Page 80 of Hard Heart

“And while we’re doing that, we’re going to search. If they didn’t take anything, there’s a chance they left something instead. Just because we’re paranoid doesn’t mean nobody’s out to get us.”

The device was hidden in the lining of Raelene’s suitcase. Neither of us knew exactly what it was—a tracker? A recording device? A transmitter?—but one thing was certain. It wasn’t supposed to be there. Raelene pried it open with a nail file to reveal a bunch of electronic circuitry and a battery. I snapped a dozen photos, and we retreated towards the car park, Raelene clutching a now-warm can of Dr Pepper and me with a rising sense of doom permeating every cell in my body.

We’d almost made it to the door when my phone rang. I jumped out of my skin, then checked the screen. Unknown number. More awful news? My fingers trembled as I hurried outside and jabbed at the screen.

“It’s Duke.”

Never had I been so relieved to hear a badass biker’s voice.

“Did you hear about Levi?”

“Diesel just called.”

“How bad is it? I’m over in Wise with my boss, and they’ve barely told us a thing. I was visiting another inmate when it happened. All we know is that there was a fight at lunchtime and Levi got stabbed.”

“It wasn’t a fight, it was a fuckin’ hit. Levi was waiting in the lunch line when a couple of kids from the El Camino car came after him with a shiv.”

“The what car? How did they get a vehicle into the cafeteria?”

Duke snorted. “In prison, a ‘car’ is a gang. Ain’t nobody driving an automobile into the chow hall.”

Oh. “Then why don’t you just call it that? The attack was unprovoked?”

“Levi didn’t have beef with anyone. They got him good in the side, then went for his neck.”

“Why? Why would they do that?”

“Who the fuck knows? They won’t be telling anyone either—a bunch more people piled in to stop them, and now they’re in the morgue. Levi has plenty of friends inside. Are you staying in Wise?”

“Yes, until they let us talk to him.”

“Diesel’s old lady is riding down this evening. You want her to bring anything?”

“Could she pick up some extra clothes? Heidi will be home until six.”

“I’ll send Jester. You want him to hang around with you for a while?”

“I can’t believe I’m about to say this, but yes, please. There might be a problem at the motel.”

“What kind of a problem?”

“I swapped rooms with my boss, and she found an electronic widget hidden in her suitcase. We don’t know what it is or how it got there, but we’re a little freaked out by it.”

“They’ll be there by nightfall.”

Six months ago, I’d been happily living in New York, planning a fairy-tale wedding to the man of my dreams. Now I’d been plunged into a horror story, chapter after chapter with no end in sight. I just wanted to flip to the epilogue.

“It’s not good news, is it?” Raelene said after I hung up. “I see it in your face. Who was that on the phone?”

“Duke. He’s the father of Levi’s cellmate. The attack was completely unprovoked, and he described it as a hit. Please don’t be mad, but he’s sending a guy to watch the motel rooms while we’re out.”

“Will this guy be wearing leather and riding a motorcycle?”

I pulled a “yikes” face.

“Normally, I’d say ‘hell no,’ but after this shit?” She jerked her thumb towards the room behind her. “We need all the help we can get.”

“What are we going to do with the widget? Should we leave it in the car or something?”