“You needed an insider who could keep you informed. You got that!”
“Willow, I thought you were going to get your ass kicked.”
“Nah. I can pitch with the big boys. Honestly, you needed me. JTTF will keep shit from Drew. How’s he working out, anyway?”
“Nanci adores him. Got to admit, Drew’s a good guy, quite happy seeing grey and not black and white. Man has a strong sense of justice.”
“How are you doing?” Willow asked, her eyes studying me carefully.
“In about ten minutes, Janet should be awake, and I hope she’ll take my call. I’ve already spoken to Mase, my AA sponsor, this morning. Mase doesn’t care when she gets woken up. Tonight was a clusterfuck. Although they reckon half the deceased are still inside the zeppelin, many fell out. This will give me nightmares, and I’ll need help,” I replied honestly.
“Hence, Janet and Mase.”
“Yup. Mase’s support got me through until I reach Janet. I’m craving a drink to forget the expressions on the bodies I’ve seen. Their eyes will haunt me. But I’ll get a fix of Nanci soon, and I’ll be okay.”
“Nanci is a pretty good addiction to have.” Willow chuckled.
“Yeah.”
“Get going, Inglorious. The JTTF is clearing the field of all non-law enforcement personnel. I’ll stay and be a pain in the ass.”
“Let everyone know there’ll be refreshments in Merritt waiting,” I said.
Willow nodded and walked away. I felt sorry for whoever she had in her sights.
Nanci
People started streaming in a couple of hours after the crash. They needed food and water, and we’d been engaged preparing for the search and rescue teams. Other than Daisy-Duke, old ladies had come from other clubs, and we’d worked together providing sandwiches and snacks. The kitchen was a chaotic hubas we heard boots and began hauling out platters. The first ones in were Rage MC. They looked shell-shocked and saddened, and if their old ladies were here, they latched onto them like lifelines.
“How bad?” Phoe asked her old man, Drake.
“Awful, babe, there are bodies everywhere. Some burned, some not. There are kids.” Drake’s voice cracked, and he stopped talking.
Phoe stepped between his legs, and Drake buried his head in her stomach. She wrapped her arms around him and offered silent support.
If Drake were affected this badly, Inglorious would be worse. I whipped my phone out and dialled Janet.
“Hello?” the therapist answered.
“Janet, it’s Nanci. I think Inglorious is going to need you desperately. Have you heard?”
“No? Has something happened?”
“Those zeppelins everyone’s talking about, the one over South Dakota, exploded. The club arrived first.”
“Hold on, Nanci, let me…oh shit, it’s all over the news. I’m actually on vacation this week. I’ll come to Merritt now. Can you have Inglorious meet me there?” Janet asked.
“The zeppelin crashed in one of our fields,” I murmured. Janet’s shocked hiss said everything.
“When are you guys going to get a break? Okay, I’ll be there soon. Will I be able to enter the town? I imagine the police have got the roads blocked to stop looky-loos.”
“Janet, I’ll contact Drew; he’s out there somewhere. I’ll get you clearance.”
“Be there within the hour, Nanci.” Janet cut the call, and I dialled Drew.
“Nanci.”
I winced. Drew sounded shattered.
