Firetrap: The Soul Scorchers MC (The Scorched Souls Serial-series Book 1) by C.L. Riley Page A
Authors: C.L. Riley
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our club officers and few additional members, who attended meetings of this magnitude.
Bones, Grinch, and Wolf had remained silent during my review, while Leg and Crusher had interrupted me a handful of times with questions and possible theories. Spyder and Eggs had rolled in later, and were just getting caught up.
It was hard to stay focused knowing Olympia was out there somewhere, likely injured, or worse. Her fiancé and the ATF’s special team were all over the crime scene, pushing aside local law enforcement, and the fire chief. What a mess. I’d left as soon as the fire was contained and I’d learned Olympia was missing.
“So, what’s going on here?” Bones finally asked. “Boone, you’re the most familiar with these fires, any thoughts?”
I sighed. How could I explain my feelings without coming off like some paranoid nut job? “I know most of you think the Hells Guardians are behind this. I don’t. This arson shit has been going on for a long time, too long. It’s picked up in recent years since the mayor’s first fire. We had Rita’s…”
Bones raised a hand, stopping me. “Son, that case was solved.”
I slammed my palm down the table. “What if it was arson made to look like an accident for Rita? What if Mrs. Olsen had help swallowing those pills?”
The glances around the table told me what I already knew. No one was on board with my conspiracy theories.
“I know it sounds fucking crazy, but for the past six years, up and down our coastline, we have had more fire fatalities and injuries than any other area on the West Coast. I had Spyder dig around after Rita’s death. Even then our fire stats were ranked as some of the highest in the country. In the country! Something big is going down.”
Bones leaned back; his eyes narrowed. “Okay, say you’re right and they’re all connected; why the increase in frequency all of sudden, and why the Olsen family twice now?”
Those were good questions, and I’d expected at least one of the guys to ask something along those lines. I had my answer ready. “Serial killers, rapists, and arsonists often stay on a schedule, but …” I paused to scan my brothers’ faces. They were all listening; interested it seemed by the way they were leaning forward, waiting for me to continue. “ But , when a traumatic event or something major happens in their lives, they increase their killing and eventually get sloppy.”
Eggs shook his head. “Man, no offence, but you sound like one of those damn TV shows. Criminal Minds, SVU …”
A couple of the guys chuckled.
Leg came to my rescue. “You can’t deny this latest fire was planned. It was. And the fact our good mayor’s first guest house burned too is a little more than coincidence. Don’t you think? Now the mayor’s girl is missing.” His gaze slid my direction.
Spyder nodded. “I think Boone is right. The data doesn’t lie. This many fires all along highway 101, something ain’t right. I’m going to do some more research.”
“Fine,” Bones interrupted. “We’ll look at every angle. Call Doc. He’s in good with the fire chief. Have him find out what he can. I’ll deal with our always accommodating police chief. The rest of you know the drill. Reach out to our connections. Call in a few favors. This is too close to home. Let’s put an end to it whatever it is.”
He brought the gavel down.
At least they were willing to look at my angle, and we weren’t starting a blood war with the Guardians, not yet, anyway.
“I need to clear my head. I’m going for a hike.”
I didn’t wait for a response. They were used to my morning escapes into the forest and had given up teasing me about them a long time ago. After I’d knocked Eggs unconscious for an offhanded comment, calling me nature boy, no one said a word.
A lot of guys worked out at the gym. I was one of them, but where others went for a run, I hiked. The trees, the air, nature; I liked that shit. It was my form of mediation,
Bones, Grinch, and Wolf had remained silent during my review, while Leg and Crusher had interrupted me a handful of times with questions and possible theories. Spyder and Eggs had rolled in later, and were just getting caught up.
It was hard to stay focused knowing Olympia was out there somewhere, likely injured, or worse. Her fiancé and the ATF’s special team were all over the crime scene, pushing aside local law enforcement, and the fire chief. What a mess. I’d left as soon as the fire was contained and I’d learned Olympia was missing.
“So, what’s going on here?” Bones finally asked. “Boone, you’re the most familiar with these fires, any thoughts?”
I sighed. How could I explain my feelings without coming off like some paranoid nut job? “I know most of you think the Hells Guardians are behind this. I don’t. This arson shit has been going on for a long time, too long. It’s picked up in recent years since the mayor’s first fire. We had Rita’s…”
Bones raised a hand, stopping me. “Son, that case was solved.”
I slammed my palm down the table. “What if it was arson made to look like an accident for Rita? What if Mrs. Olsen had help swallowing those pills?”
The glances around the table told me what I already knew. No one was on board with my conspiracy theories.
“I know it sounds fucking crazy, but for the past six years, up and down our coastline, we have had more fire fatalities and injuries than any other area on the West Coast. I had Spyder dig around after Rita’s death. Even then our fire stats were ranked as some of the highest in the country. In the country! Something big is going down.”
Bones leaned back; his eyes narrowed. “Okay, say you’re right and they’re all connected; why the increase in frequency all of sudden, and why the Olsen family twice now?”
Those were good questions, and I’d expected at least one of the guys to ask something along those lines. I had my answer ready. “Serial killers, rapists, and arsonists often stay on a schedule, but …” I paused to scan my brothers’ faces. They were all listening; interested it seemed by the way they were leaning forward, waiting for me to continue. “ But , when a traumatic event or something major happens in their lives, they increase their killing and eventually get sloppy.”
Eggs shook his head. “Man, no offence, but you sound like one of those damn TV shows. Criminal Minds, SVU …”
A couple of the guys chuckled.
Leg came to my rescue. “You can’t deny this latest fire was planned. It was. And the fact our good mayor’s first guest house burned too is a little more than coincidence. Don’t you think? Now the mayor’s girl is missing.” His gaze slid my direction.
Spyder nodded. “I think Boone is right. The data doesn’t lie. This many fires all along highway 101, something ain’t right. I’m going to do some more research.”
“Fine,” Bones interrupted. “We’ll look at every angle. Call Doc. He’s in good with the fire chief. Have him find out what he can. I’ll deal with our always accommodating police chief. The rest of you know the drill. Reach out to our connections. Call in a few favors. This is too close to home. Let’s put an end to it whatever it is.”
He brought the gavel down.
At least they were willing to look at my angle, and we weren’t starting a blood war with the Guardians, not yet, anyway.
“I need to clear my head. I’m going for a hike.”
I didn’t wait for a response. They were used to my morning escapes into the forest and had given up teasing me about them a long time ago. After I’d knocked Eggs unconscious for an offhanded comment, calling me nature boy, no one said a word.
A lot of guys worked out at the gym. I was one of them, but where others went for a run, I hiked. The trees, the air, nature; I liked that shit. It was my form of mediation,
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