Page 24 of Come Ride With Me
Nash
“What the hell is going on here?” Earl was yelling as Nash held the front door open to let Mica walk inside of the dealership.
They really didn’t have to use the door since the entire front window had been shattered.
“Looks like they drove something big through the window. Probably a dump truck or a big ass flatbed. That’s how they got the bikes out so fast,” the deputy said.
Nash had seen this guy in town often but was totally blanking on what his name was now.
“There’s a half million-dollar alarm system designed to guard this place like its Fort Knox. How the hell did they get around that?” Earl asked, his face flushed with anger.
“They didn’t,” the deputy said shaking his head. “The alarm went off. The security company called us. We were on the street in two minutes. Got here in another five and they were gone. That’s why I think they had a flatbed or something large enough to get through the window and carry all the bikes they wanted to steal away, as fast as they possibly could.”
“Sonofabitch!” Rock said from behind Nash.
He’d followed them from the community center after Mica shared the news.
“Then you and your slow ass cop friends owe me for every one of those bikes that were taken,” Earl snapped, before pushing past the deputy.
“I’ll get a list of what was taken,” Rock said to Nash.
Nash nodded. “There were three Panigale’s lined up right on the front row there.” He motioned by pointing a couple feet in front of the broken window.
“He’s right,” Mica said.
She’d been quiet on the ride over and even moreso when they walked in. This was in stark contrast to how friendly and excited she’d been throughout the event. He’d wondered how she was going to act after she’d run out of his place this morning. That shit had been crazy. He’d never had a woman literally run away from him. But when he’d finally gotten out into the living room with his boxers twisted and shin throbbing after he’d slammed it into the side of his bed while rushing to get to her, he’d declined to chase her any further. He wasn’t in the habit of begging women to stay. No matter how much he liked them. And he could admit that he was really starting to like Mica.
Still, that didn’t stop him from noticing how hard she was taking news of the break-in for someone who had only been working here for a few weeks. Granted, she’d been working really hard to get the books in shape, as she’d told him, and he believed her. But he couldn’t help to also wonder who had called her about the robbery, considering she was just the accountant.
“The second row of bikes that should be here were BMWs. A black S1000RR and two multi-colored M1000RR’s. The Yamaha R1, two of them, black with cobalt accents, were here as well. That’s roughly two hundred thousand dollars’ worth of bikes that are gone,” Mica told them.
She walked to the spot where each of the bikes she’d mentioned had been displayed, her booted feet crunching over the broken glass on the marble floor. Nash was more than a little impressed at the fact that not only had she known the price of each of those bikes, but she also knew the name and models, as if she’d been studying their inventory. Admittedly, he had no clue what an accountant’s job entailed beyond making sure the math was mathin’, but as he continued to watch her, he continued to wonder.
“We’ll be able to provide a list with the make, model, serial number and approximate value of each bike,” Nash told the deputy. “We also have pictures so we can get those for you as well.”
“That’ll be perfect,” the deputy spoke as he finished writing in his notepad. “We’ll put notice out to the area body shops and dealerships just in case our perp tries to sell them directly to another location.”
Earl was back, walking between the area where the deputy and Nash were facing each other. He stood with his back to Nash, because Earl Banyon was an ignorant bastard.
“That’s about the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. There’s no way they’re going to try and sell those bikes anywhere in this area. They’re probably already on I-95 heading south to where nobody will know my merchandise has been stolen, because you only plan to notify area shops!” Earl yelled in the deputy’s face.
“Now, that’s enough!” the deputy shouted back this time. “We’re going to do our best to try and recover your property, Mr. Banyon. But you’re going to step back with your ranting and insults because there’s no need for all that. We’re not the bad guys here.”
“No. You’re probably not. But you aren’t out there trying to catch them either,” was Earl’s seething retort.
The deputy only shook his head at that. He moved away from Earl but looked back at Nash saying, “The sooner you can get me that list, the sooner we’ll get the word out.”
Nash nodded. “I’ll have it to you in a couple of hours.”
When the deputy was gone Earl cursed once more. “Fucking thieves!” he yelled. “But that’s okay. That’s exactly why I’m selling this place. It’s not making any money and now this. Yeah, I’m definitely selling now.”
Still trying to get a grasp on his thoughts and remain present in this moment, Nash was over Earl’s bullshit. “Just who the hell do you think you are? You can’t do that!”
Earl turned to him. He got right up in Nash’s face, his breath smelling faintly of liquor, his eyes all but glistening with hatred.
“I can and I am,” he spat. “And while I’m at it, I’m going to make sure that every shop in the DMV knows not to hire your convict ass. Hell, you probably orchestrated this robbery. Don’t think I haven’t seen how you’ve been studying those bikes!”
It took every ounce of restraint Nash possessed not to put this bastard on his ass right now. Experience and time served held him still. The old Nash, or rather the young and immature one, wouldn’t have hesitated to beat Earl into silence for his continued disrespect. The new Nash held his ground without physical violence.
