The bell above the door jingles as we walk in. A kid is manning the front desk, but he’s busy playing a game on hisphone. He scrambles upright when he sees us, and his eyes go straight for our arms, where our Rider tattoos are visible. The guy’s eyes narrow, and his hand moves under the table. My arm shoots out faster than he can move, and I have his T-shirt in my grip, pulling him up over the counter.
“Nah, no need for backup. We’re just here to talk.”
“This ain’t your territory. You don’t belong here.” His words are tough, but he’s trembling in my grasp. This guy hasn’t carried a pipe ever. Must be a son of a senior member. His hands are soft, and his muscles are nonexistent.
“We just want to know if you know this kid. He’s been missing for three weeks.” Dead for one of them.
Niki holds up his phone screen for the bookie to inspect.
The kid nods. “Yeah, I know him. He’s missing, you say? Probably because he owes us five fat ones. If you see him, tell him we’re going to beat the shit out of him before he hands over his money and after.”
I let the kid go, and he slides back into his chair. His hands go under the table, and he presses his little emergency button. We probably have about thirty seconds before reinforcements arrive.
“Well, he’s dead, so you’re going to have to eat that debt.”
“Dead?” the kid scoffs. “I’ve heard that before.”
“I’m serious.”
The kid’s face grows confused. “But he owes us money. He can’t die until he pays us.”
“I don’t think that’s how it works, but good luck collecting from a dead kid.” Niki and I leave just as a group of Pipefitters enter from the back.
“I guess they didn’t rub him out,” Niki muses.
“Never made sense for them to be the ones to do away with him.” But if the Pipefitters didn’t do it, who did?
Chapter Twenty-Four
JOSIE
Iflip through a couple of pages of my notebook trying to keep myself busy. I’m waiting to hear back from Bam, and it’s driving me crazy. If this is how he feels worrying over me with my diabetes and antics, I’m starting to understand and have some compassion. “Some” being the key word. My self-control isn’t the best, but right now I should get a medal. I’ve been on pins and needles since he left.
“I came bearing food.” Andy sits down across from me in the library. She is often here. It might be part of why I slipped in. I was hoping to run into her. She’s one of the only people I actually trust in this place.
“Did Bam ask you to do this?” It has to be Bam because it’s a bowl from Chipotle. We have never eaten there together, but it fits as a healthy, solid meal for me.
“Yes.” Andy smirks. “So you and Bam?”
“He’s obsessed with me.” I peek around to make sure the librarian isn’t going to catch me eating, but I might be given a pass since I’m with Andy.
Like I said, she practically lives here, or used to. Her apartment wasn’t in the best area, and her mom dabbled in drugs. I think that’s in the past, but it’s not a topic I pushed on.There are some things that really aren’t my business. Not many, but there are still a few.
“He’s a good one.”
“I know.” I nod in agreement. If anyone will get this, it will be Andy. She’s all in with Niki. “I have been going through some of my old notes, and you know, the Riders aren’t bad. Are they a gang? Sure.” I shrug. “But cops can be gang-like. At least the Riders have a code and rules they live by and stick to. You know what you’re getting with them. They don’t sugarcoat it.”
“It’s true. If not for my Niki coming into my life, I don’t want to think of how things could have played out for me over the last month.” I nod in understanding. I’m glad she has Niki. She’s tender-hearted and pretty much on her own. It was time someone took care of and cherished her.
“I’m glad Bam has the Riders. He would have been alone without them. In a sense it’s a family.”
“They saved Niki’s little sister. She was kidnapped years ago, and if not for the Riders, I don’t want to even think about what might have happened to her.” Her whole face goes soft, making me smile because Bam too has talked about Niki’s little sister.
“Oh shit.” I missed that story.
“Like I said, it was years back, but it’s how Niki got involved with them.” I take a bite of my food. “I heard you’re trying to figure out who—” Andy glances around, making sure we don’t have an audience, but no one is close. “Ended him.” She’s careful not to say Cole’s name just in case someone does overhear.
“Remember I told you I was looking into people just disappearing?”
