Page 59 of Desperate Justice
“Maybe we should get on the road,” Sam mused.
The bikers who walked toward them all had a ragged air, but as one passed, he recognized the insignia on the back of the jeans jacket.
“Ex-military,” he murmured, jumping up. “Keep an eye on Allison.”
Rafe caught up to the bikers just as they climbed onto their motorcycles. He nodded to the eldest, who bore a Vietnam War vets patch on his worn denim jacket with an American flag patch.
“Thank you for your service,” he said quietly.
The man’s worn, grizzled face brightened. “You serve?”
“Not military. Government service, though.” Rafe hesitated a moment and then told him, “FBI. My uncle Jose served, though. Desert Storm.”
“War is hell, and some hells are worse than others. I’m Aldie Carlton, from Pensacola.” The vet sat back on his leather seat.
“Rafe Rodriguez, Miami.”
“You doing the Teddy Bear Run?”
“Yeah.” Rafe scratched the stubble on his chin. “Need a favor from you, sir. See that pretty woman there at the picnic table? The one in leather? She came off a bad experience on the road.”
The vet squinted. “Someone try to hurt her?”
Instantly Rafe liked the man’s protective growl. “Not sure yet. An extra set of eyes on the road would come in handy.”
“Want us to ride in front or back?”
Rafe thought quickly. “Front. You can take off now, and we’ll follow soon. And let me know if you see anything suspicious, either biker or cages,” he said, using the slang term for vehicles.
They exchanged cell phone numbers.
Aldie started his bike. “Be happy to protect your old lady.”
“She’s not...”
His words were drowned out in a choke of exhaust and noise as the bikers backed up and roared off. Amused, Rafe rubbed his neck again.
Allison, his old lady.
Not a chance.
Even if it were his little fantasy...
* * *
Without incident, much to Rafe’s relief, they reached the small town of Stetson, Georgia, a couple of hours later, the town hosting the Teddy Bear Run. The hotel rooms Rafe had reserved wouldn’t be ready until four, so they decided to have lunch at a sports bar overlooking the river.
Diana and Allison agreed to wait to go to their parents’ cabin, where they were staying, and join them for lunch.
With a cool breeze wafting off the river, the brilliant blue sky and temperatures in the seventies, eating outside settled his nerves. Red umbrellas shaded wrought iron tables from the sun. Round containers of pink and purple flowers adorned the patio, and the servers were dressed in red-and-yellow costumes reminiscent of a Bavarian mountain town.
He ordered a lager, indulging for once, as they sat together. The soothing gurgle of the river, laughter of people floating downstream in tubes as they kicked and splashed, and the chatter of others on the patio made everything seem normal.
Still, he couldn’t shake that feeling they were being watched.
Allison removed her denim jacket and hung it on the chair. With her wind-tossed braid, snapping brown eyes and cheeks pink from their ride, she looked vibrant. Such a far cry from the pristine, proper women in his family, who would no more think of climbing on a motorcycle than they would drink a beer in the middle of the day.
His cell pinged, reminding him to check in with his family. Excusing himself, Rafe walked away from the table.
