30. Pez
Pez
The mood in the room is somber to say the least. My gaze moves around the room, and we all seem at a loss. I rub the back of my neck and deliver the news that I know isn’t going to make none of them any happier.
“I don’t know what Apex was doing at that diner.
No one here seems to know. The fact that it was three in the morning is confusing, too.
The diner is just outside I territory and he didn’t ask for any of us to come be his backup.
That alone is against protocol. The other suspicious thing is that diner had been foreclosed on three months ago.
It closed its doors for the final time a month after that.
All electricity was disconnected at that location as a result.
The security cameras were nonoperative and hadn’t been for quite some time.
Me, Sabre and Skull all checked out the facility.
It was completely empty and covered in dust. I don’t think Apex stepped foot in the place. ”
“Which means the meeting was outside?” King says, but it definitely sounds more like a question.
“It would have to have been, unless someone dropped the body off there. There was a blood pool underneath him, but we have no true way of knowing if he was shot somewhere else and then transported and left to die that would mean the blood was pooling just from the time the body was dropped off—instead of at the time of the actual shooting.”
“Did you do a perimeter canvas?” Spider asks.
“We did. We even went miles either way. None of us saw anything that raised alarm bells.”
“So, dead ends,” King exhales.I nod grimly, hating that it’s true, but fuck if it isn’t.
“What about the 9-1-1 call that was received?” BB responds.
I scratch the back of my neck. “You’ve heard it. We know a woman made the call at 3:10 A.M., saying nothing more than he’d been shot and to hurry. Then, she gave the location. That’s it.”
“She did sound worried on the recording,” BB adds.
“Do we think she knows him, or was just the fact that someone found a man bleeding to death and called 9-1-1?” Spider asks.
“Not sure. We’ve got the dispatch information. It was a burner phone, found by Apex and wiped clean of all prints,” I explain.
“Fucking hell, with every question we answer fifty more pop up,” King growls.
“Maybe we’re not asking the right questions,” Torch interjects. “We’re asking what happened and who was there, and I get it. We want to trace it all back to someone. It’s clear, though, that steps were made to erase that path. Maybe instead of asking who, we need to concentrate on the why.”
“As in, why would someone want to hurt Ace?” I ask.
“Exactly and then trace whatever trail we find.”
“I’ll get Crank and a couple other prospects to start reviewing who Apex has been around the last month. Spider, I’m going to need you to oversee them. I’m going to be busy in Manchester until I get my family moved up here and make sure her ex doesn’t try to fuck with her more than he already has.”
“Sounds good. I’ll send another prospect that way tomorrow, just in case you need help in guarding the place,” King says. “We still need to be vigilant until we figure out if the club is the target or if it was Apex personally.”
“Appreciate it, man. I’m going to head home to my family now. It’s been a long day,” I answer as I stand up.
“Hold up, Pez. I’ll ride with you,” Sabre speaks up.
“I’m not coming in tomorrow unless something happens, Sabre. You might want to drive down,” I tell him, hoping he’ll back out. I have plans tonight that involve sinking into my woman and finally memorizing every inch of her body.
“That’s fine. I’ll just spend the night down there. I could use the break, and I miss my girls now that I’m fucking sober enough to function,” he jokes.
“Damn glad to see you that way, too, Sabre. I was where you were at. It’s dark and lonely,” Skull answers.
“It is but I’ve found the sunshine. Looks like you have too,” Sabre replies, with a clap of his hand on Skull’s shoulder as we both stand.
“I’m getting there,” Skull murmurs, and I can still see the pain on his face. Losing his son broke something inside of him. If I think about that happening to Cammie, I nearly lose it. I don’t know any parent could survive what Skull went through. I’m terrified at the mere thought.
They exchange a few more words back and forth.
We say our goodbyes and then, we head out to my truck.
I miss riding my bike everywhere, but I want my truck with me to take Cammie and Daphne places.
I’ve looked at her little car. I don’t think I could fit in it.
I need to buy her a new vehicle. She needs an SUV they’re safer than that little tin can she drives.
I’ll do that the minute we get her divorce over.
Fuck, I need to tell my woman about my past and my worries over her Ex—along with the evidence the club has.
Hopefully I can do it after I make love to her.
I’m aching to be inside of her again. As Sabre climbs in my truck and slams the door, I try my best to hide the fact that I wish he’d stayed here.
If he cock blocks me tonight, I may have to kill him and I’m sure Daphne would frown on that.
Damn it.