Page 51 of In It for the Long Ride

“Yes, we do,” a familiar voice chimed.

“Jesus,” I whispered, even before my gaze landed on Oak’s dad.

The man was only supposed to have been dead for twenty something years now. If he was blowing his cover, it was over…

“What the fuck,” Carl chimed in from beside me.

“I’m Patrick O’Brian, federal agent. I’m gonna need to talk to Trista Aviston. I’m gonna need to talk to all of you.”

Chapter 23

Montana

“You can takeher to be evaluated. If she’s willing to talk to you, then that's her right, but there better not be anyone pressuring her into recalling things she ain't ready to speak on, and there damn sure better not be any invasive bullshit that she’s too overwhelmed for,” I found my voice, and hopped off the back of the trailer.

“Carl,” Patrick greeted, holding out his hand like we were the oldest of friends.

“Put your fucking hand down before you get everybody here killed.” I leveled a gaze at him that was meant to let him know I was not swayed by his reappearance or his fucking badge.

It wasn’t that I had extreme opinions really, I was once military. It was Trista’s first day home I was concerned about. She needed to be medically treated, it was true. She was probably dehydrated, malnourished, who knew if she had infections. The pictures Demetri sent told us she’d been subjected to things against her will, both sexually and to terrorize through pain.

“We can talk at the hospital, can’t we?”

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Sure can.”

It was amazing how quickly people could move once they were put into action. A handful of his officers stayed behind toprocess the moving trailer, and the rest backed our escort as we helped Easy take Trista to the hospital.

The perimeter of the hospital was locked down before we arrived. Federal agents were controlling traffic in and out. One met us at the curb, and fanned the line of bikes onward. Rather than obey, I slowed my bike and barked at him over the rumble of the bikes, “Her father is Mark Miller. He’s on his way back from Benton, you let him in when he arrives.”

He nodded and I rolled forward.

Daisy had ridden with Eric and Trista in the ambulance, so I walked in with the others. We tried to hole up in the emergency room waiting area, but one of the Sheriff’s deputies came down and insisted we move to a meeting room on the second floor.

“Not a word,” I grunted to the others before we left the waiting room.

“Sir, are you advising them not to cooperate? Conspiracy is a serious charge,” some young stud with a shoddy crew cut and a shiny badge snidely asked.

“No, son. I’m advising them that I’m old enough to be your fucking father and in all my days, I ain’t never heard of federal agents allowing witnesses to congregate and risk corroboration. They are by protocol; separated, debriefed, and then reunited. You risk your whole case against her wrong doers by proceeding this way, unless of course, you don’t mean us as witnesses. If criminals conspire together and it is recorded, well what harm is there in that? No risk to the case, am I right?” I snorted and resisted the urge to patronize him with a pat to the chest, “I’m sure I’m just a paranoid old man. The room is not wired. You boys say what you will, I’m sure it’s all right.”

His mouth popped open and the uniformed officer behind him led the way to our temporary jail cell. We all took a seat around the room. I stayed by the window on the right and Mak was at the other end of the room staring out of the leftwindow. Demon, and Banshee were looking nervous as shit at the conference table.

“Bout time,” Mak spat, walking toward the door.

When he jerked it open the two officers on the other side immediately stopped chattering.

“Back inside,” someone commanded.

“Fuck off, my father arrived. The victim’s father. He needs to be let in.”

I watched with mild interest as they looked between each other and radioed their buddies up front.

Twenty minutes later, Mark Miller came blowing through the door.

“What the–” Mack raged, in a full-on shout.

“Rooms wired,” Mak muttered, silencing his father at once.

It didn’t stop his path toward me, and I wasn’t waiting to be tossed out the window. I charged at him and we stood nose to nose glaring at each other.

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