Chapter 16 #4
The girl cracks her gum. “Yeah, maybe.” She pulls a thick, zippered binder out from under the desk.
As she unzips it, I see hundreds of pages within, each in a plastic sleeve.
Some of the sleeves still have a strip of binding at one edge, where they were torn out of Brenna’s sample book. That fucker.
The girl flips to a sticky note labeled “Dragons” in a scratchy hand and flips through them. She pulls out two designs, one of which is the dragons and water globe I remembered.
“Yes, I like that,” I say. “Can I look through the other dragon designs, just to see if there are any I like more?”
The girl chews at her pierced, lower lip. “Bob said these aren’t to leave the desk.”
I give her my best, blue-eyed smile. “I’ll be right there.” I nod at the sagging couch. “I won’t ever leave your sight.”
“Oh, okay, I guess.”
She pushes the sheaf of dragon designs into my hands. I take them and carefully sit on the couch so she can see me and spread the designs out on the chipped coffee table.
They’re all Brenna’s.
I pick a random design, shuffle the rest back into a pile, and take them back to the desk. “I really like this one,” I say, showing it to her. “But now I’m thinking maybe I’d like a wolf as well. Any wolf designs in there?”
She nods. Before she starts pulling out wolf designs, I hold out my hand. “Here, I’ll look through them.” When she hesitates, I tip my head at the couch. “I’ll be right there.”
Glancing between the folder and the, evidently engrossing, magazine, she nods and hands me the binder.
I take it to the couch and flip through the whole thing. All of the designs are Brenna’s. I don’t remember her sample book well enough to say if any are missing, other than the ones up on the walls, but this is the bulk of her hard work.
I linger, pretending to consider this design and that design.
The girl behind the desk takes a call, apparently from her boyfriend, and they devolve into some kind of teen-speak that I wasn’t able to follow even when Naomi was speaking it.
Something about a cat in a dress. She completely forgets about me.
I lift my wrist to my face, pretending to scratch my chin, and speak into the microphone Logan’s clipped into my sweatshirt sleeve.
“I’ve got the book and a chance to run. Take it or confront Mad Bob?”
There’s a click in my ear, then Logan’s voice. “Take it.”
“Coming out,” I say.
I close the folder and zip it, holding one design in my hand like it’s the one I’ve settled on, and walk towards the desk. The girl is still too involved in her call to even look up at me.
Just before I reach the desk, I take a sharp turn, slam through the shop door, and race up the stairs to the street, taking them two at a time, ignoring the girl’s shout behind me.
Logan’s waiting just down the street in Manny’s limo, engine running, rear door open.
I dive in and Logan slams the door behind me.
Through the tinted glass, I see a bearded, barrel-chested man huff to the top of the shop’s stairs.
As Bren described, he’s thickly tattooed, very little skin still visible.
By his build, I’d guess he’s one of the two who bricked Brenna’s sign.
Manny pulls the limo out into the late morning traffic. Mad Bob puffs his way to the curb—he’s really not in good shape if the run up the stairs left him winded—and watches us drive away.
“He definitely got the plates, Man,” Logan says.
“Yeah, I’ll call my cousin.”
Manny has a cousin in the NYPD. I gather she fixes parking tickets for him, given the way he parks all over the City without concern for trivialities like no parking zones and meters. Can she fiddle a plate registration? I guess she can if Manny sounds unconcerned.
I relax back into the limo’s very comfortable seat and rub my knee, which is protesting my sprint. Mission accomplished. I’m pleased we got most of Bren’s designs back and did it without getting into a wrangle with skinheads. But the war’s not over. I can feel it.
“I think we should pull Theo in,” I say to Logan. “You said he owes you a favor.”
“He does, but what are we pulling him into? Larceny?”
“It’s not stealing if you’re taking back something stolen from you.
These are all Bren’s designs. I checked.
” I tap the folder. “There were a couple of cameras in Bob’s shop, so he’s got my face.
If his skinhead buddies have any contacts within law enforcement, he’ll be able to find me.
I want to send a message before he does. ”
“What kind of message?” Logan asks. “Nitro or reactor scram?”
“We’re still at nitro.”
From the front, Manny chortles. Those were memorable pranks.
“I’m not interested in running Mad Bob out of business,” I continue.
“At least not the way he’s trying to do to Bren.
But I want him to understand she’s not alone and if he continues messing with her, shit will escalate in ways he won’t like.
Report the stolen book to Theo, report my recovery of it as part of an investigation by LMM, and Bren files a complaint of theft against Mad Bob.
That way there’s an open, NYPD investigation if Mad Bob decides to retaliate. ”
Logan nods. “I like all of that. You think it’s enough?”
“For now. If the Knights get involved, we’ll need something showier.”
“Okay.” Logan pulls out his phone and calls Theo. I smile to myself. One of the things I’ve always liked about Logan is how decisive he is.
I listen to their conversation but there’s nothing I need to add, and by the time Logan’s done and they’ve set a time for Theo to interview Bren by phone, we’re back at Logan’s. Manny drops us off and after checking on the girls, who are cleaning the playrooms, Logan and I join Max in the office.
None of us are big into recapping ops. That’s the job of officers. We’re the doers, not the talkers. Max gives us one follow up point which is that Mad Bob called one of the Fairskin Knights pretty much as soon as he returned to his shop.
“This guy isn’t exactly high up in the organization,” Max says.
He pulls up what looks like an organization chart on the screen of Logan’s computer while he continues to tap away on his fancy-looking laptop.
A red circle appears around one of the names on the lowest level of the org chart. Definitely a foot soldier.
“Any connection between these guys you can find?” I ask.
Max shrugs. “Very distant cousins by marriage.”
“Maybe someone Bob feels he can call on but isn’t actually close to,” Logan offers. “None of these guys using burner phones?”
“Not since the first ‘op’.” Max snorts. “This city deserves a better class of criminal.”
I can tell Max is quoting something, but I’m not sure what. “We have to be ready for them to retaliate.”
“I’ve got eyes and ears everywhere except Mad Bob’s apartment and inside the Knights’ HQ. When I’m not watching, Squid will be.”
“Squid?” I ask but Logan waves me off. Evidently, Squid, whoever he is, is solid.
“Good job, Max,” Logan says. “Mac, you want some time alone with Brenna so she can express her gratitude for the recovery of her book?” I certainly do.
At my nod, Logan continues, “Max, before you take off, we need to go over the wiring plan for the Tessier job and then I’ve got a promise to keep to my little girl before we head to the club.
Mac, are you okay fielding Bren’s interview with Theo or do you want backup? ”
“I’ll handle it,” I confirm.
“Okay, only two things to cover legally are one, Bren engaged LMM to recover the book and two, you’re acting under LMM’s license. If Theo asks any questions about the investigation beyond that, just refer him to me. He knows better, but that’s never stopped him in the past.”
“Roger that.”
“He can be a bastard and he’s not above pushing buttons. You sure you’re okay with that?”
“All good,” I confirm.
Theo can push as hard as he likes. I’m the one who got the girl.
“Are you coming to the club later?”
I shake my head. “Bren and I are going to take off around two and meet up with Napa and Wreck, drive up to Poughkeepsie for the night.”
“That death machine.” Logan groans. “You just love stripping years off my life. Be careful.”
I grin. Logan’s never been a fan of my bike.
He’s not a huge fan of cars, either, after his parents were killed in a massive pile-up on the Turnpike.
“I will be. We’re stopping back off with the bikers on Sunday night for a barbeque.
Depending on how things go, we’ll either be late home or stay a second night on the road. I’ll keep you posted.”
Max tosses a flat, black box that I only catch because of my long history with these boys and them throwing things at my head when I least expect it.
I rattle the box at him and Max winces. “Careful with one of my babies.”
“What is it?”
“Tracker for your bike. Call me when you’re on it and I’ll walk you through the installation. It’ll take you less than five minutes and I’ll have audio and video.”
I can’t fault their preparation. “Hope you enjoy a whole lotta road and road noise.”
Max lifts his shoulders. “Better than the noise outta Brenna’s shop. The tattoo guns are giving me migraines.”
“They are noisy,” I agree.
“Anything else we need to talk about?” Logan asks, looking up from notes he’s been making.
“Just one thing from me,” I say. “Bren and I are going to sign a contract on Monday. Will you be witnesses?”
Logan stares at me for a long moment. “You’re offering her a contract?”
“I am.”
“Good for you, man,” Max says. “I’m in. Cynnie’ll be over the moon. She loves Bren.”
“You mind if I have a word with Bren?” Logan asks.
“Be my guest.” I think about threatening him with bodily harm if he scares off my sammie, but I trust Logan with my life and my sammie’s not scared of anything, so I let it pass.