Page 14 of Rattler's Revelation
I chuckle as I settle in and wait for Puma to start. While Rush reviews the finances, I glance around at the other members. Viper grins at me when my eyes find hers. She’s sitting between Dice and Spock. As the club secretary, Spock is busy taking notes.
“I have your money packets here,” Rush says as he tosses out envelopes to everyone at the table, including me. I don’t grab it immediately, so Spark snags it and pushes it at me. Frowning, I double-check the name on the envelope and find mine on it. Opening it, I discover a thick stack of hundred-dollar bills inside.
“I think you made a mistake,” I say, holding the envelope toward Rush. “I just got patched in last night. I haven’t earned this.”
Everyone around the table laughs while Puma beams at me. He holds his hand out to Wildcard, who curses before taking a bill out of his stash and slapping it into Puma’s paw. “I bet himthat you’d balk at getting a share on your first day. Take it, you’ve earned it, just like you’ve earned the patch.”
I nod in thanks and pocket the money. I won’t complain about the funds. As a prospect, I earned enough to buy the basics, but also to purchase a few gifts for the kids. I enjoyed treating them to ice cream and new books whenever we went on excursions. If this packet of money hints at my future earnings, I’ll be raking it in. I had never given much thought about how much the patched members made.
“We need to discuss where you’ll be working, but that can wait until next time. Think on it,” Wildcard says.
“Okay, let’s move on to the situation at the casino,” Puma says after sliding his winnings into his envelope and pocketing the envelope in his kutte. “Most of you probably heard about what Brigit discovered when she met with employees who had given notice at 1%. She and Wildcard discovered a conspiracy between the HR temp and an employee. They’ve been harassing women until they quit, but keeping them on the payroll and pocketing the money.”
A grumble sounds throughout the room before Splint asks a question. “Does this have to do with the fucker in The Pit? He could be Rattler’s twin brother. I’m still waiting on the DNA tests, but they have to be related. Which means he’s related to Viper, too.”
“He is,” Chill says. “We pried the information out of him. His name is Walt Turner. He’s Viper and Rattler’s cousin. Walt’s father is the brother of the bastard who was nothing more than a sperm donor to Viper, Rattler, and Angel. Walt’s mother was the HR temp I fired. Her name is Pamela Clark. Between the two of them, they’ve been funneling funds through our payroll into an account owned by the white supremacist group, Keepers of the Third Reich. But that’s not the only crime they’ve beencommitting. We think they may be kidnapping women who worked at the casino.”
“How did we not know about this?” Hawk, our Road Captain, explodes.
“A combination of things,” I say. “Walt has been harassing women who work at the casino until they turn in their notice. As the HR manager, his mother was in a position to deflect any complaints the women made, and she’d be the one to receive their resignations. When they approached their last days, the women disappeared. Pamela didn’t update their personnel files, so the women were still on the books. She changed their direct deposit details so that their income would deposit into the Keepers’ account. When we grabbed Walt, he had a list of employee ID numbers that he planned to key into the system so the women would rack up hours.”
“How do you know the women are missing?” Hawk asks.
“Brigit created a list of women with modified bank accounts. Rafe is checking on these women, and so far, what he’s discovered leads him to believe the women are either dead or missing,” Viper answers. “He hasn’t finished checking the list.”
“I’ve been helping them,” Spark says. “I’ve verified about half of the list and confirmed there has not been any bank or credit card activity. I’ve also verified that none of them are employed elsewhere.”
“Hasn’t anyone reported these women missing?” Spock asks.
“No, and we think we know why.” I fill them in on the attack the previous night. “They tried to grab Bianca when she was leaving the casino. She was nearing the end of her employment, until we persuaded her to stay. Luckily for her, Rafe’s nephew interfered with their attempt to grab her. However, when we arrived at her apartment, we discovered that someone was packing up her belongings. We think that’s how the kidnappers are keeping anyone from reporting their disappearance. Or atleast delaying it. After all, how many kidnappers take the time to pack up an entire apartment?”
“Well, shit. That’s almost brilliant. Has Rafe found evidence that these assholes did the same with the other women?” Spock asks Viper.
“He thinks so, but he’s still gathering evidence. He’s putting together a team to check every address on the list.”
“You said the women were harassed into turning in their notices,” Spock muses. “Was it only this Walt guy who harassed them?”
I open my mouth and glance at Chill and Viper before shrugging. “I don’t know. Walt pretended to be me to scare the girls. Pamela Clark would tell anyone who complained that the bikers would protect one of their own. Bianca didn’t mention anyone else harassing her. Just Walt.”
“I’ve asked Bianca to document the harassment. I think it's likely he had help from some of the other staff members. I believe at least one security guard was helping him, maybe more. Other staff members may also be involved. I’m hoping Bianca’s account will point me to at least one of them. I plan on another session with Walt, too,” Chill said.
“This needs to be our priority for the foreseeable future,” Puma says. “With Brigit taking the job as HR Manager, she plans to meet with all the female employees for damage control. We need to stop the bank transfers.”
“I’ll cut them off as soon as I take back all they’ve stolen from us,” Spark says. “If I cut them off too soon, they’ll know we’re on to them, and they might hide the funds before I can access them.”
Puma nods. “Good, I want that money back.”
“What about the women they kidnapped? How do we get them back?” Hawk asks.
“That’s the biggest challenge,” Puma says knowingly. “We need to locate their compound and figure out if the women are still there. If they are, we’ll need a plan to get them out and take down the bastards. We don’t have enough information yet. Chill will be asking our guest in The Pit about their organization and all the women he harassed.”
“Did you want me there?” I ask Chill.
“Maybe, but first I want you with me when we talk with Bianca about Max’s harassment. After breakfast, bring Bianca to my office, and we’ll get her input.”
“Let’s get started,” Puma says, ending the meeting with the crack of a gavel.
I stand and follow the others out. The common room is busy with Old Ladies and kids eating breakfast. I scan the room for Bianca, but don’t see her. Realizing she must still be in her room, I go there and knock, frowning when there is no response. Taking a chance, I open the door to find the room empty. What the hell?
