Page 66 of Petty's Crime

Owl and Meat have been watching me carefully, and seem to relax when I put down my phone. When I move into the kitchen, out of the side of my eye, I see Meat slapping Owl’s back as they again try to bring the discarded items into some sort of order.

My role is relegated to just one of supervisor, but while I try to concentrate on what goes where, I can’t get thoughts of Petty out of my head.

In Texas, he’d impressed my parents and gained their obvious approval, and that had surprised me. They wanted to adopt him for goodness’ sake. When Petty said it would be him accompanying me, I never thought we’d pull it off and they’d actually believe we were together, but something they saw made them think we fit, and they were convinced we were in a relationship. Of course that was only as he showed he had more to offer than being an ass.

How’s he feeling now? Is he regretting hitting his wife? The man I’d known in Texas would be horrified he’d hurt her, but perhaps that wasn’t who Petty really is. Perhaps he deceived me and is now back to the man he is inside. Though in that late night discussion, he’d seemed pretty adamant that men should never hit women, whatever the provocation.

Had she insulted him in front of his brothers? Left him in a position where he had no choice? Where it was either retaliate or face the censure he expected would follow when they learned, what he’d tried so hard to keep hidden, that he was a man bullied by his wife?

Making an excuse I’m going to make a start on my bedroom, I leave the prospects to their work, and alone try Petty’s phone for a second time but again it just rings out. I bite my lip trying to answer the question as to why I care what happens to the man I’d thought I’d disliked but when it came to it, I liked a little too much. Oh why not admit it. I’m tied up in knots not knowing what’s going on.

My throat feels dry so I return to the kitchen to get a glass of water, and stop in my tracks, pulling back behind the door, as I hear Owl talking to Meat.

“Red wants to take Petty’s patch. They’ve voting on it.”

“Prez doesn’t condone unprovoked violence toward women,” Meat tells him. “And who’d hit Britney? She’s really nice.”

“She’s nice, yeah, but there’s an edge about her. I wouldn’t like to get on her wrong side.”

“She’s been in jail. That would harden anyone,” Meat defends her.

“Why would Red take his patch? Surely whatever’s happened between them is between a man and his wife.”

Again it’s Meat. “Britney said he hit her without warning. Just walked in and knocked her down. That’s what’s worrying Prez.”

Owl seems swayed by that argument. “Petty’s a bit of a loose cannon. Rumour was Red doesn’t trust him, not after what happened with Zeke. He was already walking a thin line. Now if Petty’s got an uncontrollable temper, then he might be worried about when he’d flare up.”

Again Owl seems to agree. “Thank fuck his temper didn’t show itself when he was guarding RoseLyn. Red should never have put him on this job.”

“Not this job or any job. Petty will be out of the club.”

“With a fuckin’ beatdown.” I can’t see Owl’s face but I’d place money he’s just grimaced.

I stay eavesdropping though there’s now silence. When a few seconds pass, I reckon they’ve given me all I’m going to get.

But that’s enough to horrify me. Retaliation maybe I could understand, but Petty wouldn’t have hit Britney out of the blue. Something must have made him snap. Even if she didn’t lay a finger on him first, perhaps he was defending himself, knowing the signs she was going to blow from the past.

I haven’t met the woman so I only know one side of the story, but I’m certain, after his nightmare, Petty wasn’t in any state to lie last night, and why make something like that up? Something he was so scared about his brothers getting to know.

Then there’s the fact she was locked up for causing grievous bodily harm which surely attests to her tendency for violence.

One thing I’m pretty certain of is that Petty doesn’t have anyone to advocate on his behalf. The man’s so damn stubborn he’ll keep quiet and won’t defend himself. He’d rather maintain his man card than risk losing the respect of his brothers, and his club.

But it sounds like he might lose everything anyway if he keeps quiet, just as much as he thinks he might for speaking up.

While it’s good to know the Satan’s Devils clearly don’t condone spousal abuse when it’s done by a man, I’d like to think they also wouldn’t support it in reverse, either tacitly or actively. And without the facts, they might end up doing that without realising it.

If Britney has framed him, she’s got to be stopped.

And if she hasn’t? Well, knowing that might end my stupid infatuation with the man who’d let his mask drop.

I’ve got to go to him.

“Hey.” I stride back into the kitchen. “I’ve got to go get something from the store. You reckon you can continue without me for a while?”

“Sure.” Meat straightens as he reassures me. “We can get everything straightened up. Can’t guarantee it will be in its right place though.”

Fair enough. I nod.

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