CHAPTER ELEVEN
It’s a Start
Rio—
The acreage the club purchased is miles outside of the city limits.
It’s surrounded by miles of scrubland, a large wooden fence at the roadside. Las Cruces Salvage is painted in faded blue letters on the gray wooden fence planks.
We roll through the gate and down a long gravel drive toward the back of the property. A large metal building comes into view, and Zig leads us to it, stopping his bike in front. I ease alongside him and climb from mine, gazing up at the place.
“This used to be a junkyard. What sold us was the size of this building. I think it’s really something we can work with,” he explains, pulling off his helmet. “We’ve spent the last six months hauling the cars off for scrap metal, and we discovered about a dozen old vintage vehicles we’ve been working on restoring. We’ve found there’s quite a demand for them if they’re the right make and model.”
“Really? Like what?”
“A Chevy Chevelle, a Pontiac GTO, a Dodge Charger, and a Plymouth Barracuda. Plus a couple of vintage trucks. A 1970 Ford F-100, and a 1967 Chevy C10 truck…”
“All just left for scrap, huh?”
“They were in pretty rough shape, but Bandit and Mauler have got some skills, and they’ve been learning all they can about doing the restorations the right way.”
“So, we’ve already got a legitimate source of income as cover. That’s great, Zig.”
“It’d be better if we found an offsite place to run that out of, so we can keep prying eyes away.”
“I agree. We’ll have to look for something in town.” I lift my chin to the building. “Show me around.”
“Sure thing. Right this way, Prez.”
I follow him inside. The place is cavernous, but it’s got a decent polished concrete floor.
“The guy used this as a repair shop and to house the many auto parts he took off the junkers. The place was lined with wooden free-standing shelving units. We moved them out back.”
I gaze around at the interior. It’s definitely got potential. Currently, the boys have got some second-hand furniture set up as a living area with a big screen TV. A makeshift bar sits against one wall, and a pool table against another. To the rear of the building, I spot plywood dividers that go up about eight feet high. I lift my chin. “What are those?”
Zig leads me back. “We set up some basic sleeping quarters. Didn’t want to do anything permanent until you were out and had your say in the plans.”
There’s one for each man. Little more than a ten-by-ten cubicle with a bed and a dresser.
Zig leads me to another partitioned off area. Coming around the wall, I see a long wooden table and a bunch of used office chairs. A flag with our club logo is tacked up on the wall.
“Church?” I ask.
“For now.”
I slap his shoulder. “Well, VP, let’s have our first meeting of the Las Cruces chapter of the Saint’s Outlaws.”
Zig steps around the partition and whistles sharply. “Church, boys. Now.”
After the men take their seats and I officially call the meeting to order, I meet the eyes of each of them.
“First off, I want to thank you for trusting in me enough to make this jump. You’re all good, loyal brothers. I couldn’t have asked for better.”
They grin back at me.
“Still, we’re gonna have to get around to recruiting in the coming months to fill out the ranks. Before we get to that, I’d like to get this place remodeled. Make it a place to be proud of.”
“Here. Here,” Zig says.
“With the funds the mother chapter turned over to us, we should be able to do it up right.” I glance around the room. “And now for some club business. I plan to get us a drug connection set up, but that’s going to take time. In the meantime, the restoration business will have to keep us afloat. That and whatever protection payments we can get set up.” I look to Zig. “So, VP, tell me about the town, and what you’ve been able to uncover.”
“For one, the sheriff and his deputies run things. The populace seems to be cow-towed by them.”
“Cow-towed?” Bagger scoffs. “More like scared shitless.”
My chair creaks as I lean my elbows on the table. “Explain.”
The men look to Zig to take the lead, and my eyes shift to him.
He splays his hands. “It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. The cops run roughshod over the entire town. It’s really something you need to see for yourself, Prez.”
“Were you able to get any dirt on them?”
“Not actual proof, but I’ve got some information. The sheriff has a mistress down in San Pablo. We tailed him. He visits her twice a week.”
“His wife doesn’t know?”
“Don’t think so. She comes from money, and bankrolls their lifestyle for the most part. Of course, they’re all on the take, but she’s worth millions.”
“So, last thing he wants is for her to find out about his little side action and divorce him.”
“Exactly.”
“Sounds like we can use that. We’ll have to get pictures or video.”
“It shouldn’t be too hard to wire the mistress’s house.”
“And the deputies? Got anything on them?”
“Carson is as strait-laced as them come. Clean cut, goes to church every Sunday. Of course, he’s on the take, and everyone in town changes sides of the street when they see him coming, so he’s no boy scout.”
“Have you snooped around his place?” I ask.
“Not yet. Didn’t want to blow our cover. Right now, everyone thinks we’re mechanics.”
“We need to get inside his place. See what we can find.”
“We’ll set something up.”
“And the district attorney?” I ask.
“He’s been a hard nut to crack. Bandit’s been flirting up a girl who works in the records department at the courthouse. We’re hoping he’ll get some useful information out of her. She’s got a drug problem her bosses don’t know about, so she should be easy to manipulate.”
I steeple my hands, thinking. This could be easier than I thought. “I don’t want to make a move until we’ve got goods on all of them. Then we hit them all the same night and lay down the new law in town. In the meantime, we don’t show our colors. We play it low key. Understand?”
There are nods around the table.
“One last bit of business. We’ve got the bare minimum for officers. I’m gonna tell you who I want in each position. I’m hoping you’ll all agree. Zig, you’re our VP. Blue, you’re our Sgt at Arms. Mauler, you’re our Road Captain. Bandit, you’re our Treasurer and Secretary until we get more members. And Bagger, you’re our Enforcer.” I look around the table. “Any objections? If you’re in, raise your hand.”
Every one of them does just that.
I look over at Zig. “Let’s you and me take that ride into town. I want to see for myself what’s going on.”
“You got it.”
I bang the gavel. “Meeting adjourned.”