Page 23 of Justice's Reward
The prospect walked out from the kitchen. “Yes, Pres,” he said.
“Who did you talk to about the ATF at the gun store?” Pit asked, striding closer. Justice kept pace because he’d seen this part of his cousin before, and the prospect better have the right answer.
“When I said hello, he said he was Sledge at the gun range and the ATF was at the gun range to do a check. I asked if he wanted me to get you, and he said no, just give you the message. Then he hung up,” the prospect said.
“Did it sound like Sledge?” Pit asked, crowding close to the prospect.
“Umm,” the prospect stuttered as Pit backed him against the wall. “I don’t know if I could recognize Sledge’s voice. He’s not my sponsor, and I haven’t seen him much in the month I’ve been here.”
Justice waited to see what Pit would do. The prospect looked ready to piss his pants, which didn’t bode well for him being a member. If he couldn’t deal with Pit in his face, then he wasn’t one that Justice wanted at his back.
Pit stared at him, then hit the wall beside the prospect’s head with his fist and walked away.
“I’m going to go see my wife. VP, get some more information before we meet tonight,” Pit growled.
“Got it,” Justice said, worrying that there was more going on than they realized.
Justice turned toward Stinger. “I don’t trust what’s going on. I know we’ll be stretched thin, but figure out a schedule so we have a second set of eyes on the gate and a patrol around the back side of the compound. Somebody is screwing with us, and until we find out who—we need to be prepared for anything.”
Chapter Fifteen
Adley had spent some time going over what Macy had found out about Gina, which wasn’t much. After they’d talked, Adley had gone back in the room, added more butcher paper with the additional items of Gina picking Justice up at the bar and getting pregnant. She’d also added the question of whether Justice was roofied. She didn’t discuss this with Justice ahead of time because when he and the other guys saw the question, she wanted everyone’s first reaction. She’d be surprised if some of the guys, especially those whoworked as first responders, hadn’t already considered it.
They’d finished supper, and everyone who was allowed to be a part of the investigation would be coming in. Adley sat and stared at all the different parts but couldn’t see any way they all connected.
Macy came in and sat down beside her, followed by Justice, Tack, Pit, Ariel, and Judith, along with Ruthy and Charlie. Justice walked over to the new additions Adley had made as Stinger, Tack, and the rest of the guys came in. One of the guys she hadn’t met closed the door and then flicked on an electronic device.
Justice looked back at the paper, then walked toward Adley. “Do you really think I was roofied?”
“I can’t prove it because you didn’t go to the hospital and have blood taken, buteverything in me says you shouldn’t have such large gaps in your memory of that night,” Adley said. She hated seeing the look of disillusionment on Justice’s face. If he was roofied, how he looked at everything changed.
“It makes sense. I always thought it was strange you couldn’t remember the night, but I chalked it up to overindulging in liquor. You never said that you only remembered drinking one beer until recently,” Stinger said.
“I added Gina to Macy’s research,” Adley said.
“I’ve contacted a friend who is better at, shall we say, the more intricate ways of finding out information. When I tried to do a deep dive, I couldn’t find that Gina Brown existed. Her social security number, which was on her lease, belongs to a child whodied in the early seventies. My person is supposed to get back to me sometime tomorrow,” Macy said.
“If you were roofied, which is seeming more and more plausible, then it concerns me why. I remember she was constantly bugging you to let her live on the compound. You offered for Ian to live with you, but you didn’t want her here, even though it would have made it easier. I never asked you. What made you say no to her?” Pit asked.
Justice stared at Pit while he was thinking. Adley reached out and placed her hand on his arm. Seeing Justice go through this was painful to her. Everything he thought about Ian’s mom was going up in smoke.
“I didn’t have any concrete reason other than when I imagined her here, I got a bad feeling. We all learned to listen to those instincts in the military. I couldn’t chanceletting her live here and something happening to our families,” Justice said softly.
Pit nodded and glanced around the room. “I think we’re dealing with something or someone that has been targeting us. I don’t have anything to prove it, but something feels off about all of this. I think it would be a waste of time to discuss further tonight if Macy’s friend will be getting back to her tomorrow. Spend some time relaxing tonight because who knows what tomorrow will bring.”
Pit got up and led Ariel out of the room. Everyone left until it was only her and Justice.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you my thoughts ahead of time. I’m guessing you feel blindsided, but I don’t know everyone. I wanted to see everyone’s first reactions,” Adley said, holding Justice’s hand.
Justice nodded and stood up, leading Adley out of the room and locking it behind him.
“You have no reason to be sorry. You did what you thought was best, and it was the right thing to do. Anything you saw that concerned you?” Justice asked, leading her out into the front room.
“No, everyone seemed genuinely surprised.”
They walked over to where his mom was holding Ian.
“Hey, Ian is having a Mimi night, and I invited Charlie and Judith over to hang out at my house to spend the night. We’ve also told Pit and Ariel that if little Teddy won’t go to sleep after eating, they can drop him off too,” Ruthy said.
