The Last Riders - First Four Votes (48 page)

E
arly the next day
, Mrs. Langley answered her door when she heard Diamond’s knock.

“Mrs. Langley, I’m Diamond Richards. Thank you for seeing me.”

“Please come in. I’m anxious to be of any help I can.” The older woman’s face was grief-stricken. Samantha, Diamond had come to find out, was Mrs. Langley’s only relative. With her death, she no longer had any family left.

The woman showed her into a formal living room that was very well taken care of with several family photos and expensive knick-knacks placed around the room.

Sitting on the couch, she accepted the cup of coffee the woman had waiting for her.

Diamond didn’t want to upset the woman further, but she needed answers. “I am sorry for your loss, but do you mind me asking if Sam had stopped by the day of her death?”

Mrs. Langley nodded, placing her shaking cup back down on the ornate coffee table. “Yes, she came by for a few minutes then left. She didn’t stay thirty minutes.” Her voice cracked.

“Did she come by for any particular reason?” Samantha carefully probed.

“She needed some money.” Mrs. Langley answered, a tear running down her cheek.

“Did you give it to her?”

“Yes, but it wasn’t much. I’m not wealthy, but I have enough to live on. Sam wanted several thousand dollars. She was upset with me when I couldn’t give it to her.”

“So she left when you told her no?” Diamond asked gently.

“No, she asked me for some of my jewelry to sell.”

“Did you give it to her?” Diamond disliked the woman she was investigating. The more she learned, the more her dislike grew. Seeing the woman in front of her, Diamond wished Samantha was alive so she could kick her ass.

“Yes, I gave her two rings and a necklace. She took them and left. Do you think that the jewelry could have drawn the killer to her?” The thought had her hands shaking.

“No, I’m sure it didn’t, Mrs. Langley.” Diamond felt angry with herself because it could be a false assurance, however she couldn’t help wanting to make her feel better.

Diamond finished drinking her coffee and sat with the woman a few more minutes. She was about to leave, but then brought up a subject that she knew would further upset the woman. “I understand the sheriff is currently investigating the whereabouts of your great-grandchild?”

“Yes, Samantha had the baby in Jamestown. From there, they can’t find a trace of the child. She tried to claim that Gavin James was the father, but I put a stop to that.”

“Do you know who the father is?”

“No, I can’t help you there. Samantha always kept that part of her life secret from me. She knew I wouldn’t approve.”

“Thank you for your time, Mrs. Langley. I know this is a very difficult time for you,” Diamond apologized and meant it; the woman seemed really sweet and didn’t deserve the ungrateful granddaughter fate had given her.

Mrs. Langley nodded and then showed Diamond to the door. She hated leaving the woman alone in her grief, but having no other option, she reached into her purse to find one of her cards, giving it to the woman.

“Take my card. If you need anything I can help you with, please call, Mrs. Langley.”

“Thank you, Ms. Richards.” Mrs. Langley managed a weak smile.

“Call me Di,” Diamond said, waiting until Mrs. Langley nodded her head and then closed the door before she returned to her car. When the car started, Diamond put it in gear, then backed out of the driveway, thinking of Samantha. The sheriff hadn’t mentioned the jewels, which meant the only one who knew about them had to be the murderer. If she found the jewels, she would find Samantha’s murderer.

O
n the way
back to her office, Diamond passed the diner as several bikers were going inside. She caught a quick glance at one of the men’s jackets. Coming to a sudden decision, she braked sharply and turned into the diner’s parking lot.

Leaving her briefcase in the car, she grabbed her purse then braced herself to go inside the busy diner.

Inside, she saw the men she was looking for sitting at a large table. Searching the group, she found the one she thought might be the leader.

Diamond assumed her professional mantle as she strode forward confidently. As she approached, the men noticed her and quit talking to see if she would be brave enough to talk to them.

“Hello. May I talk to you gentlemen for a few moments?” Diamond addressed her request to the man with the long blond hair. His moustache and beard covered a good portion of his face, but Diamond could still see he was an attractive man. He appeared to be in his late thirties; however the dead look in his eyes spoke of a man much older. For some reason Diamond couldn’t explain, she felt sympathy for this man who had been through something that had marked him to such an extent.

“Sure, sweet thing. Will my lap do?” One of the men slid his chair back and motioned for Diamond to have a seat.

Diamond moved to the side and pulled out an empty chair, sitting down. The waitress came to take her order, giving Diamond a worried glance. She ordered herself a glass of water; she couldn’t handle another cup of coffee. After the waitress left, Diamond faced the table of men who were staring at her with astonishment.

“I was wondering if it would be possible to ask a few questions.” Diamond felt the atmosphere at the table change with her request.

“Unless you want to ask me how long my dick is, then no,” the man who had offered her his lap to sit on said sharply.

Ignoring him she asked the question to the man she now was sure was the leader.

“It won’t take long.”

“You a cop?” His eyes brushed over Diamond’s designer dress.

“No, I’m a lawyer. I’m investigating the murder of Samantha Bedford.”

Everyone’s face closed off and Diamond knew that they had been acquainted with the woman.

“Then I’m going to repeat, the answer is no. Now get the fuck out of here,” he said.

It took all her years of dealing with badass bikers to keep her seat as the waitress sat down her water and retreated with another worried glance.

“I just need to talk to the three men that Sam was friends with in your club. Warrants have been taken out for their arrests since they missed their last court appearance and I know you won’t break a confidence and tell me where they are, but if you had a way to contact them, perhaps you could give them my number?” Diamond reached into her purse and pulled out her card, handing it to the blond biker.

He took it from her and tore it into pieces.

“I told you to fucking go. Next time, I won’t be so nice.” His glare went from detached interest to a threat that she had no doubt he would see carried out.

Just after that, the door to the restaurant opened and several of The Last Riders entered. Diamond recognized Knox, Viper, Razor and Rider—the one that had all the tats—brought up the rear.

They came to stand behind Diamond. “You having problems?” Viper asked Diamond.

Before she could answer, the leader spoke. “She doesn’t have a problem, we do. We’ve asked her twice to leave, she’s ignored us both times.”

“That true?” Viper turned to her.

Diamond looked at Viper. “I need to find the men who were with Sam that day outside in the parking lot. They belong to the Blue Horsemen. You want me to clear Knox?” Diamond stared pointedly at Knox.

The blond man leaned toward Diamond, losing his casual appearance. “I don’t know where the fuck they are, and I don’t know a damn thing about their families. They aren’t horsemen anymore and they weren’t when they pulled that stunt with Sam.”

“Stud. I think she got your message,” Knox said, taking a step forward.

“Good. Then maybe she’ll get her ass away from our table,” Stud snapped.

“Ms. Richards. Let’s go,” Viper ordered.

“Ms. Richards? When the hell did you become so polite?” The men around the table laughed at the sarcastic reply from the man who had offered her his lap.

“You laughing at Viper being polite, Bear?” Knox came back with his own smart-ass remark. The tension filled the restaurant this time as the men from the rival bike clubs began to escalate. Diamond rose to her feet.

Ash looked at Knox. “No.”

Diamond didn’t blame him from backing down; Knox looked furious.

“I’m finished. Sorry for the interruption.” Diamond left the men and then left the diner without looking back, however she was brought to a stop outside when she was grabbed by her arm.

“What in the hell were you thinking?” Knox angrily asked her.

“I thought I might try to find out who killed Samantha. It’s what Viper hired me to do,” Diamond answered, jerking her arm out of his grasp.

“I didn’t tell you to take on a motorcycle club. You should have called me or the sheriff who could have found out the information you needed,” Viper said as he came outside, hearing her answer to Knox’s question.

“I didn’t need your help. I was safe. What were they going to do in a restaurant across from the sheriff’s office?”

“Were you planning on staying in there? They would have followed you home.” Knox stared at her like she was stupid.

“It doesn’t matter; it’s over.” Turning on her heels, she strode to her car.

“It isn’t fucking over. You’re on their radar now. They’re going to watch and make sure that you don’t drag their club into being investigated,” Knox said, striding after her.

“How do you know that?” Diamond snapped at the big lug following behind her with the rest of The Last Riders following.

“Because it’s what we would do,” Knox answered, slamming his hand on her car door when she would have jerked it open.

“Back off, Knox,” Viper stated calmly. Knox stepped away, removing his hand from her car door.

Diamond swung around to face Viper and the rest of The Last Riders.

“If you want me to find out who killed Samantha, I’m going to have to step on some toes. Are you going to give me shit every time?” Diamond asked bluntly.

“We’re not giving you shit. The men that Samantha associated with were dangerous, and those are the ones we know about. Obviously someone killed her, so eventually, you’re going to come into contact with the person who did. The best way to handle this situation is to keep someone with you who can keep an eye on the situation so that you won’t get hurt,” Viper cautioned her.

“I don’t need someone to watch my back. I can take care of myself,” Diamond said, becoming angry.

“I’m sure you can. We’ll merely provide you with back-up if you need our help,” Viper reasoned.

“I can’t find out what I need to know with you guys following me around,” Diamond argued back.

“You won’t need all of us, one will do. Knox and Rider can take turns keeping an eye on you.” Viper crossed his arms over his chest, giving Diamond the impression that the decision had been made.

“Hell, no.” Diamond refused to have either of the men following her.

“Why not?” This time it was Knox who answered. “I should be helping. It’s my ass that will be back in jail if we don’t find out who killed her.”

Diamond couldn’t argue with that reasoning. The stubborn male faces staring at her weren’t going to give in unless she agreed to have one of them watching her.

“Fine, the next time I want to talk to someone that is in a motorcycle club, I’ll give you a call.” Diamond opened her car door, slid in and slammed the door closed. The men moved out of the way as she reversed and pulled out of the parking lot.

“Knox,” Viper ordered.

Knox nodded and headed to his bike to follow the stubborn attorney. Whether she liked it or not, he had just become her shadow.

D
iamond pulled
into her office parking lot and got out of her car. Seeing Knox pull in behind her, she didn’t stop. She merely ignored his presence and opened her office door.

Holly was sitting behind her desk on the computer when she entered the room.

“I put your messages on your desk. You had a couple of calls from potential clients; One a DUI another an assault.”

“I’ll call them back.” Diamond stopped briefly at her desk. Opening her briefcase, she pulled out the notebook she had used to take notes of her conversation with Mrs. Langley. “Could you type this up and place them in Knox’s folder.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Thanks, Holly.”

Holly smiled. “No problem.”

Diamond went into her office and made several calls. She returned the phone calls to the two potential clients, turned down the DUI and accepted the assault case, scheduling an appointment for the client to come in the next day. After she disconnected the call, she pulled up a list of pawn shops online and called, seeing if anyone had pawned jewelry fitting the description Mrs. Langley had provided.

It was a long shot, and Diamond wasn’t surprised when nothing turned up. Leaning back in her chair, she stared up at the ceiling, contemplating her next move. Deciding to call it a day, Diamond shut down her computer and placed her papers back into her briefcase.

“I’m leaving early today, Holly. Finish up what you’re working on and you can leave.” Diamond paused in front of her secretary’s desk.

“Thanks, Ms. Richards. I’m not feeling well, so an early day sounds good.”

“Are you all right?”

She noticed then, for the first time, that her secretary was pale. “I’m fine, probably a virus.”

Diamond tried to discreetly take a step away from her desk without causing offense. When Holly gave her a faint smile she knew she had been unsuccessful.

“If you don’t feel better, don’t bother coming in tomorrow. I’ll handle the office,” Diamond offered.

“I’m sure I’ll feel better,” Holly protested.

Diamond left her secretary finishing up her work. When she opened the door, she came to a full stop. Knox was sitting casually on his motorcycle with a couple of secretaries from the building talking to him. His eyes met hers as she walked up to him.

“Do your bosses know you’re out here on their dime?” Diamond said to the two women.

“We’re on break,” the model thin blond stated, giving Diamond a hard glare.

“Well, breaks over,” Diamond snapped.

Diamond’s lips tightened at Knox’s raised brow.

“I don’t need you to sit in my parking lot. I told Viper I’d call when I need assistance, and I will.” Diamond spun on her heel before he could answer then turned back in case he hadn’t listened. “I’m off for the day anyway, so you can head home to the women waiting for you there,” she said disdainfully.

Diamond got into her car and then drove out of the lot without a backward glance.

K
nox watched
the stone-faced bitch pull out of the parking lot. “Fuck it.” Starting his bike, he followed her through town. He made sure to stay far enough back that he didn’t draw her attention and was surprised when she headed out of town. He trailed behind her as she drove, surprised when she drove through Jamestown twenty minutes later. Sure this didn’t have anything to do with his case, he almost turned around, but his curiosity had him continuing to follow.

When she drove through a neighborhood that had seen better days, he hung back further, not wanting to alert her to his presence. Ten minutes later, she pulled in front of an older home that was in better condition than most. She then got out of her car, going inside. Knox sat watching the house she entered, curious as to who she was visiting. She had an apartment in Treepoint, Viper had told him, so this must be family or friend.

An hour past before Knox picked up the sound of another bike, which was coming from the opposite direction he was sitting. Knox watched as a biker swung familiarly into the driveway. From the jacket he spotted on the biker’s back, he recognized the man belong to the Destructors. The man’s long, grey ponytail reached down his back, yet Knox could tell from the way he moved that he was still in good shape. As the biker climbed off his motorcycle, Knox saw him eye Diamond’s car before he went inside.

Knox was surprised to see the door open minutes later and Diamond rush outside, followed by an older woman that resembled her. Knox instantly knew he was looking at Diamond’s mother. Her hair was a brighter shade of red than Diamond’s and she was pretty; dressed in tight jeans as well as a tight top that would have younger women envious of the sultry curves she possessed.

He watched as the two women argued while the biker came to the doorway to watch. The biker’s face was unguarded with Diamond’s back to him; Knox easily read the man’s hurt. Diamond shook off her mother’s restraining arm then headed straight to her car and drove away.

Knox watched the mother turn back to the house with anguish on her face while the biker left the doorway, taking the woman in his arms. Knox figured there was some heavy shit going down in that family for there to be such pain on her parents’ faces. The stuck up bitch probably figured she was too good for them now that she was a lawyer.

That realization had Knox liking the lawyer even less than he had before. Starting his bike, he went back through the neighborhood, not surprised when he came back to the main road and Diamond was a few cars ahead. He maintained his distance as she drove back to Treepoint without stopping until she parked at her apartment.

When she got out of the car, she took her briefcase, letting him know that this time she was in for the night. Continuing on, he headed back to the clubhouse where he parked his bike then went inside the house.

The large house had initially been intended to be a bed and breakfast when Viper’s brother had come to town to explore the possibility of opening the business The Last Riders owned. The living room, where they held their parties, was easily the size of four normal living rooms with a bar in the corner while the kitchen was a chef’s dream. It was more than able to cook the large quantities of food that they needed. The attached dining room was also large, as was the meeting room off to the other side. The many bedrooms upstairs provided all the brothers with their own rooms as well as several of the women, though they were more than likely to end up spending the night in whichever bed they wanted.

As he entered, Knox spotted Viper sitting on the couch with Winter close to his side. “What are you doing back so early?” he questioned.

“She’s in for the day,” Knox answered his president. “I’m going to grab a shower then I’m going to Rosie’s.”

“I’m in for that,” Rider said, coming into the room.

By the time he was showered and changed, several others had decided to tag along.

“Stay out of trouble,” Viper warned.

Knox gave him the finger as he walked out the door. What trouble could he get into at Rosie’s? It was The Last Riders favorite bar. The only fight he had ever gotten into there had been with Viper’s father, Ton.

Knox, Rider, Train, Cash and Shade all headed to the bar with several of the women riding at their backs. As they pulled into the lot, Knox recognized Diamond’s car in the lot. The woman actually surprised Knox. Not only had she not stayed in for the night, but she had not called Viper to tell him she would be going to Rosie’s. The woman had no fear.

Knox was about to show her just how much she had to fear.