Page 18 of The Penitentiary
“Damn right!”
Callie – Tuesday.
Happily, I headed out of the RV to check the equipment. Sunny had been sending me baleful looks all day, and I’d been feeling guilty. I had to admit I didn’t understand how he was sitting down. Sunny’s right butt cheek was bruised to hell, and I’d left tiny teeth indentations. Sunny had made me rub it better, and then I rubbed something else demanding attention.
I knew my man; getting laid put Sunny in a great mood. As I headed onto the tour bus, I was surprised to see Sunny glowering at his phone.
“What’s up?”
“We’ve got an issue,” he replied, still frowning.
“What? I checked all permits and everything else. The insurance is current—”
“Not that type of problem, babe. It’s Hellfire,” Sunny complained.
“Do you need to go? How long will you be? Sunny, I have to stay and finish this investigation; I could fly to Spearfish—”
“Callie, take a breath, baby. It’s nothing like that; relax, angel. Madi has been speaking to Lavender. Lavender wishes to know if we’re doing Xochimilco? She said you’ll understand what that is.”
I was certain I looked horrified. “Are you sure Lavender said Xochimilco?”
“Yup. Why, what is it?” Sunny demanded.
“The Island of the Dead Dolls, Sunny. Lavender wants to go to a place that is literally filled with dolls,” I muttered.
Sunny stared at me in horror. “The one we’re going to in Mexico? Chatter’s—”
“Yeah, I know! The whole world knows about Chatter’s doll phobia.”
“Holy crap. Lavender’s fuckin’ evil,” Sunny gasped.
“What’s the likelihood of Chatter staying behind?” I almost begged Sunny.
“Zero. He won’t let Lavender come alone,” Sunny replied, sinking into a chair.
“Chance! Chatter trusts Chance. We can ask Chance to come with Lavender!”
“That’s the next problem. Clio has asked to go on a ghost hunt. And so has Bunny, although Pyro’s not too keen.”
“Wait a minute,” I asked suspiciously. “Are you telling me Hellfire wants to come out as couples and do an investigation at each new site we move to?”
Sunny winced and gazed into the distance before nodding.
“Seriously? With Chatter’s phobia and the fears of the rest of the brothers, this will be fuckin’ amazing! The ratings will shoot through the roof!” I cried. “Viewers would love seeing big, burly, badass bikers racing through haunted properties.”
“You’re okay with this?” Sunny asked, looking relieved.
“That we are about to be invaded by your club? Yeah, as long as they get their own RV. They’re not sharing ours.”
“Not a problem. Shall we get started with tonight’s investigation?”
“Yeah, I’m a bit bummed. Considering the activity Jack’s team recorded on twelve, we captured nothing.”
“Which, babe, after cellblock eight, I was mightily relieved by,” Sunny said with a grin.
“We’ve got cellblock four tonight, and Jack’s taking the women’s cellblock in nine. That should be interesting,” I replied.
“That was the one with the faces, and they beckoned you over for a closer look? I’ve gotta know how ghostly faces beckon. Do they blink or twitch at you?” Sunny mused, and I laughed.
