dug myself out of the trenches

“Doris?” Ramina repeated with some amusement. “I’m surprised her name wasn’t Karen or something equally as ‘I’d like to speak with you manager,’ “ she finished with a little laugh. “I’m just saying,” she suggested with a bit of a smirk. “If she’s so determined to have something wrong with her car. You could make something wrong with her car. Suddenly you found the problem and maybe she’ll stop yelling about how there has to be something wrong. And then you still get the money too when you fix it.” Ramina looked all too please with the idea of it, and the concept of possibly winning over someone as annoying as Doris. 

But as Jer moved closer and spoke his piece, a little frown of concentration came over Ramina. Did she want to continue to be a freeloader on a friend? She used to have absolutely no qualms with using people for their money, but this was different. She hadn’t cared about those people, and Jer had done so much for her. Nevertheless, a little shake of her head was paired with an a gentle eye roll as Jer once again mentioned Damian. “We’re not doing that.” They’d nearly both pretty much agreed not to be doing feelings. Feelings were hurtful. “But…you sure you’ll be alright here all by yourself?” Would Jer get lonely? “Yeah, don’t think you’re getting away with cornering him at the Fall Festival,” she teased.

“Oh trust me, Doris probably originated the ‘I’d like to speak to the manager’ look,” Shaking his head at the thought of Doris storming Ollie’s office over a phantom engine leak, Jeremiah’s head tilted back and a loud laugh fell out of his mouth. Ramina was speaking a thought the man had thought many a time in his years as a mechanic. If she really thought there was something wrong with her air conditioner, then maybe he should just take it completely apart and take an extra day to work on it.... “You make a good point. Maybe I’ll have to take that advice to heart.”

Watching Ramina’s face as she processed what he said was confusing. Was she okay? Did Jer upset her? But as she finally spoke again he couldn’t help but sigh a little bit in relief. “I’ll be alright,” He assured, patting her knee. “I’ll get a hobby or somethin’, I hear those are pretty cool.” Now it was his turn to roll his eyes at her as Ramina once again shot down the implication that there was anything besides friendship between her and the doctor; but Jer saw the way her eyes lit up when she mentioned him. “What’s there to get away with! I just told him that if he hurt you I’d be hurting him..”

Maddox had seen this side of things before. People in charge of the Club trying to calm him down when they knew he was fucking right. It had happened with Allana and now it was happening again. And it’s giving him flashbacks to when he lost his child and lost his future wife. It made him remember how it felt to sit in this same hospital and feel the same exact fucking feelings. The need for answers. The need for repercussions for those responsible. The need for his significant other to just be fucking better and home with him. Although the reasons were different and ultimately, Sutton wasn’t here because of Reina’s vengeful ways, or he fucking hoped not, it still stung in the same places of his heart. Maddox tried taking a deep breath, his head falling back so that he was looking at the ceiling of the hospital, although there was little interesting to look at. “It just keeps fucking happening,” he breathed, bringing his eyes back to Jer. Maddox wasn’t sure if this statement would make sense to the Thane brother but it didn’t matter did it? 

Especially now because clearly, Jeremiah is in defensive mode. As if he didn’t know whose decision it was. Sutton had agreed and Jack knew there was no way that she wouldn’t agree. Sutton needed to prove herself in every fucking situation she was handed. She needed to be the best. She needed to be running that much faster than the competition (which to be honest, with Maddox as her competition, she didn’t have to do much to outshine the man).  “I’m not sure what choice you think she had but you and I both know that’s bullshit,” Maddox reasoned, his voice coming out a matter-of-fact rather than angry. But he was angry. He was angry at the Club and he was angry at Sutton and he was angry at himself. He should’ve spoken up more. When Sutton asked if he was sure— he should’ve said no. Maddox backed up a bit from Jer, knowing that the conversation hadn’t been going well. Maddox went from okay to mad to sad in the blink of an eye. He was tired and he was getting really fucking worn down from this fucking town. “I can’t fucking lose her,” he added, his voice barely a whisper. “I told her I loved her before she left to get her fucking face beat in.”

Maddox had definitely seen his fair share of disaster in the past few months. Jer couldn’t help but give it to him that the prospect hasn’t completely flown off the handle at him yet, if in this position, Jeremiah knew he probably would’ve picked a fight. “I know.” God if he had known what to say to try and make the other man breathe a little steadier, he would. “But she’ll make it through.” Could Maddox hear the unsure tone in his voice? Maybe, but Jeremiah knew whether or not Sutton walked out of this hospital, there would be a club decision on how to serve justice. And Maddox would be the one to deal the first blow.

The defensiveness in the prospects tone was surprising. The club vice president understood where it was coming from, but he had never heard that tone come out of Maddox’s mouth. Squaring his shoulders a bit he sighs “Fair point.” Jer wouldn’t tell him that he knew even if she wasn’t a prospect, Sutton probably would’ve said yes - they all knew how she was with trying to prove herself - because he doubted the mechanic wanted to hear that right now. “You won’t lose her. I promise you that you won’t.” This time his voice was steady. Squeezing Maddox’s shoulder again he nodded. “Good. Good. She’ll be able to say it back when she wakes up.” Glancing back at the Chambers family behind them, Jer turned back to the man before him. “What do you need from me?”

Truthfully, with Kane six feet under – Figuratively, at least – Andy had naively assumed they would be on an upswing. Things had calmed down in town, a certain stillness settled over for a moment during the week of the holidays, just to have them meet yet another disaster at their feet. Sutton Chambers is in the hospital, beaten and bruised and bloody – Andy doesn’t know the extent of what happened, but he can paint a clear enough picture. It’s fair to assume that this is club related, that this is some sort of payback for Kane, even if she lived to tell the tale. The details were foggy, but he knew there was going to be a club meeting in the near future, but for now – He’d enjoy a drink with his brother. God knows he could use one. He’d been careful to keep sober the last few weeks, trying to rest his leg and keep a clear head in case another left turn found him and his family. One couldn’t hurt… He arches a brow as Jeremiah speaks, taking another sip of his beer before responding. “S’too much to ask to have a quiet night.” Andy points out bitterly, exhausted with the back and forth. Not knowing who is going to be attacked, killed, or taken from them next is enough to keep him up at night, with out the addition of his own personal demons to make it worse.  “How’s Chambers holdin’ up?” Andy finds himself ask.

His brother’s voice was a normalcy that Jeremiah desperately needed at the moment. God if there was anything he could count on being unmoving in his life it was Andy and Jackson, and in moments like this, Jeremiah was glad of that knowledge. “It is, apparently,” the older Thane mused, sipping more of his beer. Sighing heavily, Jer set his beer bottle down and rubbed his chin. “She’s...stable. I talked to Martin, he’s goin’ to keep an eye on the family in case it was just the beginning; I’m guessing Hart’s staying with her at the hospital. From what I heard from the EMT that answered the call about her she looked real fuckin bad.” Huffing a little bit, Jeremiah looked at his brother. “Hart thinks it was the agent she was warming up to. Only other answer I can think of besides that is someone getting back at the club, but why would they choose a prospect rather than a full patch?” The situation was fucked, and if it was leaning towards the ATF angle, then that’s a whole nother can of worms that had to be opened. But, suddenly filled with the urge for some happy news, Jer nudged his brother. “Benny like Thanksgiving then?”

Maddox had been angry in the truck. He’d been so fucking angry knowing that from the word on the street, Marshall was to blame for this. But that was just what they were saying. People were scrambling and Sutton’s injuries were more important to him right now. Now that he understood what injuries she’d sustained. There would be time for anger. There would be time for sadness and grief and breaking down. But right now, Maddox was trying to keep his shit together for Sutton until he got to see her. He’d been waiting for what seemed like decades to see her and he wasn’t going to taint that with the anger he knew would come soon enough. However, the word retaliation burns in his brain for a few moments as he resonates on what the fuck he would do to the person responsible.

“I don’t think this was Trojans. They haven’t even gotten their shit together. Why would they attack a fucking prospect? It doesn’t make sense. What about that ATF guy? Marshall?,” Maddox shrugged, trying not to let the shiver of anger down his spine show to Jer as he says the man’s name. He couldn’t turn against the Club in times like these. And as Reina had advised him, he couldn’t argue with the Club, he couldn’t question its descisions… none of it. He had to be a good little prospect and keep his mouth shut. “They were on good terms as far as I fucking knew. He’s an asshole and he wants in her fucking pants but he’s never hit her…” Maddox trailed off, bringing his voice back down to a whisper so that he wouldn’t give anything anyway. “But if it’s not a Trojan and we know it’s not a Primordial… I’ve got money. I knew from the beginning this was a bad idea. I fucking knew it.”

Jer knew that Maddox was right even before he finished his sentence. But God would it have been easier to plan retaliation against the fractured club on enemy lines than to plan against federal agents. But he also knew that the prospect beside him was so against the idea of Sutton’s little undercover mission that he would assume it was the agent from the start. The vice president was known to lean towards taking his club members side over anything else, so he had a good feeling that Maddox had a point. “Marshall huh? Interesting....we see him around since she got taken in?” Because if he thought they were together, then he should’ve been right there too. “I know you did. I know, man. But it was her decision. We didnt think this would happen.”

Maddox had yet to get to go in to see Sutton. He’d been in the waiting room of the hospital sitting with the Chambers family, trying to keep his own head on straight while his girlfriend’s family panicked, waiting to hear any news. He knew that it was selfish to want to be alone right now since someday, these people may very well be his real family (if things worked out) and he knows that it makes them feel better to be together right now. Noah had been the one to contact Maddox saying that they’d found her in the alley and for that he was grateful. He had been going stir-crazy waiting for her— waiting for anything so that he could feel like he could breathe again. That is, until he feels choked by the waiting room and all the tension inside of it. 

A sense of relief washes over Maddox, even if it’s only a split second, at the sight of Jeremiah Thane. He knew that he’d been busy with Thanksgiving separately, as they all had been, but the Club was still family and the attack was certainly Club business. When Jer asked Maddox to step away, he did as he was asked, giving Sutton’s parents and Noah a look as he sat up from his seat. “I’ll be right back,” he assured them, before moving to follow Jer who hand immediately takes Maddox by surprise. It’s a welcome gesture as Maddox feels like his head might fucking explode if one more bad thing fucking happens. It was bad enough that Maddox’s mother passed away, that he was arrested, that he had to move… and now this. Now, Sutton was laid up in a hospital room while the doctors fought to keep her comfortable.

Maddox sighed, wiping his face for a moment before looking up at Jer again. “I mean, she’s alive. We haven’t seen much of her yet. They found her in the alleyway…” Maddox paused to breathe, trying to keep himself together. He knew he’d be going through the same song and dance over and over again, giving people updates about Sutton, but it’s the first time he’s saying anything out loud. “She was supposed to be going out Black Friday shopping with her sister-in-law. I don’t know what the fuck happened… Maybe she’ll remember,” he explained but God, he really didn’t want her to remember. Not because Maddox didn’t want to kill whoever touched her because he did. But rather, because was that really worth her remembering how she got her face and head kicked repeatedly?

Jeremiah hadn’t really known how Maddox would be feeling, but he had been preparing for a bit more anger. And maybe Maddox was angry, but the fact he was surrounded by Sutton’s family was holding him back. All Jer knew was that, if he had been in the prospects place, Jer would be setting the world on fire. So he gave it to the younger man for at least keeping his outward emotions in check for the time being. But watching him talk about the shallow details given by police statements by the only witness, it made Jer want to fight someone too. The club was family. Whoever did it, hurt his family. 

Making mental notes of the story, Jeremiah looked around their surroundings, ensuring they were alone before pulling Maddox closer to keep their conversation between them. “I know you got a lot on your mind right now. But you say the word I’ll start doing what I can for retaliation. I’ll talk to Jack and Andy, we’ll bring it to a vote. Whoever did this, they won’t get away with it.” Which led him to his next question. “Think this was a Trojan? Getting back for what happened?” From what Jer knew of the prospect behind the double doors down the hallway, he really couldn’t think of who would target her specifically. Not only was she not a full patch and therefor didn’t know shit about the murder of Kane, but she was pretty sure she was at least friendly with everyone. 

A little frown of concern took over her lips as her brow creased in curiosity, and she looked a little closer at Jer. “Who’s thinking they can battle you an get away with it?” If there was one thing Jer taking her in had earned, it was Ramina’s undying loyalty. She’s always be indebted to him, and most likely always ready to help with anything he might need. But she calmed a little as it became apparent that it was more a petty argument with a customer rather than anything serious. “Maybe you could make something wrong with their car,” she only half-joked.

But then her confusion was back as he brought up the subject of watching her back, and her shoulders tensed a little. Had he heard of someone else possibly wanting to come after her? Suddenly she was entirely attentive, hanging onto his words as he began to speak once more as she waited to hear what he had to say. “Oh” was the first thing out of her mouth, and the next was a denial. “I mean— Damian and I— we’re just- well we get along well.” She did her best to deny any possible feelings there. “But…that’s very kind of you, Jer.” Now she was set to thinking, though. Perhaps it was time for her to go back to just being…Ramina. But was she ready to give up a link to the gangs? It had been such a large part of her life for so long now. But also…she didn’t want to mooch off of Jer forever. “Is that what you want?” she asked, uncertain what it was that would suit him best.

“Oh you know, Doris from down the road; likes to think because she was alive when the model T was invented that she knows everything about cars,” Chuckling just slightly, he glanced at Ramina. “What are you suggestin’ there, Ram?” Already amused, and still on a high from eliminating his family’s worst enemy, Jeremiah was ready to hear any idea Ramina may have been joking about. Or maybe she was serious. “Though I’m sure fuckin’ with it’ll just send Doris right back to me with a whole host of complaints,” Maybe this was a bad time to bring it up, because Ramina’s immediate reaction seemed to be defensive. Was she still scared? Was there someone else that she was worried about. “Hey...” Scooting a little closer, Jeremiah put a hand ontop of hers. 

“Listen to me okay? You will always have my protection. I’m a phone call away and I’ve got no qualms about setting up a stake out if that’ll make you feel safe.” With his free hand he tilted her chin up just slightly so they were looking at each other. “This isn’t about what I want. It’s about what you want. You want to stay with me? Rad. That just means I’m gunna have to get better at cookin’.” Cracking another smile, Jeremiah continued. “But if you want to stop denyin’ that you got a thing for Damian; then I support it.” Nudging her shoulder with his own, Jeremiah hummed in fake thought. “just means that I get to give him another speech...”

“I guess,” He shrugged, “Y’know come to think of it, when is shit not fucked up?” Holidays weren’t that important to him, honestly. It wasn’t like he had family to celebrate with or anyone to celebrate with for that matter. So he sort of was even more of an asshole around the Holidays, he found that it was a good coping mechanism. 

“What fucked up part are you upset about right now?” There could be so many options, honestly. Was it Kane? Was it his family? He truly had no idea. 

“You’ve got a point,” Jeremiah waved with two fingers towards the bartender, signalling two more drinks to be slid their way. “Guess it just feels different now; what with Kane gone and it being a universal time of celebration, right?” Things were never normal in Olympus, but Jer at least liked to pretend. Nodding in thanks at the bartender as two beer bottles were passed across stained hardwood, Jer slid one to James. “Oh you know the usual. Dealin’ with at home shit and then apparently we can’t slow down for a second, now I got a prospect in the hospital.” He glanced over at James and quirked an eyebrow. “Your holiday been any good?”

And then he got the call from Maddox that Sutton was nowhere to be found, and had Jeremiah seen her? He hadn’t, and he reported as such, but promised to keep an eye out. Turns out he didn’t have to, because a few hours later he got a message from someone in the hospital. One of your prospects just came in. After he got an idea of what the fuck happened, Jer needed a fucking drink. He knew that retaliation was most likely on the brains of Chambers’ closest friends in the club, so he’d have to figure out something to do. But for now, he stared at the TV playing highlights from that afternoons football games, combined with clips of Black Friday crowds. Swirling his glass in front of him, he felt rather than heard someone approach him. Downing his drink, Jeremiah turned to the new comer, flashing them a tight lipped. “Some fucked up shit happening this holiday huh?” 

Jeremiah had been under the hood of his car, trying to find the source of a leak before he went to his mothers house, when his phone started buzzing off the hook. Informants had been updating him throughout the day as rumors of a new leadership team was being elected on the other side of the war. On top of that, the ATF was sniffing out a lead dropped onto their laps by Chambers. Seth could do whatever he wanted as president, but the Primordial’s were just making sure that the deck was stacked against the Trojans for a little longer. 

It was a few hours after Thanksgiving dinner though, his hands covered in soap suds as he helped his mother do the dishes, that a message made him pause. Chambers was in the emergency room. Found in an alley. Fuck. He allowed his mother to pass him more dishes as he fought the urge to call Maddox or Martin to ask if it was just a typical trip. Did she get in a fight? Or did she hurt herself cooking and the alley thing was just a rumor that his EMT buddy overheard? He didn’t know but when the dishes were done and put away, Jeremiah excused himself for a moment to get on his bike and haul ass to the hospital. 

Maddox had been struggling as of late, and he wanted to make sure that the prospect’s head was on straight at the moment. If he could show his support by sitting there, he would. Walking into the overly sterlized waiting room, Jeremiah spotted the blonde man sitting with a man who looked exactly like Martin, and two people who were obviously The Chambers parents. Clearing his throat, Jeremiah nodded at the family and glanced at Maddox. “You got a second?” Nodding towards the bank of snack machines in the corner of the waiting room, the vice president led Maddox there so they could talk in private. A hand immediately going to the younger man’s shoulder, Jer gave him a comforting squeeze on the shoulder. “How’s it been? Everything okay?”

He’s lost interest in the pain killers, the dull throb in his leg having gone to the back of his mind at this point. The only thing he can focus on is Rowan, and ensuring that they’re in the clear after this debacle. His top priority is her, her safety – To make sure that she’s safe after all of this, that this ghost doesn’t follow her around. He needed every detail though, if he wanted be certain of it. Andy nods as Jeremiah tells him where the body is, taking sip of the coffee in his hands. “Good.” He says steadily, more satisfied with his answer. “You make sure that panned out? Do a follow up? Make sure your tracks stayed covered?” He pushes, knowing that’s he’s just micromanaging at this point, but he needs to know everything – With all the bullshit going on in their lives, the last thing Andy needs is for this not to be black and white, clear as day. His tone doesn’t show any frustration, voice remaining level as he questions.

It took a lot for Jer not to chuckle at his brother’s line of questioning, but he got where he was coming from. If it was Layla on the side of the road, he’d be just as concerned. But he and Andy were raised in the same household. Became two heads of the same club. They understood how this shit worked. But he understood; so Jer took a sip of his own coffee before leaning back in his chair. “Disguised the van. We went far enough out that the body will have some time with the elements before someone finds it. I went back, did everything.” Raising an eyebrows at his brother he held up a hand. “I got her home safe, asked her over a thousand times if she was alright so I’m guessing if I ask again she’ll shoot me next.” The joke was small, a light end to a heavy story. 

The day that Kane’s head had been staked into the ground had been a glorious one for Ramina. She swore she could feel the literal weight being lifted off her shoulders as the news had broken. The man she was most worried about was gone— dead as a doornail and never coming back. It was freeing, to say the least. 

The death had put her in a spectacular mood for the last couple of days, so she was ready with a grin for Jer as soon as he walked through the doorway. “Hey, Jer!” she greeted brightly, though he smile dimmed a bit as she read his expression and movements, watching the hand try to wipe the exhaustion from his face. “Is everything alright?” she asked, sitting up a bit straighter. Then she was fielding the question he’d posed with a little shrug. “Well enough. I’m just glad I can walk the streets as a free woman again,” she finished with a bit of a chuckle. “Or rather- without having to look over my shoulder as much.” 

Jeremiah had a feeling that Ramina would be relieved that Kane was now no longer a threat; and that feeling was proven correct when she saw the grin on her face. Shifting a little bit to be in a better position, Jer shook his head. “Nah, everything’s fine. Just had to battle some of the people who think they know my job better than I do.” Shrugging just slightly he stretched his arms over his head. “Can’t please everyone ya know? Especially the ones who insist there’s something wrong with their car when there is literally nothing to fix.” Cracking a grin at her, Jer took in the fact that she looked brighter than she has been. It was nice to see.

Reaching out to pat her knee softly, the middle Thane son nodded. Hearing her so relieved about the freedom she got just by feeling a little bit safer, put his concerns at ease. “That’s actually what I wanted to talk to you about - the watching your back thing, I mean.” Keeping his hand on her knee for just a second longer he took a second to try and at least figure out how to word this. “I know this is a weird circumstance. And I just wanted to make sure you know, especially with Kane taken care of. If you wanna go back to how things were. And explore whatever you’ve got goin’ on with the hot doctor,” his eyebrow waggled suggestively at the woman beside him as he nudged her in the side. “I’ll still watch your back no matter what.”

As Jeremiah speaks, Andy shrugs a shoulder. He feels lighter, but Kane’s death doesn’t necessarily make him feel different. It’s a win, but this fight isn’t over – It doesn’t change the scars that have healed, or stop them from earning new ones in the future. “I’unno,” he settles with, pausing for a moment to take a drag of his cigarette. “Winning,” he finds himself repeat back, nodding slowly. He’s never actually said it out loud – He doesn’t feel like they’ve won, but this is certainly a victory for them. Andy’s never been one to let himself take down his guard and not look to the bigger picture or a worst case scenario. “M’just curious to see what happens now.” 

Jeremiah watches the scene unfold in front of him as he took a drag of his own cigarette. There was something pensive about his younger brother, but Jer wouldn’t probe that situation just yet - they were celebrating now. Celebrating the fact that the world around the Trojans was about to implode without their leader. No matter who they tried to put in Kane’s place, things wouldn’t be the same. They would run themselves into the ground. Glancing at Andy, the middle Thane nodded slowly in agreement. “What should we be expecting, you think?” He asked casually. “Don’t think they’ll be able to regroup quickly. Gives us some time to build our stock up. Maybe we can kick ‘em while they’re down.”

It was weird. After the job with his brothers, Jeremiah was expecting a shift in everything. They eliminated the enemy. So why does the air still smell the same? Why does his alarm still sound at 6 AM every morning. Something should be different - right? It felt like something as momentous as eliminating your enemy and leaving his head on a stake where everyone could see would shift the universe. But no. The sun rose the same. 

Which meant Jeremiah was stumbling into his home at 6 PM with whatever complaint the elderly woman from down the road had over the phone that day like he did every day. Exhausted, Jer collapsed onto the couch with a loud groan, thankful for the cloud of cushions holding him up instead of his feet. When he heard movement behind the couch he tilted his head towards the sound. “Hey Ram,” He murmured, rubbing a hand down his face before his eyes blinked right back open. Suddenly he was sitting up again, watching the woman move around the room. Seeing Ramina dislodged the thought that was in the back of his mind the entire day. But he wasn’t sure how to approach the topic weighing on his mind. So he decided the first step was to see what she knew already. “Did you avoid the madness out there today?” 

The reassurance that Jer wouldn’t let anything happen to her isn’t one that is needed —- she’s never doubted that fact — but is appreciated, none the less. She doesn’t comment on it though, instead shooting him a tight lipped smile as they turn down a more deserted road than they had been on before. The drive doesn’t take long at all and before she knows it they’re pulling into their destination. It’s clear that this isn’t Jeremiah’s first trip around the block, and she’s reminded that this is why she had called him, as he moves with ease to disguise the vehicle. “As I’ll ever be.” She comments when he asks if she’s ready. It isn’t that she feels bad for killing the man rolling around in the back of the van —- she doesn’t, because if it comes down to her or someone else she is always going to choose someone else, and when you add Benny into that mix? She’d do it again in a second and she knows it. Still, taking a life is a hard pill to swallow, no matter how well deserved the persons death is. She cringes when he throws the body over his shoulder. “Gonna break your fucking spine doing that,” she gives him a pointed look, “Or blow your knees out, at least.” Not that lecturing him on the importance of team lifts or lifting with his knees, not his back is important right now but Rowan will take anything even sort of normal right now. She takes the key from him and moves to unlock the gate, pulling it up and then shutting it behind him once he’s in. “How far out should we go?”

Gunna break your spine doin’ that. Raising an eyebrow at Rowan, Jeremiah continued to heft the man over his shoulder. Maybe it was the haunting image of the first time he came to this spot; his first kill with the club, and his father had driven him to this same gate and said you gunna get rid of the body or you gunna be a pansy about it? He always felt like he had something to prove. So he’d lift with his knees and hope for the best. As he walked by Rowan he hummed. “Good thing I’ve got a medical professional with me then, huh?” He doesnt stop walking as Rowan shuts the gate, but he does slow to give her a chance to catch up to his long strides. 

The van’s headlights would only give light for so much longer and he didn’t want her getting lost or breaking an ankle in a hole she didn’t see as they moved. Jer considered her question as he fumbled in his pockets for his phone with one hand, to turn n the flash light. “Close so that he gets found kinda soon...we don’t want the ATF turnin’ up again in a year because of a cold case. But not close enough that some hikin’ Girl Scouts get traumatized.” When the canopy of trees around them grew thicker, Jer veered to the left. After handing Rowan his cell phone to hold the light, dumping the body was easy. He made sure to scuff the ground around the bodyto make it look like there was a fight, even though the weather would muck all his hard work up. Then there was one last thing to do. Can’t say that there was a shooting if potential witnesses didn’t hear a gunshot.  Approaching his sister in law, Jer nodded at her. “This is gunna get loud.” He warned before he fired a shot into the ground by the man’s hip.