Page 41 of Motown
“Let me check.”Sasha proceeds to make calls to see where Ruth might be.Her frown says that something is amiss.“No one’s seen her.”
“Oh God!”I gasp.I rush outside and look down the street.The lights of the bar are on and lots of people are going in and out.It could be that she’s behind the bar, as always, serving customers, but my gut says otherwise.As I make a beeline for Ruth’s place, Tacitus takes hold of my upper arm.
“Hold up.Where do you think you’re going?”
“Ruth’s not here.She’s not anywhere.I’ve got to go check on her,” I say, trying to get out of his grip.
“You can’t go running over there without backup,” Tacitus insists, refusing to let go.“Joe,” he calls out to one of the younger guys.“Come along with me.We’re checking on Ruth.”
“Sure thing,” Joe replies.Joe’s the second-generation owner of the sports equipment and athletic wear store.He’s a big guy and played major league baseball for a couple of years until he blew out his knee.You’d think he’d be bitter about it, but instead, he settled into life back in his hometown, married his high school sweetheart, and will soon be a father.
We walk down the street, Tacitus staying close.When we go inside, the place is buzzing with patrons.The bar is lined with people.Servers are busy taking orders, and the bartender is too busy mixing drinks to even notice us.
Tacitus walks up to the bartender and gets his attention.“Where’s Ruth?”he asks.
The bartender scans the room, shrugs, and replies, “She must be in the back.I haven’t seen her in a while.”
Tacitus goes through to the office in the back, with Joe and me following.
“Make the call, bitch, or I’ll kill you right now,” a deep, angry voice shouts.
“Fuck you!”That’s Ruth.“Go ahead, pull the trigger, you piece of shit.It’ll be the last thing you do because my boys, my Riders, will hunt you down like the dog you are and skin you alive.”
I let out an audible gasp and attempt to rush in to save Ruth, but Tacitus claps a hand over my mouth and pulls me back behind him.He puts his fingers over his lips, telling me to be quiet.Then he shoves me back into the bar.
“Stay here with Joe.Count to ten, then call Ruth on her cell.You just keep her talking.I’ll do the rest.”Tacitus turns to Joe.“You keep her out of the way.No matter what happens, keep her safe.Got me?”
“Yes, sir,” Joe answers.
“Ten seconds,” Tacitus reminds me, then walks in the direction we came from.
I’m holding my breath, then Joe starts counting for me.“One.Two…”
“Three, Four.”I count to ten, then dial Ruth.It takes three rings before she picks up.But it’s not her that picks up; it’s a man.
“Ruth is occupied.If you’d like to keep her breathing, I suggest you make your way over to the bar without letting anyone know and come straight into the back office,” the ominous voice says.
“Who are you?”
“You’ll find out when you get here, and I’d hurry if I were you.The longer it takes, the more I take it out on your friend.”
“I want to know she’s okay.I’m not making a move until I hear her voice.I want to talk with her.”I keep talking just like Tacitus asked, hoping I’m stalling enough.Then I hear a crash.I want to run down the hall, but Joe stops me.
“Kick his ass, Tac!”Ruth shouts.
Seconds seem like hours, then we hear, “It’s safe!”from Tacitus.We race into the room to see a man with long, stringy hair, a horrible handlebar mustache, and piercing black eyes pinned to the floor, with Tacitus holding the man’s arm bent behind him and his knee digging into the man’s back.“Call Motown,” Tacitus orders.
I dial and, at the same time, go to Ruth to hug her tight.“Are you okay?”I whisper.
“Yeah, girl,” she responds, but I don’t believe her because she’s shaking all over.
“Babe, we got him,” Motown exclaims through the receiver.
“Honey, um…we…uh…”
“What’s wrong?”Motown’s tone becomes dangerously calm.
“One of Bronson’s guys got to Ruth.Tacticus has him pinned, but he wants you to come to the bar,” I spit out, sensing the urgency coming from Motown.
