“Well, let me know if there’s anything I can do for you or your sister,” I said.
Rabbit raised his bottle in appreciation and Doc called us to assembly.
* * *
Church was uneventful and brief. Doc let the club know about Rabbit’s sabbatical in as few words as humanly possible, only underlining my suspicions that some details about his absence were being left unspoken. Then again, I could be completely wrong.
“Shadow,” Doc called out as we were filing out of the meeting room, and I turned to see him waving me over to where he and Doom were standing. I walked to them and Doc handed me a stack of papers.
I immediately spotted the eight-point Maltese Cross of the Savannah Fire Department at the top of the cover sheet.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“I want you to take a look at this and tell me if anything odd jumps out at you,” Doom said.
“This is an arson report,” I replied, skimming though the pages.
“That’s right,” Doc replied.
“From an investigation led by Lt. Bob Saunders,” I read out loud.
“Also correct,” he said. “Six months ago, a commercial building the club had its eyes on purchasing burned down. I didn’t think much of it at the time. I figured rather than sell, the owner had decided to burn it down for the insurance money instead. Either way, I moved on and was able to secure a building off Tolman road. Just after the loan closed, that building also burned down.”
I glanced at Doom. “Seems like one hell of a coincidence.”
Doom nodded. “That’s what I thought.”
“You think someone set these fires deliberately?”
Doc nodded.
“Why go through the hassle of burning down an empty warehouse?”
“Now that you’re a full patch, I can share this with you,” Doc said. “The Howlers are practically printing money with their pot business and we’re looking to follow suit here in Savannah. As soon as recreational weed is legal, we will be poised and ready to launch our very own grow and distribution business. Everything is in place except for suitable warehouse space, which has proved hard to come by.”
“Especially with all the restrictions on distance from schools and shit,” I murmured, continuing to read.
“Casper and Alamo have been seeking out properties in and around Georgia that might work, but the second we find something…”
“And you think something in this report will prove sabotage?” I asked.
“Yeah,” Doom said.
“Who?”
Doc sighed. “I think the Beast is behind this, but the report claims the fire was caused by faulty electrical work.”
The Beast, we were coming to find out, was a group of one-percent MCs, ex-Dixie Mafia members, and disenfranchised women who were being led by one ruthless cunt no one had been able to find. She was underground and she was ruthless.
One particular disenfranchised bitch had cut Caspar’s hand off when we’d got a little too close to the organization. We’d had to back off a bit, but I knew Doc was monitoring the situation.
“Sure, I’ll look at it,” I said. “But I’m not sure what I’d find in this report that Lt. Saunders would have missed. He’s a living legend within the department. If he says it was an electrical fire, I’d be inclined to believe him.”
“I would have too, except look at this,” Doc said, handing me a second report.
“What’s this?” I asked.
“The arson report from the first fire. From the property we were looking at purchasing.”
“If you didn’t own the property how did you get this? Arson records are sealed.”
“It fell off the back of a truck,” Doom replied.
“Rabbit’s gonna get himself and the club in some deep shit with all his hacker bullshit, ya know?” I challenged.
“Trust me, I know,” Doc replied before pointing at the second report. “Look carefully. Does anything look familiar?”
I scanned the report, stopping when I saw the cause of the fire.
“Faulty electrical work,” I replied. “And Saunders led this investigation as well? Is this right?”
“That’s what the report says,” Doom said.
“I’m assuming you already looked at this?”
Doom nodded. “Since I’ve been out of the firefighting game for a little while, I wanted another set of eyes.”
That was a load of bullshit. Although, technically true, Doom was still part of the volunteer fire crew and had a natural affinity toward fire and its nature, so he was often called upon as a second opinion by insurance companies and the like. If Doom couldn’t find an anomaly, no one could.
“Wait a minute,” I said, reading the details. “I remember this fire. Our truck responded to the call.”
“You fought this fire?” Doc asked.
“No,” I replied.
“I thought you said you were there?”
“No. I mean, we didn’t fight the fire,” I clarified. “It was already out by the time our truck got to the scene. I remember that because our lieutenant couldn’t believe a structure of its size and construction could burn so quickly and completely. Engine Seven responded to the second fire, and from the pictures in the reports, the scenes look identical.”
“What kind of electrical fire would cause both buildings to burn up like that?” Doc asked.
“I’m not an expert, but I don’t think anything outside of a heavy-duty chemical accelerant could do this much damage so quickly,” I said. “And there’s no way Saunders would have missed something like that.”
“So, he’s lying?” Doc asked.
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but there’s absolutely nothing in these reports about traces of fast burning accelerants.”
“Why would he leave something like that out?” Doc asked.
“To avoid Homeland Security,” I replied.
“What?”
“By federal law, any arson investigation which uncovers the use of prohibited substances has to be reported to Homeland Security as a possible terrorist threat.”
“Look at you, Mr. Fresh Out of the Academy,” Doom said, tussling my hair.
I chuckled. “This isn’t anything you didn’t already figure out, is it?”
Doom grinned, shaking his head.
“So, Saunders withheld reporting on the accelerant to avoid the Man,” Doc said. “Why?”
“He’s close to retirement.” I shrugged. “Maybe he just didn’t want the aggravation of governmental oversight.”
“Do you believe that?” Doc asked.
“No,” Doom and I answered in stereo.
“Then, what?” Doc pressed.
“He’s covering up for someone.”
“And Bingo was his name-o,” Doc said.
“It’s gonna fall on us to figure out who,” Doom said.
“And with Rabbit gone, it’s gonna be twice as hard,” I deduced.
“He’ll be reachable,” Doc said. “But, yeah, gone.”
“Leave it with me,” Doom said. “Shadow and I’ll dig a little deeper and see what we can come up with.”
Doc nodded, slapped me on the shoulder, then walked out the door.
“You think you can do a little diggin’ when you’re on shift?” Doom asked me.
“Yeah. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks, brother. Let me buy you a beer.”
I chuckled. “I think I’m gonna need to chase it with a shot.”
“You read my mind.”
I grinned and we made our way to the bar.
CHAPTER FOUR
Posey
SATURDAY ARRIVED AND I had two massage clients in the morning, but one canceled fifteen minutes before his appointment, so I not only had his non-refundable fee, I had the entire day to myself. Quin had sent me all the information for the club’s family party, and I figured I didn’t have anything else to do. Besides, I was horny, and a biker probably knew his way around a vagina.
&
nbsp; At least, that was the hope.
I took my time getting ready, grabbed a bottle of wine from my rack, and called a rideshare since I planned to get my drink on. Sterling had sent me the quote for my kitchen yesterday and I was still reeling from the pain, so today I’d drink to forget, and deal with everything on Monday.
The car pulled up to the gates, but the Pitbull manning the front wouldn’t let my driver through, so I had to get out there and call Quin. She let out an expletive, hung up on me, then the gates suddenly swung open and a very contrite looking young biker waved me through.
I made my way down the gravel road but didn’t get far when a golf cart came barreling my way.
Quin was behind the wheel, braking within a few inches of me and grinning. “Get in.”
I did as I was told, and Quin flipped a U-turn and drove back the way she came.
“I swear to god, these new recruits are going to be the death of me,” Quin complained. “It’s family night. They know strangers might be showing up.”
“It’s fine, Quin,” I assured her. “They’re just doing their job.”
“Badger’ll take care of it.”
“Who’s Badger?”
“Sorry.” She chuckled. “Knox. My husband. His club name is Badger.”
“Ah.”
She pulled up in front of a giant barn and I could hear loud music practically seeping out of every wall.
“Come on,” Quin said, turning off the cart. “Let’s go party.”
I nodded, and followed her inside, where she took my bottle of wine and set it with the others in the kitchen. “Do bikers drink this much wine?” I asked.
Quin laughed. “Oh, honey, no. That’s for us. There’s a bar at the back of the room that has every liquor and beer under the sun. The men will probably avoid the kitchen, except maybe Doc, Otter, or Shadow. They’re a little more refined than the others.”
“Oh,” I said, but not fully comprehending what that meant.
“Do you want some wine now?”
“No, I’m good,” I said. “I should eat first.”
“Smart,” Quin said. “Come and meet everyone.”
I slung my purse over my shoulder and followed her into the great room, slamming into a hard body.
“Shit, sorry,” I said, my head craning to see who I’d accosted. “Well, hi.”
My firefighter-slash-contractor grinned down at me. “Hey.”
“Is this an apropos time to ask if you’re stalking me?” I joked, stepping back slightly in an effort not to run my hands up his chest.
He grinned and I felt my stomach flutter. “Who invited you?”
“Quin.”
“You know Quin?” he glanced her way, but she’d been stopped by Jasmine and was laughing at something.
I nodded. “We went to high school together. Sort of. I was a freshman, she was a senior.”
“You get the quote from Sterling?” he asked.
I sighed. “Unfortunately.”
“How bad?”
“Five thousand.”
“He’s givin’ you a deal,” he said.
I grimaced. “Yes, he is. Still doesn’t mean it doesn’t hurt.”
“Oh my god, Posey, I didn’t know you knew Shadow,” Quin breathed out as she walked back to me.
“Shadow?” I asked. “I thought your name was Nolan.”
“Road name,” Shadow provided.
“Oh, like Badger,” I said.
“Yeah,” Shadow confirmed, smiling gently and turning to Quin. “I bid out her kitchen job.”
“Oh, cool,” Quin said. “You’re redoing your kitchen?”
I couldn’t stop a blush. “There was some… ah… damage.”
“Oh, no, that sucks. What happened?”
“She tried to cook a cardboard box,” Shadow retorted.
“Okay, I didn’t try to cook a cardboard box,” I ground out. “I just didn’t realize you were supposed to take the stuff out of it before putting it in the oven.”
“But you know that paper burns, right?” Shadow teased.
I crossed my arms. “Okay, you can shut it now.”
He grinned and I straightened my shoulders in an effort to shake off my embarrassment.
“Looks like you’re in good hands, honey,” Quin said. “Come find me later?”
“I’ll go with you now.”
“Or, you can let me buy you a drink,” Shadow countered.
“I thought the drinks were free.”
“Figure of speech.”
“I should really get something in my stomach first,” I said. “I tend to make really bad decisions when I’m drinking.”
“Yeah? What kinda bad decisions?”
“Ones where I wake up without clothes.”
Shadow’s grin deepened. “Yeah?”
I wagged my finger at him. “No.”
“You sure?”
“No, I mean, yes,” I rushed out. “It’s a hard no.”
“Damn,” he whispered and shook his head. “A hard yes is so much more fun.”
“Food,” I pressed.
“Right.”
Shadow led me out the back where tables were laden with all manner of food, including an entire pig (head still attached) in the middle of one of them. An older gentleman was carving meat from its body and setting it on plates.
“Wow,” I breathed out.
Shadow chuckled. “Our food quality has gone up since Dash snagged Willow.”
“Oh yeah?”
“The woman can cook like no one else, then you got Kennedy. She’s Mouse’s woman. She owns a bakery in town.” Shadow nodded toward another table with just desserts. “Some of these are left over from the end of the day, a few are ones Kennedy didn’t feel were nice enough to sell, and then she always insists on making something fresh. We’re her guinea pigs when she’s trying out a new recipe.”
“Tough job,” I said.
Shadow chuckled. “No doubt.”
“Holy shit, Posey,” Jasmine called out, rushing toward me. “Are you here to finally accept my offer of employment?”
“Wait,” Shadow said. “You’re the yoga teacher?”
“More importantly, the kick-ass massage therapist,” Jasmine provided. “And I’ve offered her more than I pay myself to join me. So, are you gonna?”
I hugged her. “No, sorry.”
“Goddammit.” She grinned, releasing me. “Did you get food?”
“I was just about to.”
“Great, grab a plate and come find me. I’ll introduce you to everyone.”
“I can do that,” Shadow said, and I saw mirth flicker in Jasmine’s eyes.
“Can you?” she challenged.
“Jesus, Jasmine,” Shadow hissed.
She smiled slowly, just like the Cheshire cat. “I do so love that you see me as the Lord and Savior, darlin’.”
“Quit.”
“Me?” she asked with mock surprise. “Never.”
He rolled his eyes and walked way, while Jasmine burst into laughter.
“Oh my god,” Jasmine said, still laughing.
They obviously had some secret language I wasn’t privy to, so I was totally in the dark. “What?”
Jasmine shook her head. “Story for another day, babe. Come on, you fill your plate and I’ll introduce you to a few folks.”
Still in the dark, and despite the fact I was more and more curious about what their interaction meant, I said nothing as I followed her to the pig table. She got distracted when one of her kids needed attention, so I continued to pile food on my plate until I felt him behind me. I knew it was him, and it wasn’t just because he was so tall, casting a shadow over my five-foot-two frame.
“Like to see a woman who eats,” Shadow said.
I craned my neck and raised an eyebrow. “Are you calling me fat?”
He dropped his head back and laughed, then met my eyes again. “You always this funny?”
“Not on purpose,” I admitted.
“Fun
ny all the same,” he said, then changed the subject. “I got a lead on a used range.”
I frowned in confusion. “A used range?”
“For your kitchen. Same model. Mint condition, two-hundred bucks.”
I spun to face him. “Seriously?”
“Yeah, if you want it.”
“Yes, I want it. That’ll save me six hundred dollars.”
“I’m aware.”
“When did you get a lead on it?”
“Just now.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You walked away, got a lead on a range, then walked back and let me know?”
He grinned. “In a manner of speaking, yeah. I’d called around after I left your place just in case. Guy called me back a few minutes ago.”
I sighed. “That’s really sweet, Nolan—”
“Shadow.”
“Right. Shadow. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. I can pick it up Monday after shift and drop it off.”
“What time does your shift end?”
“If there’s no emergency, four.”
“That should be fine,” I said. “Thanks for doing that.”
“All good.”
“Shadow!” A large man with one hell of a beard bellowed. His arm was around a gorgeous redhead who rolled her eyes and slapped her man’s chest.
“Otter!” she growled, then said something else, but they were too far from me to hear. Shadow gave him a chin lift and walked away, leaving me alone at the pig table again.
“Never like to see a pretty woman all alone.”
I turned and came nose to chest with a large man. He wore a leather vest like Shadow’s and his tag read ‘Stump.’ I craned my neck to look up at him. “Am I alone?”
He chuckled. “Name’s Stump.”
“I see that.”
“And you are…?”
“Posey.” I held my hand out to him. “Nice to meet you.”
He took it, flipping it and lifting it to his mouth, kissing the palm.
“Fuck off, Stump,” Shadow growled, and shouldered him out of the way.
Stump raised an eyebrow but didn’t let go of my hand. “I’m talkin’ to my new friend.”
“And I’m tellin’ you to fuck off,” Shadow repeated.
I stood a little stunned, unable to speak which was rare for me, as the men seemed to get into some kind of secret, biker stare down.
Fanning the Biker's Flame (Dogs of Fire: Savannah Chapter Book 8) Page 3
