CHAPTER NINE
While they waited for the meeting, Dix and Daisy took care of a few errands. They returned to the motel where she picked up her few dirty items, adding them to her wet clothes, then they dropped them at the laundry he used. After making sure she would have fresh clothes, they went back to the motel so she could freshen up a bit after being drenched earlier.
She had been quiet since leaving West Coast Performance. “How are you holding up?” he called as she fussed in the bathroom.
“Okay. I don’t know if I’m relieved Riley wasn’t with him or upset. Relieved Leo wasn’t riding him on the motorcycle, but it would be just like Leo to leave him alone in a motel room.”
“Don’t worry, Daisy, we’ll find him.”
She stepped out. “I hope so. I believe you’ll try. I just feel like…I don’t know…no matter what I do, nothing ever works out.”
He smiled at her, trying to buoy her spirits. “But now you have the Cutthroats helping. You don’t have to do it all on your own anymore.”
She gave him a ghost of a smile. “Thank you. I’m not sure how that even works. I’ve been having to do it all on my own since I moved out and got married.”
“How it works is, you do what you can then let someone else help with what you can’t.”
“Is that what you do?”
He smiled. “I guess. The Cutthroats and Old James are my family, and when I need something, they are there.”
“Old James? Is he in the club?”
He snorted out a laugh. “No. He owns the scrapyard where I work.”
“Ah, okay. We’ll be a little early, but do you want to go or wait here?”
Dix rolled his arm over and checked the watch hanging on the underside of his wrist. “I guess we can go. Maybe we’ll grab that beer you didn’t get last night while we wait.”
She took a deep breath. “A beer, or something stronger, sounds pretty good right now.”
He nodded at the door. “May I buy the lady a drink?”
***
The Cutthroats didn’t have a dedicated clubhouse, preferring to use the overflow room at Dunes. It was available for their exclusive use on demand except for the occasional Friday or Saturday night. Today was Saturday, but they should be done with the room before CJ, the owner, needed the room for customers. The arrangement worked for everyone. The Cutthroats had a place to meet and do business with food and drink available, plus they didn’t have to clean up or maintain the place, and CJ got a steady customer base that worked as informal security for his business.
Dix and Daisy were in the “clubhouse” sipping a beer when Cale arrived, beer and gavel in hand. “Good, you’re here. The entire crew will be here tonight. Everyone gets a voice on this.”
Over the next fifteen minutes the rest of the brothers arrived and settled into their traditional spots. With twenty tables, there were plenty of places for everyone to sit.
“Let’s get started,” Cale said and gave the gavel a light rap on the block. “As you know, Daisy,” he nodded at her and she meekly raised her hand in greeting, “brought to our attention that the Firechrome might be moving into Douglas. Dix and Daisy spent the day cruising the town looking for signs. It’s been confirmed. Four members of the Firechrome paid a visit to West Coast Performance today and more or less confirmed they intend to muscle us out.”
“Good luck with that,” one of the men said.
“Don’t underestimate them,” Cale warned. “They’re a lot bigger of an operation than we are. I’m sure they’re able to bring a lot of pressure to bear.”
“So what are we going to do about it?” another man asked.
“That’s what we’re here to decide.”
“Should she be here for this?”
Daisy recognized the last man who spoke as one of the men at the table yesterday, but she either didn’t know his name or couldn’t remember it. “I can wait outside if you need me to,” she offered.
“No,” Cale said. “You need to hear this. I know you said you weren’t that involved in the club, but you know a lot more about them than we do. You recognized the four men at WCP?”
“Three of them. Leo, Cage and Blade. Those three run together a lot. I didn’t know the fourth guy.”
“What can you tell us about them?”
“I can tell you that you can’t trust them. Leo makes promises he can’t keep. He’ll also knife you in the back if he thinks it will get him ahead. Cage and Blade, they’re the same way. All three, but Leo especially, talk a big game but usually can’t back it up. But there’s still something I don’t understand. Why are they interested in you?”
The room was quiet. “She already knows a little. She was there when Randy and I were talking,” Dix said.
Cale looked at her. “If you want our help in getting your son back, what I’m about to tell you doesn’t leave this room. Understand?” She nodded. “We run an illegal street race.”
“That’s it? Street racing?”
Cale smiled. “That’s it. But not just any street race. We hold four events a year. The first one is coming up in a few weeks. We hold it in the Siuslaw National Forest and racers come in from all over the country to participate.”
“I guess I still don’t understand. People have been racing cars and motorcycles on the street forever. Why is yours such a big deal?”
“Because it’s the biggest event of its kind in the country. We will have between two and four hundred people race each year. We race in early May and June, then again in late August and September. We skip the heavy tourist season because it’s too hard then, and winter for obvious reasons.”
“Four hundred racers? That seems like a lot.”
“It is. It’s spread out over four races, but it’s still a big event. We hold the r
aces in one night. You race against the clock over one lap of what we call the Green Hell. We take ten percent of the purse and the winners get the other ninety percent.”
“What’s the purse?”
“It depends on how many riders enter. It’s ten thousand to enter. So if we have a hundred entrants, we make a hundred thousand, the first three places share the other ninety. Seventy-five percent goes to the winner, twenty percent to second, and five percent to third.”
She did some quick math. “That’s something like a half million dollars! Now I see why the Firechrome are interested. That’s right up their alley.”
“It’s a big enough deal the local economy gets a lift,” Dix added. “You remember Randy saying how he gets a bump four times a year? That’s us. Not to mention the motels and restaurants.”
She began to nod. “I can see it. Leo liked to brag how the Firechrome would move into an area and start taking over businesses they were interested in, or setting up a competing business then use dirty tricks to drive their competitors under. That was probably what the visit to West Coast Performance was all about. Snooping around to see who might be interested in selling or getting into bed with them.”
“What else can you tell us?” Cale asked.
She made a face. “Not a lot. After the first couple of years, I wasn’t part of the scene much. It’s hard to know how much is truth and how much is Leo making shit up. I know the President of the Eugene chapter likes him, or at least Leo said he does. I wouldn’t surprise me if Leo were trying to run this operation. He was always looking for the big score, and this may be his chance. If it is, he’ll do anything to make it work and won’t care who, or what, gets ruined along the way. He is one of those types that if he can’t have something, he’ll destroy it so nobody else can have it either.”
“Your ex sounds like a real asshole.”
“You have no idea,” she said, causing a chuckle to roll through the room.
Cale drummed his fingers on the table a moment. “Okay. Here’s what I want to do. Dix, take Miss Daisy here around to WCP, Terrill’s and OMP on Monday. Have a sit down with them and explain what’s going on and why they need to back our play. If the Chromes get a toehold they’re going to be hell to push back. Make sure they know we’ve got their backs.” He turned to look at another man. “Thad, take a couple brothers and start making the rounds. Motels, restaurants, the works. Let’s try to freeze them out. No point in being hospitable while they’re trying to fuck us in the ass.” He paused again. “Anyone else have any ideas?”
“What about Kevin?” a man Daisy had never seen before asked quietly. “We owe them for that.”
After the murmur of agreement fell quiet, Cale nodded. “Agreed, but first thing’s first. We don’t know where they’re staying, so let’s try to push them out into the open and put them on the defensive. Then we can deal with the Chromes in the only way they understand. Anyone else?”
“I have something,” Daisy said. “You remember our bargain? I’ve made good on my part, and I’ll help you as much as I can, but you have to promise me you’ll help me get Riley back.”
Cale looked at her then smiled. “I remember. It can’t be our first priority. My first priority is to this club then this town, but if the opportunity presents itself, we’ll get Riley back to you. Is that good enough?”
She licked her lips, thinking, but decided that was probably the best she was going to get. She was certain it was a hell of a lot more than the Firechrome would do for her. “Yes, thank you.”
“Anything else?” When no one spoke, Cale banged the gavel. “Adjourned. Dix, Daisy, wait a minute. Thad, you, too.”
After the rest of the brother filed out, Cale looked at those still in the room. “First, Daisy, thank you for bringing this to our attention and helping us.” He then turned his attention to Dix and Thad. “I didn’t want to commit the club, but Dix, you and Thad try to work out how to get her son back, unofficially and off the record. The club will support you as much as we can, but if it goes south and the cops get involved, I’ll have to let you burn rather than pull the club down.”
Dix and Thad nodded at the same time. “Understood,” Dix said. “I’ll take point on that since Daisy and I will be working together anyway. Thad can back me up if I need it.”
Thad nodded. “You got it, brother. I’m only a phone call away.”
Cale then turned his attention back to Daisy. “I need to you sell this, okay? When you and Dix talk to the speed shops, you lay it all out, why getting involved with the Firechrome is a bad idea. Don’t lie, because that may come back to bite us in the ass, but make it as clear as you can, okay? If Leo is fronting this operation, make sure they know who they’re dealing with.”
Daisy smiled. “That will be my pleasure. I don’t know all the ins and outs of what the Chromes do, but I know enough to know nobody should want to do business with them.”
“Good girl,” Cale said with a smile then looked at Thad. “She’s our ace in the hole, and I’m going to play her for all its worth.” He paused as he grinned at her. “Here’s your chance to fuck Leo, and the Firechrome, but good.”
She smiled, feeling better than she’d felt since her arrest. “Oh, I’m looking forward to it.”
Thad held his hand up with a big smile and she slapped it her own hand in a high-five. “You go girl!”
CHAPTER TEN
“Where are we going for dinner?” Daisy asked as she showered. “I’m treating tonight.”
“I thought you said you don’t have any money,” Dix replied as he nosed through her open suitcase. It was full of jeans and shirts, all well-worn. The nicest clothes she had with her were the ones he bought her.
“I don’t have much,” she admitted as the water shut off. “A few hundred dollars. But I think the least I can do is treat my hero to a decent meal. Just not too expensive, okay?”
“Tell you what, I’ll put it on your tab with your clothes. How’s that?”
Her head peeked out of the bathroom. “Turn your back.” When he did, she opened the door more fully and picked up the clothes before stepping back into the room. “Okay, you can turn around now. As far as the meal…okay. But I’m paying you back every penny, I swear, as soon as I get a job. For the clothes, too.”
“If it makes you feel better.”
“It does. I already owe you, and the Cutthroats, so much. More than I can ever repay. But I don’t want to feel like I’m taking advantage.”
“You’re not. You’ve helped us in a big way. If it weren’t for you, we’d be blindsided by what was coming. Now we have a fighting chance.”
She stepped out dressed in the clothes she’d put on after getting wet. “Sorry, but this is the best I have with me.”
“You look fine. Better than fine.”
“Even my shoes are dry so I don’t squeak when I walk anymore.”
He chuckled as she applied her makeup, a bit of blush, eye shadow and lip gloss, and she was done. She turned to him again. “Am I presentable?”
Dressed in her jeans, white men’s style shirt, and a dusting of makeup to enhance her beauty but not hide it, she was far more than presentable. “You look great. I still need to go home and change, though. We can leave from there. I know a seafood place in Douglas that has great salmon steaks. And it’s not too expensive,” he added with a teasing smile.
He was a bit rumpled looking now from being soaked earlier, but thinking back, she rather liked the way the wet shirt clung to him like a second skin. “Okay, sounds like a plan. Do you live near hear?”
“Not far,” he said, intentionally not telling her he lived in the same place he worked, wanting to see her reaction. It was the unusual woman who wasn’t immediately put off by his trailer and where it was located.
He opened the door to pouring rain, and chuckled as she slumped. “We’ll take your car.”
“Thank you,” she breathed, pulling her keys out of her purse. They dashed to the car and slammed the doors afte
r piling inside. “Oy, this seems familiar,” she said as she wiped water from her face. She put the key in the ignition and gave it a twist. Dix kept his comments to himself as she cranked the car over while pumping the accelerator furiously. She gave the car a rest, still pumping the pedal, then tried again. “It’s hard to start sometimes when it’s raining.”
The little car shuddered, coughed, then spluttered to life roaring loudly, before dying again. “Come on, baby,” she cooed to the car as she turned the key again. The Beetle spun over, tried to start, but never quite got there. She tried again and again, muttering encouragement to the car, until the battery began to weaken.
