Chapter 19
*~* Jamie *~*
Well, that was a shock, and not just to me.
It looked like it was quite a shock to Fury, too.
I guess he had feelings for me that went far deeper than either of us thought.
He loves me. I don’t doubt it. He was quite riled up when he let it slip, and I don’t see him as someone who would try to be deceitful in that way.
As for getting married! We’ll see about that. That may be a way off yet.
Oh, girl, come on. Honestly? If he said there was a minister available right now, you’d be there in a flash, my inner demon tells me. It would be the most celibate wedding night ever, but you’d think of something.
Shaking my head to clear my thoughts, I remember the guys behind me are carrying a dead body. I don’t know how I feel about this. The dead body itself doesn’t worry me. I’ve seen plenty in my life and career, but the why and how I will have to process later.
Leaving the clubhouse by the back door, I see a couple of vans and look to Ghost as to which one he wants me to open.
He nods at a newer-looking van, and I open the rear doors.
A prospect turns up with the keys and as soon as Floss’s body is unceremoniously dumped in the back and covered in a tarp, he throws them to Ghost. That’s when I see him give Ghost a look and a nod, and I realize it’s Thorn.
I can’t help noticing that no-one has a problem with the newly dead Floss, and it spooks me more than a little at their casual attitude to the death of someone they not only knew, but may have had a loose relationship with.
Ghost must have seen something in the look on my face as he comments, “She brought it on herself, Jamie. If she’d died for any other reason, we would be feeling very different.
She betrayed the MC because she betrayed you.
You may not yet be a full-fledged member at this time, but you have been as good as for a very long time. We take care of our own.”
“It’s my first murder victim, and my first involvement in a murder, and the first time I’m having to cover up a crime.
It’s just…” I look at Ghost and realize the effect of my words on the man who has just killed to help save my life.
“I’m so sorry, Ghost. I didn’t mean to make it sound so cold and calculated. ”
“You’re just saying how you see it as a civilized person in a civilized world. Do you think for one minute she gave you a civilized thought as she sold you out to an assassin?” Ghost shuts the rear doors and heads for the driver's door.
Mateo was talking with Thorn, so I didn’t think he heard my thoughtless comment to Ghost, until he walks to the passenger door and Thorn steps over to me.
“Don’t be too judgmental, Doc. You don’t know how far you may have to go to defend yourself, or one of us, before this is over.” Thorn puts his hand on my shoulder as he says this, and it feels like the weight of the world.
Walking around to the passenger door, I slide onto the seat and scoot into the middle. Mateo jumps in beside me and slams the door. Ghost looks across at him, and Mateo stutters, “Sorry, Ghost.”
We drive out of the compound in silence, and I can’t help thinking that it’s all my fault no one has anything to say. After a couple of minutes, I’m feeling brave enough to lighten the mood.
“Heck, Ghost. You drive like my Grandmom used to.”
“Yeah? Well, she wouldn’t get stopped by the law with a dead body in her trunk then, would she?” Ghost states without looking away from the road ahead. That being said, we drove in silence until we reached the pet crematorium.
When we arrive, Ghost parks the van around the back and reverses near the service doors. I suppose that's what you’d call them at most places, not sure if it’s correct here. Winger opens them and pops the van doors open. Ghost slips out of the driver's door after telling Mateo and me to stay put.
A car pulls up in the lot near us, and I’m horrified when I see Mr. Bentley from the funeral home get out. He waves at us and approaches the van.
“Hi, Doc, Mateo. My goodness, Mateo, that’s gonna leave a nasty scar. Are you okay otherwise?”
“I’m good Mr. Bentley, thanks, and it’s going to be a doozy, isn’t it? I’ll have women queuing at my door, don’t you think?”
Mr. Bentley laughs and punches Mateo’s shoulder lightly through the open window.
“If I were forty years younger, I’d sign up for your gang tomorrow.
Sorry, club. An unfortunate slip of the tongue.
I know you guys are far above the label of being a gang.
Anyway, I’ll go and see to our first, um, ceremony.
Can’t have the guys making a hash of this one.
After all, it will be their first use of the equipment, best make sure they do it right, eh? ”
He gives us both a beaming smile and walks away, leaving me gobsmacked.
After a minute or so, I turn to Mateo. “What will he do when he sees a human body in there? He thinks it’s a pet crematorium.
He’s going to run to the law and we’re all going to prison.
They’re not going to kill him when he finds out, are they? ”
“Holy Mother of God. Calm down, Doc. You’ll give yourself a heart attack and then Mr. Bentley will have to have you at his place!
He’s not as innocent as you may want to believe.
He’s helped the MC get rid of some of the undesirables in the town when it has been necessary.
He had family that were targeted by a loan shark some years ago, and he happened to go to Whack’s father for help.
The MC was good enough to ensure that no one was ever bothered by the loan shark again, and Mr. Bentley ensured that the loan shark was never seen again.
After that, several others who thought the town was their personal bank or hunting ground also mysteriously disappeared, and word spread pretty damn quick that this was not a good place to set up any shady businesses. ”
“Oh my. It just goes to show that you can’t judge a book by its cover. I’m sorry, yet again. I’ve known you all long enough to know you’re okay people.” I look at him and my eyes must be huge.
“You also seem to have the wrong idea about how the MC goes about its business. We don’t go around randomly killing people, willy-nilly.”
“Willy-nilly?” I smiled, as I hadn’t heard that term since my grandparents were alive.
“It was one of my Grandpa’s sayings. He used it all the time when I was growing up.”
Any further reminiscences are halted when Ghost slips back into the driver's seat. “Okay, we won’t have to worry about the crematory’s first test of their equipment now.
All good on that front.” He starts the van and we leave the pet crem but I notice we are not taking the same route back to the club.
As I keep putting my proverbial foot in it every time I speak, I don’t ask what other errands we have to run.
We sit in traffic at some lights and have an old vehicle in front of us.
It clearly has an engine issue as it is gassing us with fumes from its tailpipe.
Opening his window, Mateo curses as he coughs, and it is obviously hurting his cheek.
“Assholes who can’t look after their cars shouldn’t be allowed on the damn roads,” he complains.
“Well, perhaps some people have to prioritize their finances differently. Not everyone can afford to get repairs done when they can’t put food on their table.
I was talking to Molly about something similar a while back, and I was supposed to go to a thrift store to grab some stuff because I want to help an old guy with a junker that I’ve seen around town a few times.
” Having started as a conversation it quickly begins to sound like I am on a crusade.
“He’s clearly having to live out of his vehicle, and if I can do something to make his life even a little easier, then I feel I should.
I might ask Andy, or your son, Thorn, if they’d give him a free haircut and shave.
He might be able to get a job if he got rid of his long gray hair and his straggly beard.
Not that I’m saying he should be judged by that, but it has got to be a consideration if he’s going to improve his situation. ”
“Describe him again, Doc, and the vehicle as best you can.” Ghost has noticeably slowed the vehicle and is indicating to pull over.
I give him all that I can think of, which isn’t much more than I’ve just said.
“Can you remember when you first noticed this guy around town?”
“Not really. I remember seeing him before my accident, well attack as we know it now. Two or three times after that I think. Why?”
“Where did you see him? Was it always around the same place? In parking lots or driving?” Ghost has visibly changed in his attitude. He is no longer just asking questions, this is more like an inquisition.
“I saw him in different places at different times of the day. I don’t think there’s a pattern, if that’s what you’re looking for.” For some reason, I feel myself getting nervous. I look at Mateo and he’s looking past me at Ghost.
“No wonder we can’t find the fucker, Ghost. He’s been hiding in plain sight, and we’re running around looking in all the wrong places. Doc, other than Molly, have you told anyone else about this guy? Fury, maybe? Anyone?” Mateo asks, and he now has the same look that Ghost has.
“No. I don’t think so. I haven’t given it much thought with all that’s been going on. Helping a homeless man has been the last thing on my mind.” I’m not happy admitting that, as it makes me feel ashamed that I couldn’t do such a simple thing to help someone in their time of need.
Ghost takes out his phone and places a call. Even though it isn’t on speaker, I can hear when Whack's voice answers.
“Hey, Ghost, what’s up?”
“Pres, we’ve been looking in the wrong place for the assassin. He’s an old, gray-haired guy with a gray beard living out of an old junker somewhere around town. I’ll be back shortly and give you anything else I can get.”