Page 26 of Dark Alleys

There was a big meeting going on inside. Rows and rows of bikes were parked tight to the side of the building.

Not a thousand to look through like at Amazon.

I grabbed my flashlight out of the glove box, stepped out of my truck and went for a stroll.

Chances were good that one of the Dragons would come outside and catch me, but I had to take the risk. I wanted that fucker Akito for Cindy.

Taking my chances with the dumpster dogs, I plowed ahead and searched row by row.

Bike after bike, I stared at the tag numbers and tried to match it to the one Kamps had written down for me. Then my tired brain kicked in with a thought and I remembered Kamps saying Akito rode a Sportster.

Duh.

That sped up the search for me.

From then on, I only looked at Sportsters and I found the bike and tagged it.

Job done.

I ran back to my truck and took off for my next destination. Time to have a beer with Regan—the hot girl who didn’t text me.

Mahaffey’s Bar and Grill. Montopolis.

Regan smiled when I grabbed a stool at the end of the bar, and as soon as she had a free minute, she brought me a pitcher of Shiners and a frosted glass.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m better.”

“Good.”

Between customers Regan came back to talk to me, and she chatted while I watched my phone. Waiting to see any movement of Akito’s ride.

“What are you doing?”

“Working,” I whispered.

Regan laughed. “That kind of work doesn’t look too stressful.”

“Nope. It ain’t. Might pick up later.”

Regan picked up the pitcher and refilled my glass. I had time for one swallow before the tracker started to move. “Got to go. Text me.”

She laughed as I ran out the door.

Easy Rider Sports Bar. Downtown Austin.

It was getting late as I drove across the city. After one in the morning when the bike stopped moving. I caught up easily at the Easy Rider dive bar where the Dragons drank and bragged and smoked and got high and hit on girls.

I used to be just like them.

Before my brother found me.

I lit up a smoke and sat in my truck watching for Akito to come out and hop on his Sportster.

Long wait and not one of the Dragons came out the door until the bar shut down for the night. Then the works of them came out together, drunk and high and laughing. Some of them with girls they’d been lucky enough to pick up.

They jumped on their rides and scattered six ways from Sunday.

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