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“We haven’t done anything!” Ellie yelled. “The Last Riders must have set this up to get us in trouble.”

His grin widened. “Prove it. Now you can see how it feels to get a taste of your own medicine. The Last Riders aren’t afraid of going to court for serving alcohol to minors because we didn’t, and we have video to prove it. What proof do you have that you didn’t set the bonfire? I can come up with at least twelve witnesses who’ll say you did.”

The three women’s confidence was starting to unravel.

“We were at home … We just got here,” Jena said shakily.

“We didn’t do anything …” Tearfully, Ellie shook Courtney’s arm. “I can’t get into any more trouble with my father. He threatened to send me to live with my grandmother.”

“Me neither, Courtney.” Jena shook Courtney’s other arm. “This was your idea. I told my parents we were studying.”

Wizard pinned his gaze on Courtney. She was the obvious ringleader of the group.

Confronted with her friends’ distress, she shook their hands off. “I’m not afraid. Let the police come. My parents’ lawyer will have you arrested.”

“I haven’t done anything to be arrested for. You three are the trespassers setting an illegal fire that the fire department is going to have to put out.” Wizard gave a whistle. “I wonder how much that is going to cost her parents?” he asked Buck.

“At least a couple of grand.” Buck’s answer had the other two girls paling.

“Is that how much you made setting up The Last Riders?” Wizard asked casually.

“We didn’t …” Courtney’s denial didn’t sound as assured as her previous ones.

“Time’s running out.” He never had any patience with liars. “Tell us how you sneaked into the club and who wanted to set us up, and you three can go on your merry way. Or … we can spend the rest of the night at the police station, and you can explain to your parents why you were here.”

“Tell him, Courtney, or I will.” Jena nudged Courtney with her shoulder. “I hate my grandmother. I’m not going to live with her.”

“I will, too,” Ellie spoke up. “I can’t get into more trouble. They told me I have to get a job after the court case to help pay for the lawyer or sell my car. I’m not going to sell my car!”

Courtney’s shoulders drooped. “I can tell you how we got inside the club, but I can’t tell you who paid us to.”

“This isn’t buy one, get one free. I want both answers,” Wizard snapped.

The last of her confidence vanished. “I can’t tell you because we don’t know.”

CHAPTER 44

TICK-TOCK

“Cut the bullshit.” Raising his wrist, Wizard shoved up the sleeve of his jacket to show his watch. “Tick-tock. The cops should be five minutes away. In case you airheads didn’t notice, this property is in Nelson County, which is a different jurisdiction from the one where someone was bought off to protect your asses over the DUI. We’re in a brand-new ballgame where the police aren’t going to listen to you. I heard the judge here is a hard-ass, so good luck getting any hearings delayed.”

Jena and Ellie started sobbing while Courtney paled.

“This is all your fault, Ellie!” Courtney hissed at her friend. “We wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for you!”

She turned toward Wizard. “I swear we don’t know who set you up. Ellie kept whining that she needed a car. There was a car for sale on our school’s website. She went online to ask if they would come down on the price, and they told her she could have it for free. I told her not to respond.” Courtney shot Ellie a killing look, making her cry harder at her friend turning on her.

“They told her all we had to do was sneak into the club and stay until we were served drinks. After that, we could leave. We wouldn’t have to drink anything, just get the drinks brought to us.” Courtney nodded toward Doom and Burn. “They caught us before we could order any.”

Wizard gauged their expressions. These girls couldn’t be stupid enough to follow an unknown person’s promise of a new car to sneak into a biker club.

“They also promised us ten thousand in cash,” Jena added through tearful sobs. “Each. When they sent the money, we figured it would be safe.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Burn rub his forehead at how crazily the three girls had disregarded their safety. Clearly, they were that naïve.

Gritting his teeth to keep from bluntly telling them just how badly it could have gone if they had sneaked into another biker bar, he had to remind himself how cunningly they had lied to the police, lawyers, and their parents.

“How did you get into the club?”