Page 34 of Givin' Me Fitz!
“California. Mitchell Caverns. About eight miles from the Scorpions clubhouse. It seems like it’s cut and dried, Bones. The Scorpions took Boyd and tried to get information out of him to get into the safe at the dispensary. He wouldn’t give it up, no matter how much they tortured him.”
“Did Crane say if they were able to identify Boyd?” I wanted facts before we made Boyd a martyr for the club. I didn’t see the guy as selfless. I wouldn’t memorialize him until I knew exactly what happened to him.
“They’re working on it. The California authorities are handling it now since the body was found in California. They’ll keep Chet—uh, Officer Crane advised since it’s tied to a crime in Vegas.
“Anyway, I thought you’d want to know that Boyd had been found.” Hobie’s expression was unsure.
“You thinkin’ the same thing as me?”
Hobie swallowed and gave a quick nod. “I’m thinkin’ that body wasn’t Boyd’s, but I’m not sure if he’s still alive. Have you talked to Hammer about this?”
I shook my head. “Look, do we know Hammer and some of the others aren’t involved in the robbery? Are we sure this wasn’t an inside job like Crane suggested when he questioned me at the scene?”
I had no idea who the fuck to trust anymore. I wasn’t sure if Hobie did either.
“Prez, I sure as hell hope not. Call a meeting of the executive board and let’s start digging.”
I nodded, feeling my headache kick into high gear.
Three hours later, I’d summoned the executive committee—Spider, T-Roy, Hobie, Ders, Arlo, and also asked Tiny to sit in. Tiny hadn’t been patched yet, but we were still a week away from the official meeting to do the deed. For now, we were short an enforcer, and Tiny was someone I knew I could trust.
Everyone was settled for church when I walked in. I took the gavel and smacked it on the oak square from a tree that had been cut down on the property. My father had cut the knot of wood and sanded it. He used it to gavel in meetings, and I continued that tradition.
Bang! Bang!
“Come to order. I put forth a motion to waive reading the minutes and move to new business.”
Spider held up his hand. “Seconded.”
“Passed.” Derson said as his gaze followed mine to where Tiny was sitting behind the table.
“Tiny, step up, please.” I turned to Spider who handed me the box I’d requested.
The kid looked around as if he believed he was being punked. Hobie grinned. “Step up, man.”
Tiny stepped forward, an uncertain expression on his face. “Did I do something wrong?”
Hobie put his hand on Tiny’s shoulder. “No, Tiny.” He turned toward me and nodded.
“Dean Granger, raise your right hand and place your left hand on the cowboy in the center of the table.” Tiny did as I said.
“Do you swear your allegiance to the Pahrump Steel Cowboys? Do you promise to put the integrity and well-being of the club above all else? Will you uphold the values and rules we’ve made and promise not to share any information about the club outside of this room? Do you swear on your honor?” I recited the vows I’d taken when I was patched in.
Tiny raised one hand and placed his other on the intricately carved cowboy skeleton in the center of the table. “I swear on my honor.”
“Will the vice president present the club colors?”
Spider opened the box and held out the cut that Florence Anderson, Derson’s mom, had made for us, including the enforcer and one-percenter patches. We owed her a dozen roses for her handiwork.
“Tiny, welcome into the brotherhood of the Pahrump Steel Cowboys as a patched member and an enforcer for the club.”
Tiny gave me a double take. “En— Enforcer?” I chuckled and nodded.
Spider handed the cut to Ders to hold out for Tiny, and when the kid slid his large arms through the holes and Ders pushed it up his shoulders, we all clapped, whistled, and patted Tiny on the back. It had been a bit since we’d patched in a new member, and I was glad Tiny was one of us. I had every confidence that the kid would defend the club with his life.
Once the formality was completed, I struck the gavel again. “Before the party begins, I gotta tell you that a body has been found near Mitchell Caverns and it might be Boyd’s. As you all know, he disappeared after the robbery. He hasn’t reached out to anyone, right?”
I glanced around the table for the confirmation I expected. “The body is only identifiable by DNA testing, so we’re waiting to hear the results. When we get validation, we’ll be wearing the black arm bands when representing the club, so bear that in mind.”
