“Do you really think I’m going to be able to pull this off?” I asked, glancing up at him.
“I still think that I would’ve done a better job, but yes. I think you’re capable enough to get what you need and get out before anyone finds out what you’re really doing there.”
“Thank you, Richard. I hope it’s not too late for that.”
“Any time, Lacey,” he replied, leaving me alone while I gathered my things, taking a deep breath and heading back out to my car so I could make the drive down to Ortega’s. I didn’t have a plan, I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I could only hope that I figured something out before I pulled up there unannounced.
Seventeen
Moves
Hawk and I rode alongside each other, enjoying the early morning wind while we were on our way to Ortega’s to talk to Ryder. I was worried that he wasn’t going to be able to help us much, because we still weren’t able to collect many clues that would point us in the direction of the people who were framing us.
I told myself to stay calm, trying to convince myself that we were going to make it out of this before anyone else got hurt. I had to believe that, otherwise I was going to dwell on the possibility that it would be the end of the Outlaw Souls as we knew it, and I certainly wasn’t going to stand for that.
It was a difficult situation because we had no idea who or what we were up against. If we at least knew who had tipped off the LPPD on Chalupa’s whereabouts, and how they were able to plant evidence on him that would convince the police that he had something to do with the stolen car, we could’ve at least retaliated with force. I was starting to think that we were going to need a different approach if we wanted to make sure that no harm came to Chalupa while we dealt with this.
When we arrived at Ortega’s, I could already tell that the tension was high, and every face I caught sight of looked just as worried as I felt. They couldn’t put into words what they were feeling, but the uncertainty was starting to get to them in a way they wouldn’t be able to understand. Many of them still had a lot to learn about how we dealt with threats, about how we managed to stay out of trouble even though there were always going to be people trying to take us down. I was just worried that one of them was going to crack and sell us out if they were ever caught under pressure. Even though I managed to enforce the rules, I couldn’t possibly keep track of everybody, especially when my main focus was trying to get Chalupa his freedom.
We walked into the garage, hit with the scent of sweat, oil, and rubber the minute we got inside. I looked around for Ryder, but the first pair of eyes I caught weren’t his. They were Chalupa’s.
“What are you doing back here? I thought I told you to lay low until we came to fetch you.” I could see the fear in his eyes, and I knew there was probably a part of him that believed he wasn’t going to get out of this without jail time.
“I’m scared, Moves. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me, or to any of us because of what the LPPD thinks I’m doing. I’m just glad that at least you all believe that I didn’t do it, but I still can’t figure out how they would’ve had enough evidence to make the arrest.”
I glanced over to see Ryder approach with a dirty washcloth in his hands, wiping the oil off of his fingers.
“We know you didn’t do it, Chalupa,” Ryder said, throwing the rag on the bench, “but that doesn’t mean that this is just going to go away on its own. I’m tired of not knowing who’s framing us, and if it were up to me I would’ve stormed the Las Balas compound by now demanding answers.”
I knew that he was just operating on fear, and that confronting our rivals at this time wasn’t going to achieve anything.
“That’s why you’re not in charge of this, Ryder,” I said. “You don’t know for sure that they were behind this, and if we find out that they had nothing to do with this, but we went ahead and ambushed them anyway, we’re going to have more problems on our hands than we’re going to be able to handle.”
Ryder nodded in reluctant agreement. “Come on, let’s go inside the office to get out of the heat and talk about this further.”
He led us into the back, where we could enjoy a little air conditioning while we discussed how we were going to go about finding the evidence we needed to set Chalupa free. Ryder opened the cooler and took out four beers, opened them up, and handed them to us while we indulged, each of us lost in our thoughts about what to do.
“I don’t see how we’re going to find any evidence if we don’t head back to the scene,” Hawk said, and even though I knew he was right, I still thought that it was way too risky.
“They probably still have cops canvassing that area, waiting for one of us to show up there asking the wrong questions or displaying any sort of suspicious behavior,” I explained, and we all sat there for a moment in complete silence while we thought about what to do.
“Well, you guys are just going to have to do a better job of sneaking around, because until we find something substantial we’re just going to be sitting on our asses all day waiting for the inevitable,” Ryder said, and I nodded.
“We’re going to figure something out, and we’re going to keep you out of jail, Chalupa,” I said. “I know that you’re worried, but the LPPD are not locking you up for something you had no involvement in, okay?” Chalupa nodded, gulping at the thought.
“I already told you I won’t be able to last a day in prison,” he said.
“Oh, we know,” Ryder said.
Hearing a knock on his office door, he opened it up to see Lily and Bailey there dropping off lunch that Paige had sent. I was so grateful to them because I was absolutely starving, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had anything to eat.
We sat there for a little while enjoying our meal, but we were interrupted moments later to hear the bell ring, indicating that there was a customer that needed service. Ryder had been working hard all morning, so I decided to help him out a little and take this one off his hands. He thanked me, and I ventured out to the front to see who needed assistance, and just how long the job was actually going to take me.
I stopped in my tracks when I caught sight of the face staring back at me.
“You?”
Eighteen
