Page 41 of Cougar

I stare at the number, trying to decide what I should do about it. Should I call it? Should I tell Prez? Before I can choose, my secondary screen beeps and shows me the map of all of Bigfoot’s locations with the phone. It’s not exact, but it tells me the towers its signal bounced off of. I put that over a county map of Wyman and see a general picture of where he’s been. Most, if not all, were club properties or businesses, but I see him near the storage sheds we own a lot. We haven’t needed to go there very often as of late because the cops were tailing us, and we needed to move the product back to the ranch. So why is he going there? I pull out my phone and call Cowboy. With no answer after two tries, I call my VP. Storm answers right away.

“What do you got for me?” He asks, not even wasting time with pleasantries.

“He keeps going to the storage sheds. The burner shows fifteen visits alone in the past two weeks.” I say, looking at the map again.

“Nothing else showing anything strange?” He asks, and I hear him kiss someone and hear a door slam.

“Nothing that raises that big of a red flag.”

“Okay. I’ll check in when I know more,” he says, and the line goes dead.

My eyes turn to look at the screen with the numbers. My system is telling me only one is still listed as an active number, with no name associated with it. I think about it and decided to pull up my spoof system and call the number.

I breathe and try to focus my mind on keeping my voice level, knowing I’m about to say things that will break me. I’ve learned a lot about The Company and the terms they use. I need to stick to them.

“Hello?” I freeze. A voice I know well is on the other line. A voice I’ve heard plenty. One every one of my brothers knows, some more than others, is on the other end of the line. How is this fucking happening? This…this can’t be right. No. I shake my head when I hear her again, “Hello?”

“I am—” I cough and clear my throat, trying to make my voice deeper. “I’m calling about the ad for the calico kitten.” I feel sick to my stomach using my sweet baby niece’s ad, but it’s the freshest in my head.

“Oh, I see,” is all she says before shuffling away from the background noise. I hear a door close, and she speaks again. “How did you get this number? All ads are to be answered via the adoption site.”

Fuck, think, think. Think fast, Knuckles!

“Seamus is an old friend. He said it shouldn’t be a problem. I promised my wife a sweet kitten before I go out of state. He said reaching out directly would help me jump the line.” I try and add some arrogance to my tone—like I have no time to waste and I’m more important than anyone else.

I want to fucking vomit.

“Hmm, Seamus. Did he?” she asks, and I shake my head. I hate myself so much right now. My self-loathing is put aside when I see a text come in on my screen. Thank fuck I plugged the sim card into my computer.

Boss: You have some explaining to do.

“Yes,” I scoff. “Did I stutter? Can you help me or not?” I bark at her.

“Well, let me reach out to Seamus and see what I can arrange for you,” she says, and I hear her clicking on the phone again with another text.

Boss: Answer me. Giving out this number was a huge mistake.

Before I can say anything else, the line goes dead. I run to the bathroom and start puking. I can’t believe it’s true. He really is the fucking mole. He did this! Nothing makes sense. I quickly rinse my mouth, and my cell starts to ring. I rush back and see Cowboy calling me back.

“Prez. You are not gonna fucking believe this.”

***

Storm

Prez: Knuckles filled me in. Whatever hes hiding-its there.

Me: Already here. I’ve checked half

Me: Ill let you know when I find it

Me: You sending backup

Prez: No. We have another player we have to grab. I need the help here. But say the word brother and Ill send u help. Do you need it?

Me: No. Whatever is here, he hid it on purpose. Something tells me I can handle this one on my own

Prez: Sounds good brother. We have more to discuss. Find it and get back

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