Tarnished Steel Page 7

  “Take hold of the accused,” Knight’s voice rang out from the bottom of the stairs, and the crowd parted for him.

  Three men stepped forward and took hold of Derrick. “What the fuck? Let go of me! He’s in bed with god, damn, fucking, Ruiz!”

  Knight walked up to Derrick as he struggled. “I don’t care about your current derangements. I have enough, ten times over, to take your patch. You have brought police investigations to this club, to me, to other members. You have incited brother against brother, tearing at the fabric which holds us together. More than once I have heard you say — and I have it on police transcript as well — Fuck the bros. Well, Mr. Unger, I say, fuck you.”

  Knight turned to the crowd. “I need two officers willing to stand with me.”

  “I will,” said Larry, and he rose from his stool beside Cyn.

  “I will,” said Ben, the VP, and he came over from the staircase.

  “Will anyone stand for the accused?” Knight said, and he waited. Many shuffled their feet, but no one moved. “No one? No patch holder will stand? Larry, doesn’t there need to be at least one to stand with him?”

  Halo stepped forward. “Only to serve the purpose of the tribunal, I’ll stand with him.”

  Knight nodded. “Then it’s as you say, and do what you can.”

  “Yes sir,” Halo said, though obviously not happy about the request.

  “Knight, I saw him!” Derrick pleaded. “So did Daphne. Tell them, Daphne!”

  Cyn looked for Daphne, who was standing more or less alone behind the gathering crowd with her fists pressed to her mouth as she bawled. Cyn got up from the stool and went to her. She was in so much pain, she couldn’t ignore her, not with this going on.

  Daphne was shaking her head violently from side to side and pressing her fists so hard into her teeth when Cyn got there that she was afraid the woman might draw blood.

  Knight’s eyes met Cyn’s as she put an arm around Daphne and held her. Was that a look of warning? Of anger? She didn’t know, and at this moment, she didn’t care. Daphne did have someone to stand for her, and Cyn wasn’t leaving her side.

  “Derrick,” Knight said. “You fail to understand so many things. They are right in front of you and you fail to see them. All you see is your hate. You have no sense of brotherhood at all.”

  Then Hank lifted his voice so that everyone could clearly hear him. “I know exactly what you saw, Derrick. The middle of the day, the possible bag of coke. Orlin on the other side of the motorcycle. I will address this once. Only once, and I will hear no more of it! Not only do I know about it, I was there! So was Ben! We watched our plan to gather information. Hank did what he did because I told him to do it.”

  Knight sighed. “As it happened, the plan was a failure, and I have apologized to Hank several times for putting him through that with nothing to show for it except opening the wound he carries — like all of us — for Howey and Margaret.

  “But for you, Derrick, that wasn’t even a possibility. No. All you saw was a chance to hurt your brother. All you saw was a way to cause more pain and more strife. So I will hear nothing about what you saw, from anybody, ever again. That is my shame, not Hank’s. And if any of you hold Howey and Margaret’s memory dear, then you will not speak of this to anyone, not even amongst ourselves, for fear or loosing another chance at reprisal.”

  Nods and voiced promises came from around the room.

  “Good. Now, Halo, I believe it is your turn,” Knight said, and stepped back.

  Halo stepped forward, his face a mask of concentration, and Cyn could see his fingers were shaking slightly. From the look in his eyes, they were probably shaking with rage.

  When his voice came though, it was clear, and even passionate. And Cyn realized that he really was going to give his position his best shot.

  “Derrick has spoken out in the past. Yes. Normally when he’s emotionally charged. He has said some hurtful things at these times — but who hasn’t? Who, in this room, while enraged, or in pain, or hurt the way only love can hurt, has not lashed out and said something they knew they shouldn’t have?”

  Derrick eyed the room, and he boldly looked at the trio. “No one? Not a single man or woman in this room has done exactly what we are bringing to Derrick’s door?”

  Halo paused, and took a breath. “Because the truth is, Derrick has broken no code. The truth is, he is an asshole, and since coming out of prison, he’s been a serious asshole, but never has he broken a single code. Not once! I defy anyone to name a code that Derrick has broken!”

  Again he searched the room and boldly met the tribunal’s eyes. “Again? No one? This man, our brother, is being held like an animal, and he’s broken no code, and though an asshole, who probably needs some serious help, has done nothing more than anyone else in this room has admittedly done.”

  Halo finished, and then he turned away from everyone and walked out into the night, and he stood there in the cold air.

  “Hang on, baby,” Cyn said, squeezing Daphne a little with her arm.

  Daphne shook her head. “It’s not over,” she whimpered.

  Knight nodded his head and stepped forward again. With a further nod he said, “No, Derrick never mentioned any names. So, he never actually broke the word of the code. He said, ‘My partner in this crime is tall, with brown hair, green eyes, a stupid spider tat on the side of his neck, rides a blue Lowrider, and he hangs out in a club bar, in rural Lakeside.’ But, no, he used no name.”

  Chuckles and laugher broke out throughout the room.

  “When he was told that his lawyer was there to sit with him during questioning, he said, ‘Makes a better fence.’ Result? Larry faced possible disbarment for nine months during an investigation which tore his life apart for that whole period of time. But Derrick did not mention his name.

  “Derrick did not mention the name of this club bar, but they didn’t seem to need to know the name. They came here, and for almost a year, they harassed, prodded, and searched everything they could. I personally was investigated by the alcohol bureau commission. My liquor license was nearly lost, which would have been a cost to the club of more than the million invested in that one piece of paper. But, Derrick broke no word of code.”

  Knight took a few pacing steps, and then said, “Halo asked very good questions, and did a fine job for Derrick. When Halo looked me in the eye and asked me his questions, I felt doubt. I really did. I began to wonder at the trueness of this tribunal, and at the trueness of my own motivations over the last few years to push Hank to have it.”

  He stopped his pacing and looked around. “Yes, I too have bad days, and yes, I too have said things in anger, or in pain, or in emotional turmoil, that have hurt and even maimed my brothers and sisters in this club. But afterward, when I recognized what I did, I said I was sorry, and I sought to make amends. Whether those amends were a beer at the bar and a few moments of time to assure my brother or sister than I really did not mean to harm them, or to be there when that brother faced a dark mile so I could ride with him, I did my best to earn back his respect.

  “What I did not do,” Knight said, turning back to face Derrick, “is to go home and devise new ways to continue the pain, increase the mayhem, and bring my brothers down even further.

  “Ben gave me a sheet not long ago which listed the financial damages done to members of this club as a direct result of Derrick’s actions. The total is over one million. The damages he saw were mostly time taken to deal with audits and investigations, lawyer bills, and loss of income due to loss of business.

  “Derrick is not unaware of these damages, but no one on that list has been offered any type of amends or apology.”

  Knight took in his breath and let it out. “So, as a member of this tribunal, I say no, I do not see a brother before me.”

  It took a moment, and it obviously caused Ben some pain, but he said, “Nor I.”

  Larry was quicker but just as distressed when he said, “Nor I.”

 
“Oh god, no,” whimpered Daphne, and Cyn held her tight, both of them in tears.

  Knight nodded, and he looked at the men holding Derrick. “So be it. I feel that simple banishment is enough. Remove his patch and get him on his bike. Derrick, you have thirty days to move out of our territory since your apartment is in downtown Lakeside. The consequences will be harsh if you fail in this or if you return. Get him out of here.”

  They dragged Derrick out of the door, and only the choked wails of Daphne followed him.

  Knight turned his attention on her. “Daphne?”

  She looked at him like a doe looks into the headlights of an oncoming truck.

  Knight didn’t wait for a verbal response; it was obvious he had her attention. “If you leave with him now, it is too symbolic. I’m sorry; you’ll be banished with him. But I like you, and I can’t think of a single member who doesn’t. So, I’m asking: Let him leave alone. Anyone in this room will let you ride behind them to follow him home as soon as he hits the road, but please, let him leave alone.”

  The sound of hits and angered pain came from outside through the glass as three men took Derrick’s colors, leaving him on the blacktop in the process. Then they hauled him to his feet and got him on his bike. Derrick’s bike started after another kidney shot to urge him on. He seemed to wait, though, even with the punches urging him to take off.

  Daphne wailed and ran for the door, and then stopped and ran back to Cynthia’s arms. “Why am I staying?” she screamed, “He can’t come back here!”

  Then Derrick’s bike roared to life and shot out of the parking lot and onto the road.

  “Tell him that we held you back,” Cynthia whispered. “Tell him we said he had to leave alone. Now, come on. I’ll ride you home.”

  She held Daphne close all the way outside as sobs wracked her body. Two other sisters came to her, telling her to call them, that they would come get her any time. They told her they could also help with the move if she wanted. They were honestly concerned.

  Daphne got on the back of the Lowrider, and she held Cyn tight as she started the engine and left the club.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  “Even after all of that,” Knight said, slightly amazed and after the door to his office was closed, “I almost couldn’t do it.”

  Ben looked over at him as he leaned against the wall near Knight’s desk. “I know what you mean. It had to be done, but I know exactly what you mean.”

  “That was the problem,” Knight replied. He showed his age as he slowly sat down in his chair. “It wasn’t called because Hank here wanted it called. It wasn’t pure. Derrick stumbled into our plans, and because of his own personality, he had to be removed. The tribunal was a sham, really. Derrick had to be discredited and put down so hard that no one would give what he said a second thought.” Knight nodded to himself and looked at Ben. “That’s why it feels so wrong.”

  Ben grunted agreement and looked to Hank. “So, what now?”

  Hank got more comfortable in the chair and said, “I’m back in there on Thursday. I’ll have more freedom of movement than I have had these last eight months. I’ll spend more nights at home, at least, and a few days. But really, it will be more of the same.”

  “What do you see in Derrick’s future, shaman?” Knight asked Hank.

  “I don’t know. We just took the last shreds of restraint from him. It had to be done, I agree, because of the public level of his actions. However, while we have controlled the fold, we have unleashed the wolf. The rumor will not spread, but Derrick has even more grist for his mill.”

  “What can he do?” Ben said has he spat.

  Knight looked at him. “He can go to Orlin Ruiz and tell him the story. He can name Hank as our man, and Hank’s life will be violently and very painfully ended.”

  Ben was aghast by this possibility. “But, no, but how could he? Oh shit.” He looked at Hank. “How can you safeguard against this?”

  “I don’t know if I can, but I am certainly in too far to stop now. They know where I live, who I see — I have to show up Thursday. There is no question about that, or all is lost anyway.”

  “Who you see … yes,” Knight emphasized, with a sad smile. “Perhaps not the best timing there.”

  “In my experience, it has never been good timing,” Hank countered.

  “In your experience, were cartel death squads involved?” Knight pressed.

  “No, not so far. And I am praying I’ll be able to say that two weeks from now,” Hank admitted. “How goes the short list of men for the drop?” Hank asked, changing the subject.

  “So far, it consists of Ben, James, Rick Walker, and Halo. That’s five. I need five more, if what you suggested was true.”

  “Then you definitely need five more,” Hank assured him.

  “Should we, like, I don’t know, keep an eye on Derrick? Or something? Realizing what he is capable of now really has me nervous about this whole thing,” Ben said. He looked at Hank. “I mean, hell, you and I have never been close, and you rub me the wrong way more often than not, but … shit. I wouldn’t wish this on Derrick, for crying out loud.”

  Hank rubbed his temple with his right hand, “There’s no way we can have men watching Derrick’s movements without adding credence to his claim and starting up what we just finished putting down. Besides, he could just call. He doesn’t have to go over.”

  “There’s got to be something we can do. This is too fucking important,” Ben said, crossing his thick arms and looking even more brutish than usual.

  “There is,” Hank assured him. “There is, and we’ll come up with it. Probably not tonight, since not one of us is thinking as clearly as we should, but soon.”

  “What is your biggest threat right now with the Ruiz situation, setting aside the possible workings of Derrick?” Knight asked.

  “A man named Ernando Delvalle. He’s an enforcer who by blood is very close to Orlin. A cousin, if I read things right, by his mother’s sister. Ernando doesn’t like me. I scare him. He didn’t like my tricks of observation. I not only set him on edge. It gave him the unshakable belief that I was there to do harm to Orlin and the cartel. Nothing, not even Orlin ordering him to stop, has deterred him from digging further and further into my life.” Hank added, “I may require a sanction on him.”

  Knight drummed his fingers. “A sanction to break the guidelines and kill him, you are saying.”

  “Yes,” Hank told him calmly.

  “Perhaps a red herring will work? Give him a scent to follow, and let him run until his heart bursts?” Knight asked.

  “Possibly,” Hank agreed. “He was in Lakeside on Saturday morning, searching for me. As luck had it, he found me as well, at the farmers' market.”

  “Wow, that’s some bad luck, bro.” Ben laughed softly in amazement.

  “Extremely tenacious, then,” Knight mused.

  “Extremely, with rather low intelligence. Dogged and literal. A dangerous combination to go up against with red herrings.”

  Knight met his eyes and sighed. “I see your point, yes. It is difficult to tantalize the imagination of a man who has no imagination.”

  “Daphne,” Hank suddenly sighed with a small smile.

  “Yes? What about her?”

  “She’s close with Cyn. In fact, I’m sure she gave Cyn the heads up about tonight just before I got over there. Cyn told me that Daphne caught her up on the Howey and Margaret story, and going over the short conversation, I believe she was attempting to reconcile me with the idea that I was working for Don Ruiz.”

  “Really? And she came riding in here with you anyway?” Ben asked, duly impressed.

  “Yes.” Hank smiled at him. “Apparently I passed the test, whatever it was. More importantly, I think Daphne will keep Cyn informed with what Derrick is up to. Cyn told me they talk every day on the phone, sometimes more.”

  “That sounds promising. Yes,” Knight agreed. “At least we won’t be completely in the dark.”

  “So,” Ben sta
rted hesitantly, “you’re thinking about bringing Cyn in a little on this? I mean, so far, how often has she relayed to you what she and Daphne and have girl-talked about?”

  “Not at all, except for what I believe was a feeler earlier tonight. Cyn — well, I don’t think she’s the type to mix friend streams much, unless the friends in question do it as well. She’s not a gossip at all, I’m afraid.”

  “But when she was given something like the Ruiz matter,” Knight said, “she talked to you about it. Yes, indirectly, and while keeping the faith with Daphne, but she did come to you. I think if she were told that Derrick was going to harm you or the club with actions Daphne witnessed, Cyn would tell you. On her own.”

  “If it is the club, she may come directly to you. After all, I’m just her boyfriend; you’re her president,” Hank pointed out.