Addictive (Houston Defiance MC #2) - K.E. Osborn Page 0,34
receive special-privileged phone calls, sir. If he’s here, for processing, which I am assuming he is, then you will have to wait until he either phones you or has visitation with his attorney, if he has one. Or, if he’s innocent as you suggest, then you will see him when he’s released. Until such time, I cannot help you—”
“Can you just tell me how he’s doing? Give me something, Daykin… please?” I put on my best begging voice which goes against every fucking grain of my being.
She exhales like she’s considering my proposal. “Fine! Who are you asking after?”
“Krew Walker.”
Silence.
The pause is a little too long. Immediately, I know it’s because she’s aware Zero’s in there due to the Baron, and that shit can’t be a good sign.
“Look, your friend is fine. He’s okay while he’s in here. There’s no one else currently in the cells with him. But after his arraignment, if the judge doesn’t grant bail, he won’t be as alone in his cell like he will be when he’s taken into remand. Do you hear what I’m telling you?”
Hell yes, I do. I guess Daykin’s not a fan of the Baron.
A cold sweat invades my skin. Zero’s going to have a cellmate, and he’s already been chosen. This means there’s no hope of getting bail at the arraignment.
Zero’s going inside.
My job now is to figure out who the hell his cellmate is going to be. Because if Daykin is right, it’s not going to be anyone good.
I’m running out of time.
Zero is running out of time.
WRAITH
A Week Later
As suspected, the arraignment didn’t go in Zero’s favor. Zero pleaded not guilty, then the judge set the court date for twenty-six months. Which, of course, we all know is exorbitant. The prosecutor asked for a continuance, so Zero wouldn’t have a swift trial. The Baron wanted Zero to know he was going away for a long-ass time, and that he held all the power where the judiciary was concerned. When I found out who the judge was, it didn’t surprise me as he’d been seen lunching with the Baron many times in the past. We should have guessed.
Zero was stoic on that day, but adamant he didn’t want Cherry or Prinie there. It was fucking hard to tell them they couldn’t go, but eventually they understood it wasn’t safe.
Since then, the clubhouse has been in fight-back mode.
Zero was taken back to Harris County Jail when he was, of course, refused bail, and now, I’ve been doing every-fucking-thing I can think of to find someone, anyone, to help him on the inside. But to no avail.
Finley has been keeping us up to date on his health on the inside, but no one is able to gain access to the details about who the fuck Zero’s cellmate is. Zero’s apparently keeping tightlipped. Seems shit is already strained inside the system with him in there. But with Kevlar’s help, and a lot of convincing from me, we talked Ethan into pulling a few strings at the jail where Zero’s incarcerated.
When a new prisoner enters the system, they go into what’s called reception. No one but their attorney and official clergymen are allowed to visit for a period of one hundred and twenty days. It’s not a plausible position for Zero to be in because we need to see him, and we need to do it sooner rather than later.
Kevlar begged his brother to help us, and I’m sure Kevlar’s done some kind of deal with his lieutenant brother. I have no idea what Kevlar had to sacrifice, but I appreciate it. I wanted Kevlar with me because if anyone understands how to work the judicial system, it’s an ex-cop. And who better to bring attention to us, to let the cellmates know we mean business than someone who’s going to grab the prisoners’ attention.
Even though Kevlar may not have put these fuckers in here, criminals are criminals and some of them are hardened, which means they’ve been in and out of jails for years. Some of them are bound to know Kevlar. If we need people to talk to, Kevlar’s going to know the best inmates to bribe.
Will they want to talk? Probably not. But Defiance has pull, and we can offer deals.
My goal is mainly to check on Zero. Get anything I can from him.
Finley is with us, to help if we need to discuss any legal shit. We need a voice of reason in all this fucked-up shit.