****
“Tse?”
“Yeah. Hi, Carissa.” I prop my phone between my ear and my shoulder as half my attention is on my computer screen.
“Got some info. Mariana’s in solitary as you’re aware. It looks like it might be they’re preparing to move her to another detention centre.”
“What the fuck? Why would they do that?”
“Who knows, Tse? But these things happen all the time. Why they do it, I don’t know, but sometimes that’s the reason for putting detainees in solitary. I’ll keep on top of things and let you know as soon as I have anything else.”
I swallow, not wanting to ask, but know I have to. “Could they be preparing to deport her?”
A pause, then, “I can’t rule that out. But deportees are allowed to take a small suitcase with them. As her lawyer, I would have expected to have been asked to supply that. I haven’t, so I assume moving her is more likely.”
“Why move her?” I start to think of the logistics if she’s moved out of state. “Drew and I want to visit. They know she’s got family nearby. Or do the motherfuckers want her moved because of that? Punish her by keepin’ her family from her?” ICE’s intention seems to be to punish people for simply existing, or daring to cross into the US. I grow angry thinking none of this was Mariana’s fault. She didn’t ask to become an illegal alien. I shut my thoughts down when I remember Carissa’s still on the line.
“Who knows, Tse. Who knows. But I promise, as soon as I hear anything, I’ll be in touch.”
Christ.The fucking government’s holding all the cards on this one. I don’t have one single hand to play. My muscles tighten, I work to unlock my jaw.Nothing I can do.Only more shit to worry about. That’s getting me nowhere.
My attention is caught by information on the screen once again.Work. Throw myself into it. Deal with other people’s problems where I can help.At least, for now. Let Carissa do what she does best and what I’m paying her for. She understands the system.
I open the office door, seeing immediately the woman I want to talk to. It’s the first time I’ve spoken to her directly. She strikes me as timid as a mouse, an observation which almost makes me snort. But I force my features into a smile. Something tells me to tread carefully.
“Becca?”
As she swings around, there’s trepidation written all over her face when she nods. Holding out my hand, I introduce myself. “Mouse. I’m the go-to computer guy around here. We’ve not been properly introduced.” I wait for her acknowledgement, then continue. “If you’ve got a minute, Prez has asked me to do some investigatin’ on your behalf. Find out what you’re up against.”
Examining her carefully, I can see she’s been crying. Fuck, I’m an asshole. Of course she doesn’t want to talk to me now. She’ll be torn between our two injured brothers. Now’s bad timing, she’ll want to be with Rock, and also must be worried as hell about Beef who’s taken her under his wing. But I do need information only she can supply.
As she wipes away tears, my eyes soften with compassion. “Hey, I know you’re worried about Beef. But darlin’, he’ll be fine. I’m certain. Come in and let’s discuss your situation. Takeyour mind off everything that’s happening. Unless you’d rather be with Rock?”
Her dismissive shake of her head when I mention Rock’s name surprises me, but as usual, I’m focused on data and pulling puzzle pieces together. I’d also spoken the truth. Both men are in good hands, her brooding on their condition won’t help them recover. I’m confident they’ll do that by themselves. Both strong, determined brothers. Then I feel guilty, of course she’ll want to be with her man. My needs will have to wait.
But she follows me into my office. I’m an unfeeling bastard, so again I check. “You sure you’re okay not being with Rock?”
She gives me a sharp look. “Have you spoken to Rock?”
“Nah. Not since he’s regained consciousness.” A burst of guilt floods over me. Sometimes I’m so taken up with getting the facts, I forget to consider feelings.This can wait.Cognisant I’m using her situation to take my mind off the helplessness I feel about Mariana’s, I offer once more. “But did you want to wait to go through this? You’ve probably got things to talk about with him.”
It’s the tone of her voice when she tells me she and Rock have said all they needed to say, which makes me look at her strangely.Something’s happened there.Or perhaps Becca’s feelings were one-sided, and she’s been rebuffed. If so, she’s taken it to heart, indicating she’s more concerned about Beef who’s taken a turn for the worse and been rushed to the hospital. I hadn’t known that. I wonder briefly what could have happened, then dismiss it.He’ll be in the right place. I’m worried about Beef myself, we all are. But as I can’t offer medical help, there’s nothing I can do for him.
“Tell me about Hawk,” I start, wanting to know about the man she was, is, married to. The man who left her to be neglected and abused by the Chaos Riders.
Unsurprisingly, before she tells me much, we’re joined by Drummer. Prez will want to know about any possible threat tothe club. I’m soon absorbed and disgusted as Becca goes through what happened to her. Prez and I exchange a few glances accompanied by shakes of our heads. For the first time this morning, the horror she’s lived through pulls my head completely away from my own problems.
Hawk’s in prison now. But he’ll be out. Possibly sooner than his three-year sentence suggests. “I’ll look into when he’s eligible for parole.”
Becca takes in a sharp breath, seems she thought she’d have the full three years to get shot of him.
We question her further, but apart from finding out Hawk’s a pastor with a violent streak, she doesn’t know anything about the secret life he’s been living. Her first impulse is to run, but a girl like her has got no chance on her own. When I offer to look into her getting a divorce, becoming legally separated from him, I end up nodding when Drummer promises she’ll be free of the man who trapped her into a marriage she didn’t want. I exchange a look with Prez. A look which says, a man like that? If we have to, we’ll kill him.
Drummer’s phone pings. When he reads the text, he gives what for him is a broad smile. “Beef’s come through surgery. The doctors think his prognosis is good.”
Rolling my head back on my shoulders, I let out a breath.My brother’s going to be fine.It’s only at that point I admit there was a moment there when I was worried he wouldn’t make it.
As Becca and Drummer leave to go to the hospital, I promise to keep digging. The story she told me makes me eager to help. If I can’t do anything for Mariana, I’ll focus on finding the information to help another woman.
