Page 57 of Last One Standing
Noel sighed…well, more like growl-sighed. “Fine.” He grabbed his cell phone, jabbed in a number, and put it on speaker.
“Yeah, Agent Carmichael,” the voice on the other end said.
Noel opened his mouth but it was Phoenix who spoke. “Hi, Agent Carmichael. This is Phoenix Briar.”
There was a pregnant pause followed by, “Mr. Briar, are you okay?”
Noel rolled his eyes as if that were a stupid question, but without knowing the backstory I didn’t understand the animosity he had for the agent. From what Phoenix had told me, he seemed like a helpful person.
“Uh…I mean, sort of. We have a problem and could use your help.”
Carmichael huffed. “I told you all the last time after I covered your asses, this is where we end. I don’t want any part of your gray morality games.”
“I know you did,” Phoenix hurried to say when it appeared like Noel was going to lay into the man. “Perhaps you could let me explain what’s going on, and then you can decide if you want to leave us to hang.”
Another sigh from the agent came through the phone. “Look I’m in the middle of something, can I come by tonight?”
We all glanced at the screen, where cops had entered the shop and were now holding Angel and the others at gunpoint…yeah they were going to jail.
“Probably not,” Phoenix answered.
“Shit.” It sounded like Carmichael smacked his desk or something. “Is this going to take me away from my work here for a while? Because my wife still hasn’t forgiven me for the circus you boys created last time.”
Phoenix grimaced. “Hopefully not?”
“Is that a question? Fucking Christ. Fine, I’m on my way.” He hung up, and I couldn’t hold back anymore.
“Who is Carmichael…I mean I get he’s an agent—FBI, I assume?”
Phoenix broke it down for me as simply as he could. “After I was rescued from Amo—The Broken Doll Killer—Carmichael was called in when another agent massacred things. Well, maybe not?—”
“Oh, Lord.” Mason took over. “Carmichael’s an FBI agent who helped us find The Broken Doll Killer. When the brothers…all of us went about it in less than legal ways, Carmichael helped us stay out of jail. He has influence, so if anyone can help us weed out the bad cops and maybe help them…” He motioned to the screen. Angel, Gabe, Shep, JJ, Four, Nick, and Lizzy were all sitting in chairs off to the side and talking to the police. “It’s totally him.”
“If you involve him, you likely lose any chance of wiping out the Kings, you understand that?” I asked.
“Not necessarily,” Noel answered.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “That’s cryptic. Okay, so then while we’re waiting for Carmichael, what do we do about this?” I pointed to the television.
“Wait it out.” Noel pulled his hair tie out and ran his fingers through his hair.
This was such a fucking mess, and I couldn’t help but feel guilty that I’d caused all of it.
Carmichael had arrived an hour ago and after we’d gotten through explaining the situation to him, omitting that the brothers had killed anyone at the clubhouse, or the barn, he stared wide-eyed at Noel.
“Why are you a magnet for crime?”
“Me?” Noel was aghast. “Did you not hear us telling you all the shit these biker bitches have put us through and now killed someone we care about? We never asked for this. We helped Kona and Pika because they were being held against their will. Kona was abused, and Leo, the bartender of the club he works at, was tortured to death to find out where he is. How is that on me?”
Carmichael waved a hand at Noel’s outburst. “Whatever. Look, I don’t know what I can do about getting your people released. A woman was brutally murdered, and there are dead men on the floor of your shop, shot by your brothers.”
“Self-defense!” Mason snapped. “Their property!”
The agent nodded. “And I will see what I can do, but I’m not a miracle worker.”
“Look.” Noel sighed. “We clearly aren’t fans of each other, and while I have no love for the authorities because they’re mostly corrupt, case in point,” He hooked a thumb behind him toward where the TV screen was. All that showed were crime scene investigators, yellow tape, cops, and covered bodies. “But, as far as agents go, you’re one of the good ones and…” Noel looked as if he were in pain. “We need you.”
Carmichael laughed. “Damn, that hurt, didn’t it?”
