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Taking a table next to mine, Aspen gives Phoenix a huge smile, and it seems I am invisible. Flicking my eyes to Phoenix, I am surprised he is not looking at Aspen. I nudge him and he grunts but doesn’t look up. Aye-aye, it seems someone has a liking for Phoenix, but it may not be reciprocated.

“So, you are saying it’s possible to put an automated cover on the pit, then when not in use it is not seen because of the grass that could be planted on said cover?” Tracker asks, and again Aspen places her attention back on Pres.

“Yes. If the acid pit is going to be larger, more functional, but remain unseen by prying official eyes, you know, like the police or FBI, then it needs a cover. One that can be locked into place but remain in plain sight but unseen would be the way to go.”

I take my plate to the kitchen and leave it on the pile next to the sink. Then head to my room where I’m going to get some serious shuteye.

Chapter 5

MIRI

Ihave never had to try so hard not to be seen, but I’ve been ducking and dodging for five weeks. Let me start from the beginning. My stepsister, who lives with me in a small two-bedroom house we purchased together after our father left us a small inheritance, disappeared.

At the time of Geri’s disappearance, an MC had come into town. People were scurrying past them and keeping their eyes down, or anywhere but where the MC was. Geri, of course, couldn’t keep her head down to save her own life. She is noisy in the way she laughs, talks, and butts into people’s lives without her needing to. She’s a goody-two-shoes to most, but an idiot in my humble opinion.

One minute Geri was leaving for an afternoon rotation at the restaurant where she waitressed, and the next I have a telephone call asking where she was and why she hadn’t turned in for work.

Now, I am a paralegal for a lawyer's office, and I work alongside two other paralegals. I mainly cover legal research, organize evidence, track documents, and am generally the dogsbody for Mr. Galbreathe. I am on annual leave under the emergency family provision of my contract. If I don’t return to work in ten days, I will be released from my job with a basic severance and a half-hearted reference. I think they are being unfair because they understand my circumstances and the disappearance of Geri..

Whatever happens, I need to know if she was taken, or if she went willingly. Something she said about this MC has left me feeling unsettled. She mentioned one of the men she had known for a while. The comment ‘a while’ has stuck in my mind and has me wondering what the heck she had been doing!

I’ve been sleeping in run-down motels saving money, but they are not the safest of places. I’m pushing furniture in front of the door at night so I can sleep knowing if anyone tries to get in it will stop them or make a terrible noise. Whatever happens, it gives me time to be ready to defend myself.

Eating snack food isn’t ideal, but when moving around most of the time, eating from my car is the best option I have. My car is the one thing I will not part with. It’s the first thing I treated myself to when I started work. I had saved for nearly two years before I could afford it, and I went without a lot of things to save for it without procuring a loan.

I am in Nebraska now, and I’ve been following one particular member of the Iron Fallen MC. He seems to rush around more than anyone else. In fact, most of the others do nothing but raid shops, terrorize people on the street and take cookies from children.

I’m watching him from a distance, not following every time he disappears, but watching close enough to see his jacket says he is called ‘Prospect.’ Odd name, but hey so are many others we hear these days.

I’m sitting in my car next to a diner where I’ve just spent more than I should have on a hot meal. I needed something more than chips and oat bars. Across the road is an abandoned warehouse, and that is where the MC has been for the last week. I have heard Prospect speaking to someone on his cell phone, saying they are heading to Colorado tomorrow.

I'd better fill up with gas and drive toward Colorado. If I can get in front of them rather than behind, I’ll look less suspicious. I hope anyway!

As I pull out of the diner parking lot I look across at the warehouse as men pile out of the building. Aw shit, that’s Geri, and she’s climbing on the back of a bike without a care in the world. I can’t pull over, or it will look like I’m rubbernecking, which I am, but I don’t want them to know that.

“What the eff have you got yourself into, Geri?” I mumble to myself as I drive slowly toward the state line. My mind is racing, and if what I have just seen means she is involved, then I’m going to abandon her and make sure I’m clear of whatever she has gotten herself into.

I’m keeping my eyes closely on the road behind me because I don’t want to find myself surrounded by these bikers. I’m going to head for the freeway and get ahead of them if I can. Then wait just inside Colorado where I know the road they may take will bring them. If I can do that, I’ll not be seen as conspicuous.

Before I hit the freeway, a horde of bikers coming toward me has my stomach flipping. As they pass, I try to see the writing on their jackets, but they are moving fast. I cannot see what it says, but I notice in the rearview that the bikers I’m getting ahead of are turning and hightailing it as fast as possible. They are obviously doing their best to get away from these other bikers. I keep driving forward and do my best not to look at any that pass me.

Crossing the state line, I make my way to the first motel that I come to and pull into the parking lot. I check what balance I have in my account and know I have to be careful how much I spend in case this takes me longer than I hoped. If I can get close enough to grab Geri, and at least have a conversation with her, I’ll know what course of action I have to take.

I grab the weekender from the passenger seat and after locking up the car, make my way inside the motel. Opening the door, I’m surprised to see how clean and well-maintained it is.

The young woman behind the counter gives me a bright smile. “Hello and welcome to Elk Meadow Motel.”

“Thank you. I’m needing a room for tonight. Maybe more, I’m not sure as yet,” I give her a smile as I tell her what I need, but I’m wondering what the heck I’m even doing when it appears Geri was willingly getting on that biker's bike.

“Certainly. Is it a single room you need?”

“Yes, I am by myself.”

“I’ll place you on this floor, so you are close to the reception area. If you need anything dial one on the internal phone line, and we’ll do whatever we can to assist you,” the young woman wearing a badge that says she is Maria again gives me a smile.

“Thank you, Maria.” I fill in the form she gave me and once done I hand her my debit card.

“Room 6, just down the hallway,” Maria points and after giving her another small smile I pick up my weekender and head to the room.