Page 81 of Rex

Aria: Yeah, I can do that. I’ll get mom to go with me. Be careful!

Me: You too

I then shoot off a group text to Chubs and the rest of the members telling them what we know. It’s a long shot, but maybe someone knows where he lives. We do have the address that came back with the plate on the car he was driving, but Chubs didn’t find anything of value there. Maybe it’s time to go sit on that house for an extended period. Turning to the group of people waiting on me, I explain what I’m thinking.

We all return to the office, and Reeves quickly gathers up drinks and snacks for the van. I tell Pigeon he can head home, but Ivy insists on helping, so they leave in her truck. Candy and I take her car because it’s more nondescript than mine, and Reeves and Horse take the van. We all find places to park near the home but not close enough to look suspicious. The van has surveillance abilities, including cameras, along with computers and anything else needed to sit here long-term.

Candy and I are the furthest away, but the backyard of the home and detached garage are in sight. We settle in and just watch for anything to indicate someone is inside. I answer several textsfrom other members asking what we need or how they can help. As for now, there isn’t much they can do. When it comes time to switch out vehicles so we don’t become obvious, I’ll ask then.

“I can’t fucking believe I didn’t know who it was as soon as I saw that video,” Candy mutters irritably.

“You knew more than the rest of us. I couldn’t place what made him familiar. You helped a lot, Candy,” I assure her.

“I pay attention to those little things, and yet he got past me this time. He always stares at the women that come in. Uncomfortably so. I’ve gotten in his face a time or two, and he’d back off. I saw him staring at Lisa and Aria but assumed it was his normal, weird behavior. I should have dug his eyeballs out when he did it the second time,” Candy says. “I want to hurt him in bad ways, Rex.”

I nearly bark out a laugh at the way she said that, but I bite it back. Candy is a lot like Loki, Ava’s large ass dog. She’s not mean, but she takes protectiveness to a whole new level. A smart person doesn’t cross Loki or give him a reason to attack. Same with Candy. Don’t give her a reason if you like breathing.

“Me too, Candy. He’s put Aria through a lot, and it makes me wonder who else he’s victimized. She can’t be the first one he’s stalked to this level. I’m not sure the police could even do anything with him since the video isn’t good enough to convince a jury.”

“This needs to be handled club style. No cops. The justice system doesn’t work on most of these cases, but the club’s style of justice definitely stops recidivism,” Candy states.

I do laugh briefly at that because she’s not wrong. I watch the house silently while Candy reaches into the backseat and pulls a bag up front. Rifling through it, she opens a package of licorice and holds it out to me. I take a couple of sticks and mindlessly munch on them.

“Thanks,” I say.

“You’re welcome. I always keep some snacks in here. Never know when you’ll cross paths with Chubs. He’s a great guy, but he can be a bit much if he’s hangry,” she says so matter of fact, I laugh again.

“Hangry? Never thought about that word applying to Chubs, but it’s true. Best guy ever, but when he’s hungry, he gets angry too. You’re fucking smart as hell, Candy. I’m really glad you’ve decided to prospect for the club. We need someone like you,” I reply.

“Appreciate that, Rex. I’m still a little in shock over the club asking. Can’t believe even Axel voted for it.”

“Axel’s who brought it to the table. He made the motion to ask you and announced he wanted to sponsor you, too. It makes me think maybe he likes getting his ass kicked occasionally,” I respond.

“Maybe he does,” Candy says, then snort-laughs once.

We sit in silence for a few hours, and yet nothing moves within the house. The others have reported the same from their views too. I alert everyone that I’m going to see if I can tell if the car is in the garage. I exit Candy’s car and casually walk up the small alleyway behind the house, hoodie pulled over my head. Eyes alert and searching for cameras, I see none anywhere.

As I walk past, I look for a window on the side of the garage that’s not viewable from where we were sitting. There is one, and I dart my eyes around, and seeing no one, step quickly to it. Looking in, I see it’s empty. I make my way back to Candy’s vehicle and slide into the passenger seat. I send out another text letting everyone know the car’s not here.

Another fifteen minutes and I get a text from Ivy saying a car that meets the description just slowly drove past her and Pigeon. I straighten my shoulders and tell Candy, while watching my mirror.

The car slowly cruises past us, and the brake lights come on when it’s nearing the garage. It stops and my whole body tenses, getting ready to jump out. After about twenty seconds, the brakes go off, and the car continues down the alleyway.

“Right car and right plates,” I say. “Let’s follow at a distance.”

While Candy does that, I text the others, letting them know what we’re doing. It’s decided that Pigeon will follow us while Reeves and Horse will stay put in the van. After a few blocks, we turn down a side street, and Pigeon moves closer to the car. We do this maneuver several times so the driver doesn’t see the same vehicle tailing him. Candy is very good at this, and I have to admit I’m impressed.

“Fuck! Look where he’s heading,” Candy barks out.

Looking around at the street signs and businesses, I realize we’re only three blocks from Aria’s office. I quickly hit Aria’s number on my phone and wait for her to answer.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“We’re following the car that Dale was seen using before, and it appears he’s headed to your office. Lock everything until you hear back, okay?”

“Will do it now. Let me know when you can,” Aria answers and disconnects immediately after she speaks.

I send out a group text asking if anyone is in the area and if they could come this way in case we need more bodies. Knowing bikes might alert him, I ask that no one rides theirs.

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