If you haven’t read previous chapters, I have a category listing on the side with the title 2015 April A-Z challenge. You can find all the chapters there. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Trouble at the Hilton

 

I pull up into the Hilton parking lot. I watch as Fedora pulls in next to me. A lot of talcum powder blew off Tee and I as we rode the Harley, but I could still see traces of it on my clothing.

Billy, Angela, and Fedora step out of the SUV and surround me. Time to figure out the next steps.

“Angela, you come with me to my room. I don’t want you on your own till we figure things out.” I tell her as I see she looks a bit pale still.

“What’s next, Dee?” Billy asks with his usual bright smile.

“Don’t you have to work, Billy?” I ask him as I take in his eyes glimmering with excitement.

“Nope. Lucky you! Today is my day off.” Billy gives me his trademark wink. Fedora is silent as he stands watching me. Time for me to up the game I think.

“Billy, you go with Fedora to his room. Give Angela and me about an hour to clean up and order breakfast. I think she could do with some food in her. Then come to my room and we’ll figure out what to do next. We need to work fast, as I don’t know if those goons will manage to get out of the hole faster than I want them to.”

Fedora frowns. I knew he wouldn’t want Billy to tag along. He’s useful and as long as I curb his enthusiasm, he does what I ask of him without arguing, unlike Fedora.

“I’ll have to go up a different way, Dee. The dragon is on duty this morning. We employees are not supposed to fraternize with the guests, even off the clock, but I’ll be there.” Billy assures me.

“Do we need him, Dee?” Fedora asks as we watch Billy give a quick wave and disappear behind the back of the hotel.

“He knows the town and the people. Yeah, we need him.” I start to walk to the entrance of the hotel with Angela. Fedora follows behind.

Angela is too quiet.  I’m worried about her. She looks too pale and her eyes are tinged with fatigue. She hasn’t said more than a dozen words since we rescued her.

We walk through the front doors of the Hilton and Mr. Haughty is in his usual place behind the front counter. That must be Billy’s dragon. Fits.

He watches us come in with a frown. “Miss Watson! May I have a quick word with you, please?”

The three of us change direction and walk to where Mr. Haughty is waiting. He looks us up and down and has a look on his face as if we smell. Well, maybe we do, a bit. Goon busting is hard work.

I smile my best smile and wait for him to speak.

“How long will you be staying with us, Miss Watson?” He asks with that same look on his face. I see by the discrete name tag on his jacket that he is actually Mr. Ellsworth and not Mr. Haughty.

“I don’t know for sure. Is there a problem?” I ask politely.

“I’m just wondering if you might be more comfortable in a different hotel, Miss Watson. Say the Ashville Motel, maybe?”

I remember seeing that particular motel as I was entering Ashville, a seedy looking flop house. Probably full of bed bugs and hookers. I let my smile slip away. After all I have been through the last forty-eight hours or so, I am not happy with Mr. Ellsworth-Haughty’s attitude.

Before I can open my mouth to let Mr. Haughty have my temper full blast, Fedora steps around me.

“Hello, Mr. Ellsworth is it?”

“Yes. You are with Ms. Watson are you not?” Mr. Ellsworth does not look impressed. I keep my mouth shut. I’m curious what Fedora will do.

Fedora hands Mr. Haughty his business card. Do all rich people carry those things? I have business cards too but keep forgetting to carry any with me. Mr. Ellsworth barely glances at the card.

“Is there some reason why you think Ms. Watson wouldn’t enjoy staying at your fine hotel?” Fedora asks in a friendly tone.

“Well, for one thing I’m sure a private investigator can hardly afford it,” he sneers. I’m surprised he knows what I do for a living. Mr. Haughty notices my look.

“Yes, I know what you do Ms. Watson. I Googled you.” He looks quite proud of the fact.

“Well, since you are so up to date on the latest internet techniques, why don’t you Google me also.” Fedora looks down his nose at Mr. Haughty. I know that look well, as he gave it to me when we first met. I watch Mr. Haughty to see how he takes it.

“Go on Ellsworth, we’ll wait.” Fedora says in an ice-cold tone.

Mr. Haughty hesitates then does a few things on his computer under the desk. I can actually see his face pale as he reads what I am sure is a nice biography of Fedora and his rich family.

“I’m sorry Mr. Williams. Please accept my deepest apologies for any errors I might have made.” Mr. Haughty seems to have lost a lot of his attitude in seconds. “You have to understand my position, sir when I see Ms. Watson come into our respectable hotel two days in a row looking, well looking as she does. You have to understand how I could come to the conclusions I did, sir.”

I almost laugh at his kiss ass attitude. I don’t like Mr. Haughty, but can’t say I blame him for thinking I belong in a hooker hotel. I haven’t been my usual self lately.

“Maybe this will teach you not to judge people so quickly Ellsworth. Ms. Watson is a special friend of mine. You’ll treat her with the respect that she deserves.” Fedora tells that man in a quiet controlled voice. I suddenly realize this is a different side to Fedora than I usually see. The true rich business man that makes hard decisions that affect thousands of people a day. Maybe I need to give him the benefit of the doubt more often.

Fedora turns away from Ellsworth and looks at me and smiles. Then he winks. I turn and guide Angela, who has been too quiet through all this, to the bank of elevators. We enter the empty one and I push the button to the fourth floor.

Fedora looks over Angela’s head at me and says, “How did I do Watson? What an ass that Ellsworth fellow is!”

As the elevator opens we step out into the hallway. “You thought almost the same things about me when you first met me, Fedora. So what does that make you then?” I smile sweetly at him as I unlock my door.

He laughs as he walks to his door and unlocks it. “Makes me an ass too, but a rich one!”

I usher Angela into my room and close the door. The man makes me laugh when he isn’t making me angry. I shake my head and turn to say something to Angela just in time to watch her eyes roll to the back of her head as she slowly crumples to the deeply carpeted floor.

Ah, crap.

 

 

 

I always enjoy comments and/or constructive criticism. Or, you could just say hi! Thanks!

 

 

If you haven’t read previous chapters, I have a category listing on the side with the title 2015 April A-Z challenge. You can find all the chapters there. Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

Sweet Revenge

 

“Dee! Oh, god, Dee!”

Angela comes running out of the bushes right toward me. I catch her before she has a chance to tumble me backwards right into the hole.

“Whoa, Angela! You ok? Did they hurt you?” I hold her at arm’s length and take a good look at her. Her blonde hair was a mess, her makeup was smeared around her eyes from her crying and she looked a bit pale.

“Dee! I thought you were dead! I really did! Those guys tore up Tony’s house looking for that damn deed, but they never found it. When they realized I really didn’t know where it was they were going to kill me!”

“It’s alright now, Angela. You’re safe and I’m a hard person to kill.” I tell Angela as Billy and Fedora walk up to us. We could still hear the men in the hole swearing.

Billy walks toward the hole to peer down and I grab his arm. “I wouldn’t do that kid, they still might have a few bullets left.”

“We just going to leave them down there?” Fedora asks.

“For now we are.” I guide Angela and Billy toward the cars. Time for us to leave this place. The sun was starting to come up and I wanted to shower the talcum powder off me. I reach into the sedan and grab their keys. No sense making it too easy for them. I’ll toss them somewhere down the road.

“You can’t be serious, Dee. You can’t leave those guys down there to die.” Fedora frowns at me.

“Why not? That’s what they did to me. Besides, there is a way out, they just have to find it.” I shrug my shoulders.

I pick up Tee and set him in his satchel. I look at Fedora who is still frowning at me. Really, what does the man want from me?

“Ok, I will call the proper authorities and let them know they are down there. Just not yet. I want us well clear of this place.”

“I would let them rot down there!” Angela says as she climbs into the SUV. “They would have killed me and Dee if they could have!”

“When will you call them, Dee?” Fedora is eyeing me with his hands on his hips.

“Tomorrow morning.” I tell him as I turn to retrieve my Harley from behind the shed.

“Dee!” I hear Fedora’s voice behind me.

I turn around and notice Billy has got a huge smile on his face, I swear that boy thinks everything is funny.

“Look, Fedora. I said I would call the cops tomorrow. That’s the best I’m going to do! They won’t die in twenty-four hours. They might even find a way out before then. Plus, that gives us twenty-four hours to find that deed and to find out who they are taking orders from.”

I notice Fedora has a thoughtful look on his face. Then he smiles. “You got some good points, Dee. Let’s get out of here. Like you said, they won’t die in a day. Maybe they will even think about mending their evil ways.”

Billy and I laugh. Even Angela has a small smile. It might be petty of me to get revenge this way, but damn, it feels good. Besides, I said I would get them some help…….tomorrow.

 

 

 

I always enjoy comments and/or constructive criticism. Or, you could just say hi! Thanks

 

 

If you haven’t read previous chapters, I have a category listing on the side with the title 2015 April A-Z challenge. You can find all the chapters there. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Raising Hell

 

I peek around the corner of the shed and see headlights. I watch as they park next to the SUV. So far so good. The headlights go out and I hear the car doors being opened.

Then a familiar voice reaches me. “Come on, hurry up, let’s get this done.” The thug who left me in the hole to rot. I smile. I actually find myself looking forward to what’s going to happen.

It’s barely daylight so all I see is their shadows, but it’s enough to see Billy’s friend was right. Three big guys with a smaller shadow between them. Must be Angela. The hole that I fell through is just off to my right. I see one has a flashlight.

I pick up Tee and whisper in his ear. It’s a trick we’ve been working on since I got him. I tell him “Howl Tee!”

He looks up and me and perks his ears. I tell him again. “Howl Tee!” He looks up to the sky and lets loose with his howl.

“Aaaaaooooouuuuuu!”

“What the hell is that!” I hear some guy shout.

“Don’t be such a baby, Dom. It’s just some wild dog or coyote.” I hear the main thugs voice.

“Aaaaaoooooouuuuuu!”

Tee goes again and I try not to laugh. For a little dog, he has a pretty big howl. I move further away from the shed into some bushes I had scouted out earlier.

The group of guys with Angela moves closer to the hole. The guy with the flashlight is shining the light like he wasn’t sure where the hole is. Good. I was counting on them not knowing the area that well.

I know Fedora is close to the cars. I get Tee to howl once more.

“Aaaaaooouuuuuuuuu!”

Then I move again to another bush. That third howl is also a signal to Fedora.

“That sounds close, boss! I’m not liking it.” I hear the first man say. Then I see the headlights come on. I was hoping they would leave their keys in the car for Fedora.

“What the hell! Who turned on the headlights?” Someone yells, as they all spin around.

“Gary! Go check it out!” I see one of the guys take out his gun and head for the vehicles. Fedora should be in his second position by now.

A minute later the headlights go out. “Nobody here, boss!”

As I watch them turn back towards the hole, I put Tee down and whisper, “Go find Fedora, Tee! Go!”

Tee goes running across the opening and heads towards some overgrown rose bushes. Just before the bad guys showed up I had taken some talcum powder that had been in my hotel room and covered Tee with it. In the early dawns light, he looks like a ghost dog.

“Look! It’s a damn ghost! What the hell!” I hear the guy named Dom yell. “Boss, don’t that look like that ladies dog? That private eyes dog?”

“Don’t be stupid, man! That dog is dead along with that nosy private detective!”

I watch as Tee races across the opening again toward me. It’s good to have a smart dog that listens. I grab him up as he jumps into my arms and move a little further down the bushes. Thank god for overgrown rose bushes.

“That sure in hell ain’t no coyote! That’s a damn ghost dog!” Dom yells again.

“Shut up, Dom!” I smile as I hear the boss’s voice, he doesn’t sound quite so sure of himself.

That’s my cue. I poured the talcum powder over myself too. Billy thought it was funny, Fedora complained that I was going to get shot. I figure in the low light and with everything happening fast, they wouldn’t get that good a look at me.

I walk out of the bushes. The men are still arguing over the ‘ghost dog’. I motion for Tee to stay. “Come to visit my grave boys?”

Heads whip around toward me. The man with the gun I was happy to notice looked too shocked to use it.

“Shit!”

“What the hell?”

I slip back into the bushes, grab Tee and run as quietly as I can back behind the shed. Tee and I step out, “It pisses me off I’m dead. That wasn’t a nice thing you did.”

Heads turn towards me again. I notice the guys are closer to the hole. Now if I can get them even closer. I step back behind the shed as I hear the boss shout. “Go after her!”

Dom yells, “You go after her! I ain’t running after no damn ghost!”

I move towards the house. The shadows are darkest there. I step into the early light. “Maybe you should join me in that dark, dank hole.”

Three guys swivel towards me again. I take a few steps closer and watch with satisfaction as they move back.

“How about it, boys? Want to join me?”

The man called Dom starts walking backward. The boss thug is reaching into his jacket, so I step quickly back and to the left. I really don’t want to get shot. I hear a noise behind the men. That would be Fedora throwing rocks. They turn like they are in a choreographed dance routine. I see they all have guns out by now. Time to make the final move.

“I would like company. It gets lonely when you’re dead.” I say in my best menacing voice.

I hear a swoosh sound and watch as a ghostly sheet whips past the men. Thanks to a sheet I borrowed from the house and a few pieces of rope I found in a shed, we made a ghost figure to swing from one tree to the other. Good thing Billy is good at climbing trees. That took us the longest to set up, but from watching the effect it was having, it was worth it.

It was chaos. I hear Dom scream. They all scramble back. I watch as in all the confusion Billy sneaks in and grabs Angela and pulls her towards the shadows.

I run towards them and as they are grouped close together it was easy to shove them as a whole backward. Just like dominoes tumbling in a row, the three men tumble into the hole. I hear grunts and swearing and shouts. I stand well back of the hole as bullets come flying out. Harmless to me, but I didn’t want to take any chances.

I’m actually hoping they run out of bullets. They have yet to meet the giant rat.

 

 

 

I always enjoy comments and/or constructive criticism. Or, you could just say hi! Thanks!

 

 

If you haven’t read previous chapters, I have a category listing on the side with the title 2015 April A-Z challenge. You can find all the chapters there. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Questions that Need Answers

 

Tee and I are sitting behind the shed waiting. My mind goes over my plans. So many things could go wrong. I can’t linger on the doubts. Plans can always go wrong. If they do, I’ll improvise.

I hear some rustling in the bushes behind me and spin around. Yeah, I’m a bit jumpy. Billy comes strolling out with his ever ready smile in place.

“I just got a call from my friend David. They got Angela. He said he saw her, so she’s still alive. David said they got in a silver sedan and are heading out.”

“How many men with her?” I ask Billy.

“He only saw three. After all how many men does it take to kill one woman?” He asks in a nonchalant way.

“Daylight is still a ways off, so they are moving her early. It’s good we got here when we did.” It will still be dark when they get here, just barely dawn.

“You get back to your spot. It will take them about forty minutes to get here. Not much traffic this time of day. I’ll go inform Fedora. You know what to do right?” I ask the kid. I’m sure he’ll be fine, but I want to make sure.

“I know what to do, Dee. You can count on me.” Billy winks at me then disappears into the bushes once more. I hope he’s right.

I walk over to where Fedora is crouched behind some trees close to the SUV. “They are on their way. Should be here in about forty minutes. It actually works in our favor as it will still be dark when they get here.”

I love it when things start to work the way I want them too. The men moving Angela early is a good sign. The dark will help us more than the light.

“I hope you know what you are doing Dee. I’m still not sure it will work.”

“It will work. It has to. We won’t get a second chance.” I tell him.

I go back behind the shed. All we can do is wait now. If it’s only the three men with Angela, that evens things out more. The guns have me a bit worried, but I’m betting on them not having them out till they are ready to use them on Angela. The main thing is to get Angela away from them. That’s Billy’s job.

As we wait, my mind goes over the last forty-eight hours. It seems like my life has been on fast forward since Angela’s call for help. There were still so many questions to be answered.

Why did Tony get killed? Was it really over someone believing there was gold bullion buried somewhere on this property? Why hide the deed if that wasn’t the case? Where was the damn deed anyway? Obviously not at Tony’s since the goons didn’t find it. If not there, where? Why wouldn’t Tony tell Angela where it was?

My mind was spinning with all the unanswered questions. I need to clear my head before they show up. I take a few deep breaths and do some relaxing techniques my professor of Brazilian Jujitsu taught me. One question lingered as I felt my body relax.

Who gave these guys their orders?

I hear tires on gravel and open my eyes. I look down at Tee and give him a pet. “Showtime little buddy.”

He looks up at me and I swear Tee is smiling.

 

 

 

I always enjoy comments and/or constructive criticism. Or, you could just say hi! Thanks!

 

 

If you haven’t read previous chapters, I have a category listing on the side with the title 2015 April A-Z challenge. You can find all the chapters there. Thanks for reading!

 

 

Putting Plans in Motion

 

We arrive at the Wenner Estate under a full moon. I’m grateful for that, gives us lots of light to work by. I don’t want flashlights shining or anything that will draw attention to us. I stop in front of the house with the SUV right behind me.

I walk back to the vehicle and Fedora rolls down the window. “Park over there, that’s where it was before. I want everything to look as much like it was when they were here so they don’t suspect anything.” I point out where I want Fedora to move to.

Billy gets out of the SUV and stands next to me while Fedora parks it. I look around. Doesn’t look like anyone has been here since I was here this morning. Was it only this morning? A little shudder goes through my body at the thought of digging out of the hole. I shake it off.

“I’m going to hide my motorcycle behind that shed over there.” I point to the shed next to the house. “Once we have things in place, it’s just a matter of waiting for them to show up.”

“What’s the plan Dee? We can’t just surprise them and then fight it out.” Fedora asks while he looks around the place.

“If my plans work out right, we won’t have to fight them at all.” I tell him. “First, don’t move around without watching where you are going. There are holes dug all over this place. So be careful.”

“I’ll show you where the hole is that I fell through and where they will take Angela. That is the place where we need to set everything up. If we pull this off, Angela will be safe and the bad guys will be in the hole instead.”

“They will still have guns, Dee and we won’t.” Fedora states.

“We don’t need guns, Fedora. The guns won’t do them much good down there.” I tell him. Unless they run into a giant rat. I smile at the thought.

Billy joins the conversation. “I just talked to David, my friend that is watching Tony’s place. They are still there. Not doing much from what he says.”

“They are just waiting for daylight. Once it starts to get light they will make their move.” I tell him. They are smart enough not to want to walk around this place in the dark. Or they have orders from the boss to wait till then.

“It might take us a while to set things up, so let’s get going,” I tell the guys. “Here’s what I want to do.”

I tell them my plans and what I want done. Billy is grinning and Fedora is frowning. Of course Fedora doesn’t like my plans. He never does.

“You sure, Dee? Wouldn’t it be easier just to get the drop on them when they get here?” Fedora asks.

I look at him and hold my hand out. “Give it to me Fedora. You know I hate guns. They aren’t necessary if you use your brain.” I wiggle my fingers. “I know you have one, just give it to me now before someone gets hurt.”

He just stares at me. “How did you know I have a gun? It’s my gun, Dee. I don’t need your permission to carry it.” Fedora gets a stubborn look on his face.

“Dammit Fedora. You almost got me killed the last time you brought that thing to a fight. We don’t need it!”

“I’ll keep it on me just the same, Dee.”

“Suit yourself. But, if you end up shooting your foot off during all the excitement, don’t come whining to me.”

“I don’t whine!” Fedora has an indignant look on his face.

I laugh. “Yes you do! Rich men have that tendency to whine!” I shoot back at him.

“Guys! Don’t we have things to do?” I hear Billy’s voice overriding mine and Fedora’s. Damn the man makes me lose my temper faster than anyone I know, except my brother Mac.

“You’re right Billy, we do have things to do.” I ignore Fedora and tell Billy how I want things set up. Time is slipping by, I don’t have time to babysit Fedora. I turn to him next and explain what I want him to do once the guys show up.

“I’m not sure I like your plans, Dee. You are setting yourself up to be a target!”

“I won’t be in their sights for more than a few seconds. It’ll work if you do your part.” I am not going to argue with the man further. We don’t have time. I look up at the skies and notice that it’s starting to get cloudy. So much for our full moon.

“Come on guys, the clouds are coming in and we don’t have much time to set things up by the moon’s light. We need to stop arguing and start working together if we want this to work.”

Billy heads off behind the house to do his part. I look over at Fedora. “OK, I’m in and I’ll do my part when the time is right. I just hope you don’t get shot.” Fedora heads off towards the bushes next to the SUV.

I turn to my bike and start it up to move it behind the shed. I have a few things to do so Tee and I will be ready for our starring roles in this.  A calmness settles over me. I take a deep breath.

Time to put my plans in motion.

 

 

 

I always enjoy comments and/or constructive criticism. Or, you could just say hi! Thanks!

 

 

If you haven’t read previous chapters, I have a category listing on the side with the title 2015 April A-Z challenge. You can find all the chapters there. Thanks for reading!

Offers of Help

We can’t go to Tony’s and just bust in, that would just get Angela and probably us, killed. I’m thinking fast as the three of us walk to the Hilton. The best place to surprise them is at the Wenner place. They think I’m dead or close enough to it, so they won’t expect me to be out of the hole and waiting for them. Plus, less chance of innocent bystanders getting hurt. It will be just them and us.

“Billy, you go back to Tony’s and keep an eye out on them. Call me on my cell when they leave or if you see Angela.” I tell Billy my phone number and he programs it into his cell.

“Don’t do anything but watch.” Billy starts to protest and I shut him off. “These are dangerous guys, Billy. I don’t want you hurt. If you can’t follow my directions, say so now and you can go home.” I give Billy my sternest stare. I can’t have his death on my conscience.

“I’ll follow your instructions.” Billy gives me a thumb up and takes off back to Tony’s.

I turn to Fedora. “I need your help, Holden. You don’t have to, as it could be dangerous.”

“Why not just call the cops and tell them what’s going on, Dee? That’s what they are trained for, that’s their job.”

“We don’t have time for the cops. The tons of paperwork. The millions of questions. Plus, they probably wouldn’t do anything as I have no proof.”

“You got proof. You got yourself! Look at you! You’re bruised and your hands are torn up!”

“That’s not proof of anything. You know that. If you won’t help, then stay out of my way. I have things to do.” I have to admit to myself, I’m disappointed in Holden. Going to the cops will take time, too much time. Time that Angela doesn’t have.

“I never said I wouldn’t help. What do you need from me?”

“I need you to drive Angela’s SUV to the Wenner Estate. I want everything to look like it was before I escaped. I don’t want these guys to know I’m alive. Not yet anyway.”

Fedora follows me into the elevator. I push the button to the fourth floor. A wave of relief surprises me when Fedora agrees to help. I’ll have to examine that later, as I don’t have time for it now.

“Where is your room?” I ask Fedora.

“Next door to yours.” He says as he walks by me to the door next to mine.

“Meet me here in ten minutes. Then we’ll head to the Wenner place.” I tell him as I shove my door open and walk inside.

My head is full of ideas as I gather Tee’s satchel and put a few things from my Harley’s saddlebags in the outside pockets. I add a couple of bottles of water too. I’m confident I can get the drop on these guys that are holding Angela. They won’t be expecting me to show up. That will work in my favor.

A few minutes later I hear a short knock on my door and I open it to Fedora. He gets extra points for being on time. I notice he took the time to change out of the suit he had on earlier to jeans and t-shirt. The man looks good in anything. I also notice he has no fedora on, I almost miss it. I’m ready to go. I grab the satchel and put Tee inside.

Fedora cocks one eyebrow at us. “Don’t you think it would be better if the dog stayed here?”

“Nope. He’s going to help.” I state as I close my door and start to walk down the hallway.

“Help? How’s he going to help?” Fedora asks as he punches the button for the lobby floor.

“You’ll see.”

We reach the lobby where Mr. Haughty is at his post behind the check-in counter. He looks over at us and frowns. I don’t think I’m one of his favorite people.  I’m heart-broken.

Fedora and I reach the parking lot where I left Angela’s SUV. I reach in my jeans pocket for the keys when I hear my name being called for the second time that night.

Billy. What the hell is he doing here again? Something happen?

“What’s wrong?” I ask him as he runs up to me.

The young man smiles. “I’m going with you guys! You might need my help.”

“You are supposed to be keeping an eye on those guys! Get your ass back there or go home!” I have no time for foolish young men who think this is some kind of video game.

“Dee! Please! I can help! I have my best friend watching them. He’ll call me when they leave or if something else happens. You can trust him.”

“You involved someone else? What if he gets caught? What if he gets hurt?” I’m angry at the kid, I thought he knew better than this.

“I explained everything that was going on. Plus, he was with me earlier while I was watching them. He’s cool. He won’t get caught. I promise!” Billy has a pleading look in his eyes. “Let me come with and help, Dee. I know you have something planned for these guys.”

I look at Billy. He’s eager to help. I know the kid is smart and apparently resourceful. I make a decision. I hope I don’t regret it.

I give Angela’s keys to Fedora.

“Take Billy with you and follow me. We’ll need some time to set things up at the Wenner place. Let’s get moving.”

Billy lets out a whoop and punches the air above his head with his fist. Fedora frowns. I cut him off before he can even open his mouth.

“Billy can help. With what I want to do the chances of his getting hurt are minimal.” I turn around and walk toward my bike. “I’ll take Tee and the bike, you guys follow me. Let’s get going.”

I put my helmet on and ignore Fedora’s mutterings. I just hope I’m right and no one gets hurt except the bad guys. I’m pretty confident my plans will work.

I swing my leg over the Harley and settle in. I put Tee’s goggles on him and snap him in his satchel. I head out towards the Wenner Estate. Time to teach these thugs a lesson in humility.

I always enjoy comments and/or constructive criticism. Or, you could just say hi! Thanks!