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“Well, probably a lot for ya, but there’s nothing I can do.”
“How. Much?” I’d moved at least six inches closer, crowding his space and curtailing his comfort zone. I refused to be waylaid by some two-bit mechanic. Whether I left tomorrow or not, I needed my ride.
Swallowing hard, Dwayne reached down to his keyboard, taking a few strokes. “Thirteen seventy-five and change. And sadly, I can’t take a check, even though you seem like a nice guy and all.”
I cocked my head, waiting to see if there’d be more.
“Been burned too many times. Bad part of town. Never thought I’d see it. Lived here all my life. My daddy started this shop. He was the original Dwayne.” When I didn’t say anything, he laughed. “Yeah, my wife kept telling me I talked too much. Course that was right before she left me.”
I pulled a wad of cash from my pocket, flipping through the bills. “Here’s fifteen hundred and more where this came from, but…” I allowed the words to linger. “I need her back by tomorrow, ten at the latest. Can you do that for me, Dwayne?” I kept my eyes locked on his as I took the final swaggered steps until I stood right in front of him.
He reached out, his hand shaking. “Tell you what. I’ll drive over and pick up the parts myself and you bet, we’ll have your baby good as new by first thing in the morning, even if I gotta work all night. How does that sound?”
Releasing my hold on the money, I gave him a single nod, said nothing else then walked toward the door.
“I heard what you done last night.” Dwayne’s voice was strained.
I tipped my head until I was able to see his face.
“I mean, few people will get involved in something like that and the damn Desperados are the reason this area is so run down. That girl. At the bar?” He seemed totally uncomfortable. “She’s real nice. Pretty too.” He blushed and shook his head. “My buddy had a date with her the other night. Lucky dog.”
A date. For some reason, the information caught me off guard.
“I know. She’s way out of my league.” His words seemed to taper off.
I wanted to ask a hell of a lot of questions, and only some about the gang. No matter her personal life, I still believed she was in danger. Why the hell not start with a man who’d lived his entire life in the same place? “What can you tell me about these Desperados?”
Dwayne seemed to relax as he walked toward what appeared to be a small safe, not bothering to stand in front of it as he punched in the security code. “They’re bad dudes. Started out as just a gang of kids probably five, maybe six years ago. Things got out of hand quickly. Arson. Extortion. Murder. The cops tend to look the other way. Not sure why, but my guess is the leader bought somebody off. Either that or theEl Capitan, as the prick likes to call himself, has something on a member of the city council. Either way, they own this section of Charleston. Heard they’re trying to make a move into the historical area. Damn shame. People are moving out in droves.” He slid the money inside and slammed the door, shaking his head.
“ThisEl Capitan. Does he have a name?”
Shrugging, he shoved his hands into his pockets before walking closer. “Look, I don’t want to get into any trouble. I keep a low profile as you can see on purpose. I don’t want the group sniffing around my place thinking I have money. I also don’t want them thinking I’m some kind of snitch. You know what I’m talking about. As it is, I’m pushed.”
Unfortunately, I did. I also knew what he meant by ‘pushed.’ Dwayne was paying a sum for protection. What a crock of shit. I scanned the entire shop and had to give the man credit. Perhaps he was making hand over fist money, hiding it by keeping the place a dump. Not a bad move. “Are they organized?”
“Yeah. At least from what I can tell. He has associates all over it seems like. The big earners you never see. They’re involved in drugs coming into the harbor.” Dwayne threw his hands up, worry lines crossing his brow. “Don’t quote me on this, man. I just hear things. You know?”
“Yeah, I hear you. I’ll be back in the morning for the bike.”
“Good enough. I could call ya, if you want,” Dwayne offered with a smile.
“No phone. No need.”
“A man of simple needs. I like that.” He laughed as he inched around his desk.
I said nothing, my thoughts drifting back to hearing Crystal was dating. What did I care? I wasn’t going to be here another two days. She deserved a hell of a lot better than me.
“Okay, then, Mr.…” Dwayne scratched his head and grabbed a clipboard, searching. “You know, I can’t read your handwriting.”
“Just call me Blade.”
“Blade it is. Why don’t you come by around nine? No need to keep a good customer waiting.”
“Will do.” I took one last glance at my bike before heading out the open bay doors. A single cough drew my attention, the smell of cigarette smoke trailing behind me.
“Mr. Decker is a cool dude. Gives second chances.” He sniffed and took a puff on his cigarette. “Too nice for this shit part of town. Gonna get him killed one day.”
His voice was gravelly from far too many years of smoking. I stood where I was, scanning the street before turning my direction toward the young mechanic crouched on the ground. Even in the glaring sun, I could see the mark of a gang positioned on the side of his neck. He seemed to notice what I was glaring at and touched the inked design.
