Page 46 of Tuck & Roll

Why would the chief be here? The clubhouse was just outside city limits and should fall under Alamosa County jurisdiction. The men currently holding them at gunpoint all wore bulletproof vests with ACSO stamped on them. So, again, why was the Redemption chief of police here?

The man in charge opened the door, leaned in and said something that turned Whitener’s expression grim, leading her to believe they didn’t find what they were looking for. The man then turned and yelled to his men, “Cut ’em loose then move out!”

The officer that had picked her up after Kitowski had his foot at her neck cut the ties behind her back and walked away, leaving everyone else restrained. She didn’t dare move, not wanting to do something to provoke Kitowski and watched as they got in their cars and drove off.

“Kylie, take the knife out of the scabbard at my side.” Darren tipped his head to the right.

She found it and was able to cut him loose without slicing him despite how much she’d started shaking. Once freed, he took the knife from her and cut Race loose, who in turn cut Dagger loose, who then went on to free everyone else. She tried to get to her feet, but was having some difficulty. Her knees were in pain from the rough fall and it felt like she might have scraped them through her jeans. She wouldn’t be surprised if she had bruises on her them from the rocks she’d been forced to balance on. She tried to place her hands on the pavement, but they too were scraped.

“Here, sweetness. Let me help you up.” Race slipped one arm across her back and under her arm to grip her while he held her forearm closest to him, giving her enough support to get to her feet.

“Thanks.” She started to walk, but the flash drive in her shoe made her flinch.

“I’ll take her inside.” Darren swooped in and picked her up like she weighed nothing. Jed held the door open then followed them inside.

They all got their first look at the mess the police made. It took her breath away. It was totally destroyed. The T.V. was broken and hanging crookedly on the wall, the couches and cushions were slashed, every bottle of alcohol behind the bar was smashed and it reeked of booze. All the tables and chairs were turned over or busted into pieces. She was sure the bar stools would have seen the same treatment if they hadn’t been made of metal.

“What the hell were they after?” Dagger asked no one in particular. He was walking around the mess, his hands on his hips, shaking his head.

“Does this happen often? The police showing up unannounced to tear up your clubhouse?” Kylie asked. She couldn’t believe the absolute destruction of the place. She wondered if any other parts of the clubhouse received the same thorough treatment or if it was just out here.

“Not often, but it happens,” Darren replied. Instead of setting her in one of the barstools Jed was righting, he headed for the hallway. The doors to the rooms had been kicked in if they’d been locked, giving her a peek inside each one as they walked by. They didn’t look too bad with the mattresses flipped over with blankets and clothes thrown on the floor. Not nearly as bad as the common area.

“Wait! Stop!” The glimpse she’d gotten of her office caused her heart to skip a beat. “Go back to my office.”

Darren turned around and took the few steps needed to get her to her office. It was in shambles. Not a single thing had gone unscathed.

“What the fuck?” Darren growled. “They destroyed everything. It’s like they were pissed off at you or something.”

It was like a tornado had went through. Her computers, her brand-new, amazing computers, were all broken into multiple pieces. Even the ones in boxes she hadn’t had time to set up yet had been taken out and demolished. The screens were busted, the keyboards broken in half and her hard drives completely smashed. There was no salvaging any of them. Her couch was cut to shreds, stuffing everywhere. Her printer, smashed. Her desk was even overturned.

Race came to stand next to them. “Motherfuckers.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “What the hell were they looking for?”

“I’m so sorry, Race. Everything you bought me is destroyed.” She felt so horrible. Race had been so generous when he’d bought her all this equipment and now it was a big pile of rubble they’d have to throw away.

“Sweetness, it’s not your fault. This shit happens from time to time. We can replace it all. I’m just glad that they didn’t hurt you more than they already did. That fucking Kitowski is gonna pay.”

“Let’s get you cleaned up.” Darren took her to his room, bypassing the mess in his floor and entered his bathroom.

“I think I might have some idea what they’re looking for, but not exactly why yet. I’m still digging into it,” she said over his shoulder.

Darren placed her on his counter next to the sink. “What are you talking about?”

Kylie bent over and pulled the flash drive from her shoe. “This. This is the flash drive with the original information I downloaded off Chet’s computer regarding his false books and the bank account in Boulder.” She held it up so Darren and Race could see it. “Right before they busted in here, I found a link between Chet and the chief. I think.”

“Go on.” Race leaned against the doorjamb, crossing his arms and ankles.

“Lean over so I can wash the dirt and gravel out of your hands,” Darren instructed.

She placed the flash drive on the counter and did as he instructed. She hissed as the cold water hit her open wounds. “I found out who Chet is sending the money to. A person named Clark Gussman. Once a month, he withdraws $5,000 and within a day or two, the same amount shows up in the chief’s account.”

“Who’s Clark Gussman?” Race asked.

Darren patted her hands dry, then applied antibiotic ointment to her palms.

“Not sure yet.” She gritted her teeth when Darren tried to gently get the rocks out of her cheek. She glanced in the mirror and wondered if it was going to scar her face. “I was getting ready to run his name through the DMV to find a picture so we’d have some idea who we’re looking for and further investigate the chief’s account. The chief also has someone named Anna Chase listed on the account. I didn’t get a chance to find out who she is yet. And I’m still trying to figure out how Chet and Clark are connected other than Clark is the one getting the skimmed money.”

She gasped again as Darren applied ointment to her cheek. “I don’t think it’ll scar. It wasn’t too deep. It won’t be pretty while it’s healing, but it will eventually go away and you’ll be back as good as new.”

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