Page 33 of Lies Beneath Secrets (Skeleton Crew #1)
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
Con
I left Lauren to stew over me telling her she can’t go out anymore. I doubt she’ll obey such a demand, especially from me, but it sure as hell was fun to piss her off in that moment. The way she got so heated and pushed back turned me on just a little bit. The fire in that woman will be the death of me. “This is either the stupidest idea in the world or fucking genius.” Pace leans back against the wall of an old, abandoned building. We’re outside of town where an old mill used to be until it burnt down ten years ago. Now all that’s left is a small shack that must have been used for an office or something. The fall has pushed its way in at full force, and the days are getting colder and shorter. Riding our bikes is nearly coming to an end for the year. There will only be a handful of good days left until the snow flies.
“We’re about to find out,” Knox says and stands a little straighter as a lone white single cab truck pulls up to where we are. We all stand ready as Shane Heinz steps out of the truck. Out of his uniform, the man still is stacked.
“Fucker looks like he shops at the Baby Gap,” Pace mumbles, then straightens up as well.
“You wanted to talk. Let’s talk.” Shane crosses his thick arms over his massive chest. Does this guy do anything other than lift weights? I’m a fit guy, but I sure as hell don’t have that kind of muscle. The gray in his hair and beard shows he’s got to be a little older than I am.
“You and Boe had an understanding,” I start and before I can continue, he holds up his hand.
“Understanding is putting it loosely. The investigation of his death?—”
“Murder,” Pace corrects Shane, who tilts his head to the side, then nods.
“The investigation of his murder,” he corrects and gives Pace a side eye before he continues, “Hasn’t gotten too far because no one is cooperating. Is this meeting because you want to cooperate?”
“No. We know what happened to him, and it will be dealt with by the club,” Knox boldly states, getting a huff from Shane.
“Is that really something you want to discuss with a police officer?”
“I don’t see one at the moment.” Knox locks his gaze on Shane. “Right now, you’re either an enemy, or you’re an ally. This meeting is to determine which one, because right now? We’re in need of the latter. If that’s something we can count on, we can work together to get fentanyl out of our town. I know damn sure it’s making a comeback after Boe was killed.” Shane regards Knox for a moment, then looks my way.
“Where does Lauren fit into any of this?” he asks, catching me off guard.
“She doesn’t.”
“So, you just happened to move in across the hall from her on sheer coincidence?” My hands fist together, and I force myself back a step instead of toward him.
“I needed a place to live. Recently got custody of my daughter, which I’m sure you already know.” His stoic expression doesn’t falter; he knows damn well there’s more to my story. “Who is she to you?”
“I’ve come to care about her and that friend of hers.” There’s more to his answer too, but he sure as hell isn’t letting on what that could be. “As long as those two are safe, you can count me in as an ally. My old man took care of this town before some asshole decided to have a meth meltdown and shoot him. I’ll be damned if that’ll happen ever again. You tell me who, and I’ll get them off the street.”
“Not the way this will work.” Knox takes two steps closer to Shane. “What we need to do is purge this fucking town of the poison. The people who are cooking, selling, and lacing their product and killing their customers. If all you’re doing is arresting them just so the judge can give them a slap on the wrist, this shit will only continue.”
“You want me to sit by while you go on a killing rampage and turn my city into a war-zone?” Shane lets out a laugh. “You boys are delusional.” He starts to turn back around and go to his truck until I speak.
“We’re outnumbered,” I say, glancing over at Knox, wondering if I should have even said that.
“Outnumbered?” Shane asks.
“We need backup when shit goes down. King has most of the club and the Flatliners in his pocket,” I clarify.
“Outnumbered is putting it lightly then.” Shane looks off toward his truck, then back at the three of us. “You ever had a member of the club be a police officer?” Pace doesn’t hold back his laughter at the question, which earns him a glare from Knox, but he doesn’t notice.
“Sort of a conflict of interest, isn’t it? A cop being a member of a motorcycle club.” Pace laughs a little more, then finally looks over at Knox, who’s clearly unimpressed. His pretty boy face can be void of emotion when he needs it to be.
“It would have to be voted on,” Knox says, regarding Shane for a moment. “Can we count on you?” The silence spreads thick between all of us until Shane nods.
“You help me get that poison out of my city, and you got yourself an ally.” He pulls open the door of his truck, then looks back at Knox. “Let me know how that vote goes.”