Page 9 of Pepper, the Biker & the Vanishing Body

“What brings you to the cemetery?” my dad called out.

“Looking for a family grave,” the good-looking guy shouted.

“Your name, the one you were born with, not your club name?”

“Damian Stone.”

Amy tugged at my sleeve. “That name sounds like it came straight out of a romance novel.”

“He smells of skunk,” I reminded her.

“All of you, get your IDs out,” my dad ordered.

“It’s not illegal to carry knives in Pennsylvania,” Stone shouted.

“True, but there is such a thing known as proportional response,” my dad shouted back.

“The dog was ready to attack us,” one of the guys shouted.

“Did he attack?” my dad yelled.

“The skinny one didn’t give him a chance. She skunked us,” the other guy said.

I had to give it to my dad. He turned his head away so they wouldn’t see him laugh. Then once he got control, he turned back around. “Thus, proportional response.”

Two squad cars pulled up and two officers got out, Josh being one of them.

“Your brother is never going to forgive you for this, especially if he has a date with Kate tonight,” Amy warned.

“Gather their IDs, Josh, and run them,” my dad called out.

Josh gagged as he collected IDs. “What the hell happened to you guys?”

“That skinny broad skunked us,” one guy said, pointing to Pepper.

“When I am done here, Pepper,” Josh shouted, “I’m going to come give you a big hug.”

“If you do that, I won’t tell you how to get the skunk smell off you,” I called out.

“How?” the three skunk-smelling men shouted.

My dad shook his head and turned to me. “Unless one of them is carrying a butterfly knife or a paratrooper knife, I can’t hold them unless something comes back on the background check. They can carry knives and you both can protect yourself proportionally. So, it’s a wash. Though I do want to know if they intend to remain in Willow Lake and for how long.”

It didn’t take long to run the names and find out there were no warrants out for any of the bikers. A few had been arrested and fined for misdemeanors but nothing major.

With a snap of my dad’s hand, he waved Stone forward. “Mr. Stone, I’d like a word with you.” He held up his hand to stop him when he got close enough to hear without shouting. “Passing through or are you planning on staying in Willow Lake for a while?”

“Haven’t decided yet,” Stone said, his glance settling on me.

“We have a quiet town here, Mr. Stone. See to your business and be on your way,” my dad said.

“We’ll mind our business, Sheriff, and cause no trouble unless given a reason to,” Stone said, and sent me a smile that would melt most women.

“Then let me give you a good reason to mind your business when it comes to that woman you keep looking at, the one who skunked you. She’s my daughter and you’ll be wise to stay away from her.”

Stone grinned. “No wonder she can take care of herself. And just so you know, Sheriff, we had no intentions of hurting anyone.”

Mo disagreed, growling at him.

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