Desolation: Betrayed: Motorcycle Romance (Sons of Desolation Motorcycle Club Mystery Series Book 2) (3 page)

“Girls, I want you to keep your ears open okay? Don’t ask any strange questions, we don’t want to get anyone suspicious, but if you hear anything that seems out of the ordinary, we need to share it with one another.”

“What would you consider strange?” Merci asked as she added more cream to her coffee.

“People acting out of character or mentioning things that don’t seem right to you,” I said. “I think you’ll know when you see or hear it.”

We adjourned our little meeting and headed back to the clubhouse. Our first surprise awaited us there. Callie in all her glory sat at the bar. Normally she wouldn’t be let in, but the boys were at the hardware store with no one watching the clubhouse.

“Callie, what the hell are you doing here?” I asked putting myself between her and Nat.

“I’m not here to cause trouble,” Callie said turning around on her bar stool. “Although I’ve heard the SOD is trying to cause me some.”

“Honey, you’ve got a reputation so don’t be all hostile when it comes back to bite you in the ass.” I wasn’t in the mood for her shenanigans today.

“I’m here to pay my respects. I heard about Frito,” Callie said as she looked at the floor. Was that tears in her eyes? Surely an icy bitch like her didn’t know how to cry. But I was wrong as she wiped a tear racing down her cheek.

“The funeral is tomorrow,” Merci said. “After the police are finished with the autopsy.”

“Who could do this to Frito?” Callie cried. “He was so sweet.”

I’d never seen Callie like this in my life. Good Lord, maybe there was a beating heart in there instead of one made of stone. Nat walked over to a table and sat down.

“Callie, we’re not sure if Frito’s murder was intentional or not. He may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Normally no one is at the hardware store after hours. And no one knew he’d be doing inventory so late. Hell, it could have been kids who stole some guns and wanted to see what its like to shoot up a business,” I said, not really believing that.

“I don’t think that’s what happened,” Callie said blowing her nose with a tissue.

“Do you know something we don’t?” I asked as Merci and I joined Nat at the table.

“Maybe,” Callie said. I admit I was intrigued. I didn’t trust Callie as far as I could throw her lame ass, but if she had a bit of info I was all ears.

“Come here and sit with us Callie,” I said. “But before you do, apologize to Nat for all the atrocious things you’ve said and done.” Callie knew I meant business and I would toss her out on her rear if she didn’t make nice with Nat.

“I’m sorry,” Callie said as she looked at the floor like some 5 year old.

“You’re sorry for what?” Hell I felt like I was talking to a 5 year old.

“I’m sorry for all the shit I did to you and Eli,” Callie replied. It was good as it was going to get.

“I accept your apology,” Nat answered. And she did because that was Nat.

“Okay, come sit,” I said. Callie lumbered off the bar stool and sat between me and Merci.

“So what do you know that we don’t,” I asked not expecting to hear anything new. But boy howdy, was I wrong.

“Frito and I had become close friends before I was banished from the club,” Callie explained. “We’d still meet up sometimes on the sly. He didn’t want the club to know since he knew how Eli felt about me.”

“Go on,” I said, wondering why Frito would go against club rules. Maybe he saw a side to Callie that we didn’t. Of course it was difficult when she kept pulling crap.

“Two weeks ago I met with Frito. He wasn’t himself, really down. That’s not him, or at least it hasn’t been since well after…well after Gabe died.”

I knew what she meant. Frito went through a bad time after Gabe died. They’d been friends and he took it hard when the accident occurred. But he pulled himself out of it and became the old Frito we all loved after about a year.

I shifted in my chair and asked, “Did you find out what was wrong?”

“No, but whatever was hounding him also had him scared,” Callie answered as she twirled a lock of her hair nervously.

“What do you mean he was scared? I didn’t notice anything,” Merci said.

“He didn’t act like that around you all,” Callie answered. “He put on his happy Frito face and played along.”

I could tell Merci was having a difficult time believing her.

“It doesn’t make sense Callie,” I said. “He could always come to the club if there was any trouble. The club would protect him.” My intuition kicked into high gear. Hadn’t this been what I was saying all along, that it was an inside job. My gut grinded.

“Not if he was scared by someone in the club,” Callie answered.

There it was. Someone besides me had finally said it out loud. Merci and Nat looked at me.

“Do you have any clue who it was or what it was about?” I asked, getting more uncomfortable by the minute. Sure I’d had my suspicions, but now that they may have more merit combined with Callie’s information, I was increasingly ill at ease.

“He said he found out something he wished he hadn’t. Now that he had this information he wasn’t sure what to do with it. He said it was info the club should know, but if he spilled, he’d betray a friend,” Callie explained.

“Club always comes first before outsiders,” I said, the flesh on my skin prickling.

“Yeah, I know,” Callie agreed. “So if it was someone in the club….”

At that moment Elijah, Bruce and a few other club members walked into the clubhouse looking for some cold beers. As soon as Elijah spotted Callie he stopped in his tracks.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” He yelled as he approached the table.

“Calm down Elijah,” I said. “If your wife can sit at a table with Callie then you can handle it as well.”

“What is going on?” Elijah asked clearly puzzled.

Bruce walked up behind him while the other members walked off in search of liquid refreshment.

“Just having a little girl talk,” I said.

“Yes it’s fine Eli,” Nat agreed. “We’re getting along quite well and besides, Callie apologized.”

Elijah scowled at Callie not believing she’d changed her stripes. “I still don’t trust you.”

“That’s fine,” Callie said. “The feeling is mutual.”

“Listen, we’ve had a nice conversation until you guys came in. We’re being civil so you can be too,” I said looking directly at Elijah. “Callie wants to come to the funeral services for Frito.”

Callie looked at me. She hadn’t asked, but if she and Frito had been such good friends I know she’d like to be there.

“Is that alright with you Nat?”

“Sure, of course.” Nat answered.

I looked at Elijah. “Any problems.”

“Not if Nat doesn’t have any,” he said.

“Okay, it’s settled.”

Bruce gave me one of those “do you know what you’re doing looks” as he and Elijah walked off. I’m not sure I did, but having Callie at the funeral might bring out some unusual behavior. I told Callie the time for the services and that we would have a dinner at the clubhouse after. I wanted her there for both. She said she would come. After she left I talked to the girls.

“Now, I know it isn’t an appropriate time to play private eye at a funeral for a friend, but if we want to know who did this to Frito, it may be our best chance.”

“I agree,” Merci said. “But what exactly do we look for?

“I want you to look for any odd behavior around Callie,” I said as I put on my coat to leave.

“That may be hard,” Nat said rising from her chair. “You just saw Eli’s reaction. That pretty much sums up how everyone may react to seeing her there.”

“At first it will,” I said as I stood by the door. “But by the time we get back to the clubhouse for the dinner everyone should be use to her being around. Except for whoever may think she knows something. That person may seem uncomfortable the entire time.”

“How would anyone guess she knows something?” Merci asked.

“I’m playing it by ear girls. Let’s just say I have a feeling,” I said walking out the door.

My reasoning was, if Frito had difficulty revealing something to the club told to him by another member, then it was someone he was close to. And this someone may know he still saw Callie on the sly. Now the entire club knows how Callie destroyed her relationship with the club, so that person also knows we wouldn’t give her the time of day. So if Frito told her anything, that member wouldn’t have to worry since we’d never believe her. But seeing her at the funeral and the clubhouse might throw him or her a curve ball. And I was hoping one of us would spot it.

*****

The service at the cemetery was brief. Frito didn’t have any close family except for the club. As I figured, most everybody was surprised to see Callie there. I kept her near me and Merci to prevent anyone saying anything that might run her off. I needed her to be there and at the clubhouse for the dinner. Most stayed away from her, not sure what to make of her being there. Club members and old ladies would look to Elijah and Nat who seemed to pay no attention to her at all. I watched the club members and told Merci to do the same. I wanted to see if anyone acted out of character, but for the moment, everyone seemed subdued. Of course it was a funeral after all. I would just have to wait until we got to the clubhouse.

Bruce and the rest of the boys rode their bikes as a procession to the cemetery ahead of the hearse. I told Callie I would drive her to the clubhouse in my SUV.

On the way there I asked, “Did you notice anyone being suspicious?”

“I couldn’t tell,” Callie answered. “Everyone was giving me the side eye.”

“Yeah true,” I said. “Just keep your eyes peeled for anyone acting weird at the clubhouse. I can’t be with you all the time as I have to help serve the food.”

“I could help,” she replied.

“No, I want you out in the bar area not stuck in the kitchen.”

She nodded her head.

“Are you alright?” I asked with genuine concern.

“No,” she answered. “Frito was a good friend to me. I’m just sad.”

For the first time I felt sorry for Callie. Maybe there was still a chance for her.

I parked the vehicle and led her into the clubhouse. Many of the old ladies had skipped the cemetery and stayed to cook dinner. They were already busy and I was needed inside to help set up the buffet. I spotted Merci and Cig at one of the tables and led Callie over to them.

“Here Callie sit with Merci and Cig. I’ll be back a little later.”

As Callie sat down I leaned over and whispered in Merci’s ear, “Stay alert.”

She nodded her head. Cig got up and left the table when Callie sat down. Fine. At least he wouldn’t distract Merci.

I headed into the kitchen where everyone was abuzz about Callie. How dare she show her face. What a bitch. That’s all I heard. Finally I couldn’t take it anymore and said, “She was good friends with Frito. There’s no harm in her coming to the burial.”

The old ladies looked at me like I’d sprouted a horn.

“Alright, I’ll give you that Lila,” Jesse, one of the old ladies remarked. “But what’s she doing here?”