Page 63 of Wicked Shadows
“A small-engine repair and bike detail shop, with one customer, is interesting to you?” Shadow stood and turned, following his visitor around the room.
“Don’t like anyone behind you?”
“No. Prison will do that to a man if life doesn’t do it first.”
“Where were you?”
“Federal pen. Atlanta.”
“Federal charges, huh? What were you convicted of?”
“Drugs and weapons. Fucking undercover ATF agent.” He tossed his wrench into the toolbox, the loud clanking emphasizing his disgust.
“Something similar happened to a friend of mine. He wasn’t dumb enough to get caught with drugs, though.”
“You want to tell me your name first?” Shadow asked, narrowing his eyes.
“First? Before what?”
“Before I kick your ass and have to notify your next of kin.”
He burst out laughing. “Name’s Spider. Jack’s a friend of a friend, and he suggested I drop by here.”
“Jack’s a good man. Strange I didn’t hear your bike pull up. Did you pedal?”
Spider smiled. His sneer sickened Shadow, but he hid his contempt. “Maybe. Or maybe I cut the engine and coasted in to test your reflexes. Took you a minute to realize I was on top of you.”
It was Shadow’s turn to flash his smug grin. “The hell you say. You cut the engine a block and a half back, just when you passed the fire hydrant. If the car in front of you had turned, you would’ve lost your element of surprise completely.”
“I’m impressed. And I’m not impressed easily. You’re Shadow, right?”
“That’s right. Something I can do for you, Spider? Or did you just drop by for tea?”
“After Jack told me about you, I did some checking up on you. Seems you already have a lucrative business starting, and not only with your one customer.” Spider inclined his head toward the work Shadow had done on the bike. “Some of the items you’ve acquired could be good for my club. But it would be bad for you if they find out about your extracurricular activities. It could be seen as an act of war against us.”
“Interesting perspective, since I’m not part of any club. You don’t see any colors on my back. I’m just doing some minor work on motorcycles for avid riders, restoring classics for rich collectors. What business are you referring to?”
Spider nodded slowly, mentally sizing Shadow up. With a couple of steps, he sauntered up to Shadow, reached into his vest pocket, and pulled out a business card. “Come by here tomorrow night at eight. I want you to meet the officers of the club, maybe become a pledge if they like you.”
“You trying to move in on my turf, Spider?” Nick asked from the doorway.
“Renegade. What are you doing here?”
“Shadow is a friend of mine. I’ve already arranged a meeting with the prez and VP,” Nick replied.
“Strange it’s not on my radar since I keep the calendars for both of them.”
Nick held up his cell phone and shook it from side to side. “Just hung up with Headbanger. You should get a call any minute now.”
Just as Nick finished speaking, Spider’s phone began ringing. When he walked off to take the call, Nick and Shadow exchanged knowing glances. Word on the street spread fast when the information was given to the right people.
Spider rejoined them, his suspicious gaze cutting back and forth between Nick and Shadow. “Good thing we all agree how Shadow could be an asset to the club. Of course, that just makes Bonebreaker even more suspicious than he normally is.”
“Should make for an interesting meeting, then,” Shadow retorted.
The clubhouse was a two-story cinder block building with no windows, painted completely black, sitting on the corner of the block. The long string of buildings attached also belonged to the club and were used for storefront businesses. The long corridor that attached to the clubhouse at the back provided a quick getaway when rival clubs took cheap shots, or when the federal agents arrived for a raid.
Nick and Shadow arrived early, before the rest of the officers returned. Nick showed him around, being careful with his words since the paranoia had escalated and he never knew when extra eyes and ears were around. Headbanger made the food and drink run while he was already out on official club business. Nights when the entire club was required to attend church, their club meeting, the probies and pledges carried all the food and beer in. But they weren’t allowed in the officers’ area unless specifically called, so Nick and Shadow watched for Headbanger to arrive so they could assist.
