Chapter 19 Eerie Feeling
Chapter 19 Eerie Feeling
The barn was in better shape than most of the other structures on the property. Originally built to house horses, most of the stalls had been ripped down, leaving plenty of space for Bogen and his clan's motorcycles.
Dane arrived last. Frankie tossed him a beer and made room at one of the dilapidated picnic tables. Preferring to stand, Dane downed half the beer and leaned against the fender of Bogen's brand-new pickup. All the cars and motorcycles the gang owned were legally owned and registered. Another one of the rules. No one drove hot vehicles.
Dane scanned the small crowd. Fourteen handpicked men, not counting himself. Snake, Duke, and Eddie were part of Bogen's original gang. They had started twelve years ago in Southern California, dealing in stolen property. Since then, they've tried their hand at almost every other crime. Drugs proved the most lucrative, and they had built up a profitable trade between Mexico and Los Angeles.
Then Bogen hooked up with Sanchez's organization. The Big Boys. The South American Source. Bogen's operation rapidly increased to include the entire West Coast. About nine months ago, when the heat got too hot in California, Bogen packed up and moved operations to a deserted corner of Montana, where he was preparing to expand into another profitable joint venture with the South American cartel: white slavery.
Dane had been with the gang for eighteen months. Bogen himself had recruited him after a fight in a sleazy Sacramento bar where Dane inadvertently saved Bogen's life. A knife meant for Bogen's heart had deflected neatly off Dane's rib cage. It had taken over sixty stitches to close the gash, but it had earned something beyond measure: Bogen's trust.
For the first few months after joining, Dane handled petty stuff: stolen cars and truckloads of stolen cigarettes. Bogen immediately recognized Dane's shrewd ability to turn a higher profit, and he quickly moved up the ranks.
At that moment, Bogen stood, clearing his throat. The barn grew quiet.
"Everyone knows the people we work for have been nervous the past several months. They've had a few close calls."
"They've always been nervous," Duke shouted. "Afraid we'll take over."
Bogen waited until most of the laughter subsided. "The bottom line is, we've got orders to shut down temporarily. Normally I wou;dn't comply, but this time my gut tells me to listen. And everyone here knows I've got pretty good instincts."
The decision to comply with Sanchez's order surprised Dane. It wasn't like Bogen to back down in a situation like this. Dane had expected a confrontation between Sanchez and Bogen--- a token act of defiance if nothing else. But to roll over and play dead? Why the sudden change of heart? Several of the men grumbled, urging Bogen to reconsider.
Dane noticed that Snake remained uncharacteristically quiet. That was odd, too. Snake never kept his opinions to himself. Dan'es senses went on high alert. What was going on? Something had happened between the time Bogen and Dane had discussed Sanchez last night and now. The question was what?
He thought back to his suspicions that Tessa was hiding something. Either he was growing paranoid, or everyone else knew something that he didn't. And if not everyone, then certainly Bogen, Snake and Tessa.
"I suggest you all stick close to camp for the next week or so, until this blows over. I'm sending Hayes and Eddie to stock up on supplies. If anyone needs something, check them."
Bogen looked briefly at Dane, then continued. "Everyone's curious to see Hayes's new acquisition. Too bad. He's not sharing." With Bogen's word, it was official. Tessa was his.
Several men hooted lewd encouragements, which Dane ignored. Snake dropped his beer and strode off. But not before shooting Dane a venomous look. The exchange left Dane feeling uneasy. Snake would cause trouble the first chance he got. Dane needed to get Tessa out of the way, as soon as possible, but without casting suspicion on himself.
The problem was, how.