HARDCORE: Storm MC(181)

“Shit!” There wasn’t any information on the receipt except for a ticket number. I wondered if I could look up the information for the ticket using the number. I raced out of the house, back to my bike. I had to get to the clubhouse as soon as possible.



When I got there, I didn’t stop to say hi to anyone—even Gigi and Jamie, who were playing cards around the coffee table. They both looked at me, but I kept walking. I went into the office and closed the door.



My fingers were crossed as I went to Greyhound’s site and looked around. Where would I find what I needed? Manage Trips. I clicked on it and filled in the confirmation number from the receipt. Bingo. There it was, the information I needed.



Fuck! She bought a bus ticket to New York just that morning. It was scheduled to leave in five hours. “I just missed her,” I whispered. She must have gone back to the house to pack a few things, picked up the mail and left the sleeve for the ticket on the table. I would have completely missed her if I didn’t look at the mail.



I sat back, wondering what to do. I had to go to the bus station to find her. That was the only choice.



I went out to the lounge, looking for Flash. I had to come up with a plan to track and corner Rae. “Where’s Flash?” I asked.



“He went out to get some sandwiches and stuff.” Jax looked me up and down from where he sat at the bar. “You look like shit, man.”



I glanced at Gigi, then back at him. “Oh, sorry. You look bad.” He looked at Gigi. She smiled. He actually smiled back.



“Yeah, well, I don’t feel so great.” I took a bottle of water out of the cooler behind the bar. I needed to get my head on straight. What would I do once I found Rae? What if she ran? What if she wasn’t alone? The Scarecrow might have bought a ticket for himself, too. No, that didn’t make sense. A ticket to New York told me she was on the run and wanted to disappear in a huge city. Why was she running? What the hell did she do?



Jamie stood up, facing me. “What’s your plan, Lance?”



I was not in the mood. I was not in the mood at all.



“What’s the problem now, Jamie?” I faced her, hands on my hips, mocking the way she stood. Why did everything have to be a fight with her?



“What did I just ask you? What’s the plan? Do you even have one?”



“What do you think I’m working on? Do you think I’m going out to have fun?” I turned away, going back to the office.



“Don’t walk away from me.” I heard snickering and laughing around the clubhouse as Jamie followed me into my office, slamming the door so loud that the walls shook.



“What the hell is wrong with you?” I faced her, eyes wide. “You’re crazy.”



“If I’m crazy, it’s your fault. You’re the one making met this way. I care a lot about that kid, and you’re keeping us both hostage here.”



“You’re not a hostage.”



“So what am I? What is she?”



“You’re in danger. How many times do I have to tell you? The faster you get used to it, the better off you’ll be. I can’t keep reminding you every fucking day that I’m only in this to keep you safe.”



“Oh please.” She waved me off. “You only kept me here in the first place to screw around with me. You teased me and messed with my head. It was a big joke to you.”



“And it’s a good thing I did that, isn’t it? If The Scarecrow is out there, looking for you or Gigi, this is the best place for you. I can’t tell you that enough.”



“How do I even know this Scarecrow person exists?”



I laughed. “Ask anybody here. They’ll tell you—unless you think we’re all in a big conspiracy to fuck with your head.”



“How do I know that’s not exactly what you’re doing? Fucking with my head? You always go out alone when you’re looking for him or Rae.”



“I took the guys with me on Friday.”



“Yeah, but you split up. I know you did. Don’t lie to me.”



“You’ve been reading too many mystery novels or something,” I muttered. I hoped she would let it go, but I could see she wasn’t in the mood to. I sighed. “I was just out today trying to find Rae. I was trying to find The Scarecrow. I toured a fucking heroin den, for Christ’s sake. It was awful. I don’t know how people fucking live that way, I really don’t. Then, I went to the house. And you were right—it’s the most goddamned depressing place I ever saw. No food, no nothing. I can’t imagine her living there. And now you’re in here, fucking with my head. I don’t have time for this right now, Jamie. I don’t. What do you want from me?”