Purge (Death Crusaders Motorcycle Club) by Sandy Kline Page A

because Alex was your best
and seemingly your only friend. I can’t really put anyone on you either. I’ll
sit on you when I can but don’t count on it. You could always tell me when you’re
staying somewhere on your own and I’ll try to do some drive byes but I can’t
really do any more than that. Why don’t you give me the address of where you’re
at now for starters and I’ll check in on you tonight.”
    “I’m actually not staying
here tonight. Blade is going to pick me up pretty soon. I’ll call you when I
leave his place so you can protect me then. By the way, how is it you’re
getting around with your wheelchair and all?”
    “The department outfitted me
with a car that has hand controls. But I’m on desk duty so I don’t get out
during the day much. I have to go to a deposition now so check back with me in
two days at the latest. If you haven’t in 48 hours I’ll assume you’re in
trouble and take what measures that I can. Make that 24 hours. I want to keep a
closer watch on you.”
    “Got it. Twenty-four hours.”
    After hanging up the phone I
decide to do what popped into my head while we were talking. I’m going to go
visit Piper. He is supposedly still at Sacred Heart in Foster City. It’s been
awhile since he got shot and I have yet to visit him so tonight seems as good
as any.
    Forty-five minutes later I’m
paying my cabbie and entering the hospital. I was told he is on the fourth
floor in room 4751. I look at my watch. I have exactly twenty-five minutes until
visiting hours are over. I’m not sure what to expect when I see him. He was
pretty messed up when we dropped him off. Maybe it wasn’t as bad as I thought.
On the way to the elevator I pass the gift shop. What can you give a man who is
an outlaw biker? I root around various gift items before finding the perfect
thing. I pay and hop in the elevator.
    Fourth floor nurses don’t
even bat an eye at my presence. Either they’re too busy to care or they just
don’t care which suits me as long as they’re taking good care of my friend. His
door is open so I stop and pull out the stuffed bear I bought downstairs. It’s
a cop bear. The brown and white animal is wearing a blue police uniform cap and
badge. Standing off to one side I hold the bear out and announce myself.
    “Anthony Moran,” I say in my
best cop voice. You are under arrest for associating with a known criminal
organization. You are also wanted for sedition, treason, and whatever else I
can throw up against the wall that sticks.”
    “What the fuck?” He replies,
and then bursts into laughter as I stride into his room. “Holy shit its Ms.
Clarkson, in the flesh.”
    He looks better than I
expected. He’s thinner which isn’t a bad thing. He’s also still plugged into an
IV, an automated blood pressure machine that also tracks your pulse and blood
oxygen level.
    “When do you lose all this
crap?” I ask after giving him a warm hug.
    “In a couple days hopefully.
I may even be getting out of here by the end of the week.”
    It’s good to see my
friend/chauffer again. I was sure he wouldn’t survive getting shot. Suddenly I
have a great idea.
    “So what brings you here all
by your lonesome Jen?”
    “Loneliness Piper. And I
have a business proposition for you.”
    “See, I knew it wasn’t
because you missed me.” He says triumphantly.
    “I’ve been a little busy!”
    I regale him with the tale of
my almost rape, rescue by friend and ambush. He notices right away my being
vague about my ‘friend’.
    “Who’s this friend who just
happened to bail you out?”
    “He’s just a friend of Alex
actually.”
    I hate lying to him but I’m
not prepared to have any conversation about Mark. Since he’s on the run he may
be on the outs with the club. I don’t feel like being questioned by Piper or
anyone else so I stick with the mysterious friend story. He doesn’t know me
well enough to know that I’m lying about my friend so as long as I stick to my
story