Page 34 of Hallow’s Eve
Eve disappeared through the back door. Shutting off the engine, I waited for her to return. We’d go to her friends and get a lead on Ford. I’d leave Eve at her friend’s house and go after Ford myself. Everything was going to work out. I was pleased with this plan. But Eve didn’t return. Not after five minutes. Not after ten. I couldn’t wait any longer to go find her. Stepping into the back of Bootsies, I was careful, even though the back hallway had been dark. Coming out the small door between the bathrooms, I ran right into Celie.
“What are you doing back here?” She crossed her arms. “Cops are on it now.”
“Have you seen Eve?”
“Yeah, she just left with Ford.”
“What? When? Where?”
“Yes, they just left out the front door, like we’re supposed to. How’d you get in the back.”
I grabbed her and tried not to shake her. “Celie, Ford killed Grady.”
The woman about fell on the floor. I caught her by the elbow.
“Where did he say she was taking her?”
“Eve made it a point to tell me she was going home if I needed her. Maybe he’s taking her home?”
“Where’s that?”
Celie gave me an address, nearby and downtown, and I luckily made it out the back door without any of the officers seeing me. Getting to the address, I made it up the stairs before I realized Eve had already told me she lived in Cottontown. Wondering who’s address Celie gave me, I knocked on the door anyhow. There wasn’t an answer. Why would there be? It was five in the fucking morning. I started to leave but heard a scream. Just like I was trained, I kicked in the door. Rushing to the cries, I turned on the light to find a couple in bed. Thorn, his muscular black back with the Royal Bastard’s patch covered Donette’s milky skin. This was Eve’s friend’s place. Obviously, they’d been fucking, but Thorn lifted all the way up so I could see his big cock was still inside her.
“Holy shit,” I complained.
“Hey, man. What gives?”
I turned away from the show. “Ford’s our killer, and he’s got Eve. Celie gave me this address.”
“Ford?” Thorn asked.
“The bartender? The one I was after?”
“No, the other one.”
Thorn clearly wasn’t invested in this. I told him, “Eve’s with me now, my girl, and Ford’s our murderer.”
“Alright then. Let’s go.”
“Eve pays rent here but hasn’t moved in yet. She lives out in Cottontown,” Donette explained. She’d moved away from Thorn and covered herself with a sheet.
“Do you think Ford would take her there?”
“I don’t know why he would. Her Gran’s there, and she’ll shoot him if he tries anything. She about shot me last time I visited. I’ll show you the way.”
Thorn and Donette threw on their clothes. We were all out the door in no time, heading forty minutes north to Cottontown. I followed Thorn who took his directions from Donette who rode bitch on his bike. When we pulled into the driveway, Jasper was backing out in a yellow Subaru Baja.
“I’m after him.” Thorn left Donette with me, telling her, “Stay put.”
Shutting off my hog, I put my finger to my lips to let Donette know I’d be sneaking up to the house. Leaving her, I creeped up the long gravel driveway to see a motorcycle parked in front of the porch. It was an older model Harley, a fatboy, worn and dirty.
“What the hell?”
The lights were on inside, and I could see through the screen door a big man and Eve screaming at one another. I rushed the door and was inside, my gun drawn on him in no time. Before me, stood Eve and what had to be her father. The old man was grey and plump but held her eyes and features. No cut, he wore a blue and white flannel and Wrangler jeans. His hands were in his pockets. Eve had the gun I gave her in her hands, pointed at him already. Tears streaked her face.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my eyes on her gun.
“My dad killed Grady. Killed Wolf.”
