Chapter 149: Dead Men
*Why are there so many dead men in the basement? – Nessie*
It was Tuesday and church night. The weather was cold and rainy so Nessie had fixed chicken and dumplings.
“Nessie,” Buck approached her in the kitchen, “Toad wants to talk to you.”
Nodding she gave some instructions to the club girls working the kitchen. She then followed him down the hall to her uncle’s office. Inside the office were the officers of the club – Knuckles, Spider, Sledge, Molly and Werewolf were standing around as Toad sat behind his desk. Dom stood in the shadows of a corner.
Nessie stepped in and quickly looked away from Knuckles. Buck motioned for her to sit in the chair in front of the desk. She smiled her thanks as she sat down.
“I have a strange question for you, Ness.” Toad said cutting straight to the heart of the issue. “What do you know about the basement?”
“Yeh mean the dead men?” she asked and the bikers were shocked. “I think there’s six. Soon to be seven, he’s not always there and the others say he’s still alive. There’s also one in the bar, two outside and one in the common area. And one that just goes wherever ‘e wants.”
She turned and looked at Dom. “They don’t like you. But if yeh want the one you have down there right now to talk before he dies, promise to protect his family.”
“Seriously?” Dom demanded. “How the hell do you know this?”
“They talk. The one in the bar annoys me. Tank should have cut out his tongue before breaking his neck.”
“Is that why you don’t go in the bar?” Knuckles asked.
“Yes.” She whispered.
“Ness.” Toad said and waited for her tear-filled eyes to meet his. “What do you see?”
“New life.” She said looking at her uncle.
“And the others? What do you see when you look at them?”
She looked back at Dom. “Death follows you, but you are friends with it.” She looked at Buck. “Unexpected life.”
Nessie smiled at Molly. “Life. A lot of new life. But death stalks someone close to you.”
Looking at Werewolf she cocked her head. “You are also friends with death. You are protector and protected. Sadness and loss. Hope.”
Spider was next. “You are haunted. The men who served under you, you need to let them go. They don’t blame you.”
Looking at Sledge she smiled happily. “Call her. Tonight. No, go check on them. The little one will be scared.”
Nessie refused to look at Knuckles and looked down at her hands.
“What do you see with Knuckles?” Sledge asked.
Shaking her head, she gave a soft sob.
“Vanessa.” Toad said gently.
“I don’t.” She whispered as tears began to fall. “I can’t see anything with me own future. But I know what’s there.” Tears were streaming down her face as she looked up at Knuckles. “I canna be the reason yeh die.”
With that statement, she bolted out of the office. The office was left in a stunned silence. Toad motioned for the door and Buck moved to close it.
“It’s hard to explain. She has the gift of sight, just as my wife’s great grandmother does. Siobhan does not have it. Grams Stewart has told her what lies in her future.”
“Do you really believe in that shit?” Dom asked.
“I’ve seen Grams make some damn accurate predictions. Do I believe in all of their crap? Not at all.”
As he spoke, Toad pulled out his bottle of whiskey and poured a double shot. He offered the drink to Knuckles who downed it in one gulp.
“From what I understand of her vision, Petros will find her. When he does, there’s going to be a lot of blood. The thing is, there’s no guarantee of any of it happening. But she believes it will.”
“He’s still following the decoy in Europe.” Werewolf said.
“Let us know if it changes.”
“Who’s Petros?” Knuckles asked.
“Her ex. I’m not going to give you details on him, but you should know that he has the ability to hurt her. Badly.” Toad said.
“Do you still have guards on her family?” Dom asked.
“Yes.” Werewolf answered. “Even extended family. There’s something that I want to run past you.”
“Private?” Toad asked and Werewolf nodded. “Alright. We’ll talk after church.”
