Popping Trucks?
"Shit." Brian hit the steering wheel as the patrolman walked up to his car. He had been on his way to race wars and had almost made it through LA's downtown business district area. The siren and speaker words were louder than he had remembered.
"Step out of the vehicle, hands up, O'Connor." The order boomed over the car's PA system. He did as he was told, a frown on his face. He was rushed by the patrolman and was handcuffed as though he was a hardcore criminal.
"What'd I do now?" Brian asked coolly as they put him the cop car. "What, no Miranda rights?" He asked as they slammed the door on him. They took him into the interrogation room and he sat waiting, getting more and more irritated as the wait drew longer.
"You know how this works." The cop grumbled as he walked in, obviously not liking Brian's look he had seen. Bilkins walked in, making Brian grin, despite the situation.
"Man, what is this?" Brian shook his head, keeping his eyes locked with Bilkins'.
"A question and answer session. I ask, you answer, then we see if you're arrested." Bilikins grinned, in his usual easygoing manner as the grumpy cop uncuffed Brian.
"Dude, just cause I'm not a cop anymore, you can't do this." Brian objected.
"Just listen, O'Connor." Bilkins suggested, making Brian sigh. He leaned back in his chair, arms folded and all ears, knowing he had no other choice. "Someone's popping trucks again. We're just curious if it's your family you so graciously chose over the force." Bilkins informed his former employee.
"You think we're doing it?" Brian's voice was raised as he sat forward in the metal chair, his body stiff.
"Well, who else would do it?" Bilkins shrugged.
"Whatever happened to innocent till proven guilty? Man, I know for a fact it's not us." Brian's blue eyes flashed angrily as he frowned.
"When we haul you in with the rest of them, don't' say we didn't give you fair warning." The police officer that Brian had assaulted for his comment about Mia the first time spouted off, from the doorway.
"You want to go at it again, Bro? Cause that shit ain't funny." Brian jumped up, his temper hot. Bilkins stood between the two, looking at Brian in awe. "What? It's not me or any of my team. I put my life on that." He said, his voice even and low.
"I hope you know what you are doing, O'Connor, and I hope they are worth it to you." Bilkins sighed, disappointed in the employee who had showed so much promise and future.
"I made the right choices." Brian assured him, still frowning.
"We'll see. My agent here will take you back to your car." Bilkins coughed.
"Gee thanks." Brian stated dryly. He rode back to his vehicle, frowning the whole way and drove to wars in even deeper thought.
"Hey Bri." Leon nodded as Brian pulled in, dirt flying from his speed. He walked past him, then stopped.
"Where's Dom?" He asked, looking around to see if he had been followed.
"Trailer, Dawg." Leon said, opening a Corona.
"Dom, we gotta talk." Brian said, whispering as to not wake his sister. He waited outside, pacing as a shirtless Dominic came out of the trailer, knowing something was up by Brian's behavior.
"Ok, wassup?" He asked, relaxing in the chair by the campfire that had burned out.
"Tell me you guys ain't popping trucks again, please." Brian ran a hand through his hair. Dominic's eyes narrowed and his body stiffened. It was still a touchy subject to him and the crew.
"Why would you say that?" Dominic asked, scratching his baldhead while watching Brian move nervously about.
"Dom! Tell me you're not!" Brian's voice was raised more than he had meant to, taken aback by Dominic's reaction.
"I'm not. I'm just wonderin why you'd pull that outta you're ass out of the blue." Dominic frowned.
"Because I got stopped by the police. They think our team is behind it. Now, if any of the crew is involved, I need to know." Brian whispered, fighting not to yell. His eyes met Dominic's.
"You still a cop?" Dominic asked, his voice deathly even and calm.
"Not this shit again." Brian groaned, making Dominic break into a smile. "Dude, it's not funny. If they even think we're doin it, they're gonna be on our asses." Brian said, pacing faster now.
"Where's Tempest when I need her?" Dominic muttered, surprising Brian. Those two were civil to each other, but it was rare they wanted to be around each other willingly.
"Why?" Brian snapped, thoroughly annoyed at Dominic's chilled attitude.
"So she can sedate your ass. Chill, man." Dominic patted Brian on the shoulder and walked away, leaving Brian not only shocked but irritated he wasn't taking things seriously. He sat down on the chair to think things over before going to anyone else.
"Have a Corona on me." Leon walked up and handed him a beer.
"Ha ha." Brian replied dryly. "Thanks man." He said, realizing it wasn't Leon's fault.
"You know it's not any of us." Leon said, sitting beside Brian. "After that last one and all the drama, Dom would never put his team through that again." Leon said honestly as he took a big gulp.
"Guess you heard." Brian stated rather than asked.
"Yup." Leon nodded. There was a period of silence.
"They hauled me in. They really think it's our team." Brian shook his head, still staring into the dirt, in thought.
"Dawg, it's gotta be a copycat or somethin. Maybe they're tryin to push your buttons." Leon suggested.
"Maybe." Brian sat back and took several long drinks. There was more silence.
"You're still a cop." Vince muttered as he walked past Leon and Brian, his face red.
"What the hell did you just say?" Brian stood up, ready to let loose.
"Dom told me what you said. Fess up, you're still a cop." Vince accused. Brian started for Vince, but was intervened by Leon, holding him back.
"You need to watch what you say." Brian pointed at Vince, fighting to get at him.
"Ooh, did I make you mad, Blondie?" Vince grinned, making Brian fight harder to get at Vince.
"No, you just need a good ass kickin." Brian seethed. "You've had it for a long ass time." Brian promised.
"Enough!" Dominic yelled, Letty behind him. Brian and Vince both stared at each other, neither listening. "Both of you sit down. NOW." He ordered. Vince sat down and Brian slowly objected. "O'Connor, I was callin a team meeting. Why you so bent outta shape?" Dominic asked, frowning.
"I don't like being accused of being a cop when I've proved myself countless times." Brian threw a hate glance at Vince.
"Some things never change, man." Letty remarked, shaking her head and making Leon grin. Tempest and Tiffany walked up, knowing the tension , and sat down, not saying a word.
"Brian, I'll let you tell the team, since you seem to doubt us." Dominic sighed, looking at each of the team members.
"Doubt who?" Tempest asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's not like that." Brian shook his head. "I got hauled in by cops. They're trying to say out team is popping trucks again." Brian said, finishing off his Corona and tossing it into the plastic trashcan.
"Interesting." Tiffany shot Tempest a look as she massaged her husband's shoulders.
"Yeah, I'm not accusin anyone. I was just making sure it wasn't us." Brian sighed.
"Well, since you include yourself every time you've mentioned this, I don't suspect you're a cop." Dominic grinned, making a light joke. The girls laughed.
"Dude, this shit ain't funny. They could start watching us. Running checks on all our shit. If they suspect us, they can make our lives hell." Brian's voice was again rising. He didn't see anything funny about any of it.
"We know this. Been there, done that. How do you think we met you?" Vince asked, a sarcastic smile on his face.
"Keep it up." Brian pointed at him threateningly.
"So, Brian, what do you suggest?" Dominic sighed, seeing Brian was seriously worried.
"We keep our noses clean and be on guard." Brian said, trying to glance at Tiffany and Tempest without making it obvious.
"For a minute I thought you were suggesting we find out who's doin it." Tempest shot back, knowing the last comment was directed to her and her home girl.
"Nope, I quit investigative work. I'm going for a drive." Brian grabbed his keys and headed for his car. He peeled out, his anger being taken out on the gravel road.
"Exactly why I said not to tell him." Tiffany sighed, sounding disappointed.
