Smoke arched his eyebrow. “Not necessarily. He leaves here right after the pool game. He doesn't hang around much unless he’s talking to one of us before the game.”
“Could be the cartel. Could be other Road Warriors. Could be Devil Riders. We’re stacking them up these days,” I pointed out.
“You got that right,” Numbers said in agreement.
“Let’s monitor it and see what comes, okay?” Bones asked in a firm tone.
Every head nodded around the table.
Bones went on, “Looks like we’ve sewed it up. Let’s go downstairs. I wanted to make it short and sweet. We’ve got it covered. Anybody else got anything before we finish up?” He looked around the table and then pointed to Hawk. “Hey Hawk, you’re up with the kids next week for the community bike program, are you still good with the dates and times?”
“Yup. Good to go.” Hawk gave him the thumbs up.
Bones looked around, waiting for anyone else to chime in.
Everyone clearly wanted to converse and catch up rather than talk about any more business.
“Great, looks like from the chatter this concludes the meeting. Let’s get out of here,” Bones said.
Chairs moved and all of us headed downstairs then caught up for the next hour before I went home.
Teresa was on the couch as normal and laughing at something on the screen.
Sarah must have been asleep.
“She’s asleep already?” I asked, surprised.
“Yup. Must have been me wearing her out with Monopoly.” Teresa grinned.
“Must have.”
“Did you eat?” I asked.
“Yup, I ate already. Sit down. Tell me what’s going on in your life. Have you and Lucy resolved things?” She readily pried into my private life.
I plonked down next to my sister on the couch. “We are doing good. She’s the one for me, Teresa. We got too wrapped up in all the things that weren’t working for us. Now, we’re taking it as it comes, but so far, so good.”
Teresa loved Lucy, so at this she slapped a hand over her mouth in shock. “Little brother! I’m soooo happy to hear this. She is my fave and you know Mom and Dad love her. I thought for a minute, you might go for that reporter lady. She seems like a heartbreaker. I know you’re tough and stuff, but I didn’t think she would be right for you.”
“No. I’m not with Angie. I wish people would stop with it. Even the guys at the club mentioned it just now. We are working together. Keyword – working. I don’t wanna be with her.”
“I know. You just said that. Let’s watch the show, grumpy pants. I can still kick you in the butt you know.”
“No Teresa, you just can’t.” I locked her in a light headlock, and we sat watching the show on TV for the next little while.
“How are you doing? You rarely talk about anything you’re up to.” I asked, realizing I hadn’t in a while.
Her expression changed slightly and she seemed uptight. “I’m…okay, everything’s pretty good, you know.”
Her fidgeting made me frown. The last few times I asked about her life, she stalled. I didn’t exactly know what was going on, but I figured she would tell me when she was ready. We were too close for her not to. “Okay, sis. If something’s up, you can talk to me, you know.”
“I do, thanks bro. It’s all good,” she said cheerfully.
When it was time for her to leave, I hugged her tightly, wanting her to know how much I loved her.
Saturday arrived and a muggy heat blanketed Holbeck as I got the last of Sarah’s things ready for her mother. “You got everything you need? Got Mr. Bear?” I patted my chest a couple of times and peeked out the windows. No bikes in sight. A few of the neighbors’ cars pulled off and that was it. My gun was firmly tucked in its holster.
“Yeah. I got Mr. Bear. Quick! Let’s go now, I want to see Mom’s apartment.”