GGS: Good Gaelic Souls A Biker Saga (G.G.S) (34 page)

"Ok." His tone was easing it's way back down, "Yes, yes, I see your point. It could work Bob, I don't like it, but for now we'll go with that. The club will cover the cost, call me back as soon as it's a done deal. No, I understand and I appreciate you. Be careful damn it." He hung up the phone and turned around to explain what was going on to Stax. "They've been at the hospital and they made it up to Slacker's floor." He said, still pacing the office, "Everybody's fine, Angel," He added when he saw the instant look of alarm take over her pretty features. "The deputy spotted three of them coming out of the elevator in scrubs, but the dumb asses didn't think of trying to hide their tatts. He drew on them and they returned fire. He caught two bullets, but he was able to take one of them down with the only shot he got off, the other two fled. The deputy will be fine, he took one hit in his shoulder and one in the leg. The guy he shot is in worse shape, if the bastard makes it through surgery, they may be able to gather some new intell. But for now, the hospital wants to release Slacker immediately, he's a much higher safety risk to the other patients and hospital personel now."

"He still needs medical attention and we can take care of him here. Let's go." She blurted out, standing up and heading for the door. "Hold on Angel. That's exactly what I said, but that's a knee-jerk reaction. They're back, and they'll be watching the hospital, it's more than likely that they were only trying flush us out. Think about it, all they have to do now is stake out the hospital and wait for us to go get him. They would follow us straight back to the Castle, and that would place everyone in jeopardy. They will eventually find us, but if we have a little more time, we might have more man power arriving and a better chance of survival."

"But they're not safe out there!" She replied, "We can't just leave -" Strangler put his hand on her shoulder, "Calm down Angel, give me time to explain. We have a plan, the guys will be just fine." Stax stubbornly held her ground. "How can you say that? How can they be safe somewhere other than here? That's ludicrous." Strangler answered her concern, "Bob's gonna take them both out of the hospital, then he's going to sneak them back to his house and call in a private nurse. They can hole up with him as long as it takes."

Stax stopped to think about that for a minute. "How the hell is he gonna do that? she demanded, "Get 'em out of there, I mean." Strangler sat down at the desk, "Have a seat baby, and I'll explain it to you." He said, trying to sell her on a plan that he wasn't too sure about himself. "Bob plans to sneak them out through the morgue downstairs. He's putting them in body bags and having them transported to the Coroner's office. Once there, they will dress up like police officers and be picked up by a cruiser that will take them to the police station. Bob's personal S.U.V. will be in the underground parking lot, they will transfer into that and lay low in the back. Bob will leave work to go home, they'll be with him and stay at his house. He's bringing in a home nurse and a couple of bodyguards to stay with them, and he's also going to put a couple of guys on stake-out just in case." He looked at Stax, "I think this is our best bet, I can't come up with anything better at the moment, and they have to get out of there now."

Stax didn't like it either, but nothing was coming to mind that wouldn't expose the club, nor could she think of a place where they guys would be safer, outside of the Castle. "I guess your right," She said, her tone showing how tired she was. "Bob's a good man, you'd think someone would have snatched him up by now." Her smile was weary, "Shit!" she exclaimed, her thoughts turning to the guys outside, "You need to see your text messages!" She pushed the phone over to Strangler, "I think we may have another crisis."

She watched the puzzled look appear on his face as he read and then re-read the messages. "What the fuck now?" He said, shaking his head. He hit reply on Samson's message and requested their ETA. Minute's later, came the reply, "Depends on Trio, can't find them." For the second time this night, Strangler's fist smashed against the desk. "Mother Fuckers," he growled, "What in the hell, are those son-of-a-bitches up to now?" Stax shook her head, even after growing up with their shenanigans, she still never knew what to expect. It was getting later and she was too tired to think. "Guess we'll be up a while longer baby, you want I should fix you another drink?" She asked, trying yet again to dish up some sort of semblance of a smile. "They'll be fine, they still don't know where we are, so they should be safe out there." This time is was Strangler's turn to give a weary smile, "Angel, I'm not worried about their safety, it's their fucking secrets that give me angst."

Two hours later, the text "ETA 15-back door" came in from Samson."Let's go!" Strangler said, heading to the door. Several minutes later, as they waited for the rig, he was pacing again. "Whatever you do, don't let me near a gun tonight." he warned Stax, "I'll take all three of 'em out and end my goddamn misery once and for all. She knew he was blowing off steam, but then again, given his recent frame of mind anything was possible. While they were waiting, he remembered to tell her the other reason for Bob's call. "The MC's have started to gather, it looks like they are having a pow-wow." Before anything else could be said, the truck appeared and he stepped away to direct them as they backed in. As the door rolled up the men jumped out and began to unload. All that could be seen was large plastic barrels, along with countless bags of cement and vermiculite. Everything that they had been sent after, was apparently further back in the trailer.

Moby was the first one that Strangler spotted coming out of the truck, and he headed straight for him. "What the fuck is this shit?" he growled, "Explain your new little secret, now." Griff and Rage came around from the other side of the truck, "
Best we do this in the office, Prez. We don't want to cause concern amongst the family
." Rage advised quietly before Moby could answer, "
There's no secret, just a precautionary measure. We would have had a chat with you before we left out, but you were busy with the Sheriff. You are taking care of your business and we are taking care of ours. Let's go inside now and we can share the knowledge.
"

Back in the office, sitting at his desk, Strangler couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Sulfuric acid? You've lost your fucking minds! You want that we should just throw bodies into those barrels, use vermiculite to absorb the evidence and then cement them into the pits in the escape chamber? Do you know what you are saying, do you realize how sick and twisted that is?"

The Trio did not respond, but they did look over at Stax, again trying to gauge her reaction. She wasn't completely shocked, that was good. They knew that somewhere in the back of her mind, she was aware of this type of plan, even if she hadn't remembered it. By the look spreading over her face right now, it was coming back to her.

It was well over ten years ago when her father had first brought the subject up. They had been drinking all night, and a high profile murder case had been in the news for weeks. Everyone was talking and speculating about the case of a local man facing the electric chair for what he called self-defense. Someone had broken into his home and attempted to murder his family. As he came home from a late night of work, he had interupted the crime and killed the intruder. But a team of high powered lawyer's were painting a picture of malice and intent. They tried to prove that he not only knew the intruder, but that he had hired him, but having second thoughts, killed the culprit before he could earn his pay. The conversation around the officers table had eventually changed to various ways to dispose of a body. What had started out as hypothetical scenerios turned to protecting ones family, and then yourself afterwards. Slider had come up with this method, and it was agreed that it was the best scenerio of the evening.  

"Da was serious? He actually decided to act on this?" She asked the Trio, as Strangler looked at her in suprise. "
It's all about covering your bases, lass
." Griff said softly, "
It's not a premeditated thing, it's just another form of insurance, in the event that things take a bad turn. Nobody here wants to do this, it's simply one more option if circumstances get out of control, you understand."

Moby spoke up, "
Hear me out and know that this is truth. We have no desire to see this thing done. However, everyone of us inside these walls have a shitload of possible scenerios and outcomes floating around in our heads. We have attempted to prepare for everything  imaginable, and some that are not. We can't afford to come up lacking, and we don't have the support of the authorities if we do. They consider us to be the same as the other clubs, and there will be no mercy shown us, should bodies start piling up on our front lawn."

Looking straight at Strangler, he continued. "
You asked us Prez, to share our knowledge, and to advise you of everything that we have prepared for. We'll, this is simply another tool in your arsenal, it was decided on before you took the chair. It will be soley up to you if you choose to use it, but it's here within reach, if you need it."
He glanced at Stax and then back to Strangler, "
If you haven't any questions at the moment, we'll be taking our leave to get some rest. Don't give it any thought, if it causes anguish. When this is over and we can take it out of here, none will be happier than the three of us. But I'll tell you this, until that time comes, I will take comfort in the fact that if hell knocks on our door, we have options."

Chapter 23

"Incoming"

The next morning, a call came in from Bob, advising that the plan went well and Slacker and his guard Rascal, were safe. The nurse had just checked him, informing him that the young biker was resting and physically unaffected by the latest ordeal. Though there was no new word available on the U.C., however, the U.C biker who was shot by the deputy was out of surgery, but still unconscious. The authorities were waiting at the hospital to question him as soon as he came to. The next call to come in, was from the group that they were calling "The Supporters." They had decided to help, and were in the process of gathering confirmation from as many members as were willing to come this far south. Those that were already located in the southern states should begin arriving between nightfall and noon tomorrow. Most of the early arrivers, were aware of what was happening in their own state, as well as down here. They were eager to be of assistance.

After breakfast, Strangler advised the club of the recent updates. However, he did not mention the "extra supplies" that the Trio had brought in last night. This was one subject that was not going up for general discussion. Ever. He would keep this to himself, and discuss it only with his Officers when and if, it became an actual issue to be dealt with. His hope was, that it would never have to be brought up again. His fear was, that he would be put in the position of having to use it. Looking at the faces of his family and then into the eyes of the woman whom he loved, he already knew that when survival was the motivation, he could and would do this deed.

He'd been at this crossroads before. As a young man on the streets, he had survived by discreetly taking care of some rather unsavoury business for a shady character. Fortunatly for him, his prison sentence was lighter than it should have been. This was a perk, sort of an underground workmans comp package. Shady characters always had a little something on people in high places, and they knew exactly which stings to pull on those who owed him favors. Once out of prison, he had found Stax and another direction in which to take his life. But now, after all that he had put into this new life, here he was again, facing the very same issues of survival. Whether or not he would actually be forced to revert back to his previous actions, was irrelevant now. Life had twisted itself back around, and last night he had silently given a  truthful answer to the inner question that came from his own conscience. Knowing that by accepting the fact that he was still willing to cross the line, there was nothing to stop the re-awakening of his own personal demons.

The kitchen was busy, preparing as much food in advance as possible and the weight room was being emptied for extra sleeping space. More military racks had been brought up from the garage to be placed in the Barracks-Medical Unit, and extra beds were set up in the weight room. From there, they would just have to play it by ear once they knew the number of the incoming support member's they were dealing with.  As everyone was busy with preparations, the Officers met to discuss how best to utilize the extra support, and how to keep the upper part of the Clubhouse secure from non-club members. "
You know that curiosity is a powerful emotion. We need to be steadfast in making sure that they are aware that we take our privacy seriously, no matter the circumstance.
" Griff stated to the other's. "
If we need to vacate our downstairs rooms and share a room upstairs to accommodate more people, then so be it."

Twitch looked around the room, "I understand the club rules that non-members can't go upstairs, but we really don't have anything up there right now but us. If we have a huge number show up, we could use the Ballroom for another sleeping room, that would accommodate a huge number." Griff looked over at the new Sgt. of Arms, he wasn't one to shoot down a good suggestion, but they did have other options. 
"Even though that is a good idea Twitch,"
He said repectfully
, "Remember though, that we still have the underground garage, we can re-arrange the vehicles to free up more space, and they'll still have a roof over their head and a covered entryway into the Clubhouse."
He paused and a dark look came across his face,
"The people that come here to assist us, should be treated well, I agree with that. However, those that come, will be coming out of choice. We, on the other hand, find ourselves in this predicament out of a basic need to survive."
Clearing his throat, in an effort to conceal his emotions,
"What's most precious, in all of this, is our family. We need a place to be alone, to talk amongst ourselves and to remind each other why we are going down this road before us. We could have dispersed and ran for the hills, but we each chose to fight for each other. There's gonna come a point, where we no longer have the precious time it takes to discuss, debate and cast a vote. We are gonna have to improvise and make things happen on the fly. We will have to trust each other without question, to make the best decision at any given moment. But until then, we should maintain our solidarity as long as we have the opportunity to do so. We must stay close and be as democratic as we can, for as long as we are able!"