Page 26 of Gotta Dig Deep
The Rebels tech guy was doing his thing in the background, but so far hadn’t delivered much other than it was an unregistered number.
Blackie had been behind closed doors all morning, leaving Horse to pace and stew, and Duane to take the brunt of Horse’s frustration.
“Yeah. Everyone I’ve talked to that’s dealt with Myron praises the guy. Highly. He developed a secure call and text app for their club that a couple other MCs have bought into. One inside track at the FBI said they’d tried and failed to hack it. If the dude can do shit like that, locating the phone texting you this bullshit should be cake.” Duane gently shoulder checked him on Horse’s next pass by where he was standing. “You need to settle, brother. Wound up as you are, you’re gonna be wore out before we have a direction to head.”
“You saw the picture. I might not get along with my mother as well as you do yours, but seeing her like that?” He swallowed hard, forcing the anguish back down his throat to where it burned in his chest. “Killin’ me, brother.”
“I get it. I do. But you gotta trust Blackie to have your back just like you’ve always had his.” Duane slung an arm over Horse’s shoulders. “Come on and sit your ass down, brother.”
Head thrown back against the top of the couch, Horse fisted his hands and blew out a heavy breath. “I’ve called folks I know back in Jersey. Bar’s been closed for a week. Unexpected. She’d fired the manager a month ago, so she was the only one with keys. When she didn’t show up to open the door, people waited a few minutes and then just melted away. Three of the waitresses have already found new jobs, like her being missing isn’t worth their time.” He huffed out a humorous laugh. “I haven’t spoken to her in years, don’t know why I’m holdin’ hate for them for making sure they can pay their bills.”
“Because it’s your ma. Doesn’t matter how far from home we roam, family like that still matters.”
“She’s a real bitch, though. That’s why I’ve been out of her orbit for so long. Decided I didn’t need to have her bullshit raining down on me all the time. Shouldn’t matter to me what happens to her.”
“She’s your ma.” Duane semi-repeated as he thudded a fist against the side of Horse’s thigh.
The door creaked open, and Horse was on his feet instantly. The look on Blackie’s face was dark but held a hint of satisfaction, and when they met in the middle of the room, he clapped a hard hand on Horse’s shoulder. “Found ’em.”
“Who is it?” Horse’s back teeth clenched as he gritted, “And my mother? Is she…?”
“She’s okay. Nothing more than you’ve already seen on those fuckin’ proof of life pictures, brother. Got her into a hospital and they’re takin’ real good care of her.” Blackie’s fingers dug in deep, and for an instant, Horse thought that might be the only thing keeping his feet underneath him. “Brother, she’s good. Wouldn’t lie to anyone about that shit, man.”
“Oh God. I wasn’t… shit, man. Shit.”
“Breathe, brother.” Duane’s voice came from beside them and Horse turned his neck to see the man. The relief on Duane’s face matched the feeling inside Horse and they exchanged a solemn nod as Horse filled his lungs with a hard breath, tension easing in tiny increments. He looked back at Blackie.
“Who was it? Who’d do that shit to my family?” Horse straightened as the expression on Blackie’s face morphed to barely contained rage. “Give me a name, Blackie. Aim me, before I go fuckin’ insane, brother. Give me a direction.”
“Taken care of, Horse. That shit’s all dealt with. You can stand down.” Blackie’s fingers tightened on Horse’s shoulder. “It was a bullshit group out on the east coast. They’re mostly limited to the northern Florida area, but still total bullshit. Supposed to have ties to some Mexican cartel families. That might be a burned route, cuz this was such an amateur move, seems the cartel won’t even claim the assholes. The guy behind this supposed MC—and I hesitate to call them a club because they bear only the slightest resemblance to a true brotherhood—has assured me that he’s dealt with the cancer in his organization. Offers his deepest apologies.”
Horse felt his lips twist to the side as bile filled his mouth. “And you believe him?”
“Everything I hear about the dude makes me lean that way, yeah.” Blackie lifted a shoulder in a questioning movement. “Fury sounds like a stand-up man. Tied into a bullshit club right now. Man might be one to watch, see if he’s lookin’ for a better home down the road.”
“Fury.” The name wasn’t familiar to Horse. “Tell me what you know about him. Who was the crew that snatched my mother? If Fury’s down Florida way, what happened to push a big enough group up the coast to Jersey?” Now that the immediate danger to his mother was past, Horse’s shoulders dropped an inch and he arched backwards. “When you say he’s dealt with them, what does that mean?”
Blackie’s head tipped towards the office door. “Come inside. Let’s chat.”
Horse paused in the doorway, surprised to see the conference phone still lit up as if a call was active. He lifted an eyebrow at Duane, who shrugged as they both took seats. Blackie closed the door and rounded the table, dragging a chair out on the opposite side.
“Myron, I’m back, brother. I’ve got Horse and D-Man here with me now. What assurances do we have that fucktard Fury actually did as advertised and dealt with the bullshit those fuckin’ Diamante visited on Horse’s mother?”
“Horse, Duane, hello. I can confirm that after they extracted the location out of one of the men, they immediately worked to secure the release of Dorothy Malcomb. She was transported via private vehicle to a local hospital, where I already had a doctor waiting to take over her care. Mostly it was the bruising evident in the photographs sent over, but there was also an untreated gash on the back of her head requiring a couple of stitches. They’re keeping her overnight just for observation, but my understanding is that’s already under disagreement by Ms. Malcomb. Seems she doesn’t want to be away from her own house any longer than required.” Myron hadn’t even waited for them to exchange greetings, just diving directly into everything Horse wanted to know from the outset.
“I can see why everyone likes you, Myron. Thanks for helping take care of my mother.”
“Horse, trust me, it’s my pleasure. Family shouldn’t ever come under fire like this. Now, if I were in your shoes, I’d want to know what happened next, so I’ll cover that now. The men Fury called and set on this group were diligent in their application of every statement Fury had directed their way. He asked for a wipe, a scorched field, and from the official emergency phone traffic I’ve been monitoring, he got what he wanted. There’s a small storefront that’s been burned to the ground, and the first responders have pulled several bodies from the rubble so far. Those were stacked near the front door, and I have every expectation that once the wreckage cools enough for a deeper dig, they’ll find the other ones. He picked a few names to pull out for questioning, and my sources say they are secured.”
“Multiple men against one old lady?” Horse shook his head. “That doesn’t make any sense.”
Blackie shifted in his seat and shook his head. “Naw, brother. More like all those men against an asset that could turn a leverage member of a well-respected MC poised to take off in whatever direction they want. If they’d gotten to you, if you’d responded directly to their demands, they thought you would either sway the FRMC to their side, or at least grant free passage.” Blackie’s knuckles rapped against the table twice. “She wasn’t the target. You were.”
“But why? Did they think I was that weak?”
“Jesus, you’re thick.” Duane grinned and slapped a palm against the side of Horse’s head.
“The fuck?” Glaring at him, Horse refused to lift a hand and show the blow had stung. “The hell you do that shit for?”
