Page 27 of Night Moves

“Start digging on him right now,” I demand.

“Who is he, Diesel?” Willow asks.

“Eizlee’s biological father. When Vicky told him she was pregnant, he told her to get rid of ‘it’. That she’d never get a dime from him. He’s married to some rich princess and isn’t risking his paycheck.

“A few weeks later she was mugged on the way home from her job. A couple army dudes came to her aid and got her home. She always felt it was Belcher who had her attacked. She moved, took a new job, changed her number. When I was here at Christmas, she made sure she had everything in order that I would get Eizlee Jane if something ever happened to her. I wonder if something spooked her.”

A photo displays on Raven’s screen. I look at her. “Is that him?”

She nods.

Willow grips my wrist. “He’s been in the club. I’ve seen him in the back hall with Ryr. I saw him with one of the girls who went missing a couple weeks later. Ryr, Carl, this guy, they’re all in this together.”

Raven rubs a hand down her face. “Internal affairs is fucked up, too. We’re gonna need a lawyer to help us interface with the state’s attorney general.

“I-Tee?” Diego says.

“Already contacted Jed, Steel and Reggie. They’re on their way to the com room. I’ll conference you all in. I’m pulling as much info as I can before they’re on to us and it gets destroyed.

“Who are all those people he’s talking about?” Willow asks.

“Jed’s our CO.”

“Boss now,” I-Tee chimes in with a laugh.

Like any of us have been able to stop calling our ‘bosses’ by rank. “Reggie is our lawyer and Jed’s wife.”

Willow glances to the living room. “Where are Silo and Eizlee?”

“Here,” a gruff voice says softly. Looking up I’m almost as shocked as Willow. Eizlee has her arm wrapped around Silo’s neck, and is kissing one cheek and petting the other.

“I changed her. She’s dry now. She’s hungry and needs a snack. I promised her cheese and grapes. We’ll be in her room.”

Willow looks at me. “Did I fall down Alice’s rabbit hole? Nothing makes sense anymore.”

* * *

Two months later

Willow, Eizlee, and I found a great little house for the three of us to rent in Love Beach. Willow’s already bonding with the other women on the team. It all just feels right.

I’ve been in Vegas assigned to help Roja on a job for the last two weeks. I’ll be going home tomorrow. There were just a couple things I had to take care of before I left.

Carl and Ryr were charged with selling drugs, administering a controlled substance, pandering, tax fraud, to name just a few counts. Since no bodies were found they were not charged with murder. While awaiting trial they were found dead in their cells of apparent suicides.

The files exposing Belcher we were able to identify that day somehow got deleted and the investigation against him was dropped due to lack of evidence. He rewarded himself by buying a brand new top of the line sports car. It was a shame when he lost control on the mountain roads late last night. Curving roads, high speeds, and blinding lights can cause that to happen.

Apparently, he was trapped in the car after it crashed, and it burst into flames. They said he always drove too fast, like he was invincible.

I study the skyline of the city I never liked. Yet I’m oddly thankful because it gave me Willow, my love. And our daughter.

Gazing over the landscape below me I take in the crash site on the charred mountain. The trees will grow back and flourish. Just like Willow, Eizlee, and I will.

Turning to my rented Harley I see a robin perched on my handlebar.

Ah Vicky, thank you for sending me to them. Wish you could be here too. Come to Love Beach. We’ll look for you.

EPILOGUE