“Yes, sir,” Train and Shade responded in unison.
“Good.” He nodded once then continued, “Months ago, Killyama, Jonas, and I arrested a felon. It was a simple take down. Jonas and I kept the computer with every intention of turning it over to the police, but we long ago figured out some of the best ways of catching other felons is to find what they have on their computer. Is it legal? No, but we did it, anyway. We’ve never done it this way before, but when Jack Carter said he had friends who would come looking for us, we were concerned about Killyama’s safety.
“I know some of you have already said that it jeopardized getting the jumper convicted legally for the crime shown on this tape, but personally, Jonas and I don’t give a fuck. And if anyone else who watches this tape still feels that way, you’re more than welcome to leave.”
None of the men moved.
“Since no one is hitting the door, I’ll go on. When Jonas managed to log on to the laptop, we found some sick shit. Jack Carter was involved with the dark web. He had a couple of tapes that turned my stomach, and there isn’t much I haven’t seen. Jonas was the one who recognized the man we’re going to rescue tonight. This brother has been held in a nightmare, and one way or another, it’s going to end tonight.”
Hammer nodded at Jonas, who hit the play button.
Killyama couldn’t watch the tape again. She hadn’t even been able to watch through to the end the first time, vomiting in a bag in the backseat of Hammer’s car. She kept her eyes on Train’s reaction instead, trying desperately to control her own. When his face filled with unbearable agony, he grabbed Shade, who was consumed with his own grief.
“Oh, God, it’s Gavin. Tell me that’s not Gavin!”
“I can’t, brother. It’s him.”
Train started to reach for the computer. Killyama thought it was because he still couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Memphis killed Gavin. He admitted it!” Train yelled. “We tortured the son of a bitch. Why would he admit to something he didn’t do?”
“Because he knew he was already a dead man,” Hammer stated.
“I’d say that, once Memphis told you what they had done to Gavin when they held him captive, any torture you used on him would have looked like child’s play to what you would have done after seeing this.” Jonas pulled up another video that was just as sick as the first.
Killyama had been worried that after Train had admitted to the group of men that he and Shade had taken part in torturing Memphis that they would use it against them. However, her worry fell away when she saw the men’s faces. If Memphis had still been alive, every man in the building would have killed him.
“You said they?” Shade’s cold voice brought her attention to him.
“Yes, I knew Memphis had help when Killyama told me that the body dug up behind the Road Demons’ clubhouse was identified by DNA. Killyama has lunch with Lily and Beth once a month. When they last went to lunch, she brought up the subject of Gavin, asking them if they knew where the DNA results came from that were used to identify Gavin—”
“Crash sent the DNA sample from the body to the military to cross check it with the records they have on file,” Shade answered, cutting Hammer off.
“Yes, Crash used his computer skills to fix the results to make everyone believe the body was Gavin’s.”
“Turn that tape off before I fucking break it,” Shade threatened, teeth clenched.
Jonas shut the computer with a snap.
“Where is he?” Train asked.
“Still with the Road Demons. Crash must have given them a heads up before Viper contacted them, asking permission to search for Gavin’s body there. As far as I can tell from Crash’s emails, they brought him back to the clubhouse about six months later. Stupid bastard was so cocky that he didn’t protect his own shit because, he knew if any of The Last Riders wanted to know anything, they would come to him.”
When Train went pale, Killyama looked away, unable to see the look of guilt on both of the men’s faces.
“We need to contact Viper. He’ll want to be here,” Shade spoke up before Hammer could continue.
Jonas tucked the laptop under his arm. “Do you think Gavin is going to want his brother to see him in that shape? They made him a junkie. I think the only reason he’s still alive is because the Road Demons are using him as their toy. You think, if Viper goes in there and see what’s been done to his brother, there’ll be a man left standing? Ohio isn’t Treepoint where you have control of the sheriff. Forty or fifty men found dead in a bikers’ club will make the news.