Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
My fists clench as I push through the doors into the RCMP building, and stride through the foyer past the cold stares from officers and staff. Kurt keeps pace at my side, carrying the same determination as me as we scan the space for Donnie, and tune out the murmurs and disapproving head shakes.
I find him across the wide hallway, leaning against a cubicle partition while talking with some other Mounties. I stare at him until he feels it and looks over, then I hold up my hand and curl my finger in an unmistakable order for him to follow us. Then I turn and head back outside.
I light a cigarette as I lean against the brick wall outside, and draw the smoke deep into my lungs. It settles the raging storm inside me just enough to focus on what I need to do, even though I don’t fucking like it.
It’s not Donnie. It can’t be.
And once I prove that, I’ll quit smoking. I already managed a few hours this morning, I can do it again.
The door opens, and I watch as Donnie steps out and makes his way towards us, with a nod in greeting.
“Fellas,” he says. “Thanks for waltzing right into the office and letting me explain this away. Now what can I do for you?”
“We’ve got a problem, Donnie.” I tap ash onto the concrete, watching it scatter in the breeze.
He glances between me and Kurt, and Kurt just observes him through his sunglasses with his arms crossed over his chest.
“Sons?” Donnie asks.
“And a rat,” Kurt says flatly.
Donnie nods and glances around, lowering his voice. “Any idea where it’s coming from?”
Before I can say anything, Kurt cuts in with a shrug. “You?”
Donnie glares at him as his whole frame goes rigid with restrained fury. His gaze then darts to me as his jaw ticks, and I exhale smoke and shake my head, not even sure what to say.
He shifts his gaze back to Kurt and takes a step forward. “Fuck you if you think I have anything to do with the Sons,” he says in a low, rigid tone. “And fuck you for even hinting I’d betray the Kings.”
Kurt just nods slowly.
I take a long drag and blow it out, staying silent.
I know Kurt doesn’t really believe it’s him.
But there’s always that sliver of doubt.
However unlikely, it still could be him.
And if Donnie is the one bleeding us from the inside, we need to give him enough rope to hang himself so we can know for certain.
But Donnie closes the space between them, squaring up to Kurt and pointing a finger in my direction.
“I’ve been friends with him since we were kids.
And I’ve spent time in that clubhouse since I was five fucking years old.
I know what you do to traitors. I know I’d be signing my own death certificate if I got into bed with anyone else.
” He shakes his head with a huff. “You really think I’d risk everything I’ve built, and risk my own life, just to bring in more heat?
For what… extra cash? To drag more crime into this province and make my job a living hell? ”
Kurt holds his stare a beat longer, then a slow smile spreads across his face. “Just had to see you sweat.”
Donnie exhales sharply and shakes his head. “Fuck you.”
I rub a hand down my face and flick the cigarette butt to the ground, grinding it under my boot. “Can we get the fuck on with this? I have a lecture to get to.”
They both turn their heads to me, but I ignore the confused looks on their faces.
“We met with Frank,” I say, folding my arms across my chest. “And he let it slip that he knows I’m against running guns.”
Donnie’s eyes flick between us. “Yeah? So?”
“So, no one outside the club knows that,” Kurt says. “Except you.”
Donnie lifts a hand and points at Kurt. “I already fucking told you—”
“I’m not saying it’s you,” Kurt snaps, cutting him off. “I’m asking if anyone else in our pocket knows this, too.”
Donnie shakes his head slowly, looking out over the parking lot.
But then he stills, and his eyes flick back to me.
“I have Henry tracking the gun suppliers like you asked, and looking for any potential movement into New Brunswick. There hasn’t been anything, but…
last week, he asked if I thought the Kings were finally going to make a move and run for them.
And I said it was starting to sound like it was hinging on you,” he says, locking eyes with me.
“You told him Alder was holding us back from running guns?” Kurt asks in a low, cold voice.
Donnie tenses, glaring at him. “I was talking to the only other Mountie on your payroll. The one doing exactly what you asked for,” he snaps. “All I did was tell him where things stood. You think I expected him to take that and run it to Frank fucking Becker?”
“Fuck,” Kurt mutters, running a hand over his face.
White-hot anger pumps through me as I hold myself back from getting on my bike and riding through the streets of Fredericton to find that fucker and gun him down right now.
“We need proof,” Kurt says, like he knows exactly what’s running through my head.
“I’ll get proof,” I say. “He’s going to get a visit tonight.”
Donnie nods, and I see the fire blazing in his eyes… the kind that comes from knowing you’ve been used, and wanting blood for it.
“Be on standby,” I tell him, turning to head for my bike. “If he’s the rat, we’re going to need a cleanup crew.”