CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
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I'm so lost in my own world full of yeast, flour and water that I barely notice someone appear in the kitchen doorway until a rough cough makes me look over. Seeing it's just Ima I ignore her and go back to the bread dough I was kneading. Dropping it into a bowl to allow it to raise I cover it with cling film and put it on the bench in the spot of sunshine.
Setting the tray of buns I'd pre-shaped into the oven I turn to her and raise an eyebrow, "Can I help you with something?"
"Just thought you might like to see who Jax will be with on Saturday." Ima's voice is irritatingly smug and it takes all my will power not to storm over and punch her in the face. Choosing to ignore her as she spouts of shit that I'm paying no attention to I wander round the kitchen cleaning the benches down as I go.
She turns to leave and as she goes she spots the pile of cinnamon rolls I had made first, she reaches out to grab one when I push her hand away. "Those are for Sons only, and unless you've grown a dick instead of being pounded with one you don't fit the criteria."
Her expression is priceless and it twists into a glare when Gemma steps into the kitchen and grabs one of the sugary rolls I've just told her she can't have. Shooting a filthy look at me she spins on her heels and leaves the clubhouse, Gemma looks over her shoulder, "Was it something I said?"
I burst into laughter and go back to clearing the mess I've made while Gemma pours a cup of coffee and leans against the bench. "You doing okay baby girl?"
"Yeah I'm good. Luann's tomorrow aye?"
Gemma nods and turns to leave, "She sure is, I told her you'd be there as well and Donna's gonna come too, makes it easier for babysitting duty."
I know I look confused so she turns back as she explains, "Having 3 old ladies there makes it more normal that a table in the place would also be full of patches. Ope, Jax, Juice and Tig are going to be there. Clay wanted to but he's needed here for some shit with the Irish."
I nod and Gemma leaves again. By the time I'm done with the dishes and cleaning the benches down the bread rolls are cooked and the quick bread is done. Quickly forming it into plaits I pop it in the oven and move the rolls to a cooling rack.
Glancing at my watch I make a note of what time the loaves will have to come out and head to my laptop, I'm relieved when there are only 4 e-mails to reply to. The few lines from Patrick confirming the paperwork has been signed for at the brokers in Florida make me smile. The newsy update from Graham who had gone through the Culinary Arts program at the same time as me makes me laugh, especially when he goes into detail about a failed date he'd been on recently. Apparently the guy wasn't sure if he was gay or not and wanted to try it out.
Replying to Graham takes me a while and by the time I'm done and have my laptop closed and disconnected again the bread is ready to come out. Pulling it from the oven and setting it on top of the bench I grab one of the rolls I made earlier, ripping it open and adding a little butter to the still warm insides I wander out to the lot to see what's happening. Sitting on the picnic bench just outside the door I watch the mechanics working on cars and various Sons coming and going from the lot.
The gifted phone rings from my pocket and I pull it out, seeing Charlotte's number on the display I flick it open and answer.
"Hey Charlotte, what's up?" I ask cheerfully.
"I heard back from the DA down there." I can tell by the sound of her voice it's not good news. "They said no, on grounds of 'questionable mental sanity' if you believe it." She sounds irritated and like she'd happily tell them where to stick their mental sanity. I jump to my feet and start pacing, I'm as irritated as her, but the irritation is underlain by a feeling of acceptance.
"S'okay, honestly, I was expecting it. What do I do now?" I'm not sure if I could now be considered a criminal for carrying around a weapon, even if it legally is mine.
"You've got to hand any weapons in your possession, and it should only be the one, in to the nearest law enforcement who will also want to take your licence. Apparently you have 24 hours to do so." The irritation hasn't left her voice and I know it's not aimed at me, but at the bureaucratic rule makers who have decided that my mental state is unstable.
"Alright, I'll do that today. And Charlotte, thank you for trying. I knew it was a long shot." I'm not going to tell her that I could have a replacement pistol that afternoon if I wanted, and it would not be on any database anywhere.
"That's okay Sarah; I just wish I was ringing with better news. They still have no idea where Craig is either, so I really don't agree with their decision, but I can't fight it." The irritation has faded away to show how upset she is about this.
"Charlie, it's all good. I'll be fine. I'm never left alone, literally, and I have my family here to protect me." I've slipped into the nickname I gave her one night when we had been up late with my therapist going over the details for the case.
"Damn straight, take care okay. I'll ring when I have some news." Charlotte disconnects the call and for a second I'm tempted to throw the phone but settle instead for picking up the ashtray beside me and hurling it into the concrete brick wall of the clubhouse.
"Feel better?"
"Fuck!" I spin around on my feet and just about chuck the phone at the person who scared the shit out of me, but realising at the last second that its Al standing there makes my arm drop. "Al, you scared the shit outta me!"
"I gathered that by the missile launch that was only barely averted." Al giggles as she speaks and drops to a knee to inspect her work. "Looks good, a bit irritated. Did something happen to it?"
Al's always seen the ink on my body from drawing till fully healed and I gather something's a bit different in this one. "I did end up wearing trousers over it yesterday."
Al nods, "We may have to touch up a tiny bit of the flames at the back of your leg, but it looks okay."
"K just let me know. What ya doing here?" I can't help but notice her attention is mostly absent and her eyes are darting around the lot.
"I'm waiting for..."
"...me. Sorry I'm late." Juice rushes out of the clubhouse and the pair of them disappear over to his bike with a hastily shouted goodbye.
"Well that's great." I mutter as I walk over to the office. I really am glad for Al and I'm pleased that it's turned into something not just a one-night stand. Whether it end up a 2 or 3 night happening is still to be seen.
Tapping on the office door I peek my head through it and find Gemma battling a pile of paperwork. She lifts her glasses and looks over. "You alright?"
I shake my head a little, "Not really. Clay fill you in on the licence issue?" Gemma nods, "Charlotte, the New York DA, just got back to me. California declined the issue cause they think I'm nuts."
"And now what?"
"I have to hand over all fire arms and my licence to the local police, as it's not a legal weapon any more. I have till this time tomorrow but I'd like to get it over and done with." I sit down on the edge of the desk and absently undo and re-plait my hair while Gemma looks pissed. "I'm okay with it. I kinda knew they wouldn't let me have a legal weapon with Craig on the loose, but it's a pain in the ass."
Gemma flicks through some paperwork before pulling a sheet out. "Perfect, you can go with Sack to the station, he has to pick up an impound and bring it back here. Take this over to him and off ya go."
I step back out of the office with the paper in my hand and search the lot for Kip, finding him with Ope under the tireless car they'd towed in I head in that direction and wait till they both notice me. Handing the paperwork to Kip I let him know I'll be tagging along. Opie drops the tools he's holding in his tool box and wipes his hand, picks up his kutte and follows us out. I'm a little curious till he opens the truck door and waits for me to climb up.
"You ain't going with just Sack." He states, closing the door and jogging to his bike. A few minutes later, once Kip has the truck backed out of its space and Opie's ready to go we pull out of the lot and head towards the storage unit where the gun was still locked up.