Page 99 of Being Lost

“What about us, Prez?” Reboot indicates himself and Keeper. I notice Scribe and Dusty are looking at me too.

“Not tonight,” I say, then to counter their looks of disappointment add, “We all heard Shark, it’s tomorrow it’s going down. That’s when we’ll need all boots on the ground. A small group of us have more chance of staying unseen. Too many, and we might get noticed and they may change their plans.” I change subject but continue addressing myself to Reboot. “We heard Niran’s impression of the place, you notice anything about the restaurant itself?”

“I’d eat there again,” Reboot informs us. “Good food, and the service was fine. I didn’t get the impression the staff were the type to be involved in people smuggling.”

“And what do people smugglers look like?” Deuce challenges him.

Niran frowns and jumps in to back him up. “Of course, it’s hard to tell what’s behind a smile, but they seemed genuine. As Reboot said, the service was good. Waitstaff paid their customers attention, little things like plates being removed as soon as you finish eating, fresh drinks offered when your glass was empty. Of course, we had to leave when Shark raised his head, but that’s what I observed while I was there.”

“What time do they close?” If the restaurant staff are not involved, perhaps it’s after hours when Alder’s minions come out from underground. Maybe literally, in this case.

“Eleven pm,” Reboot says. “I checked.”

“Tonight is about reconnaissance.” I level my best prez stare at each of the men who’ll be accompanying me. “We’re not going in to confront anyone. If someone’s there, if possible, we watch, observe, but don’t engage.”

“Aw shucks, Prez.” Salem flexes his hands, his knuckles cracking audibly. “You spoil all the fun.”

“They’ve got an alarm,” Niran puts in, keeping the discussion on track. “I noticed that. Token’s the expert, but to me, it looked quite sophisticated.”

“We’ll step carefully,” Token agrees. “Did you see what the make was?” When Niran nods and names a popular brand, the technical guy smiles. “Only a few local firms install those systems. I’ll hack into their databases and see exactly what they’ve got. Oh, and Prez? Got those new toys I’d like to try out.”

My brow furrows, then I raise my chin and grin. “Okay, get them handed out, Toke.”

“Oooh. We getting new toys?” Kink asks.

“Not the ones you’re used to,” Reboot quips.

“Bluetooth earbuds,” Token explains. “I’ll hook us all up on the same line. Keep communications open all the time. That way if anyone spots anything, they can warn everyone immediately.”

“Fuck. I’ll have Pennywise barking in my ear all the time,” Salem complains, receiving a middle finger pointed at him from the aforementioned man.

“Right.” For once, I bang the gavel. “That’s all we can plan for tonight. An information-seeking mission. Tomorrow we’ll make our move.”

“And what move is that?” Grumbler asks.

All eyes are on me.

For the last three years I’ve not had to do much more than keep our businesses going and men fed and happy. This is the first time I’ve really been tested. I’m used to men looking to me for advice on whether we should start a custom motorcycle business or take on a new tattoo artist.

I’ve been a member of the MC for many years. I’m no stranger to death or violence. Last night was the first time I was directly responsible for ordering a man’s death, and I’d slept like a newborn baby after. Shark was a traitor, and there was only one way to deal with him.

Today, I’m being asked to make decisions that will put my men in danger. Tonight, we won’t engage, if necessary, we’ll make a retreat. Tomorrow’s a different matter.

Admit it. I named you right. You’re lost. You’ve got no answers. Everyone is looking at you to lead them and you’re just going to let them down.

Shaking my head to clear it, I do what I’ve always done, taken people through my thought processes.

“I want Alder.” I state that so there can be no misunderstanding. Taking Alder down is the only reason the club is involved in this. All eyes are still watching me. “From what Shark said, we might get lucky and catch him there tomorrow night. If he isn’t? Well, somehow we’ve got to draw him out.”

“How?” Grumbler asks. I notice he doesn’t offer a solution.

I’ve an idea in my head. “We send him a message. If this is a two-way operation tomorrow night, we can expect immigrants coming in, and people to be trafficked taken out. We liberate all of them.”

Dart frowns. “Sometimes traffickers target people they want. It happened in Tucson. Drummer’s old lady, Sam, got onto their lists. Shark mentioned something important. Maybe the whole contingent, or one or two, were particularly chosen? We just set them free, they could still be in danger of being picked up.”

He’s made a good point. “The women, kids, hell, men? Boys?” I run through who’s likely. “We’ll drop them at the local hospital. Fuck knows they’ll be in need of medical attention, if only mentally. They can contact the authorities and they can take it from there. My focus is Alder.”

Smoker sits back, his hands in the pockets of his cut. “So we don’t wear our colours. Go in incognito, else we’ll have the law banging our door down.”

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