Page 10 of Crusher

“First time someone spoke on the other end. Imeant to ask you, Coast, to work your magic and see if you couldfind where this call is coming from. No number coming up, justprivate caller shows on screen. No one was ever there when Ianswered before.”

“Sure thing, Crusher. If you can go withoutthe phone for a few hours tomorrow; I’ll take the chip out of itand see if I can backtrack on it. May not be a number showing butthe call is bouncing from somewhere. Could at least give you area,if not a number. Something might click with a place.”

“Thanks, Coast. I should be able to gowithout the damn thing for a few hours.

“Well, you boys want to go to Soft Tailstonight? Have a few beers, watch a few girls?” Devil hung the toolshe’d being used.

“I’m in, Devil. How about the rest of youfuckers?” Flirt asked, laying the tarp over the spread out engineparts he had on a drop cloth.

“I’m in, too. Between helping with movingSami and Spider in, working in here, and sitting with my dad, goingover all the shit he takes care of for the club, I deserve a drinkand to get laid.” Jag turned the gas off to the torch he was using.If he hadn’t gone to college and then law school, he could havemade a decent living as a welder.

“Speed, you in?” I knew Speed had beenwatching Ally when Sami had the late shift.

“Sounds good, Sami was off today but sheworks tomorrow so she and Ally will be in bed early. What time youguys want to go?”

“After dinner. Or you want to wait untilafter you put Ally down?” I wasn’t going to ask what the twitch tohis lips meant. When you weren’t getting laid regular, you couldpick out a man who was.

“Nah, we can go after dinner. Best if I don’twait for Ally to go to sleep. I may not want to leave after that.”Rags were thrown at Speed from all directions. “What? Can I help itif I got a warm, willing woman that puts up with my shit?”

“Not at all. We just don’t want to hearabout,” I said, flipped him off, and headed out of the garage.“Text me when you fuckers are ready to roll. Going to clean up.” Iheaded in the direction my house.

“Just the gentlemen I needed to see,” Tanksaid as we walked into Soft Tails. The music was blaring and theplace was full of brothers.

“What’s up, man?” I asked and looked aroundthe place.

“Let me get Bull to cover the door for me andwe can talk in Sami’s office.” We nodded and headed in thatdirection knowing Tank would follow after Bull replaced him.

On the way, I stopped by the bar and toldStem to set us up at our usual table with a round. By the time weunlocked the office door and entered, Tank was right behind us andclosed the door.

“It could be nothing or it could be an issue,but when I closed up and Bull and I were getting on our rides weheard bike engines getting closer so we waited, thought maybe itwas a few of the club members. Instead three bikes when rightby.”

“Not like other riders don’t come through,Tank,” I said.

“Yeah, but these riders slowed, looked over,and when they saw Bull and me sitting on our bikes, they sped up.It was dark so we didn’t get a good look, just know not any ofours.”

“Still, that don’t mean nothing, they wouldhave seen the Soft Tails sign, maybe they slowed to see if stillopen,” Speed said and Tank shook his head no.

“Why don’t you think that is it, Tank?” Anyother time I would blow this shit off, but with the crap overCarly, I didn’t want to take any chances.

“Go ask Roscoe. I overheard him talking aboutthree riders with the group at his table but I hadn’t got a chancetonight to go ask him about them. I got a gut feeling they could bethe same fellows.” Yeah, my gut was saying the same thing.

“Where did he see them?” Speed asked.

“Not sure, didn’t hear that part.”

“We’ll check with him. Thanks, Tank.” Henodded at me and I headed to the door Flirt opened.

“Speed, Spider’s birthday is coming up nextmonth. Me and some of the guys wondered if you and Sami minded ifwe brought some stuff by your house for her?” I chuckled at Tank’squestion while we all stepped out of the office and Speed lockedthe door back.

“Sami plans to have a party for her.”

“That is why we were wanting to drop herpresent off ahead of time. We didn’t want to show up and scare anyof the kids there.” Tank looked at Speed and frowned like Speed hadmissed the reason for the drop off.

“Not a kid birthday party, man. A clubbirthday party for her. Everyone will be invited. Figure we canhave a cookout in the yard behind the club since everything is outthere. My place can’t hold everyone.” As I listened to the exchangeI looked around and spotted Roscoe and turned in his direction,Speed followed while the others headed to our table where Layne wassetting down our drink order.

“That is great. I will let the other guysknow,” Tank said and headed back to his spot at the door.

“What’s so funny?” Speed glared at me when Ichuckled and stopped at the table Roscoe was sitting at.

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