Since then, no one had seen Sam other than the day she had been with the bikers who had attacked Beth, Winter, and Lily at the diner.
“She was hanging around with some renegade bikers the last time I saw her.”
“I’ll have to find out if she was still with them. They never showed for their court appearance. Their bail bondsman and I have both been trying to find them.”#p#分页标题#e#
“I heard they left town.” Shade shrugged.
“They’re not the only ones. Deputy Moore is missing, and his father is raising hell.”
“Don’t know him.” Shade stared back impassively at his father.
The sheriff nodded grimly. “I have a few witnesses to talk to. I’ll talk to you later.”
Shade watched his father walk toward an older woman who stood in front of the hotel, upset.
He walked back to his bike and started the motor. Pulling out, he rode back to the clubhouse. He would find Viper and tell him Sam was dead. Shade, despite the fact he had fucked the woman several times, felt no sorrow for her death. Her actions outside the diner that day had made her his enemy, and he had planned to pay her back for her part in the attack. Looked like someone had saved him the trouble, though.
* * *
“You’re going to be late,” Viper warned as Shade came down the steps.
Shade paused, going out the front door of the clubhouse. “I have five minutes. Besides, the boss isn’t there yet,” Shade stated, reminding Viper he wasn’t the only one not at the factory.
“I’m on my way. I need to grab a cup of coffee first.” Viper’s eyes narrowed over Shade’s shoulder.
He turned to see who he was staring at and saw the sheriff standing grimly in the doorway.
“Viper, Shade, can I come in?”
The formal tone the sheriff was using raised Shade’s instincts. Something was wrong. Shade opened the door wider, letting him come inside.
“I’m here on official business to question Knox.”
“What for?” Viper asked. “He get drunk and bust up another bar? I’ll write a check—”
“Money isn’t going to solve this problem, Viper. I’m here to question him about Sam’s murder.”
“Sam’s?”
“Yes, unless there’s another murder that’s happened in town that I don’t know about,” the sheriff barked back.
Shade’s mouth snapped shut as Viper took out his cell phone to call Knox.
The sheriff glared at Shade as Viper disconnected the call. “You need to get him a lawyer, and fast.”
“What evidence do you have?” Shade asked warily.
“He was seen leaving the hotel room Sam was found inside. There’s evidence that they’d been intimate.”
Both Shade and Viper became angry at hearing Knox had been with Sam.
“This is bullshit. Knox didn’t touch that bitch!” Viper’s voice rose. The club had banned any members from seeing Sam.
“Calm down, Viper. Let’s hear him out,” Shade reasoned.
Knox came down the steps as they watched his approach.
“What’s up?” Knox asked the Sheriff.
“Samantha Bedford’s body was found this afternoon at the motel,” the sheriff replied while watching his reaction to the news.
Knox stiffened, as if sensing where this was going.
“Knox has had nothing to do with that bitch since she attacked Beth; none of us have. She wasn’t allowed back here at the clubhouse, and after the stunt she pulled with Winter, Beth, and Lily at the diner, we haven’t seen her.”
The sheriff didn’t say anything, just merely continued staring at Knox.
“I saw her yesterday. She stopped her car after I crashed my bike.”
The silence in the room became tangible.
“What happened then?” the sheriff probed.
“We went back to her hotel room and fucked. When Viper called, I left. She was breathing just fine when I walked out that door.” Knox stared back at the sheriff.#p#分页标题#e#
“Damn it, Knox,” Viper said angrily.
“You’re not going to say anything I didn’t say to myself.”
Shade wanted to punch the brother for letting his dick get him in this mess.
“There are enough women here that you didn’t need that bitch. What were you thinking?” Viper asked the question on Shade’s mind.
“I wasn’t. She pulled out my dick and went down on me,” Knox said wryly.
“I have to take you in for questioning, Knox. There’s no way around it; the newspaper is involved. A witness saw you leaving her room and told the reporter.”
Knox nodded, stepping forward. “Let’s go.”
Viper took his arm. “Don’t answer any more questions. I’ll get you a lawyer.”