"I'm burying them in the woods." Prez bent over and lugged Steven over his shoulders and straightened.
"Them?" He followed Prez to the back door. "How many more have we lost?"
"Since last night...four." Prez stopped, waiting for Keenan to unlock the padlock to let him out.
"The originals?"
Prez shook his head. "Far as I know, we're all alive. Johnny's still missing, though."
He exhaled in relief. They were all brothers, but the originals had gone through the project together. At one time, it was only the six of them. They were responsible for the club and running the town. They couldn't afford to lose anyone, and he hoped Johnny realized that and came back.
"Do you need help?" He shoved the door open.
"No." Prez stepped outside. "Stay with the others while I see to Steven."
"There's a state policeman at the RV Park." He stood in the doorway.
Prez never missed a step and spoke under his breath. "Deal with it."
He watched his president carrying the burden of what the Alpha Bio Project had done to them until the trees blocked his view. Then, he set the padlock on the ground outside for Prez to use once he came back.
Knowing he couldn't leave the front door unlocked for long before the others noticed, he went back inside.
Without bothering the men, he took a headcount and judged the stage they were in. Instead of a hostile group, they were all in a somber mood. Whether from losing Steven or the changes were coming faster than they could handle.
Each of them trained as an emotionless killer was now finding they were affected by the loss of others. That loss was personal.
He went out the front of the building, locking the door from the outside. His basic security system seemed to keep the others inside for the time being. Tomorrow, everything could change. They'd reached their low. Now they had to climb back up to become active citizens within Avery Falls.
"Keenan," whispered a familiar voice.
He stopped at the gate and peered around. "Johnny?"
"How many of us are left?"
He opened the gate, still not seeing his MC brother. "We've lost nine men."
"Fucking hell," muttered Johnny, still whispering under his breath.
"Where are you?" He turned in a circle. "Where have you been?"
"Montana. Idaho. Washington." Johnny coasted toward him on his Harley. "I just kept going, trying to outrun the changes."
He approached Johnny when he stopped and shut off the engine. "Did it work?"
Johnny shook his head. "I came back."
"Why?"
"It's all I know." Johnny gazed toward the gate. "Is everyone inside?"
"Most of them. Trip and Speeder are at the cabin."
Johnny's gaze swung back to Keenan. "Prez?"
"Out back, burying Steven."
Johnny closed his eyes an extra beat. Keenan slapped him in the arm, getting his attention, and handed over the key for the padlock. "Go in. He needs help with the others. Make sure you lock yourself inside and if you leave, lock it on the outside. Keep the key. I have another one."
Johnny's chest expanded, and he reluctantly took the key and headed toward the clubhouse. Keenan locked the gate. Prez and Johnny were able to keep the men safe. Now all they needed was Trip and Speeder back and willing to uphold their loyalty to the club.
He wouldn't count out Hank yet. While the originals would need to deal with Hank's past, they needed all the men they could keep.
Per Prez's orders, he rode over to the RV Park to deal with the police. The Idaho State policeman was still there, talking to a few of the campers. As an AFMC member, he'd need to do his part in providing information to the officer.
He hesitated at his bike, looking in his duffle as a cover for overhearing the conversation.
"Go ahead and pass the flyer around the campground. If anyone has any information, they can call the number at the bottom."
"What happened to her?"
"As of right now, she's a missing person."
"Damn shame. She's a pretty woman. What was she doing hiking by herself?"
"We'd appreciate it if you and the others keep your eyes open when you're out recreating. If you see her or anything of interest, call that number on the card," said the policeman, giving little of the details to the public.
Keenan zipped up his duffle, having heard enough. He walked straight to the police car, gaining the law enforcement officer's attention.
"Something I can help you with?" Keenan held out his hand. "I'm Keenan, a member of Avery Falls Motorcycle Club."
He gave him the name the Alpha Bio Project had assigned him. To give his real name, he would probably be in the system for all the drug charges he'd accumulated through the years. All the policeman needed to know was that he was a club member. Everyone knew who owned the town.
"I'm Trooper Sandberg." He shook Keenan's hand and then handed him a paper. "We're doing a follow-up on a missing woman by the name of Grace Lambert." He pointed at the picture. "Her sister reported her missing on the thirteenth of June. She believes Ms. Lambert was coming to Avery Falls on June seventh and staying until the twelfth. She supposedly had reservations at Avery Falls RV Park. I would like to speak to the person in charge. I understand from talking with the campers that the park attendant has been absent during their stay. If I could talk to someone who can let me see the campsite that Ms. Lambert was staying at and view any surveillance tapes during that time period, I'd appreciate it."
"June?" Keenan whistled. "It's been a busy tourist season. Hundreds of people come through here daily. It's been a while, and the name doesn't ring a bell. Though, this is my first year taking over the park from my MC brother. I'm splitting duties here, and at the store, so I'll have to look through the book."
He'd take all the blame. He wasn't going to set up Hank to take the fall.
"Can I see the records?"
Keenan nodded. "Let me walk over and get the reservation book out of the motorhome."
"Thank you." Trooper Sandberg stepped away and spoke into the radio piece hooked to the shoulder of his shirt.
After hearing him discuss other business first, Keenan retrieved the book, flipping through the pages as he returned to the trooper.
"What were the dates again?" he asked.
"June seventh through the twelfth."
Do you have the license plate of her RV? It's easier to look up the information."
Trooper Sandberg widened his stance. "No RV. She stayed in a tent."
"Ah." Keenan thumbed through the back half of the book. "We reserve them as two separate units...different areas." He turned the book around. "Here's the list of tent campers for June. You can go down the first column and see the dates they stayed."
Trooper Sandberg studied the book, taking pictures with his cell phone. Keenan hung back, letting him peruse the information. After a while, the trooper retrieved his notebook and thumbed through the pages.
"Her sister was positive Grace had reservations for a camping site C7," said Trooper Sandberg.
"That's across the bridge on a short path along the river. We've set up sites for seven parties. C7 would be the first one on the trail." He pointed across the river where he could see the cleared areas of each site. "Feel free to walk through the sites if you need."