“Yeah,” Maestro nods. “But it will be good for the town to see us out in force, we’ve been slack on keeping up patrols and it’s let rot creep in. No more. This is our town. Always has been, always will be. It’s time we once again made that clear.”
“Okay then son. Let’s go pick this piece of filth up. Emily deserves a good life and she won’t relax until he’s gone.”
Ford is waiting at the panel van we used to use on the regular for this sort of thing a few years ago. Glad Maestro saw fit to keep it.
Stopping by Ford, I grip his shoulder. “You sure you want to be in on this?”
Ford’s furious gaze meets mine. “He hurt my grandmother enough that you had to take her to the hospital. She’s the only one who ever gave a shit about me until a few weeks ago. I’m sure, Grandpa.”
Pride fills me. Ford is an Ivor through and through. We protect our family no matter what. I’m not expecting this to be dangerous. I had a feeling the dickhead who attacked Emily was a bully and it wouldn’t take much to subdue him. Saying that, though it was never too late to start training the younger generation.
Squeezing Ford’s shoulder, I nod. “Okay, son, get in the van and let's pick this motherfucker up.”
I know the motel that he’s staying in, and it doesn’t take long for us to drive into the parking lot. There’s a truck stop on the opposite side of the road. Maestro and the rest of the brothers pull in there. They’ll wait there unless we call them.
“How are we going to find out which room’s his?” Ford wants to know.
“I know the owner,” I reply, opening my door and stepping out. I pick my cut up from the back seat where I’d placed it and slip itback over my shoulders as we walk towards the motel reception area.
Pushing open the door, I see Ted sitting behind the counter where he’d been for the last fifty years. I’m shocked at how old he looks. I realise it’s been nearly five years since I’d last seen him.
“Red,” surprise flares on his face as he shakily stands and leans against the counter.
“Ted,” I greet, holding out my hand. “How’ve you been?”
“Been better,” he admits. Then asks, “What can I do for you?”
“You got a guest that laid hands on my Old Lady. I want his room number.”
Ted looks at me and then starts chuckling before he starts to cough in a way that’s painful to watch. Seeing the carafe of water on the counter, I walk around the desk, pouring him a glass. I hand it to him, helping him into his seat.
“What made you laugh and why doesn’t anyone know you’re sick?”
Ted waves his hand in my direction. “Got cancer, don’t have anyone to tell. Tell me about your Old Lady; hope she’s not some gold digger.”
Ford makes a choking sound, and I laugh. “No, Emily isn’t a gold digger,” I reassure him, then point at Ford. “She’s his grandmother.”
Ted eyes Ford, seeing the family resemblance. He says, “Keeping it in the family then.”
“Something like that,” I agree. “Are you going to help us with a room number?”
Ted nods. “I only got two rooms booked out at the moment and one is a family, the other is a single guy. He’s probably the one you want. Nasty fucker. Tried it on with Ada but she got him in the balls with the mop.”
“You report it?”
“Yeah, but you know the cops. They said it was a he said, she said deal. They did speak to him though. Are you going to take care of him?”
“We are. Ada okay?”
“She’s fine. That girl is tougher than nails. She’ll be okay.”
“And you?” I want to know.
Ted looks steadily at me. “I’ve not got long. All paperwork is in order. Leaving everything to Ada. The girl doesn’t know it though. She’s been working here since she was fourteen. Trying to get away from her family. She’ll need help. They’ll be comingout of the woodwork thinking she’s got money. This place is a money pit and needs lots of work but if anyone can do it she can. I don’t got no children or family of my own except her. I’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on it. You might also want to check into the diner and shop over the road. They’re looking to retire and move to their kid’s. It would be good for Ada if the MC owned that.”
I nod. “Let me sort this fucker out then Maestro and I’ll be over to chat with you.”
“Appreciate it, Red.” He leans over and snags a key from a hook. “The spare for the room. I’ll switch the cameras off. They’re old, you know, constantly glitching.”
