Page 50 of Mensa's Match

“What do you mean?”

Block looked at Mensa. “I’ve been to the location on Pass Road. There was a kid behind the counter every evening and weekend who’s Dontrell’s spitting image. You know if that’s his kid? Or maybe a nephew?”

Hollowness invaded Mensa’s chest. “Yeah, that’s his son. Andifthey got connections with street gangs… maybe that’s the protection Dontrell’s supposed to pay for – they’ll keep the Miscreants from luring his boy into their gang.”

Har sighed. “You don’t know that for sure, and we aren’t operating on speculation. Does this tie back to Whitney being in the FBI? Did she investigate another Corrupt Chrome MC chapter? Or possibly piss off a street gang?”

“She was assigned to a public-corruption squad, not organized crime,” Mensa said.

“It’s unlikely they’d know who she is, being undercover,” Block added.

Brute shook his head. “Seems to me we got two separate issues here. We got a club-owned business that’s shut down because of these assholes—”

Cynic pointed at Brute. “We got a tentative go-ahead to reopen tomorrow afternoon.”

Brute’s twisted his hands up. “That’s tentative, though. I agree Corrupt Chrome needs to fuckin’ pay for what they did. But all this talk about Dontrell – that’s outside of our skill set.”

Mensa twisted his hands up. “Maybe so, but if Block’s suspicion is true about Dontrell’s kid being threatened, he’s gonna need some help.”

“What about Scrap?” Block asked.

Scrap was the street name, and unofficial road name, of a kid who Tiny had taken under his wing and was now prospecting with the Riot MC.

“What about him?” Tiny asked, protectiveness threading his tone.

Block raised his hands. “He wanted to join the Miscreants not too long ago.”

Tiny’s eyes widened. “And they know he’s prospecting with us.”

Block’s tone became patient. “Yeah, but he may still have connections he could reach out to about Dontrell and his son.”

“Even if there’s a threat, what can we do about it?” Tiny asked.

Mensa shifted in his seat. “We make it known we’re Dontrell’s protection.”

“Cops ought to be his protection,” Two-Times said.

Mensa fought rolling his eyes. “That’s worked out real well so far.”

“Did he report the other confrontations?” Two-Times pushed.

Mensa sighed. “Didn’t ask.”

Block snatched up his pen and tapped it against the table. “Not sure it matters, Two-Times. If he didn’t, he probably doesn’t trust the police to take him seriously. If he did report it, he’s got every reason to wonder if the cops took him seriously. It’s a catch twenty-two all around.”

Two-Times didn’t exactly frown, but the set of his lips made it clear he wasn’t happy with Block’s response.

Mensa shook his head. “Don’t worry about it, Two. It’s not like I’m asking you to stake out any of Dontrell’s properties. We all know you got kids at home, and I wouldn’t ask you to put yourself at risk like this.”

“Yeah, but if you drop shifts at Twisted Talons it’ll be me who has to carry your load.”

“You don’t know that yet,” Cynic said.

Har cleared his throat. “Before you put word on the street that we’re protecting Dontrell, have Scrap check with people he used to hang with – if they’ll even talk to him. Give that a day or two. Also gives us more time to find out what’s going on. A couple of men who worked with my Dad haven’t retired from the firedepartment, I’ll see if they’ll share any details about the arson investigation. We’ll meet again in two days.”

Chapter 13

Lost Your Touch

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