had been an accident involving a young man and that he thought there might be more to it than just a routine traffic incident.â
âThey tried to kill him.â
âWho did?â
She looked at her hands and then started to get up again. âI need to talk to Henry.â
âNo, you need to talk to me. Corbin, a traffic analyst from the Division of Criminal Investigation by the name of Mike Novo, and I are going to be heading up the inquiry as to what happened to your son, but we could use your help.â
She studied me. âI donât even know you.â
âIâm a nice guy.â She didnât seem convinced, so I added, âI grow on people.â
She bobbed a sandal. âLike a fungus?â
I ignored the remark. âSo, how did you and Henry meet?â
She studied me some more and turned to get her bag. âI should go.â
I smiled. âWhere?â
âTo see my son.â
I surprised her and stood. âHow âbout Dog and I go with you?â
⢠⢠â¢
Fortunately, Lola Wojciechowski drove a dilapidated, slightly dented, faded gold â66 Cadillac DeVille, so there was plenty of room for all of us. I shouted across the expanse as Lola careened through the sloping hills of the Devils Tower landscape, the monument peeking down at us every now and again. âI noticed the Arizona plates. You live down there?â
She shouted back after checking the rearview mirror and the reflection of Dog, dead center. âFor quite some time now. My ex has a custom bike shop in MaryvaleâCrossbones Custom.â
âThat would be Mr. Torres?â
She leaned over and, pushing a button in the dash and gesturing toward the yawning glove compartment, handed me the pocketbook containing the .38. âYeah, Delshay.â
I placed the purse in there and carefully closed the compartment. âMotorcycles, Iâm assuming?â
âNo, Huffy and Schwinn. . . . Of course, motorcycles.â
I smiled and looked through the windshield. âEver heard of a motorcycle club by the name of the Tre Tre Nomads?â
She glanced at me. âNo.â
I watched the scenery some more as she put her foot into the Caddy, sending us down a straightaway toward Moorcroft at a good ninety miles an hour, passing motorcycles as we went. âYou know, I know the HPs that prowl this part of Wyoming during the rallies, and they donât have much of a sense of humor this time of year.â
She kept her foot in it a bit longer but then let off.
I placed an arm on the doorsill and adjusted the side mirror so that I could watch behind us. âAnd point of interest: when law enforcement asks you a question, we generally already know the answer.â
She simmered a bit and then pushed a big wave of the black and silver hair from her face. âWhat do you want to know?â
âIs Bodaway a member of the Tre Tre Nomads?â
âI guess.â
I adjusted my sunglasses and stared at her.
âYes. Yes, heâs a member.â
âSo what are the chances that his accident is gang related?â
âEverybody who knows him loves him.â
âThat doesnât answer my question. Does he have any known enemies?â
She gestured as another group of maybe thirty motorcycles passed us, headed for Hulett. âHeâs in a motorcycle gangâeverybody is his enemy, including you.â Driving the big car with one hand, she threaded her fingers through her hair. âYou people . . .â I waited for the rest. âPeople donât understand these clubs; they think you join them to break heads, take drugs, and generally fuck up societyâbut the reason you join is because society fucks with you. Do you know what itâslike out there on the streets? Iâm not talking about Cornhole, Wyoming; Iâm talking about a real city with people in it.â
I sighed. âIâm not completely
Audra Cole, Bella Love-Wins