“Message heard and received.” I purse my lips. “I’ll try to get the truth from Bronwyn.”
“Two days, Bro,” Saint says. “We’ll cover for that time, denying we know where they are. But in forty-eight hours, we’ll produce them, and take the credit for finding Doc’s kids. You on board, Short?”
No, I’m fucking not, but what can I do but raise my chin and show compliance?
Leaving Prez and the VP with a chin lift, I exit the office. Heathen and Knight are cleaning up the clubhouse, collecting empties, clearing ashtrays, and wiping up spilled drinks from the tables. Not tasks that can’t wait. Unlike mine. Hell, no one would probably notice if they had to drink at a dirty table tonight.
“Prospect!” I shout, and as expected, both men stand to attention. “Got a job for you both.”
In unison, they step forward. “What can we do for you, Short?”
“Go to the second-hand furniture store in town.” Yeah, I’ll buy used. There’s no point wasting money on good stuff that won’t be needed for long. Once Bronwyn’s moved on, I’ll do as I originally intended and sell the place. For a good profit, hopefully.
“And?” Knight prompts.
“Buy two beds, one king.” I consider for a moment, mentally trying to remember the size of the rooms. “One queen.” My eyes close briefly. “Get a sofa.” I’ll probably at least be spending some of my time there if I fulfil my promise and get Bronwyn to expose her secrets. “And a recliner. Oh, then go to that electrical store and buy a TV. Sixty inch should do it.” I’m still ticking off things in my head.What are the other essentials?“Get some plates, pots, pans, and silverware. If they’ve got them second-hand, so much the better.”
“That all?” Heathen asks with a hopeful look on his face.
“Nah,” I suddenly remember. “I’ll need bedding for both beds – nothing fancy, cheap will do. And some towels. Oh, and stop by the grocery store. Get enough food for three for a couple of days. And don’t forget the fuckin’ beer.”
Knight pales. “Is that it?”
“Yeah. Then take them to the address I’ll text you.” I extract a bunch of keys from my cut, take one off the key ring, and hand it over. “Take the furniture inside and get it set up. Oh, you don’t need to put the bedding on the beds,” I add magnanimously. “Bronwyn will probably want to do that herself. Maybe even put it through the washer first. At least, if my memory’s correct, a washer-dryer combo was left behind by the previous owners. Though I’ve no idea if they will work. There’s also an ancientrefrigerator, dishwasher, and oven. I was just going to dump the lot. But as long as they do the job, they’ll tide Bron and the kid over well enough.”
“Er, you want us to buy the stuff and arrange delivery?”
“No. You’ll take the big truck.” The one that’s typically used to carry less-than-legal products. “I need you to cash and carry all the stuff so you can get it set up. By lunchtime.”
“Is our future patch depending on that, Short?” Heathen asks with a worried look toward his fellow prospect. “‘Cause that’s going to be pushing it tight.”
Prospects are supposed to do anything we ask of them, including the impossible. But he’s got a point. I’ve given them a long list of tasks, with no idea whether it’s achievable. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I consider for a moment. “Just get the shit there as soon as you can.”
I get two salutes and then watch their backs as they scurry out of the clubhouse.
