Page 58 of Twisted Attraction

“No,” he said, pounding a clenched fist down against the bar top.

Kendra shrieked and jumped back with a hand to her chest. “Daddy!”

“You’ve obviously lost your goddamn mind and have forgotten who you’re dealing with. Your puny little pig badges don’t mean a damn thing to me. You’re under my roof now, and I’m the one who calls the fucking shots. Now, whatever you have to say to her can be said to me, and me alone. If that’s a problem, then you can turn around and get the fuck out of my bar. I’ll give you ten seconds to decide and then an additional thirty to explain why the fuck you’re here before I throw you out myself. Your time starts now.”

Jesus fucking Christ.

And I thought I had anger issues.

“That’s fine, Crow. We’ll talk to you if that’s what it comes down to.”

“Good,” he said, flashing us a cruel smile as he grabbed a clean glass off the counter and poured himself a drink. “Kendra, go to the office and stay there until I come get you. I won’t be long.”

Kendra glanced sadly between us, whispering how sorry she was before she dropped her head and disappeared through the doorway.

“Out with it then,” Crow demanded. “This better not be about my sister because I told you what would happen the last time—”

“This isn’t about Kendall,” Phoenix retorted in a snipped tone, his jaw set. “This is about two rape cases we’re working.”

“Rapes?” Crow repeated, jerking his head back and gaping outrageously between us. “You’re wasting your time. Kendra doesn’t know anything about any rapes and neither do I.”

“Nobody said she was involved,” I calmly pointed out, cautiously watching his movements as I gently scooted out a barstool and sat down on it. “We’re just looking for some information because one of the girls was spiked with a date rape drug.”

“Rohypnol,” muttered Phoenix.

“And you’re thinking a club member is involved due to some of our…history of dabbling in certain drugs and other illegal narcotics.”

“That is also correct,” I didn’t hesitate to agree.

“I’ll be the first to tell you it wasn’t one of my guys. While the majority of them are stupid and reckless, they all have wives and terror goblins hanging off their legs every day when they go home. There’s only two men in my crew who aren’t married and that’s Levi and Killian. I wish I could throw the blame on those shit stains, but it’s impossible whenever they share the same bed with my daughter every night.”

“If not one of your guys, then who?” asked Phoenix. “Is there anyone you can think of who would be good for brutally raping and physically assaulting two innocent women?”

“It could be any of them, really.” Crow finished off the booze in his glass, pouring another. He then reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a pack of Marlboro Lights and a lighter, sparking one up and puffing away. “Then again, it’s possible it could be none of them.”

“What makes you say that?” I asked, curling my nose when the grouchy fuck blew the smoke dead in my face.

“I may be able to provide some information, but whatever I say has to stay off the record indefinitely. If I get arrested, trust me when I tell you that you’ll get arrested next, and then we’ll all be sitting in a room face-to-face with Chief. I’ll walk away Scot-Free and you two will lose everything. I swear that on my life.”

“Fine, Crow,” Phoenix hissed, growling slightly as he rubbed a flustered hand down his face. “Just tell us so we can get the fuck out of here already.”

“It’s like this.” Crow picked up the bottle of whatever amber liquor he’d been drinking and fetched another glass, pouring a fresh drink and sliding it over to me.

I blinked, surprised, and then looked at Phoenix, who angled his head at me as a warning not to drink it.

“I’ve been trying to go legit for while now. Keep my side of the Pines as drug and crime free as possible, but there have been some issues getting in the way.”

“Oh, yeah?” said Phoenix. “Like what?”

“Someone has been smuggling in some pretty lethal drugs and distributing it out on the streets. Coincidentally, Rohypnol just so happens to be one of them. Rumor has it that it’s another rival club, but the problem is, nobody’s talking. Whoever’s in charge of the operation has gone through masterful lengths to conceal their identity.”

“How long has this been going on?”

“About four months now,” he answered, turning to me. “That’s when I’d first received word that all of the homeless kids we helped were back on the streets, selling again. It’s not just Rohypnol though. Other drugs like weed, heroin, and crack are involved too. But from what my sources are telling me, Rohypnol has been the highest in demand as of late. And if I’m right, then that means there’s another huge shipment coming in, and soon.”

“What does that have to do with our cases?” Phoenix wondered. “I’m afraid I’m not catching whatever point it is you’re trying to make here, Crow.”

“I’m telling you this so that you two can start thinking a little more outside of the box here. You said one of the girls was drugged with Rohypnol. So, if it wasn’t a club member, then that means whoever spiked her had to have purchased it from a street dealer, because it’s not like you can just walk inside of a pharmacy with your hand stuck out asking for the shit.”

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