Page 2 of T-Bone
Not much had changed since I was last here, broken and depressed, determined to find out the truth that everybody else wanted to stay hidden. Then again, not much had changed for me in the past three years if you didn’t count losing the only family I had left in the world. Coming back here felt like, I don’t know, visiting a ghost town or an unmarked grave. Even though Jackson had casually mentioned a new Chief of Police, I sat in my car for several minutes to steel myself to face old friends and foes alike inside the two-story gray cement building. I’d been sure back then that Red Rock PD was full of dirty cops and that hadn’t changed, so I kept my expectations low.
I stepped out of the car and smoothed down the crisp, navy blue jacket I’d chosen for this meeting. I didn’t expect a warm welcome or anything else, but I had to try. For Chloe and Gemma.
Inside, the Red Rock PD was a lot different than I remembered. For starters there were a lot fewer guys at desks with silver hair, replaced with fresh, young faces. There were still a few familiar faces who looked at me with equal surprise and annoyance, as if I was the reminder of the time they fell down on the job.
“Hey there, little lady, what can I do for you?” The man with the big smile and swollen belly wore all the hallmarks of the Chief. He was dressed in his uniform, crisp in the places it wasn’t stretched to the brink of bursting, Stetson included,and he carried that jovial air of authority known to small town policemen.
“Chief Maynard?” I extended my hand and gave a warm smile. “Nice to meet you. I’m Faith Welsh.”
“Well how can I help you, Faith Welsh?”
“Your department handled the death of Chloe Brunson and the disappearance of Gemma Brunson, and I’d like to get a look at the case file for Ashley Monroe.”
His smile was immediately placating. “What’s a pretty young thing bothering herself with such dark matters?”
“Mrs. Brunson was murdered though no body was found. And there’s been no trace of her daughter for three years. Until a hair found at the Monroe crime scene.” I kept my tone firm and even, professional without questioning his authority. “The family has retained my services to find out what’s happened.”
Relief swamped him. “That’s easy, Miss Monroe was killed by a jealous ex-boyfriend whose whereabouts have yet to be nailed down.”
That was suspicious. “What is the name of the boyfriend?” He didn’t answer right away. “I just want to make sure it’s the same suspect the family mentioned.”
Chief Maynard studied me closely, trying to figure out which parts of my story were true and which ones were a lie. “Can’t divulge those details in an ongoing case, sweetheart. Sorry.” He didn’t look sorry at all—in fact, he looked rather worried.
It wasn’t the first time in my career I’d had to deal with corrupt small town PD, and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. “So there’s nothing else you can share?”
“Not until we find the ex. If you manage to track him down,” he said, his tone thick with sarcasm, “be sure to send him our way.”
“Yeah. Right.” That was the last thing I’d do. “I have an official request for the bodycam footage of responding officers.” It was just long enough that the footage was now available. “Please.”
He was reluctant but duty bound to hand it over. “It’ll be a couple minutes.” Maynard retrieved the file and copied it himself, which was scut work for anyone but a rookie.
Another strange clue.
I thanked the Chief with a smile and headed back to my car to do more digging into Ashley’s life. There were photos of her online, and I wondered what secrets she carried that ended her life too soon, and I wondered what she knew about my niece. There had to be a connection to Chloe and Marcus, which meant likely some tenuous connection to his biker gang as well.
A commotion in the parking lot captured my attention. Three officers hauled in five drunk men who were big and rowdy, and at the loud stage in their drunken antics.
Perfect.I slipped out of the car as a plan took form, using my blue suit to blend in during the chaos. The men were loud and rambunctious, pushing and shoving each other, which required more officers to assist. That was the moment I slipped behind the front desk and found the murder file for Ashley Monroe. I didn’t have time to read it so I pulled out my phone and scanned as many pages as I could before the commotion died down.
And then I slipped out of Red Rock PD and headed to my hotel to go over the files. And to rein in the hope that was threatening to overwhelm me.
Gemma was alive!
Chapter Two
T-Bone
Diesel sat at the head of the table inside our Steel Demons MC meeting room, long legs extended out in front of him and hands clasped over his stomach. He looked just as exhausted as he sounded. “Steel Thunder Moto Rally starts tomorrow and I’m really regretting volunteering to spearhead the damn thing.”
Rocky laughed and clapped him on the back with a grin. “It’s just a few thousand bikers from all over the Southwest and as far away as Chicago and New York. What could go wrong?” He laughed again, a little louder just to fuck with our Prez.
Diesel glared at him. “Everything is set. We have sixty-three vendors selling everything from leather vests to bike parts, club gear, and handmade knives. Permits are taken care of. There are food vendors happy to make their year over the next four days. Lots of girls too. What else?” He looked around the table expectantly.
“Nikki’s gonna do her show from the rally one night and Mia has arranged for several others to do the same,” Rebel offered with a bored expression.
“Laura and Katey volunteered to do the medical tent,” Hawk offered with a smile. “I’ll be keeping them safe.”
“Good,” Diesel nodded. “There’s gonna be drunk assholes, too much booze and drugs, and a lot of fuckin’ weapons. Keep your heads on a swivel and let me know if anything feels off,” his dark brows fixed in the perma-scowl he’d been wearing since he started planning the rally.
