“No, but I’m pretty sure.” I tell him.
Carver nods and relays the information. I assume he’s still talking with Smoke. He looks back at me. “When the cops get here, don’t let on that you recognize him. We don’t want them knowing about our interaction with the Spades. Ok?”
I nod before shifting my attention to movement near our apartment. I see my mom, who has come out to see what we’re all doing. “Mom.” I whisper to Axel, who immediately goes to her side. I follow him. Soon, all three of us are standing together in a group hug. That is how Carver finds us a few minutes later.
“Hey, Mrs. B.” Carver greets her. “Sorry about this. The cops are on their way over.”
“You said there was another body?” I ask him and he nods.
“Reaper found it when he and Flame opened up. Reaper typically does a quick walkthrough of the storage areas just to make sure there have been no break-ins. We have security cameras and they’re monitored, but it’s not a foolproof system. Obviously.” Carver explains.
“Do they know who it is?” Axel asks.
“Not a clue.” Carver admits.
“It can’t be a coincidence.” Mom says, rubbing her hand on my back. “Can it?”
Carver shrugs. “We don’t know. This guy here is young, black, and possibly part of a gang. The guy they found at Styx is white, older, and according to Smoke, looks more like an accountant than a gang member.”
“Maybe he’s just part of a different gang.” I suggest.
We glance over to the parking lot as two marked police cars pull into the lot. Four cops pile out and head in our direction.
“Here we go.” Says Carver. “Remember, keep it simple. Don’t volunteer information and don’t let on that you recognize him.”
We answer questions for what feels like hours. I keep my answers simple, as Carver suggested.
“You sure you don’t know the victim?” Officer Wagstaff asks again.
“No, I’ve never met him.” I respond. It isn’t a lie. I may have seen him in the room, but Deion didn’t introduce anyone but Trask. For which I’m immensely grateful. “Do you know who he is?” I ask because I can’t seem to help myself.
“We recognize him. He’s a member of a local gang.”
I shudder at the memory of the gang, but I think he believes I’m just scared of gangs. He wouldn’t be wrong in that assumption. “Why would he be here?” I ask.
“You’ve had no trouble with gangs before?” He asks. My mom comes to join us and puts her arm around my waist.
“No, never.” She responds for me. She knows some of what happened to me the previous evening, enough that she understands I was more scared than hurt.
He glances at Carver’s member kutte and the prospect kutte Axel is wearing.
“The Demon Dawgs are not a gang.” I tell him with some heat. “They’re a motorcycle club and they own this property.”
Officer Wagstaff glances at me and shakes his head. “I didn’t say they were a gang. I was just wondering if they’re the reason someone dumped a body here.”
“Oh. Sorry.” I mumble, and he gives me a grin.
“Nothing to be sorry about. Some guys on the force would insist they were just as bad as any gang. I don’t. I think they’re the good guys. But I have inside information. My daughter is a nurse who works in the ER with Dr. Chambers.”
His words make me feel better, but I still don’t trust him enough to tell him I recognize the victim.
By the time Officer Wagstaff leaves me, several of the Demon Dawgs have arrived. Scar is standing near Carver. Grimm and Babe next to them. Scar looks worried and I wonder if he thinks someone meant this as a warning for Caitlin.
“I don’t think this has anything to do with Crossroads.” I assure him. “Maybe whoever dumped the body here simply knew the place was empty. Less likely to get caught.”
Scar studies me and then slowly nods. “Maybe.”
The sound of motorcycles draws my attention back to the parking lot. I let out a whimper when I see Reaper dismount from his bike and remove his helmet. When his eyes latch on to mine, I can’t control myself. I take a running start before jumping into his arms. He wraps his arms around me and pets my hair to soothe me. Right here is the only place I feel safe. I can never understand why Reaper ever doubts whether he’s good enough for me. Because he is my everything and the only person I can never live without. I open my eyes to see Flame behind us, shaking his head. This causes me to smile.