“Hello, people that rhyme. Any news?”
“The police are there and looking. It sounds like they’re just getting started and maybe aren’t very exuberant in their efforts thus far,” Ink said.
“Well, I’m sure things will pick up when our crew arrives,” he said. “We’ve got Shadow and Moose with us, and Shaker is on standby. Jacquelyn is, too, in case she needs to coordinate any medical attention.”
“Thanks, Prez.”
“Yes, thank you,” I said. “Thank you so much.”
“No problem. You guys drive safe. We’ll see you soon,” he said and ended the call.
“Who is Jacquelyn?” I asked.And why would she need to coordinate my mother’s medical care?
“She’s Shaker’s mom,” Ink said.
“That’s not what she’s asking,” Daphne said. “She’s on the Board of Directors for numerous hospitals, and I think she owns some of them, too.”
“Hold on,” I said and turned around once again. “Are you talking about Jacquelyn Marks?”
“The one and only,” Daphne confirmed.
“So Shaker is?—”
“Her billionaire son,” Daphne finished for me.
“They don’t act like billionaires,” I mused. “Shaker and Keegan, I mean. Jacquelyn’s wealth is obvious, but I’ve only ever heard good things about her.”
“That’s part of what makes them so great. They act just like everyone else,” she said.
“Except thatone time,” Dice and Ink said in unison.
“What one time?” I asked.
“There was an incident not that long ago where a lot of our people got hurt, including Byte. When Gabby got to the hospital, they wouldn’t let her back to see him. She all but stomped her foot and demanded that Shaker call Jacquelyn and have her buy the hospital so she could be with Byte,” Ink said.
“Did it work?”
“We didn’t have to find out. Dice talked to her and helped her calm down until they let her see him.”
“I distracted her is what I did,” Dice said.
“Either way, it worked,” Ink said.
“I can’t believe I didn’t put together that Gabby is Jacquelyn’s granddaughter,” I said. “Can I ask what happened to Byte and the others?”
Ink looked at Dice through the rearview mirror. “You good, man?”
He nodded. “I can’t tell the story, but I’m okay if you do.”
“Never mind. This sounds traumatic. Pretend I didn’t ask,” I rushed out.
“It’s okay,” Dice said.
“I’ll make it quick,” Ink assured him. “Irene had a diner in Cedar Valley before she relocated to Croftridge. Some of the Blackwings were helping out due to a staffing issue. One morning, before the diner opened for the day, a crazy man came in and shot everyone in the diner—Irene, Evie, Byte, Ranger, and Edge. Dice got there first, then me, then Daphne’s dad and uncle, who we didn’t know were her dad and uncle, but that’s a story for another time. Anyway, it was bad, but everyone made it.”
“I remember seeing that on the news,” I breathed. “They got the guy who did it, right?”
“I did,” Dice said. “That part, I’m proud of.”
