Chapter Three. #2
“Dad, Declan,” she murmured, as the little boy curled into a ball. Duke picked the kid up and brought him back to his bed, which had somehow become Amy’s. Declan nestled into her, and we sat there as the sun broke in the sky and dawn opened on an already terrible day.
Inglorious
Miserably, I stared at the body in front of me. It was the girl we’d been searching for. She’d been badly burned from the waist down, although above it she looked untouched. Just asleep, apart from the fear and agony etched into her face.
“It’s her. I’ll let Vortex know,” I said to Jailbait, who’d found her. Jailbait nodded, and we covered her over with a sheet. The sheets were needed as the vultures were gathering, and we didn’t want the bodies any further desecrated.
Law enforcement had started arriving a couple of hours ago, but they held their asses in their hands until daybreak.
The FBI was arguing with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) over jurisdiction.
On top of them were the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and then the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
And for good measure, insurance brokers were demanding access.
It was a clusterfuck, and one I didn’t envy anyone.
Because the Feds were involved, I’d placed a call to Willow Michaelson, and she was on scene throwing her own weight about.
Willow’s father was Axel, a Rage MC founder, and she was the wife and old lady of Fanatic from Hellfire MC.
Willow was trying to wrest control from the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF).
She ran the Violent Crime and Major Offenders Unit in Rapid City, so this wasn’t her jurisdiction.
But she had beaten the JTTF here, so claimed it was her case.
Finally, someone waded in and told JTTF to keep Willow updated, but they had the lead.
ATF began arguing, and the guy sent them a dark look, and they subsided.
The ATF would investigate the bomb, which we guessed had been on board because of the explosions the Unwanted Bastards and Riders of Vengeance had witnessed.
The FAA would check the paperwork for the zeppelin, such as maintenance records. The NTSB would do their usual shit.
Willow sidled over with a grin.
I shook my head. “Got what you wanted?” I asked. My fingers twitched. I craved a drink but could manage until I got in touch with Janet, my therapist.
“You needed an insider who could keep you informed. You got that!”
“Willow, I thought you were going to get your ass kicked.”
“Nah. I can pitch with the big boys. Honestly, you needed me. JTTF will keep shit from Drew. How’s he working out, anyway?”
“Nanci adores him. Got to admit, Drew’s a good guy, quite happy seeing grey and not black and white. Man has a strong sense of justice.”
“How are you doing?” Willow asked, her eyes studying me carefully.
“In about ten minutes, Janet should be awake, and I hope she’ll take my call.
I’ve already spoken to Mase, my AA sponsor, this morning.
Mase doesn’t care when she gets woken up.
Tonight was a clusterfuck. Although they reckon half the deceased are still inside the zeppelin, many fell out.
This will give me nightmares, and I’ll need help,” I replied honestly.
“Hence, Janet and Mase.”
“Yup. Mase’s support got me through until I reach Janet. I’m craving a drink to forget the expressions on the bodies I’ve seen. Their eyes will haunt me. But I’ll get a fix of Nanci soon, and I’ll be okay.”
“Nanci is a pretty good addiction to have.” Willow chuckled.
“Yeah.”
“Get going, Inglorious. The JTTF is clearing the field of all non-law enforcement personnel. I’ll stay and be a pain in the ass.”
“Let everyone know there’ll be refreshments in Merritt waiting,” I said.
Willow nodded and walked away. I felt sorry for whoever she had in her sights.
Nanci
People started streaming in a couple of hours after the crash.
They needed food and water, and we’d been engaged preparing for the search and rescue teams. Other than Daisy-Duke, old ladies had come from other clubs, and we’d worked together providing sandwiches and snacks.
The kitchen was a chaotic hub as we heard boots and began hauling out platters.
The first ones in were Rage MC. They looked shell-shocked and saddened, and if their old ladies were here, they latched onto them like lifelines.
“How bad?” Phoe asked her old man, Drake.
“Awful, babe, there are bodies everywhere. Some burned, some not. There are kids.” Drake’s voice cracked, and he stopped talking.
Phoe stepped between his legs, and Drake buried his head in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around him and offered silent support.
If Drake were affected this badly, Inglorious would be worse. I whipped my phone out and dialled Janet.
“Hello?” the therapist answered.
“Janet, it’s Nanci. I think Inglorious is going to need you desperately. Have you heard?”
“No? Has something happened?”
“Those zeppelins everyone’s talking about, the one over South Dakota, exploded. The club arrived first.”
“Hold on, Nanci, let me…oh shit, it’s all over the news. I’m actually on vacation this week. I’ll come to Merritt now. Can you have Inglorious meet me there?” Janet asked.
“The zeppelin crashed in one of our fields,” I murmured. Janet’s shocked hiss said everything.
“When are you guys going to get a break? Okay, I’ll be there soon. Will I be able to enter the town? I imagine the police have got the roads blocked to stop looky-loos.”
“Janet, I’ll contact Drew; he’s out there somewhere. I’ll get you clearance.”
“Be there within the hour, Nanci.” Janet cut the call, and I dialled Drew.
“Nanci.”
I winced. Drew sounded shattered.
“Janet, the therapist, is coming in. Can you get her admitted?”
“Sure. There are cops from a couple of stations here. The local PDs sent help. Do you know Officer Jaggers from Spearfish?”
“In passing, I’ve heard of him,” I said. Jaggers wasn’t a familiar face, but I knew his name.
“I’ll text you his number. Phone him and let him know. He’s in charge of traffic duty,” Drew replied.
“Thanks, Drew. There’s food here. Are you sending people up, or would you prefer it brought down?”
“Both, if you can manage that, Nanci? Send someone down with it.”
“Already organised. Take care, Drew,” I murmured and cut the call.
Drake was getting to his feet as the Devil’s Scythe, led by Scythe and Satan’s Warriors, entered. They, like Rage, were covered in soot and dirt and were bone-tired.
Drake clasped arms with Scythe and Jailbait.
“Drake, take these platters. Send everyone who can be relieved up. These are for those who can’t leave,” Phoe said.
One by one, each Rage brother grabbed a couple of trays and slung backpacks with bottles of water onto their backs.
“They’re searching the field behind the crash and to the side; bodies have been found there,” Jailbait called to Drake. He tilted his chin and left.
“Sit. The girls will bring you some wet wipes to clean your faces and hands. We’ll serve you food, too. Sit down and let us look after you,” I ordered Scythe. He was rising to grab platters for his men to eat.
Scythe nodded and sat down wearily. The old ladies bustled around and began handing out plates of food.
Thankfully, there were enough of us. Some stayed in the kitchen, refilling empty trays.
Others were on pot duty. Silvie and Autumn from Rage were keeping four huge vats filled with coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
And some old ladies were waiting for the search-and-rescue teams.
“Are you okay?” I whispered to Scythe.
He reached out and caught my hand. I squeezed, and Scythe swallowed hard.
“Found two kids. Couldn’t have been older than three. Looked like they’d fallen asleep,” he murmured. I stepped over and hugged him. Scythe held on tightly for a few moments and then released me.
“Thanks, Nanci. Go organise your ladies, I’m fine,” he said and shooed me off.
I turned away and caught Daisy-Duke standing nearby. “Don’t let Inglorious see you embrace another guy. It’s not done,” she warned.
“Scythe is special, and we’re close. Inglorious would understand that hug.”
“Not likely,” Daisy-Duke retorted. “His woman shouldn’t be putting hands on another—ever.”
“Scythe just found two young children dead. Said they appeared asleep. Inglorious wouldn’t begrudge anyone comfort in that situation. If you don’t like it, Daisy-Duke, then you can do one. Who the fuck thinks something sexual is happening at a time like this?” I snapped.
Daisy-Duke looked ashamed. “No… Inglorious wouldn’t object under those circumstances.”
“Glad to have your permission. Now get ready. More people will come.”
Daisy-Duke bustled back to the kitchen. From a table over, Phoe nodded at me in approval. I acknowledged her gesture and moved on. I had work to do.