“Good, if you plan to ride and not roll,” Luigi quipped.
Dernice shifted to the side, checking with Mercedes.
“I’m ready.” Mercedes tucked her long ponytail under her collar and gripped the back of Dernice’s jacket.
Meanwhile, Elvira appeared to be having difficulty steering her chopper away from the others. She clipped the back of Luigi’s tire and leaned sideways, nearly losing her balance.
Carlita started to ask her if she was sure she could handle the bike, but it was too late. She was already starting to roll forward, following Creed and the others.
A feeling of impending doom seeped into her bones. She wasn’t sure if it was because she had serious doubts about Elvira and her ability to control her chosen ride or the friction she sensed within the group of riders. Paul, Creed and Cyclone Courtney.
Either way, it was shaping up to be an enlightening outing.
Chapter 31
After several stops in downtown Savannah, the group hit the open road, crossing Lazaretto Creek Bridge on their way to Tybee Island. Cruising on the back of Luigi’s motorcycle, Carlita closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh air.
While she rode, she ran through the list of women who were part of the biker group. Reyna ticked off all the boxes, similar in size to the person they’d caught on camera at the hospital. What she needed now was to get a visual on the woman’s wrists and confirm whether she had a tattoo with wings and a heart.
So far, she’d kept them covered beneath her leather jacket and gloves. To be fair, so had the rest of the riders.
Crossing over the bridge, Carlita glimpsed the outskirts of the island. Clustered together were touristy gift shops and boutique stores.
They reached the Tybee Island Tourist Center and pulled into the parking lot, where Creed went inside to collect a donation check.
Paul waited for him to return. “It’s almost time for brunch. I say we stop at our usual hangout, Breakers Biker Bar.”
Elvira slid her sunglasses onto the top of her head. “I would love to loop the island, taking in the views along the shoreline.”
“Our riding group has done this tour dozens of times,” Luigi said. “There’s no perfect spot to stop.”
“Eighty and Chatham Avenue is about as close as we’ll get,” Dernice said.
“I didn’t pay big bucks to rent this chopper just to ride the highway. Where are we stopping for lunch?”
Paul repeated the name of the biker joint.
“I’ll meet you there.” Elvira fired up the engine and cruised out of the parking lot.
“We had better go with her,” Dernice said. “We’ll meet you there in a few minutes.”
Trailing behind Elvira, they hit the main road, driving all the way to the parking lot that offered limited beach access.
By the time they parked, Elvira was already standing at the water’s edge, snapping a selfie with her phone. She returned to where they sat waiting. “I learned a new trick with the chopper.”
“What?”
“I’ll show you.” She slid her helmet on and swung her leg over the side. “Watch and learn.”
She hit the gas and took off, stopping a few feet away. With a glance over her shoulder to make sure they were watching, Elvira gave it a burst of torque. The chopper’s front tire lifted off the pavement.
Vroom.It touched back down…a little too hard. The handlebars shook.
“Yikes!” Elvira yelped, struggling to maintain control.
Carlita watched in horror as the front tire wobbled. The chopper fell on its side. Elvira tumbled in the opposite direction, landing hard on the pavement.
Dernice scrambled off her bike and ran toward her. “Elvira!”
