Chapter 303: Murphy
*Pistol said that he hasn’t seen or heard from Damien in about a week. – Murphy*
It had been four weeks since the break in and Chance and Rye were now living in his granddad’s house. A few days after they moved in, Repo and Sledge came out from the metal shop and changed the coat of arms on the gate. The large Lowery coat of arms was replaced with a smaller version and one for Lynch.
The Lynch coat had a chevron and three three-leaf clovers while the Lowery coat had an attacking falcon. Both were topped with motorcycle helmets facing each other.
The floors inside the house had been cleaned and polished. The decking and pavers outside were power washed and sealed. The walls on the lower level had been painted as had the walls of the master suite and nursery. Geo had asked about having a room there and that would be the next one done.
Alana, Mia and the Flowers were in the front cleaning up the flower beds. Chance and his cousins were in the back making sure the grill still worked. Occasionally one of the older kids would run around the house followed by another.
And Roxy.
She had been a housewarming present from Patch and Jaye. Her bark was still scratchy and a little high. The scars, both inside and out, had healed as much as they ever would. And she was once again a loving and playful blockhead. When she first met Michael, Roxy laid on her belly and looked at the baby with complete adoration.
“No, that’s a bulb.” Alana said gently as Rye started to toss it in the trash pile. “As far as I know it’s a turnip. But it’s a bulb, it can be replanted.”
“It looks like a tulip.” Rose smiled.
All three were blonde beauties with vibrant green eyes and tanned skin from working outside. They all stood five feet four inches tall and had little pudges around their waist from having kids. Currently they were all barefoot with denim shorts and Theodore Roosevelt High School tank tops.
The reason that Rye knew it was Rose was because of the giant rose tattoo on her left arm. Violet and Heather each had a similar tattoo with the flower that they were named after.
Heather taught horticulture as part of the ag program at the high school. Earlier that day her sisters helped her with a vegetable give away from the school garden. Violet was a nurse at an assisted living facility. Rose worked at North Star Ranch helping to run the farm and greenhouses.
Their parents owned the greenhouses and nursery outside of town. They themselves had a small farm across the street. Seven goats, ten chickens and a three-year-old turkey because the kids fell in love with Tom.
“Never let the kids name a farm animal.” Rose had advised Rye once. “Before you know it, Thanksgiving dinner is getting birthday parties. Welcome to parenthood.”
Rye tossed the tulip bulb into the keep pile and went back to pulling out dead flowers and weeds. The flower beds had not been worked on since Alana’s dad died. They were overgrown and weeds had choked out a lot of the flowers.
All five women turned at the sound of motorcycle pipes and the gate opening. Alana stood up and watched the SUV from the Monroe police department turn down the driveway.
She peeled off the green gardening gloves and shoved them in the back pocket of her jeans and wiped her brow on the sleeve of her hot pink t-shirt. Her feet were in her old worn out formerly grey tennis shoes that had been relegated to yard work.
She looked at her oldest son through dark sunglasses as Werewolf came to a stop. The SUV stopped behind him and a woman in jeans and an MPD polo stepped out.
“Leigh Anne?” Rye asked quietly as the Flowers moved to her side.
“No, ma’am.” The officer said walking around the hood of the vehicle pushing her glasses to the top of her head. “Just following up with you.”
Chance and Dino came around the corner of the house. Eli, Heather and Gremlin’s oldest, started to follow but was told to go back by his uncle. Chance walked over to help Rye to her feet.
“Where’s Michael?” she asked as he wrapped a protective arm around her waist.
“Gremlin has him.” Chance answered as the police officer approached them.
“Girls.” Dino said, offering a hand to his wife as two other bikes started to come down the drive. The three sisters followed the silent direction and went with Dino to the back yard.
“It’s nice out here.” Murphy said offering a hand to Rye and then Chance.
“Thanks.” Chance said. “It was my granddads place.”
Celt and his dad parked their bikes behind the car and approached along with Werewolf.
“No point in having a gate if everyone can get in.” Murphy said shaking Phineas’ hand. “How are you, Judge?”
“Doing good. Thanks for the call, Murph. Have you met my son?”
“I’ve met several, not sure I’ve met this one.” She offered a hand to Celt. “Celt, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Celt answered.
“I came by to check in. Leigh Anne was known to be seen with Damien Whitfield. Do you know him?”
The men and Rye shook their heads no.
“Pistol’s last name is Whitfield. Scarlett may have named her son after their dad.” Alana said and the men all looked at her in shock. “What? I have lived with, slept with, or fucked four different presidents. I know things.”
“Good for you.” Murphy smiled. “Pistol. Lovely. He’s with the Brotherhood, right?”
“Yes. They stay out of our towns.” Werewolf said.
“Keep telling yourself that.” Murphy replied. “I arrested three the other day that weren’t wearing colors and ink was covered.”
“Son of a bitch.” Werewolf muttered as he pulled out his phone.
“Whoever you’re calling, remember, I’m a cop.” Murphy said and he put his phone back in his pocket. “If you hear anything, let me know.”
