Page 38 of Thick

“This isn’t going to be simple,” I interrupted. “It’s going to take some planning. Do they have time on the yard? Meals in the cell, or meals in a chow hall? Is there a commons area that all the inmates can use, or are they confined to their cells? Are there cameras in the cell block? On the yard?”

The detective raised his index finger. “This is where it gets complicated. Although the investigation is out of the San Diego County Gang Task Force office, the men are being held in the Federal Detention Wing of the LA County Jail. We didn’t have room for them in SD County, and they’re being charged federally, so that’s where they ended up.”

My heart sank into the pit of my stomach. I looked at Crip and then at Pee Bee. “That’s where I was being held. I’ve got bad news, fellas. Inmates are on lockdown twenty-three hours a day, and they only get one hour on the yard. Short of stabbing a man to death with a golf pencil, there’s no chance of shanking anyone in there.”

“If we don’t do something with that son-of-a-bitch, every man in this club’s going down,” Crip said. “I don’t need a shank. I’ll choke the motherfucker to death.”

“Never work,” I said. “There’s cameras on the yard.”

“I don’t give a fuck,” he said. “That’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make. I’m the president of this MC, and I’m going to fucking act like one. I can’t let that son-of-a-sorry-bitch take this club apart at the seams.”

“Hold up, Boss,” Pee Bee said. “We need to talk about this.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Crip snapped back.

I was facing the detective, standing to his left. Crip and Pee Bee were beside me, facing him, standing on his right. It seemed the four of us were in a negotiation, of sorts, but it was obvious we were getting nowhere.

The men in the Filthy Fuckers MC were inherently good men. All the crimes the detective read from his notepad were against no-good motherfuckers who were headed straight to hell whether we sent them there or not. I couldn’t let men who I’d taken an oath to support and protect be arrested when there was a way for me to prevent it.

“You’re right,” I said. “There’s nothing to think about. There’s only one way this’ll work, and there’s only one man that can get it done. It’s not either of you. I’m going back in.” I looked at the detective. “I’ve got a couple questions.”

“What are they?”

“Gravy raped that girl? You’re sure of that?”

“He admitted it. Swabs taken from the victim after the incident were a definite match. He raped her.”

“Just to get this straight, you’re telling me that you can arrest me, and then drop charges or whatever? Get me back out of jail?”

“As long as you don’t get caught committing a crime inside,” he said.

“Can you give me until the end of the day before you arrest me? Let me get my affairs in order?”

“Sure. I can--”

“Hold up a minute,” Crip said. “I can’t let you do that, Meat.”

The club started with five men. Of those five, there were four left. Stretch was almost blind, and he was weak after a long bout with pneumonia that he never fully recovered from. Crip, Pee Bee and I were the other three.

In my eyes, it was the responsibility of one of us to resolve the issue with the snitch. Pee Bee had a life with his new wife in front of him, and the Filthy Fuckers MC would cease to exist without Crip as the leader. Both men, however, were far too stubborn and prideful to negotiate with.

A decision had to be made.

So, I made it.

While the detective’s eyes were fixed on Crip, I swung my right fist into his jaw. The impact of the punch knocked him into the exterior wall of the shop.

“Holy shit!” Pee Bee shouted.

I’d always wanted to hit a cop, and looked at that wild swing as my only opportunity to do so. It was also the only way I could secure my position to be the one behind bars.

“God damn it, Meat,” Crip said with a dull laugh.

As he stumbled to stay on his feet, I turned to the side and put my hands behind my back. “There. Arrest me for assault on a law enforcement officer.”

“You cocksucker,” he groaned. “You blindsided me.”

“Had to do something before one of these two beat me to,” I said.