Chapter Four
Cheshire
Hatter had given me the lead on the issue with the sheriff. Which meant I didn’t necessarily have to run everything by him. As long as I kept him in the loop, that’s all that mattered. From what I’d heard, other clubs didn’t run the same way ours did. But since we were all ex-military, and most of us had served together, we were used to working as a team.
We’d found some interesting intel, but it wasn’t enough. I needed more details to justify taking him out. It was one thing to make sure he couldn’t have a position of power in town anymore, but kill him? Even we had a code to follow. At the end of the day, we had to be able to live with ourselves. I didn’t want to look in the mirror and see a murderer. If I was taking out the trash, then it was just another day. And yes, the sheriff was dirty as fuck, but I wanted to know exactly how bad it was.
“Rabbit, I want you to dig deeper into the sheriff’s financials,” I instructed, my gaze locked onto his jittery form. “Find out where the money’s coming from and where it’s going. And don’t be afraid to follow any leads, no matter how small or insignificant they might seem.”
“Got it, Cheshire,” Rabbit muttered, his brow furrowed as he processed the information. I knew he wouldn’t let me down. His meticulous nature would ensure every stone was turned and every detail scrutinized. It actually made him ideal for several jobs.
“And, Carpenter,” I continued, turning my attention to the towering figure next to Rabbit. “It’s time to put some pressure on the sheriff’s associates. Make them talk, figure out what they know about his connections and operations. Just don’t tip our hand. If they seem like the type who’d be on his side, then make it seem like we want in on the action. Even if the idea of it sickens me.”
“Understood,” Carpenter grunted, his scowl deepening as he clenched his fists. I could see the hunger for action burning in his eyes.
“Good,” I said, nodding my approval. “We’ve got to be smart about this. The stakes are too damn high.” My mind raced with thoughts of just how deep this corruption went, and the danger it posed to not only our club but the entire city. Every one of us was caught in a web of deceit, and it was up to us to unravel it before it strangled us all. “Let’s get to work!”
As Rabbit and Carpenter nodded in agreement, I knew that together, we would bring down the corrupt empire that had poisoned our streets and endangered the lives of those closest to us. And when the dust settled, the Underland MC would rise above it all, stronger than ever.
I had one potential ace up my sleeve, and tonight I’d find out if he was on board. I needed eyes on the inside and couldn’t think of anyone better.
* * *
The night swallowed the city whole, its darkness wrapping around every street and alley. I stood in the shadows, my back pressed against the cold brick wall of a crumbling warehouse. Pulling out my phone, I punched in Park’s number.
“Cheshire?” Park’s voice crackled through the line, wary but curious.
“Park, we need to talk,” I said, cutting straight to the chase. “I’ve got some dirt on Sheriff Holmes that’ll make your fucking head spin.”
“Jesus, Cheshire, what did you get yourself into this time?” He sighed, his concern for me apparent even through the static.
“Meet me at the old rail yard in an hour.” I hung up before he could respond, knowing that deep down, Park was as eager for justice as I was. He just needed a little push. Well, that and I needed to fully remove the blinders he had on when it came to his boss.
With the meeting set, I shot a quick text to Rabbit and Carpenter, letting them know to start the surveillance on Sheriff Holmes’ known associates. We had to move fast if we wanted to catch these bastards red-handed.
As I slipped through the darkened streets, I couldn’t help but think about all the lives ruined by Sheriff Holmes, and something told me we hadn’t even dug through half the crap he’d done. My gut churned with anger, fueling my resolve to bring the corrupt bastard down.
Rabbit and Carpenter were already in position when I arrived at our stakeout spot, their eyes glued to the binoculars as they observed the comings and goings at one of the sheriff’s favorite watering holes. I hunkered down beside them, my own gaze narrowing as I watched the seedy characters entering and leaving the bar.
“Anything juicy yet?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Caught a couple of his known cronies chatting up some girls earlier,” Carpenter replied, his voice tight with disgust. “Might be worth keeping an eye on them. Can’t be sure, but they looked a bit on the young side.”
“Good.” I nodded, my jaw clenched in determination. “We’ll follow them. See if they lead us to something we can use against the sheriff. Even if they don’t, we’ll gather any dirt we can on them as well. I want all of them to pay, and I want them gone.”
As we trailed the suspects, I couldn’t shake the feeling that our actions were setting off a chain reaction -- one that would ultimately lead to a reckoning for Sheriff Holmes and his corrupt empire. And when it all came crashing down, me and my brothers would be standing tall amidst the rubble, ready to rebuild from the ashes.
When it didn’t look like they were going to give us much, I broke off from Rabbit and Carpenter. I glanced at my phone and saw a message from Park. Can’t meet until later . Which meant I’d have to wait until he texted again.
There was another place I needed to check. If those men were after young girls, and we’d found decent evidence that the sheriff was into trafficking, then I needed to find out more on my own. And there was one place anyone in need could go…
The shelter’s walls were cracked and worn, like the souls of those who sought refuge within them. As I stepped inside, the scent of despair hung heavy in the air, making my chest tighten with a mix of rage and sorrow.
“Cheshire?” A voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I turned to see Sister Mary, her eyes filled with a somber kindness that spoke volumes. She ran the shelter, offering solace and protection to those who had been chewed up and spit out by life.
“Need some info, Sister,” I said, my tone serious. “Any victims come through here recently? Ones that might’ve crossed paths with Sheriff Holmes?”
She hesitated, then nodded slowly. “There’ve been a few. I’ll introduce you, but please be gentle with them. They’ve been through hell.”
“Understood.” My resolve strengthened as we made our way through the cramped, dimly lit halls to a small room where several women huddled together, their eyes haunted by memories they couldn’t escape.
“Girls, this is Cheshire,” Sister Mary said. “He wants to ask you some questions about your experiences. He’s trying to help put an end to all this.”
I crouched down, keeping my voice low and steady. “I promise I won’t hurt you or make you relive anything too painful. Just need to know if any of y’all have seen this man before.” I held up a photo of Sheriff Holmes, his cold eyes staring back at me.
A few of the women shook their heads, but one girl, barely more than skin and bones, hesitantly raised her hand. “I… I know him,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
“Can you tell me anything about what he did? Anything that might help me nail that sick bastard?” I asked, hoping for a breakthrough.
“Y-yes,” she stammered, tears welling in her eyes. “He… He was there when they brought me to the warehouse. He watched as… as they did things…” Her voice broke, and I could see the torment etched on her face. My blood boiled with fury.
“Thank you,” I told her gently, offering a small, reassuring smile. “You’re helping put an end to this horror.”
I knew I needed more details from her, but it would have to wait. She seemed too fragile right now. If I poked and prodded, I could end up doing more harm than good. Poor thing. I wished I had a way to make it all better for her, but I wasn’t sure even time would be enough to heal her.
A message from Rabbit had me hauling ass a few blocks away. I found them crouched in the shadows outside a decrepit building, waiting for the secret meeting of Sheriff Holmes’ associates to begin.
“Ready?” Rabbit asked, his eyes flickering with anticipation.
“Let’s do it,” I replied, my pulse quickening as we slipped inside, our footsteps silent as we moved through the darkness. We knew we had to be smart, cunning -- one wrong move, and we’d be caught or worse, dead.
As the voices of Sheriff Holmes’ associates grew louder, we crept closer, hiding behind stacks of crates and machinery, our ears straining to catch every word. They spoke of their vile deeds, of the suffering they dealt in, and my heart clenched with disgust and determination.
“What happened to that little bitch from the other day?” one of them asked. “She was nice and tight.”
“Little whore ran off. Probably with that nun. Besides, she’s too broken now. Give her time to heal some. Then we can grab her again.” The men laughed and bile rose in my throat. “Once we’ve got her firmly under control, she’ll fetch a nice price.”
They talked a bit longer. Once it seemed like they weren’t going to incriminate themselves anymore, we backed off.
“Got it all on tape,” I whispered to my brothers, the damning evidence clenched tightly in my hand. This was it -- the key to bringing down the monster that had tormented so many innocent souls.
And as we slipped away, unnoticed by those who wallowed in their own filth and depravity, I couldn’t help but grin -- my Cheshire grin, fierce and defiant in the face of evil.
As we got on our bikes, I motioned to Rabbit and Carpenter. “One more stop. Got a name. Gregory Mitchell. He’s in the city planning office. From what I’ve found, he helps arrange the hidey-holes where they stash their victims.”
“Let’s pay Mr. Mitchell a visit, then,” Carpenter chimed in, cracking his knuckles menacingly.
We found him in a seedy dive bar, drunk enough to make him an easy target but still sober enough to make sense. Sliding into the booth across from him, I fixed Gregory with my Cheshire grin, the one that made people squirm and loosen their tongues.
“Evening, Gregory,” I drawled, enjoying the way his eyes widened with fear. “Care to tell us about your side gig? The one involving Sheriff Holmes?”
“Wh-what are you talking about?” he stammered, his gaze darting around the room.
“Come on,” I coaxed, leaning in closer, my voice dripping with false sympathy. “You’re in deep, aren’t you? You help him set up his little… operations. But you don’t want to be a part of it anymore, do you?”
If what I’d found was true, this man was scared shitless and wanted out. Just one problem… the sheriff wasn’t going to let him go. His bottom lip quivered, and I knew I had him.
“I can’t,” he whispered hoarsely. “He’ll kill me.”
“Or we could,” Rabbit said, his voice low and dangerous.
“Or,” I offered, my tone light and conversational, “you could give us the information we need to bring him down, and we’ll make sure you’re protected. Your choice.”
It didn’t take long for him to spill everything, revealing the location of one of Sheriff Holmes’ secret hideouts. We left him there, trembling and broken, as we headed toward the unmarked warehouse he had described.
“Be ready,” I warned my brothers, as we approached the door. “No telling what we’ll find inside.”
The horrors that lay within were worse than I ever imagined. Cages filled with terrified, malnourished victims, their eyes wide and pleading. The stench of decay and despair hung heavy in the air, making me want to retch.
“Document everything,” I commanded, my heart aching for these innocent souls trapped in this hell.
Rabbit and Carpenter moved quickly, snapping photos of the living nightmare before us. Every image captured was another nail in Sheriff Holmes’ coffin -- and I’d see to it myself that the bastard would pay.
As we led the survivors out into the night, I couldn’t help but feel a grim satisfaction settling in my chest. We were one step closer to bringing down the monster that had plagued our city for far too long. And God help anyone who tried to stand in our way.
But I had to admit, I wanted to see the look on his face when he realized we’d released all his precious victims. Now we just had to figure out what to do with them. Maybe Sister Mary would be able to help. It wasn’t like we did this sort of thing all the time. We didn’t have protocols in place, and I sure the fuck hoped we never needed to.
* * *
The light of a flickering streetlamp cast eerie shadows on the pavement as I stood by my bike, waiting for Park. The bastard had finally texted saying he was ready to meet. The wind howled through the empty streets. My gut churned with anticipation and a grim determination that gnawed at my insides.
“Cheshire,” Park called out, his voice cutting through the darkness. “You got something for me?”
“More than you’re ready for,” I replied, handing him a folder filled with damning evidence. His eyes widened as he flipped through the photos, his face pale and sickened.
“Jesus Christ,” he whispered, disbelief etched in his features. “This is… this is beyond fucked up.”
“Tell me about it,” I muttered, feeling the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. “But we’ve got a plan. We expose that bastard Holmes to the public, make sure every Goddamn person knows what he’s been up to.”
“Count me in,” Park said without hesitation. “What do you need me to do?”
“Keep your eyes open, watch our backs. We’re making moves, stirring things up. Holmes’ goons will be out for blood.” My gaze met his, a silent plea for trust and understanding. I knew he was a deputy, and as such siding with us could be badif the sheriff had even an inkling of Park’s involvement.
“All right.” He nodded, determination hardening his expression. “Let’s bring this fucker down.”
I briefed Park on our strategy, every calculated move designed to corner Sheriff Holmes and dismantle his criminal empire. Even though I trusted him for the most part, I wasn’t sure I wanted to fill him in on everything yet. Being told the mayor’s office was part of this shitstorm might be more than he could handle right now. With each step, I felt the noose tightening around the monster who’d terrorized our city for far too long.
Carpenter and Rabbit joined us. I could tell they weren’t sure how to feel about Park being included. I couldn’t blame them. Here we were trying to take down the sheriff and now we had one of his deputies lending us a hand. I could admit it seemed like a horrible idea, but in my gut, I knew we could trust Park.
“Ready?” I asked my brothers, their faces set with resolve.
“Born ready.” Rabbit smirked, cracking his knuckles.
“Let’s do this,” Carpenter chimed in, revving his engine.
We rode through the night, our bikes roaring like thunder, hearts pounding with adrenaline. We knew what was at stake, and failure wasn’t an option. As we neared a hideout where crucial evidence was rumored to be stashed, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up -- something felt off.
“Watch out!” I shouted, just as bullets ripped through the air, narrowly missing us as we skidded to a stop and dove for cover.
“Shit!” Rabbit cursed, his eyes wild with fury. “Holmes’ boys were waiting for us!”
“Stay low and move fast,” I ordered, my mind racing with strategy and tactics. “We need that evidence!”
As the firefight intensified, we darted between crates and dumpsters, our lives hanging by a thread. I could feel the heat of the bullets whizzing past my face, but fear had no place in this fight.
“Got it!” Carpenter yelled, clutching a black duffel bag tightly to his chest. I wasn’t going to question how he’d managed to grab it so fast. Not right now at any rate. “Let’s get the fuck out of here!”
“Go, go, go!” I barked, leading the charge as we sprinted toward our bikes. The sound of sirens filled the air, drowning out the gunfire and chaos around us.
Thanks, Park . I had no doubt he’d called in the deputies. Hopefully the good ones, like him.
“See you in hell, you bastards!” I shouted over the roar of our engines, knowing we’d struck a fatal blow against Sheriff Holmes and his criminal operation.
With every mile we put between us and that nightmare, I felt a fierce satisfaction burning inside me. No matter the cost, I swore we’d bring justice to those who’d suffered under Holmes’ reign of terror.
And I’d die before I let anyone stand in our way.