Page 53 of Shar: A Woman Alone

“That, young lady, was thebest I’ve ever been pranked in my entire life. I did not see that coming andwas convinced it was true until you laughed.”

“I’ve got a while to gobefore you have to worry about me and boys, Uncle Sharp. I’m sure you’ll bepart of a long line of protectors, including Dad, Target, and a few others.”Having caught my breath and being almost normal again, I have an idea. “Just aquick thought. How would you like to drive me and Taylor to the mall? I’m notplanning on being long, and it would get you out of your office for a while?”

“Get out, you little monster.I’m not getting roped and hogtied by anyone, let alone the youngest member ofthe club!”

Giggling, I go off in searchof Crack, who had already offered to give me a lift to the mall where I’dplanned to meet Taylor.

Pulling up at the mall, wesee Taylor already there so Crack drops me off, and as soon as I’m with Taylor,he waves and roars off.

“That has got to be thecoolest way to arrive anywhere. I envy you, Zara.” Taylor looks star-struck asshe watches Crack thunder down the road.

“Hey, anytime you want toride bitch, I’m sure there’s any number of the brothers who would be more thanhappy to let you. They don’t let just anyone on their hogs, but they woulddefinitely make an exception to be seen with you. You’d have to lose the skirt,though.”

Taylor looks at me,horrified. “Bitch? Hogs? Lose my skirt just for a ride? I’ll stick to myMercedes SLK. She can make an impression herself.” Taylor shakes her head atme.

“Riding bitch means having afemale or their woman on the back seat of the bike. You know, as a passenger?Hogs are just what almost everybody calls a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, andlosing your skirt means wearing jeans or some form of pants. I see we’re goingto be educating each other over the coming months.” Linking arms, we march intothe mall, and they have no idea what’s about to hit them.

CHAPTER 27

Sharp

My phone was ringing off thehook this morning and most of it was tele sales, scammers and junk. I had onedecent call, and that was from our friendly neighborhood mayor. He called tolet me know how his chat with Richard S. Everard, the junkyard owner, went.

It sounds like it was veryone-sided from how the mayor told it. All the mayor's side, too. When hearrived, Everard went straight on the defensive because all the mayor'sprevious visits had been demands for the junkyard to be tidied up, and madesafe. Being forearmed this time with the knowledge of the lack of saferecycling systems, our mayor didn’t hold back and took no prisoners.

Having had some research doneby his staff at the town hall, the mayor knew how much a successful junkyardwould sell for. He also knew how much it would cost to install the necessarybattery and oil recycling equipment, and the cost of prosecution for failing tohave those things in place. Not to mention the penalties for burying batteriesillegally and dumping waste oil into the sewer system.

The mayor demanded that thejunkyard be sold immediately, at the reduced price that his staff had deemedappropriate. Or Everard would be facing a criminal prosecution that would befollowed by a considerable jail term, and the seizure of the profits from hisillegal activities.

I got straight onto Bank andPen at this point in the conversation and had them on the case. It was onlymoments later that Psycho, Porky, and Croc were running past my office, nodoubt summoned by Pen to give them the news.

The mayor asked how long wethought it would take to get ownership in our name, and for us to begin makingthe place look like the reputable business he has always envisaged it to be. Iassured him we would take over as soon as legally possible and that we wouldclean up around the outside of the site when that happened. The clean-up of thestock itself and installing the recycling areas would also begin at theearliest opportunity.

I invited him to visit at anytime once the business was ours, and we would keep him fully up-to-date withhow things progressed. Sounding extremely happy with everything, he said thathe would support us in any way possible. Also, if any other business becameavailable that he thought would benefit from the club's involvement, he wouldlet me know.

Walking down to Bank’soffice, I see everyone crowding outside Pen’s instead. None too gently pushingmy way inside, I take a seat and wait to be updated on the proceedings.

“Well, Pres, our lawyers arealready on the case and we are pushing to get the deal done as quickly aspossible. Bank has spoken to Everard, and he tried to sell at an inflatedprice. Once he knew that we had been in contact with Mayor Stonewall, he cameto his senses and we’re moving forward.

“You realize we need to getin there as soon as possible, Pres?” Pen looks at me with owl-like eyes and Iwait for what’s coming next. “He could take a lot of inventory with him ifwe’re not careful. There’s bound to be some high-end stuff that he could moveeven without owning another junkyard.”

Turning to the door, I lookat Psycho and nod my head sideways.

“On it, Pres. I’ll rotatewith Porky and Croc so we have eyes on the place twenty-four-seven.”

The morning of the second daywatching over the junkyard, a large truck arrives. Croc is on duty there and ison the phone to me right away. I chase up Bank and Pen to find out where we arewith signing over the business. Bank tells me it should be this morning butEverard isn’t answering our calls. No doubt delaying while he gets his damntruck loaded.

Calling out to all availableofficers and brothers, I tell them to meet at the junkyard in fifteen minutes.That should have a good showing of the club arriving all at once, I think tomyself.

Rolling up to the junkyard, Isee Croc getting into some hands-on negotiations with a couple of guys that areclearly trying to close the main gates. As soon as we rock up, they hightail itback into the yard and disappear.

“Hi, Pres. They know we’vebeen watching, so I took a different spot today and they thought they could getin and out without us knowing. As soon as their truck was inside, I made mypresence felt, which in turn made them panic and try to close the gates. Iwasn’t having any of that, so things were just getting interesting when you gothere.”

“Nicely done, Croc. Now Ithink it’s time I had words with the soon-to-be previous owner.” Marchingthrough the gates, I notice a couple of brothers hang back to watch our rear,while four more peel off and take station by the truck. Barging into the office,I see one of the guys from the main gate talking to Everard. Well, more likedemanding payment when I catch the drift of the conversation.

“You’re not getting paid, soyou and your friend can take theemptytruck and fuck off. Unless thetruck is on the junkyard books, of course, then it stays here.”

“The truck is mine. Nothingto do with this piece of shit.” The guy is clearly none too impressed with notgetting his dollars. Leaving the office, he walks over to the truck where twoof the brothers have detained his friend. Trip goes to the office door andcalls out for the brothers to make sure the truck is empty and then let itleave.

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