Ford and I enter the art room first and find Ginger Snaps at the back shelves in front of the open windows. Sitting cross-legged, her face hides under a baseball cap. She looks unarmed, but I'm not buying any of it.
Madden struts into the classroom with Joker and Lucky close behind. The other guys watch the hallway. Ginger never really acknowledges Madden, instead focusing on Joker.
"What's with the windows?" Lucky asks, lighting a cigarette.
"My friend's daddy was a big time hunter and taught her to shoot a rifle."
"Do you really think you can take out all of us before we shoot you?" Joker says.
Flicking back her hat, Ginger smirks. "The sniper shot's for me, not you, tough guy. When Trigger tried to kill me last time, he didn't make it quick, now did he? I'm not looking to be chained to two trucks and ripped in half."
Joker studies Ginger. "Do you really believe we'd help Trigger at this point?"
"I don't know if he really wants to kill you. Sure, that's what Madden is selling, but maybe he's full of shit and you'll make a deal with me as the prize. No reason to take the chance."
"You wanted this meeting, so say what you need to say."
"No, pal, you wanted the meeting, so let's not play the dick-wagging game. I can pull out one too, you know. I'm sure I still have my old pimp's dick in a jar somewhere."
I can't help laughing at the idea of some guy's Johnson floating in a jar. Ginger focuses on me then returns to Joker.
"Your boss set loose Zombie and Big Dick's nephew, Wino. They're cutting up people on the West Side. Hookers and druggies mostly, but they also took out a few minor dealers. Sounds like no big deal, but those were calculated hits. Now every little loser on the West Side is fighting to claim a block here or there. That's Trigger's plan. He wants to turn this side of town into a war zone. That way, when the blood spills to the nice side of town, it won't surprise too many people."
Madden crosses his arms. "Dad fears killing you and having the rest of the club thinking he isn't up to running Little Memphis alone. You handle too much of the day-to-day stuff, and he's become a figurehead. His plan is to start trouble on the West Side and make it look like you can't control shit. Once you're dead, he'll snap his fingers, and the trouble ends. Suddenly, he looks like the badass again, and the rest of the club will remain loyal."
"You dying isn't part of my long-term life plan," Ginger says, standing up and stretching.
"Good to hear."
Without reacting to his comment, she shoves her hands into her jeans pockets, but I doubt she's moving for a weapon. The chick doesn't strike me as suicidal.
"Paro told you I'm back, but Trigger plays this info as bullshit. He can't admit he lied about killing me. No, he just claims the West Side is always causing trouble. He's nervous though, and that's why he's still holding back. We need to make him more nervous, so he doesn't get any ideas about pulling the trigger on you. If we apply enough pressure, we'll ensure ourselves the time to get our ducks in a row."
"I'm figuring you have an idea," Joker says, stepping closer and letting his arms drop to his sides.
His open stance implies trust, but Ginger remains wary. She's a chick in man's world. I don't know how she's survived this long, but I suspect distrusting people is probably the key.
"One of the low-level dealers Zombie killed is the cousin of a big shit gangbanger in Chicago," Ginger says, stepping closer to the window. "Tell Trigger you got word from a half-dead snitch that Jose's cousin is looking to spill blood now and make Little Memphis a city-wide graveyard."
Madden grins. "Give the fucker something to worry about. If he's worrying about outside threats, he won't be quick to kill off his toughest guys. Once we're sure who we can trust in the club and in Little Memphis, we'll make our move, and he'll never know what hit him."
"Is Jose's cousin really a problem?" Lucky asks.
Ginger finally smiles for real. "Jose was a pervert who got handsy with a few of the family girls. He came here to hide from his pissed relatives. Trigger doesn't know that because he never knows anything."
"But how do you know that about Jose?"
"I listen. People love to talk, but Trigger never listens. Most assholes don't, so they never hear the answers."
Joker nods. "So while I'm telling Trigger about my lead, you're doing what?"
"Zombie and Wino are killing people they think are useless to the club. I'm going to kill people who are useful to Trigger. Anyone who won't follow the line with you in charge. Like I said, people love to talk. Trigger has his friends and enemies. My job is to kill off the former and leave the latter to ally with you."
"And you're doing this just so the club will be friendly to you when you officially return?"
When Ginger frowns darkly, I see the psycho who gutted the Transformer-loving pervert. She glances at Madden, who shrugs.