Denver…
Oh, boy.
Thirty minutes later, the entire freakin’ parking lot was full of “corrupt Wardens” and I was right smack dab in the middle of it.
Denver parked his bike, along with the newly minted Dixie Wardens, Bells and Thumper.
Bells was a cool-eyed man who looked like he had his head on his shoulder. Thumper struck me as the exact opposite.
More of a Martin Riggs kind of man. Crazy with a side of crazy.
His eyes weren’t cool, but wired, and focused entirely on me.
Well, on the salesman who was standing next to me cursing himself to oblivion.
“I didn’t mean anything by it!” the salesman threw up his hands.
“No?” the older gentleman biker said. “I’m thinking you meant every word. The way you curled your lip up let me know that you harbor a deep-seated anger toward the Dixie Wardens, and as the national president of the Dixie Wardens, I’d love to hear the explanation as to why. From what I know, this entire chapter is in good standing. So, now that both the club president and I are here…tell us what’s up.”
The salesman opened and closed his mouth.
“Bells,” Denver drawled. “Why don’t you give Sage a ride home? She looks like she’s freezing.”
I immediately shook my head. “I’m not freakin’ leaving until he takes my trade in! That’s all I wanted! He sold me the car, telling me it’d be perfect in the winter! I can’t even drive it with a small amount of snow on the ground. It’s not perfect!”
Thumper arrived at my side and I blinked, surprised to find him just…there.
He held out the keys. “How about you give me those keys, and get a ride home with Bells.”
I again shook my head. “No offense, Bells.” I smiled and waved. “But it’s freezing out. I’m not sure I would survive a ride home on a bike.”
Bells jerked his chin.
I pointed at the doctor’s office. “I’m just going to go over there while y’all…work something out.”
Denver grunted. “Bells.”
Bells fell into step with me, not saying a word.
He walked with me over to the office and pulled out his own set of keys to unlock the door. He barely had the door open when Odin popped out of the other side.
The medical examiner’s side.
“What’s up?” he asked, looking at Bells then at me.
He had gore-covered gloves on his hands.
Gross.
“Nothing,” I said. “Just waiting for them to resolve a few issues. I figured I’d get some file reading done since I seem to have some free time on my hands.”
Odin looked across the street at the small car dealership that I really should’ve known better than to get a car from. “Those files you pulled on the missing kids?”
I nodded.
I’m not surprised he knew I’d pulled them.
Odin missed nothing.
