Page 110 of Savage Ends

“No,” Pat said.“This is anger.Ranford hates himself.”

This time, Grant burst out laughing.“That makes no fucking sense.”

“It does, if you think of it like him,” Pat said.“He lost his brother.He lost his city.He couldn’t find his brother’s body.It was making him desperate, and what does a desperate man do?He makes a deal with the enemy, turning your back on those that gave you a chance.This was personal to Ranford.This was about him reminding himself exactly who he is.”

Bull dropped the pen he was holding.“And he can hide within plain sight.”

“He told us he was in Carnage for over four months without us knowing.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”Grant asked.

“It means, he is here right now.”

“And that’s how Lidia got hit,” Grant said.“She knows Ranford.The two talked a few times.She saw him around the club.”

“Exactly,” Pat said.

“How the fuck did this guy operate before?”Grant asked.“Is he just some kind of invisible dude?I mean, he is a pretty big guy, right, and a fucking vegan, wouldn’t that shit have started to create gossip?”

Pat made his way toward Bull’s window and looked out at the parking lot, and that was when it struck him.

“He stole a leather cut,” Pat said.

“What?”This came from both Pat and Bull.

“Think about a few weeks ago, Gaz told us he had lost his leather cut, remember?He reckoned some chick stole it as he hadn’t seen it since working on his bike out front,” Pat said.

It had seemed insignificant at the time.He hadn’t even thought about chasing it up.“That’s how he’s getting around town with no gossip,” Pat said.“He’s using our own club against us.”

“I’ll call Carl and Beatrice.Ask if they have seen a guy matching Ranford’s description,” Bull said.“You need to round the boys up, and we need to find this fucker before he does anything else.”

“Wait,” Grant said.“What is the guy’s end game?”

“Divide and conquer,” Pat said.“That is why he has gone after the women, but going after Lauren, he made a mistake.”

“Uh, why is that?”Grant asked, looking a little dumb.

“Because he just pissed me off, and trust me, he does not want to deal with me.”

And with that, Pat made his way out of Bull’s office, finding Violet and Hazel at one of the tables in the clubhouse.Both women stuck out like sore thumbs, as their clothing was very colorful, and they were covering up most of their bodies.The other women were dressed in black or dull colors, and were close to being naked.

“I need you two to stay here.Don’t leave and don’t let Ava leave either, okay?”

“Okay,” Hazel said.

Pat wanted to say more to the other woman, to apologize for all her daughter had seen, but now was not the time.He would deal with Hazel later.

He made his way out toward the main parking lot, and he didn’t get far before Grant was there.

“What’s the plan?”Grant asked.

“Find him.Remember, Ranford has done this before.”

“Done what?”

“Taken a city, so I imagine a town is not going to be a problem for him.”

“Hold the fuck on right now.You think Ranford’s end game is taking the town?”