“She stole property.”
“What property?” Jack asked.
“Money.”
Chloe stared.
“I took my own money.”
“Vehicle theft.”
Richard pointed toward the Shovelhead.
“She stole that motorcycle.”
Jack looked at the machine.
“From whom?”
Richard hesitated.
“That’s evidence.”
Every biker on the shoulder seemed to stop breathing.
Jack’s expression became almost calm.
“Evidence of what?”
Richard realized the mistake.
“I mean stolen property.”
Jack took one step aside.
For the first time Richard saw the vest lying near the motorcycle.
His face changed.
He knew it.
Chloe saw that clearly.
So did the cameras now recording.
Richard recovered.
“Back away from that motorcycle.”
Jack asked:
“You recognize it?”
“No.”
“You looked like you did.”
Richard’s voice rose.
“I said step back.”
Jack did.
Immediately.
That unsettled Richard more.
There would be no excuse for force.
No attack.
No threat.
Only witnesses.
Richard looked at Chloe.
“Get in the cruiser.”
“No.”
His face darkened.
“That wasn’t a question.”
Jack said:
“She said no.”
Richard pointed at him.
“You stay out of this.”
“She’s an adult.”
“She’s unstable.”
Chloe flinched.
Richard continued.
“She has a history of running away, lying, stealing.”
“Do you have a warrant?” Jack asked.
Richard stared.
“You a lawyer?”
“No.”
“Then shut up.”
Jack smiled faintly.
“Still seems like a simple question.”
Richard looked around.
Too many cameras.
Too many witnesses.
Too many men who clearly knew Preacher’s motorcycle.
Then the sergeant-at-arms asked:
“What happened to Dominic Hayes?”
Richard went still.
“Who?”
“Preacher.”
“No idea.”
“You signed the report.”
Richard looked toward the motorcycle again.
The sergeant-at-arms continued.
“Report says bike went into a gorge.”
Richard’s face tightened.
“Then that’s what happened.”
Jack pointed toward the Shovelhead.
“That bike has desert dust inside places that would not survive three years underwater.”
Richard said nothing.
“We also found something embedded in it.”
Richard’s eyes moved involuntarily toward the damaged tank.
Jack noticed.
“So you know where to look.”
Richard reached for his radio.
“I’m calling backup.”
“Good,” Jack said.
Richard stared at him.
“Call everybody.”
That was not the answer Richard expected.
Jack continued.
“Highway patrol.”
“State investigators.”
“Your watch commander.”
“Anybody with evidence bags.”
Richard’s hand remained on the radio.
Chloe suddenly understood.
Richard was scared.
Not of the bikers.
Of the motorcycle.
His eyes kept returning to it.
Chloe stepped out from behind Jack.
“Richard.”
His head snapped toward her.