Chapter 3 Skid
SKID
“Damn, sweetheart.” I leaned further under the hood, making note of the terrible state she was in and shook my head. “You’ve been run hard.”
Wires were corroded, more than one hose was cracked and weathered, and the battery terminals looked like they hadn’t been touched since the day it rolled off the lot.
Not that it mattered. It looked like it was shot to hell, and I was pretty sure the carburetor was clogged and several of the spark plugs were blown.
I had no idea how the damn thing was still running. Not that it mattered. I could fix it and I would, but I couldn’t do it here. I needed my tools and out of this God forsaken rain. I needed to get it to my garage, but I wasn’t sure how the girl was going to feel about that.
I glanced around the hood and found her sitting in the driver’s seat with her hands gripping the steering wheel like she was hanging on for dear life.
Even in the dark and pouring down rain, I could see that she was something to behold.
She was beautiful in that quiet, good girl way with blonde hair that was pulled up in some kind of messy twist, a soft, angelic face, and big brown eyes that met mine the second I stepped in the light.
I could tell right off that she didn’t have any business being out here on the side of the road in a rundown Corolla, especially at this hour and with a kid in tow.
I didn’t know what her story was, but I needed to get her and the kid off the side of the road. I just hoped she’d be open to the help.
I rapped my knuckles lightly on the window. The car was dead, so she had to crack the door open. She grimaced as she asked, “Is it bad?”
“Well, it isn’t good.” I kept my voice low as I told her, “I can fix it, but I need tools, and those are about ten miles up the road at my garage.”
“Oh. Umm…”
“I can get the car towed there, but it’ll be a bit. Figured you and your daughter might wanna get on home. I can run ya, or you can sit out here in the rain till morning. It’s your call.”
She hesitated. I couldn’t blame her. She didn’t know me from Adam, and we weren’t exactly in the best part of town.
I hated to see her and the kid spend the night out here alone, so I added, “Just so ya know, I’m not a serial killer or anything like that.
Just a guy who likes to work on cars, and I hate to see a good engine suffer. ”
“My engine’s suffering?”
“Oh, yeah. It’s suffering something awful,” I chuckled, and that earned me the smallest hint of a smile.
“You don’t mind dropping us off?”
“Don’t mind at all.”
“Okay. We’ll go with you.”
“Good deal.” I stepped back so she could grab the kid.
As she climbed out, rain ran down her jacket and hair, and I couldn’t help but think they both looked too damn fragile for a night like this.
That thought got to me in ways I didn’t expect.
Feeling oddly protective, I led them back to the truck.
I opened the passenger door and waited until they were both inside.
Once I was behind the wheel, I brushed my wet hair out of my eyes and asked, “Okay, ladies. Where am I taking you?”
“Pine Crest Apartments,” she answered. “Off Hale Road.”
The name sounded familiar, but not familiar enough. I just shook it off and drove toward Hale Road. The heater was rolling, and the defrost was working overtime. But it was dry, and we were only a block or two away from her apartment.
The drive over was quiet. She held her daughter close to her chest, and the kid was barely hanging on. Poor thing was wiped and past ready for a good night’s sleep. Every now and then, she’d glance over at me like she was trying to figure out if she’d made a mistake in trusting me.
When I turned onto Hale Road, I saw the apartments, and they were pretty rough.
Most were falling apart with peeling paint and trash scattered about.
But when I pulled up in front of hers, it was different.
It was still old, but it was clean. There was a wreath on the front door and a pair of mums sitting on each side of the door.
But unlike the others, the front porch light wasn’t on.
In fact, the whole place was pitch black. It seemed odd, but I didn’t think much about it. She unbuckled her seatbelt as she announced, “This is us.”
I nodded and parked in front of her door. She looked tired, but there was still a small spark in her eyes when she said, “Thank you… I just realized I didn’t catch your name.”
“Folks call me Skid.”
“I’m Laken, and this is Baylor.”
“Nice to meet ya both.”
“So, what happens now?”
“I’ll have the guys bring your car over to my place, and once I get her up and running, I’ll give you a call.” I glanced down at her bag and asked, “You got a phone?”
She nodded and pulled it out of her purse. I took it from her hand and sent myself a text before handing it back to her. “Now, you have my number, and I have yours. If you need me, call, and if you can’t reach me, I’ll either be at the Black Crown or the Vault.”
“The Vault?” Her brows furrowed. “The strip club?”
“Yeah, that’s the one. It’s just a few blocks from here. The club owns and runs it.”
“The club?” she asked, with raised brows.
“Yeah, Satan’s Fury. It’s a motorcycle club I belong to it,” I explained.
“Oh, I see.” She thought for a moment, then asked, “So, does this club of yours own the Black Crown, too?”
“No, but we’ve got ties there.”
“And you work at both?”
“What can I say?” He shrugged. “I like to keep busy.”
“Okay. I’ll keep that in mind.” She thought for a moment, then asked, “How long do you think it’ll take to fix the car?”
“Can’t say for sure. A couple of days. Maybe less.”
“Oh. Okay.”
“That gonna work for you?”
“Yes. I just have to figure out how I’m going to get to work.”
I could see the concern in her eyes, so I asked, “You work around here?”
“Yes, it’s just a few miles from here. I can either take the bus or walk.”
“With the kid?” nodding toward her daughter.
“It’s fine. We’ll make do,” she assured me. “We always do.”
“I’ll swing by and pick you up. Just let me know when.”
“No, you don’t need to do that,” she replied, eyeing me cautiously.
“I know I don’t. Just offering.”
She opened her mouth like she was about to turn me down again, but then sighed and said, “You’re really saving me here. I don’t know how I’ll pay you back.”
“No need to pay me back. I don’t do things I don’t wanna do.” I gave her a quick nod. “Call or text me in the morning. I’ll be here whenever you need me.”
“Thank you, Skid. I really appreciate this.”
“Glad to help.”
With that, she slipped out of the truck, and with her daughter bundled in her arms, she rushed to her door.
I sat there for a second, watching as they made their way inside.
I couldn’t help but notice that the place remained dark.
She might’ve been trying to keep her daughter from waking up, but I had a feeling it was something else.
I waited for a moment longer, then grabbed my phone and called one of the prospects. Zeke answered with a groggy, “Yeah.”
“Prospect duty.”
“Damn, man. It’s after one.”
“Glad you can tell time.” I didn’t have the patience to deal with whining, so I got straight to it. “Got a silver Corolla that broke down about ten miles out on 67. Need you and Smitty to get the trailer and pick it up. Bring it over to my place and park it close to the garage.”
“Now?”
“Yeah, now. Roads are slick, and I don’t want anyone running over the damn thing. Don’t want anyone fucking with it either.”
The kid grumbled something like you got it, before hanging up the phone.
I chuckled and tossed my phone into the console.
I remember the long, hard days and nights of prospecting.
It was rough. You never knew when one of the brothers would call, and even when you felt like complete ass, you had to not only answer but do whatever they asked. And you did it without complaint.
But once you earn that patch and you’re finally in, you’re part of something bigger than yourself, and you realize all the hard work was worth it.
Knowing the car would be taken care of, I backed out of Laken’s parking lot and headed home.
The drive was quiet, and I had nothing to distract me from thinking about Laken and her daughter.
I couldn’t help but wonder about the kid’s dad and where he might’ve been. There had to be a reason why they were out there alone in the middle of the night. I just couldn’t imagine what that reason might’ve been. I pulled into my drive and killed the engine.
Normally, I would’ve gone straight in, grabbed a beer, and crashed for the night.
Instead, I sat there with my fingers drumming against the steering wheel and thinking about a beautiful woman with tired eyes and no ring on her finger.
There was no denying it. They’d gotten under my skin and would remain there until I did something about it.
I just didn’t know what that something might be.
Eventually, I went inside and crashed, and a couple hours later, I heard the rumble of a truck engine fading down the road.
I knew then that Zeke and Smitty had come through for me.
I slept a few hours longer, and when the sun started creeping through the blinds, I forced myself out of bed.
I walked over and looked out the window, and just as I’d expected, the Corolla was parked crooked in the driveway.
They could’ve parked it closer to the garage door, but the job was done, and I was grateful.
I was also grateful that the rain had finally let up.
After a quick shower, I threw on some clothes and headed outside.
It was cooler than I’d expected. The air had a cold, wet bite that sank right into my bones, and I knew then that fall was hanging by a thread.
That meant shorter days, colder nights, and even less time on the bike.
I didn’t have time to dwell on it. I had a car to fix, so I put on my coat and got to work.
I popped the hood and groaned when I saw that it was in even worse shape than I’d thought.
I started making a list of all the things that needed to be fixed: carburetor, the battery, cooling hose, alternator, and various spark plugs.
That was just the start. I pulled my phone from my back pocket and texted Smitty. I gave him a list of everything I needed and told him to get it over to the house ASAP. That’s all that needed to be said. I knew he’d take care of it, so I got to work on breaking her down.
I hadn’t planned on spending my day working on a car, but for some reason, I didn’t mind. Maybe it was the hopeful look in Laken’s eyes or the fact that I liked a challenge. Either way, I was eager to get the job done. I’d just taken out the battery when my phone buzzed with a message.
I wiped my hands, and when I checked the screen, I saw that it was a message from Laken.
Laken:
Hey. It’s Laken.
I have to be at work at two, but if you’re busy, I can take the bus.
It really isn’t a big deal.
Me:
I’ll be there at 1:40.
I’ll come back and pick you up when you’re done.
Laken:
If you’re sure.
Me:
I am.
Laken:
How are things going with the car?
Me:
She was suffering more than I realized.
Laken:
Now I feel bad.
Me:
Don’t feel too bad. It’s nothing that can’t be fixed.
Laken:
I really appreciate you doing all this for me.
Me:
No problem. I’ll see you at 1:40.
Laken:
See you then.
I slipped my phone into my pocket and went back to work. Once I got into a rhythm, the hours slipped by with ease. Smitty dropped off the parts, and in no time, I was getting through the long list of issues. She wasn’t running yet, but she would be soon enough.
When it got time to go pick up Laken, I ran inside, cleaned up a bit, and put on a fresh shirt. It wasn’t much, but I wasn’t a complete mess as I headed over to her place. When I pulled up, she was already waiting outside, and Baylor was right there next to her.
Laken was in jeans and a faded gray sweatshirt, and her hair was pulled back into a single braid. She wasn’t wearing much makeup, but she didn’t need it. She was naturally beautiful, and her daughter was, too.
Baylor looked like she’d stepped out of some kid’s magazine in her little pink sweatsuit and rosy cheeks. She was holding onto the same rabbit she’d been carrying the night before, and she was eyeing me like she was still trying to figure out what I was up to.
Laken led her over to the truck, and when she opened the door, she smiled and said, “Thanks for coming.”
“Sure thing.” Once they were inside and buckled up, I asked, “Where are we headed?”
“The Hotel Royale.”
The name got me like a punch to the gut. The Royale was a rundown dive where people got into some shady shit. It wasn’t the kind of place where Laken had any business being, nor did her kid. She had to know that, and if I had to guess, I’d say she was working there because she had no other choice.
I gave a quick nod and said, “I know the place.”
I drove without saying another word, and with each stolen glimpse in her direction, I found myself wanting to take her anywhere except that damn hotel. When we pulled up, I eased the truck up to the curb and killed the engine.
Laken unbuckled Baylor and started out of the truck. Before she closed the door, I asked, “Do you get a break?”
“Hmm?”
“A break,” I repeated. “You know, for dinner or whatever?”
“Yes, at seven. Why?”
“I’ll bring you girls some dinner.”
“No, you don’t have to do that.”
“I want to. Just need to know if you like your burgers with pickles or no pickles.”
She hesitated, but when she saw the determined look in my eye, she sighed and said, “No pickles.”
“You got it.”
With that, she closed the door and headed for the front door. I waited until they disappeared inside before grabbing my phone and starting a text.
Me:
I need a favor.
Shep:
Sure. What’s up?
Me:
There’s a girl named Laken who works at the Hotel Royale.
I need you to find everything you can on her.
Shep:
I’ll see what I can find.
Me:
Thanks, brother.
Shep was the club’s hacker. He was a pro at finding out shit that no one else could. It was only a matter of time before I would know Laken’s story, and I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be a good one.