Page 8 of Spooked
“Why the fuck did they send you there?” Peg growls, slamming his hand on the bar. “You could have injured yourself more than you already have.”
Feeling protective of the one business arm of the Satan’s Devils that had actually offered me a job, I shrug. “It wasn’t that bad. Just had to be careful.”
“Sounds creepy as fuck,” Drummer responds with a laugh. “You see any ghosts while you were there?”
“Ha fuckin’ ha,” I reply. “No ghost and no souls, living or departed.” I take a large sip of my whisky. “Place looked like the Disney haunted house if you want a comparison.”
Looking concerned, Drummer carefully looks into my eyes. “You get any strange feelings or impulses while you were there?” As my face twists to look at him with a total lack of comprehension, he clarifies, “Know you were diagnosed with a TBI, Hound. The wrong stimuli could fuck with your head.”
How the fuck does he know?“You been speaking to my doctor?” I rasp out through gritted teeth.
“Wasn’t him, Bro. I hacked into your medical records.” It’s Mouse who’s appeared. He shrugs at my glare and raises his hands. “I did it for all of you who were injured. Prez,” he inclines his head toward Drummer, “needed to know what we’re dealing with and the best way to help.”
Wizard’s my prez, not Drummer.I scowl. “I’m not fucked in the head. Doctor said it was a possibility, not a certainty.”
A meaty hand lands on my shoulder. “Brother, we just want to give you what you need so you can heal.” Peg shakes his head. “My ol’ lady’s looking to retire any day now. I don’t want this extra responsibility for a moment longer than I have to. Need you back in the harness.”
“But fit and well,” Drummer adds.
“I’m well,” I growl, then admit, “The fitness I’ve just got to work on.”
“True words. You look like shit, Brother.”
“Gee, thanks, Peg,” I snarl.
Mouse orders himself a soda, then steps closer. “I looked into the Sullivan House when Bullet asked me to. It’s an anomaly in time, left vacant for years. A woman called Siobhan Sullivan inherited it, but it’s been nothing more than a millstone around her neck. Do you know she actually tried to burn it down?”
Tilting my head to one side, I non-verbally encourage him to say more, the charred remains I’d found. If that was evidence of her arson, she hadn’t gotten far.
He doesn’t disappoint. “There’s nothing to actually say it was her, but someone started a fire in one of the downstairs rooms. Used gasoline by all reports, but the flames just petered out.” His eyes meet mine. “She’s tried to get it demolished a few times, but every company she approached ran into problems. A man was electrocuted when he tried to send his bulldozer through the front door. Another had a heart attack just entering the grounds.” He shakes his head, and his hair, once jet black but tinged with grey now, settles around his shoulders. “SD Construction was this Siobhan’s last chance to get something done.”
Gobsmacked, I don’t know what to say. I’d sensed the house wasn’t normal, that something was going on. But right now, with Drummer’s reference to my brain injury, I can’t admit that to anyone.
His half-Native American heritage showing now, Mouse’s pupils widen, and he seems to be meditating for a moment. His hand lands on my arm. “Never doubt your senses, Brother. There are more things in this world than we acknowledge.”
Shrugging him off, I sneer, “I wasn’t afraid. It was just an old abandoned house. Decaying, and yeah, concerning, as I wasn’t sure I was going to make it out of there without the place collapsing around me.”
“I’m going to have a word with my fuckin’ son,” Drummer growls. “You’re supposed to be taking care of yourself, not being put in danger.”
Hurrying to ease his concern, I try to shed a better light on it. “I’m exaggerating. I just had a close shave that shocked me, is all. I think the house is probably sound, but it’s deteriorating on a daily basis through neglect. I doubt Zeke, Bullet or Shooter had any idea of the condition in which I’d found it.” I raise and lower my shoulders. “I’m here. I got out. No injuries to body… ormind.” I emphasise the last word.
Mouse slaps my shoulder and shakes his head. “It’s lucky you went there today, and not later this week, Bro. Halloween’s approaching,” he adds to make sure I understand him. “Any spirits hanging around are bound to come out then.” He lifts his hands and wiggles them as though he’s imitating a ghost.
Peg snorts with laughter, and Drummer follows suit. “Mouse, you’re a laugh a minute, ain’t ya?” He points at me. “Better lay off, else you’ll get him believing this shit.”
Mouse’s enigmatic smile gives nothing away.
“Anyway,” I tell them. “Got no need to go back again. Got all the pictures I need for Bullet and Shooter to know what state that house is in.”
With that, the spotlight is off me. Peg, Drummer and Mouse start to talk about their kids. I politely ask for the latest update on Wizard, who’s yet to be released from the hospital. Oh, and I picked up that a woman ran out of the clubhouse after Dollar brought her home, and she didn’t feel able to experience his kink. That’s the only information that had me smiling that evening.Fucking Dollar.Even as an old man, he’s still up to his tricks.
“Well, I’m off to see my woman.” Drummer’s hand lands on my shoulder as he leaves.
Blade, who’s just arrived to overhear the end of our conversation, barks a laugh. “Hey, it’s Halloween soon. How about we all dress up?” He jumps back as Drummer’s fist shoots out.
“You fuckin’ wish,” he growls, as he raises his chin toward us and leaves.
Blade raises his palms in awhat have I done nowgesture and innocently says, “I meant the kids.”
