Up In Flames

Chapter 38

"Hey, is Benny around?" Rory slipped into the SAMTAZ clubhouse, she didn't need to try to look anxious to seem scared she truly was already.

A few of the members looked at her suspiciously but directed her toward the back. Rory knocked on the door to the tiny office and he blindly called for her to come in. Benny smiled when his eyes fell on her. "What can I do for you?"

Rory pointed to the chair diagonal him and he nodded as she sat ."I was kinda scared to go back but I wanted to uhh, make a purchase."

"A purchase? I'm not sure I know what you're talking about."

Shifting nervously, Rory looked around the room. "Come on man, you don't remember the other day?"

Annoyed, he dropped what he was doing and leaned over the desk. "Why don't you come out and say it?"

"I need some coke." It sounded so insane to hear the words from her lips. "Please?"

"I'm not a drug dealer, Rory." He grinned and pulled an eight ball from the desk drawer. "But if you want to have some fun, go ahead."

"Nah man, I can't even do it now. I was saving it for later."

"Saving it for the next time you went to visit Evelyn? You know she's a little addict, right? Used to get high and slut around here. Reggie cleaned her up that's why she stuck with him. Can't trust her."

"I just went to her for relationship advice." Rory stuttered. "Hap's been an asshole and I wasn't sure how to handle it."

"You ditch the fucker." He said tapping out some lines. "You have a few guys here looking at you. Take your pick."

Rory stood and shook her head. "Nah. I'm good. Forget it." She felt suddenly dizzy and gripped the back of the chair.

"You okay?" His act was gone and Benny sounded legitimately concerned but it was probably only because they were alone and Happy would immediately blame him.

"Yeah." Screwing her eyes shut, Rory took a deep breath and left the back office. "That was a fucking waste." She mumbled suddenly more aware of the eyes on her as she headed out into the parking lot. With every step she grew weaker and her head began to spin. That was it, everything went black and Rory passed out, hitting the gravel hard.

--

"What's going on, Reggie?" Tig greeted Reggie warmly, hoping to ease his obvious nervousness. "Miss you in SAMTAZ."

"I'm good." He flashed his blacked out ink. "I don't want any shit. I already know your old lady was poking around." He gestured toward Happy.

"You know why?"

"She said she was trying to get you in line."

Tig and Happy began to laugh. "No one gets Hap in line." Tig said.

"Rory was just trying to figure out what has Evelyn so spooked and we were trying to figure out why after almost twenty years you'd walk away to work at a fucking pet shop." Happy looked around the place to the line of dogs and shook his head. "That's fucking wrong man."

"What do you want me to say?"

Happy was listening but still eyeing the puppies as Tig continued on. "Tell us what really happened. Tell us why you REALLY patched out and why Little Paul is dead."

"I'll be dead by the end of the day."

"No, you won't." Happy grumbled and stalked threateningly toward Reggie. "No one is dying just tell us what's going on. If I have to get my girl down here to prove shit is dirty, I'm gonna be really pissed."

"Little Paul found out Benny was bringing in and protecting dealers. Taking protection money, using the club's rep to charge more and keep trouble away, but keeping that cash and lying to the table."

Tig and Happy shared a look. "So why are you not as dead as Paul?" Tig asked calmly.

"I patched out. Benny said he'd kill me if I said anything, me and Evelyn. Little Paul refused but he was dead before he could bring it to the table."

Happy walked away and answered his cell, the call was from an unknown number. "Yeah?"

"Is this Mr. Lowman?"

"Yeah, it is."

"Mr. Lowman, I'm with the Tuscon County Hospital emergency department. We have a Miss Aurora Harvelle here, you are listed as her emergency contact."

"Shit," he cut her off. "I'll be right there." He jammed his phone in his pocket and called to Tig. "We gotta go now."