Page 41 of Lake
I had a thought.
He knew this city better than me so maybe he could help me out a little. It wasn’t like there was some invisible line that I was crossing by asking him for some general information. We’d worked with the police department back home a few times. But then again, I wasn’t sure how things worked in this city.
“Is there even anyone living in these buildings?” I asked.
“Here?” he asked.
“Yeah. That one.” I pointed to the one I’d been watching.
“Maybe some squatters. Most of these have been vacant for some time now.”
So… then why would he get a call about a suspicious vehicle? I mean, if there wasn’t anyone around to see me then…
Something wasn’t adding up but I was smart enough to know that I should keep my mouth shut about it.
“I could help you with your case, if you could help me out with something,” he said, his eyes still looking out the front windshield.
I didn’t like where this was going.
“And what’s that Detective?”
Mullins! That was his last name. Wasn’t sure why it just popped up in my head now but I would bet I wouldn’t forget it again though.
“I noticed this car is registered to a Mason Thorne.”
“Yeah, okay. He’s letting me borrow it.”
“Did you know that Mr. Thorne is the Vice President for a motorcycle gang here in town?”
I did my best not to scoff at his words and his tone of disgust.
It seemed I had found myself in the middle of some shit I wanted nothing to do with.
I cared about the club only because they had shown me kindness. Not just that, but Lake was fixing my car and had given up his bed for me. All of this without asking for a single thing from me. I hadn’t felt any sort of threat from anyone that I met that belonged to the club and I didn’t have a reason to get involved in this shit.
“Yes,” I answered with a shortness in my tone. I wasn’t going to give him any more information than he needed.
Yes, I knew who Mason was. I’d sort of met him briefly. He had kind eyes and thought I was a little funny. Or maybe he was laughingatme instead ofwithme. Either way, he hadn’t been rude or outright mean so that counted as a plus in my book.
“Where was it you said you are staying?”
“A place near the river.” I hadn’t specifically said before when I’d talked to him. I was smart enough to catch onto his game.
“This place, it wouldn’t happen to be a converted motel, would it? One owned by the Steel Paragons Motorcycle Club?”
And I had a feeling that I didn’t have to tell him because he already knew.
“Can we just stop playing games here, please. I’m sure you have a point to make so make it, Detective Mullins.”
“I’ll help you with information that you need if you can be my eyes and ears inside that club. Get close to them, find out what they are into. Maybe even get me a location where they do theirbusinessdeals.”
“It’s very kind of you to offer your help, Detective, but I know nothing of what you speak about. And I don’t want to know either,” I said with that overly sweet tone that was obviously faked. “Quite frankly, I’m a little shocked that you would put an innocent like me in danger just so you can gather information. As you know, I’m new here and I don’t know these people at all. Asking me to push my way into their…brotherhoodso quickly would send up red flags. Which, might I point out, would put me in danger if they are as bad as you are insinuating they are. But I’m sure you already knew all that.”
I paused, letting my words sink in but that didn’t mean I was done yet.
“I question this city’s safety if the police department does things this way. It doesn’t seem very by the book, Detective, and I would hate to think that a man in your position would do something so shady.”
“It would seem as if we have a misunderstanding here, Ms. Atwater,” he stated coolly though I got the feeling he was pissed.
