Chapter Fourteen #3
Right. Would his stomach explode? That was the question. Grant always found room somewhere to put more food. The rest of them didn’t have hidden pockets of emptiness just waiting for a meal to fill them.
Iona went to the refrigerator with Rayne while Grant and Elias seated themselves at the breakfast bar. “All right. I’m assuming you don’t want a seven-course meal.”
Grant shook his head vigorously. “No way.”
Rayne pointed to a large package of grilled chicken strips. “What about those? We could do something with them.”
“Good choice.” She pulled the strips from the refrigerator, laid the package on the counter, and poked around in the kitchen until she found a well-used cutting board and a pitiful knife.
Iona shook her head. Her pocket knife would be better than that. “Pull out the mayonnaise, celery, onion, lettuce, and bread. I think a chicken salad sandwich would hit the spot without landing like a rock in our stomachs.”
Grant perked up. “Hey, that sounds good. We bought some chips, too. We definitely need those.”
She rolled her eyes. So much for not being hungry.
Between the two of them, she and Rayne prepared a light lunch of chicken salad sandwiches, chips, and iced tea.
After they finished their meals, they returned to the living room where their teammates had gathered.
Seth motioned for them to sit down. “Elias, tell the rest of them what you told me.”
By the time he finished relaying what happened at the coffee shop, Riley was already on her computer.
Iona smiled. Had to appreciate her ability to multitask. Although Riley looked as though she wasn’t paying attention, if questioned, she’d answer every one correctly.
“Let’s check in with Maddox, and see if he or Zane have an update to share.” Seth grabbed his phone and made the call.
A moment later, Maddox said, “Yeah, Maddox.”
“It’s Seth. You’re on speaker with Echo and Artemis.”
“Copy that. Sit rep.” When they finished updating their boss, Maddox said, “Track down the farmer, and find out what Dutch and company wanted. Also find out if he has any idea what they’re up to.”
“That’s the plan, sir.”
“Good. Do you need anything?”
“Not at the moment, sir.” Seth glanced at Elias and Iona. “I think the MC will come after us tonight or tomorrow night, sir.”
“You have what you need to defend yourselves. Use it.”
“Restrictions?”
“Keep the cops out of it if you can, but I want my people back in one piece. Do what’s necessary to make that happen.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Knight?”
“Sir?”
“Bear called.”
He flinched. “Yes, sir?”
“He wants to know to whom to send the painting bill.”
“I guess to me, sir.”
“I think he and his crew were more inclined to find the punks who damaged your ride.”
“My guess is it’s my father’s MC. I don’t know how we’d prove it though.”
“You leave that to Bear. He has his ways.”
“Copy that, sir.”
“Seth, do you need anything from us?” Maddox asked.
“Not at the moment, sir.”
“That will change. When it does, let us know. We’ll help.”
“Thank you, sir.”
“Yep. Maddox out.”
Seth slid his phone into his pocket. “Riley, what do you have for us?”
“The farmer’s name is Christopher Merriweather. Since I don’t know who is going on this field trip, I sent his address to everyone.”
“Good. What do you know about him?”
“He lost his wife to cancer five years ago. They’d been married for 60 years.” Riley tapped a few keys. “Mr. Merriweather is an Army vet.”
Elias and his teammates exchanged grim glances. “We can’t let this go.” Seth looked at Riley. “Have you found any camera footage of Mr. Merriweather?”
“Some. Not what we need, though.”
“What does it show?”
“Here.” She turned her computer around and tapped a key.
The screen filled with images of a busy emergency room at the local hospital.
A minute into the camera footage, a grizzled man in overalls staggered into the reception area with blood running down his face.
One of his eyes was puffy and his nose was swollen.
Iona’s quick glance at the operatives revealed fury and disgust simmering in the eyes of each person who watched the camera footage. Although she wasn’t a doctor, the injuries looked painful but not deadly. “They made an example of him.”
Elias nodded. “I believe we ought to return the favor.”
“We need to talk to him as soon as possible.”
“Agreed. We can’t all go, Seth. If I’m right and my father’s crew tuned him up, only a few of us should go. Otherwise, he might lump us in with the Reckoners.”
Seth grimaced. “You and Iona should go. Who else do you recommend?”
“You and Teagan,” Iona said. “You’re the leader of Echo unit and a vice president in our fake MC. Merriweather will respect and respond to another leader.”
“How do you know he’s a leader?”
Her gaze shifted back to the computer screen where the action was taking place.
“He beat down the pain from his injuries enough to drive himself to the hospital. Most people would have either laid down and given up or would have called an ambulance for transport to the emergency room. This guy didn’t want help, so he did the hard thing himself. Hey, look at this.”
Seth and Elias crowded around her and stared at the screen. Two men dressed in jeans, leather jackets, and heavy motorcycle boots swaggered through the waiting room.
Although the recording didn’t have sound, you couldn’t misunderstand the nurse’s fear. She backed away from the desk and kept going instead of stopping when she was out of range of those enormous fists.
Seeing her fear, the two MC members laughed, treating it as a great joke.
Iona’s own hands fisted in response. Those boys needed someone to teach them a lesson in manners and etiquette.
On screen, the club members strode down the hallway.
When the view shifted to the hall, they witnessed the two men opening a door and stepping inside.
When they returned to the hall, they were laughing and smacking each other like a couple of teenagers.
They retraced their steps and left the hospital.
Elias leaned closer to the screen. “Back up the footage about ten seconds and freeze the screen. I want a look at their faces.”
Iona tapped a few keys and turned the computer screen toward Elias.
He studied the screen and scowled.
“You know them?”
“Unfortunately, I do. They’re enforcers for my father.”