Total pages in book: 122
Estimated words: 117752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117752 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
She raised her head. “Did you give any thought where Lucky was concerned, or is Calder the exception?” Crazy Bitch said sarcastically.
“We have to look at all the options.” He coldly brought up Calder’s past. “It wouldn’t be the first—”
She stood up, pointing toward the door. “Get the fuck out. Now.”
He didn’t react to her demand. “I’m not saying I believe it. I asked if you had thought about it.”
“No, I didn’t think about it,” she snapped. “I tend to give the people I love the benefit of the doubt. That’s where The Last Riders and the Destructors differ. We’re loyal to those we love, while The Last Riders don’t know what love is.”
“I’m trying to help.” Shade’s impassiveness was more than she could take.
“Calder has done nothing but help Gavin. He’s earned your help. Don’t act like you’re doing him a fucking favor!” she screamed.
Shade’s eyes shot out shards of blue ice. “Do you know why most drowning victims drown?” he asked conversationally.
She had to hiccup back the hysterics that were rising to the surface. “I don’t—”
“They panic,” he calmly answered before she could. “Take a deep breath, grab a beer, or drink a cup of coffee. Use your heads.” Shade stared around the group gathered in her living room and kitchen.
Taking him up on his suggestion, she went to the fridge, taking out a beer. Opening it, she took a drink as Shade walked to the counter to watch her.
“What’s this?”
Crazy Bitch took another drink, focusing her mind. She flipped to the first page. “I started a notebook of the clues for our treasure hunt.” She flipped another page. “This is everyone we saw during the groundbreaking and where we remembered them standing. That’s why Train called you about Devon and his mother.”
“Rider talked to Devon. He said he didn’t see anything suspicious when he went into the shelter, and he wasn’t paying attention when Calder didn’t come back. Rider’s with Mrs. Carpenter now. He’ll call me back when he’s finished.”
Crazy Bitch flipped another page. “This one, I was going to make a list of people Calder had pissed off and who wanted to hurt him.”
Shade looked at her approvingly. “Good call. Why’s it blank?”
“Because I can’t think of anyone. Calder is pretty laid-back. The only one I can think of who hates him is Candi. She got out of prison last week, and they had an argument.”
“What was the fight about?”
“It’s personal.” She might have revealed to Killyama and Train about Star, but she knew she could trust them to keep it to themselves.
“You want me to find him?” he challenged.
Calder’s privacy wasn’t worth his life. “Star is his kid. Candi was trying to blackmail Stud for money to keep from telling Calder and Star.”
“What was Stud’s reaction?”
“Stud, Sex Piston, and Calder were going to talk to Star the night he disappeared. Calder also told Candi that if she didn’t get out of town, he would spread it around town that she was the informant who got him and several of their buddies arrested.”
“Was she?”
“Calder seemed to think she was.”
“That’s pretty much what Stud said,” Shade added.
“If you knew, then why ask?”
“To make sure nothing was left out. Sometimes one little detail can be a matter of life and death. Stud is trying to find Candi. I pulled a few favors and found out who her parole officer is. He didn’t want to give out her information, but Knox found out and gave the information to Stud. The apartment she gave was her sister’s, and she hasn’t seen her since Candi moved out three months ago.”
“She’s been out that long?” Sex Piston jerked sharply in her chair at the counter.
“Yes. Her sister said she has a boyfriend, and Candi told her she was moving in with him.”
“Who’s the sucker?” T.A. asked, shoving Mason off the couch.
“Her sister didn’t know.”
“Is Stud the only one looking for Candi?”
“No, when we got Bear and Sam’s lie detector results back, I sent them to Stud. We’ve already gone to where she told her parole worker she’s working. She didn’t last a week there. No one can even remember her. They said she mainly spent the time flirting with customers.”
“That sounds like her,” Crazy Bitch remarked contemptuously.
“Stud sent a couple of the brothers to some of the places where Candi and Calder hung out when they were together. We’re hoping one of them might have seen her since she’s come back and know where she’s at now.”
Crazy Bitch had to admit, Stud and The Last Riders weren’t leaving any stone unturned.
“I’m sorry I snapped at—”
“It’s cool. I’ve been in your position. It’s not easy when you don’t know where they are and you can’t protect them.”
“No, it isn’t.”
“Where’d Candi work?” Fat Louise went to her candy drawer, taking out a chocolate bar. Everyone watched as she flushed. “Sorry. Thinking about her made me want one.”