Page 89 of Marcus: Sins of the Father

We’ve been waiting for a few hours now, taking over the courthouse parking lot. Dirty looks are thrown our way by the prosecutors as they enter the courtroom. I’m not sure if it’s because we’re an MC or because we’ve taken so many parking spots. My guess is it’s a bit of both. There’s quite a crowd of us waiting out here now. Cole went inside with the lawyer to be in the courtroom, but the rest of the club is hanging out in the lot across from the courtroom steps. Give us a grill, and we’d practically be a tailgate party.

The doors finally swing open; Cole and Dana, the club’s lawyer, descend the steps. She’s mid-thirties with long dark hair and a no-nonsense look on her pretty face.

“What’s the news?” Crash calls across the road as they cross it.

“Yeah, where are our boys?” Green adds.

“They’re going through processing to be released. Should be out any minute.”

Cole shakes hands with Dana. “Thanks for all you do.”

“Of course.” She waves him off. “Just be warned, that prosecutor filed charges knowing good and well there’s no way logistically it could have been them. Thank God they got a fair judge who dismissed this joke of a case. Next time, you may not be as lucky.”

“Next time?” Cole tilts his head to the side.

“Yes. It appears the prosecutor has it out for motorcycle clubs.”

“Well, we’ll be sure to add them to the list.” Cole shakes his head.

“There are my boys,” Green shouts, a wide toothy grin across his face as Red Dog and Billy make their way across the street. “My baby prospect is growing up so fast. Already been arrested.” Green pulls a white rag from his pocket and pretends to dab at his eyes. “So proud, so proud.”

Billy accepts a slug in the shoulder from him.

“All right, all right. Knock it off,” Red Dog calls. “Thanks again, Dana.” He shakes her hand, and then moves toward the rest of the brothers. “Let’s go. I’m ready for a cold beer.”

Cole nods, throwing his leg over his bike. “Let’s roll, boys.”

Red Dog gets a few pats from the brothers and climbs on his bike. Twisting the throttle, it rumbles to life. We roar out of the lot, and Red Dog flips off the courthouse as he rides past. Billy, TJ, and I fall in at the back of the pack where the prospects ride, and we head to the clubhouse.

***

The men immediately go into church once we arrive. Billy is called in, too.

A while later, the door opens, drawing mine and TJ’s attention. Billy exits and makes his way to us.

“So, what was it like?” TJ asks as he wipes the counter.

“A concrete box with nothing to do but count the cinderblocks.”

“What the hell happened, anyway?” I ask, still confused at why they were suspects.

Billy grimaces. “Dude, I forgot how bad your eye looks.”

“Yeah, well, you should see the other guy,” I snap.

That garners a chuckle, something I wasn’t sure Billy was capable of anymore. “True that.” He dips his head to light a cigarette, then blows the smoke toward the ceiling. “We were just riding down the road when three squad cars appeared out of the woodwork. It was like they were waiting for us. We pulled over, and before we could even ask what we’d been stopped for, they ripped us from the bikes and had us face down in the gravel. Said we were being arrested for some drive-by that happened downtown.”

“That’s fucked up.” I slide Billy a beer.

“Yeah, but the charges were so bogus. We didn’t have the right weapon. We were picked up so far away from it, we’d have never had time to do it, and not to mention at the time it took place, we had about sixty witnesses to say we were at the club party. Diana got the judge to dismiss the case. So that’s that, all done. No record or anything.”

“Man, you lucked out with that. Well, I’m exhausted.” I stretch, and a big yawn escapes my mouth.

“I’m beat, too. We drove all over, looking for your asses. Haven’t slept yet,” TJ agrees.

“I’m gonna go find an empty room to crash for an hour or two.” I slap Billy on the shoulder as I stand. “Get some rest.”

“Thanks.”

---