Shadow Chapter 15 #2
We’d found out more about Maggie Marie over those two days.
She lived in Macon. She began obsessing over Garen Brooks five years ago.
We based that on when she started appearing and posting in his fan groups.
Her life hadn’t been a pretty one. Her parents were pieces of shit.
Her father had been an abusive alcoholic.
Mom had been a drug addict. It was no wonder Maggie Marie was looking for a father figure.
The thing I didn’t understand was why choose one like Brooks?
What was it about him that drew these people to him, especially women?
Sure, I’d watched videos of his capture and trial.
I saw pictures from back then. He was a handsome, physically imposing man.
When he did speak, there was charisma there.
But if you looked into his eyes, there was nothing.
It was a black void. He said the right things and changed his facial expressions, but his eyes never lied.
They were the windows to the soul, as the saying went. And that man had no soul.
We met at the clubhouse to make last-minute checks to make sure we had everything.
I would go in with just Nomad and Forge at my side.
Those who would stay in the darkness, ready to back us up if it became necessary, were Ryder, Fury, Chaos, Eagle, and Wrath.
We tried to tell Pres he could stay at home, but he gave us a speaking look that said it wasn’t happening.
No surprise. Whenever we attempted to protect our president, he showed disdain for it and did whatever he wanted.
Smoke, Everly, Crusher, and Cambria would remain at the compound, working on erasing all paths to her and shutting down sites that mentioned her.
And they were sowing seeds. Rumors were cropping up that Journi Brooks was dead.
Anyone who knew her as Cambria would check whether that could be substantiated.
When they did, they’d find rumors that Cambria was dead.
Soon we’d post about the horrible accident in which she was killed.
A fake headstone was being finished for placement on the grave in Indian Springs, Nevada.
We were making it as realistic as possible.
Her new identity, Mariette Cambria Aubert, was firmly in place as of today.
Anyone checking into her would find that she had existed for thirty years and had relocated to the States two years ago from France.
In addition to them, Jalisa, Betty, Dora, Sloan, Chains, Rage, and Dylan would remain at the clubhouse.
We never left it completely unprotected.
Jalisa and Sloan were as lethal as any of the brothers.
And Dylan, having grown up in an outlaw club all his life, was no one to fuck with.
The lack of a cut might fool some, but they’d learn the error of their ways. Before we left, I went to Cambria.
“It’s time to go. I want you to try not to worry.
We know what we’re doing. We’ll be careful, and we have plenty of backup.
You work on erasing all those accounts and sites.
Your new online identity is set. Smoke and Everly made sure you can start using it without anyone knowing it’s you.
Plus, drop those rumors out there that Cambria Mulally, a.k.a.
Journi Brooks, has died. You’ll be so busy you won’t even miss me. ”
She snorted. “Yeah, like that’s possible. Alright, do your part, and I’ll do mine. But if you come back with a scratch on you, you and I will be having words,” she narrowed her gaze at me.
Chuckling. I growled and gave her another kiss before reluctantly peeling myself away from her. A whistle and twirl of a finger in the air from Wrath had us heading for the door.
To keep everything on the down low, bikes were not the mode of transport tonight.
Instead, we had a few vehicles that we got from the scrapyard.
They were still in working order, although banged up.
Sometimes, insurance companies totaled cars even though they still had life left in them.
We fixed some of them and either sold them outright or left them for customers to find.
And sometimes we used them for things like this.
The ride was mostly silent. We were all thinking through the night ahead.
Constantly running through the various scenarios we might encounter kept us alive.
The forty-mile drive at this time of night took under an hour.
We selected our staging area in advance for those who are not accompanying us directly.
They pulled off and headed there, while Forge, Nomad, and I stopped along the road for about fifteen minutes before continuing to the church.
This would allow the others time to reach the church to be our protection.
The road we were on was a hardtop one, but it was in the middle of the country. Houses were dotted here and there, but they weren’t clustered together as you saw in towns and cities. There was plenty of space between houses. Many people owned several acres surrounding their homes.
We didn’t pass a single vehicle on our way to the church.
When we reached our destination, the place was dark.
We’d been told to park in the back, so that’s what we did.
When we rounded the building, we saw two cars and a truck parked there.
And in one of the back windows of the church, we saw a light glowing.
It was far enough back that it wasn’t visible from the front.
Recalling the layout that Crusher had found of the church, I thought I knew which room they were in.
It was designated on the plans as an office.
Our eyes kept scanning the darkness surrounding us as we shut down the engine.
There was no movement or signs of anyone outside, but we’d still be cautious.
We ran these things like a military mission.
Meaning we had earwigs to communicate with, and besides our weapons, we wore Kevlar.
Forge had been a cavalry scout, and Nomad an EOD guy in the Army.
“We’re moving out,” Nomad said for the benefit of those on the other end of the comms.
“Roger. All clear on our end,” Wrath replied. With them, Stitch had been a Navy corpsman. That gave both teams someone with prior military experience. Stitch had gone out in the field with the Marines.
Opening the doors, we piled out. I took point with my brothers behind and to each side of me.
I cautiously approached the stairs to the back door.
There was a small porch attached to them.
By the time we reached the top, the door opened.
In the dim lightning, I saw a woman. Our research had provided pictures of Maggie Marie.
The woman standing there was her. She cast nervous glances at us, then at the darkness behind us.
“I thought it was supposed to be you and Journi?”
“And I thought it was supposed to be just you. I see we were both wrong. I’m sorry, but there’s no way I’m exposing her to unknown people.
Until I know you’re not a threat to her, I won’t bring her out.
What you said on the phone the other night was disturbing.
She’s afraid that she’s been misunderstood, and you won’t allow her a chance to explain.
I came to do that. And I assumed you wouldn’t be comfortable meeting with us alone. How many people are inside?”
There was a brief pause before she answered, one not long enough for her to fabricate a number, I hoped.
“There are six others besides me. Why don’t you come inside? It’s too cold out here.”
“Give me your word we won’t be harmed,” I demanded.
I had no clue if they were armed, but I would bet money that at least a few were. And when it came to a fight, whether fists or weapons, I always bet on us. But it was still smart to stay alert and know how many enemies there were.
“No one wants to fight,” she answered.
I waved to her to go ahead of us. She did.
As we entered a small alcove, I saw the building go right and left.
She turned to the left where the light was shining.
Forge turned his back to us and, as we walked down the short hallway, he remained facing backward, guarding our six.
Entering the room where the light was, I saw six people.
There were five men and one woman. I stopped in the doorway.
“Before we get started, I’m not calling you a liar, but I need my friend to check the building. If you’ve lied to us and there are more people in here, we’re done.” I made my voice hard.
“There isn’t anyone else. I swear,” Maggie said.
“I still want him to check,” I replied.
She glanced at one of the men. Ah, so he was the one in charge. Receiving a brief nod from him, Maggie gave permission. As Forge took off to look, Nomad turned so he could see those in the room and anyone coming up the hall.
The man spoke. “How do we know you haven’t brought others with you?”
“You don’t. But you’re free to have someone check our car or even the woods if you want,” I offered.
He scowled, then continued, “I assume you’re armed. We need to take your weapons. It’s for our safety.”
“Only if we take all yours. Are you open to a mutual search and seizure?” I countered.
“You have no right to come in here armed and with people you didn’t specify were coming,” he snapped.
“Like Maggie didn’t specify you. Just who the hell are you? I like to know at least the first name of the people I’m dealing with. If that’s too much of a problem, we can leave.”
I pivoted a quarter of the way and no further because the guy stopped me.
“Don’t leave! We’re not here to fight. We only want what’s fair. I’m Joe. You know Maggie. This is Jack, Roy, Miles, Pete, and Tiff.”
I had no idea whether their names were real, but I’d worry about it later.
“I’m Shadow, and this is my brother, Nomad. The one searching your place is Forge.”