“What’s that?”
“Just how many houses did the agencies purchase when you knew we were coming here?”
“Sixty-seven.”
“Okay, and I’m assuming the incoming agents will have a chance to purchase them?”
“Yes.”
“What if we suggest to Laci to get her real estate license to sell them to the agents?They’re going to stay with us until they can find the home they want.”
“Really, you wouldn’t want that task?”
“Not really, like I told Paul, I love working at the diner.The locals are accepting me and they’re starting to open up around me.There’s nothing concrete yet, but I’m learning things of the local clubs.”
“Okay, it’s a thought.When I get back to DC I’ll reach out to Gator and make the suggestion.She can probably take some on-line courses to get started.I know I was going to suggest you do that if you wanted to be in charge of the houses.Would you mind if I send everything we have here, so it will be here when they arrive?”
“What’s everything?”Paul asked.
“The listings, address, photos, keys to the locked boxes on the front door.”
“Ah, I don’t have a problem with it.”
“Neither do I,” Petra said and walked with Paul as he went to the back of the shop.They stopped when Cass snapped his fingers and went back toward the truck and bikes.Kessler and Flynn joined him.The couple exchanged looks when they saw each man carrying two extra-large hard sided suitcases.
“Trust us,” Kessler said as he used his chin to indicate that they should proceed.Paul shrugged and went in the direction of the barn.As soon as they all entered and their eyes adjusted, he reiterated what he had said a few minutes ago.
“Like I mentioned earlier, this will be a motorcycle repair shop.We’ll work on our own bikes, but we’re not going to push to work on others.If it happens, it happens.This shop will be our cover, giving us the excuse to be with each other all the time.”
“What about the women?”Cass asked.
“I work at the local diner with a woman that knows about us.Sally Ward.It’s been a little over two months, and the locals are starting to open up around me.I’m getting snippets of information here and there.If I have any questions, I discuss it with Sally, and she talks with them to confirm or deny what I’m hearing.Nothing’s panned out yet, but I’m learning.Oh, and there’s a big run coming up at the end of the month.”
“What type of run?”Cass asked.
“A Toys for Tots run.Larry Emmerson and the Bastards MC is putting it on.”She looked at Paul and shrugged.“Sorry, I only learned about it just before we closed last night.I was going to tell you about it.”
“That’s fine,” Paul said and squeezed her hand.He turned to the others.“I’ve got a file started on what members I know from different clubs.I have Iron Men, Bastards, Vultures, Road Hogs, Road Runners, and Road Rash.”He looked at Petra with a shrug.“Warren’s been calling me with information about the clubs from his task force.”He turned to the others.“People of interest, they, the task force, hasn’t really done anything with them.Personally, I think it has something to do with Dawson.”
“The Commissioner of the State Police?”Cass asked in shock.“Kessler and Flynn filled me in when they arrived at the Des Moines office to talk with my boss.They told me everything you have so far.One question.”
“What’s that?”
“Have you seen Brickman since the day you left him unconscious in that field?”
“No, I did help his girlfriend, Paula, unknown last name to me, pack her van and watched her leave.”
“She’s safe,” Kessler said.“I had her looked into.Three days after she left, she arrived at her brother’s place out in Reno.He doesn’t belong to a biker gang, but he rides with a couple of buddies on the weekend.Nothing like what Eddie was involved in, or what you’re planning.”
“Good, so he knows about one percenters.”
“Correct, I even reached out to him, as a concerned friend of Paula’s,” Flynn grinned.“I stated I helped pack up her van.He thanked me for getting her things, and said she was doing good.”
“Good,” Paul nodded and headed to the back of the shop.As he walked, he talked, “Years ago,” he said as he looked directly at Flynn and Kessler.“Back when I still had some memory loss.I hopped on my bike, the one I left in New York for my cousin, and just rode.Trying to clear my head, or get my memory back.As I was riding, I saw a for sale sign out at the rode, and paused to look around.I actually drove back here to check it out, and it was empty.After a couple of days, I couldn’t get this place out of my head.I contacted the realtor listed on that sign, and he met me out here to give me a tour.Within two months, the paperwork was final, and I was the sole owner.”
“I did not know this,” Kessler said, impressed.
“Yeah, I knew you guys wanted me to come work for you, but not until I had regained all of my memory.This place helped calm the voices in my head.”He looked at Cass with a shrug.“Not bad voices, nothing to put me in a mental ward, just snippets or flashes of memory.Anyway, back then, I had a vision of doing what I am doing now.I had this room installed in the back of this shop back then.I’m talking five years ago.”He paused outside a regular door, and looked back at them.
