Within thirty minutes of Jasper going horseback riding, the stables were swarming with police. Both uniformed and non-uniformed police were searching the stables looking for something. Leaning against the stable wall, I watched them tear the place apart. Chances were if they haven't been to the club yet, they soon would be.
Having already called Jasper to let him know the stables were being raided, I waited for him to return while the police brought out files of paper and other boxes. The detective in charge of the raid had already asked me questions over the stables and the comings and goings of this place. Having never been here before today, I couldn't tell them anything. Though, even if I did know something, the chances of me telling them anything were small.
"Just what the fuck is going on!?" Jasper suddenly shouted as he dismounted from his horse.
"Ah, Mr. Whitlock. Detective Swan," he said while flashing his badge.
"I don't give a flying fuck who you are! What the hell are you doing on my land?" Jasper demanded in a fierce tone.
"We have reason to believe that you are behind the murder of Sam Uley."
"Murder? You have a body?" Jasper asked while crossing his arms over his chest. "Do you have a warrant for this?"
"Mr. Uley has been reported missing. We have reason to believe that you're behind his sudden disappearance," Detective Swan informed Jasper.
"And what reason is that exactly?" Jasper asked while watching the officers carry out more files. "I expect those files back by the end of the day, Detective. There is nothing here that even remotely relates to Mr. Uley."
"It's no secret that Mr. Uley has been involved with you at some point. Relations turned sour, perhaps?" Jasper smirked at Detective Swan. "I know you have something to do with his disappearance, or should I say murder?"
"You have nothing to back up those types of allegations, Detective. You're wasting your time and mine."
"We'll see about that. Would you like to see the warrant now for Spindle? You're hiding something and I'm going to find it." Jasper rolled his eyes at Detective Swan.
"You have a warrant for Spindle? Well isn't that just fucking peachy? Good look trying to find something. I do find this strange behavior, terrorizing a local businessman," Jasper answered.
I couldn't help but think of how hot he looked right now, angered by the police and dressed down out of his suits. Jasper's demeanor hadn't faltered since he got off the horse. Even having his stables raided hadn't broken his stride. He acted and looked as though he had nothing to hide, and while I knew Spindle was clean, the murder had taken place there. There was no doubt that Jasper had already covered his back more times over in the event that this took place.
"Mr. Whitlock, we both know that you are not the local businessman you claim to be," Detective Swan pressed. Jasper smiled and placed his hands on his hips.
"Rumors. I've brought a lot of business into this city, you can't deny that. Now Detective, get the hell off my land, as your boys are not finding anything of any sort here." Jasper and Detective Swan seemed to stare each other down for a few moments.
"Boy's," Detective Swan called, stopping the raid, "No doubt we'll see you at Spindle shortly as that is our next stop. I'm almost certain you'll be around to watch that raid." With a sly smile, Detective Swan made his way to his awaiting vehicle.
Jasper watched on as the cars slowly left the stables and started their journey towards the club. His eyes narrowed as Detective Swan passed us standing at the side of the stables. Jasper let out a frustrated sigh before turning to look at me.
"Did you call Emmett?" Jasper barked at me.
"Yes. He knows they're making their way there next."
"Good. Key's," he asked while holding his hand out. Looking him up, he said, "Now, Mase. I don't have time for silly games."
"I was just wondering if you were going to get changed." Jasper shook his head at me as he pulled the keys out of my hand.
"No, I'll change back at the club. I want to be there while they tear it apart," he said as he made his way to his car.
"Tear it apart? You think they'll rip the place up?" I asked as I climbed into the car and Jasper floored it out of the stables.
"I don't think they will, I know they will. It's not the first time I have been raided, Mase. The question is, who is behind it?"
"You think someone put them up to this?" Jasper tilted his head slightly and nodded.
"You know, for someone who seems to have intelligence, you also seem very dumb when it comes to raids," Jasper stated.
"Excuse me for not being on the mob scene before." Expecting some kind of funny look from Jasper, I was shocked to see him smile and chuckle slightly.
"True, I guess you are a little green around the edges. They don't just come and raid for no reason. They have to have had leads to lead them to me or a tip off. I'm willing to bet this was more of a tip off than a lead."
"Any idea who it is?" I asked. Jasper nodded, but didn't say anything. Pushing a little more, I asked, "Who?"
"Now, that would be telling. I'm sure you'll find out soon enough, I might need your arbutus."
Jasper said no more on the matter, and made it clear he no longer wished to continue this further. By the time we reached Spindle, the place was swarming with more cops. Pulling up at the curb, Jasper got and made his way into the club, completely bypassing Detective Swan who was smiling widely. Entering the club, I noticed Garrett, Peter and Emmett were already waiting for Jasper's arrival.
Looking around the club that was full of the sounds of smashing and things being broken, I saw the full extent of this raid. Unlike the stable raid where things had been left in check, the club was being broken down. Tables and chairs were turned over, seat covers ripped out and panels had been removed off the wall.
They seemed to be pretty certain that Jasper was hiding something here. And the way they were ripping the place to shreds, they seemed intent on finding something. Jasper watched on, his face displaying his anger, with narrow eyes and a hard set jaw, as they went to work.
"What do we have here, Mr. Whitlock?" Detective Swan suddenly announced holding up a tiny clear bag with one tiny white pill inside.
"Wow, all of this, for that?" Peter remarked.
"If there is one, there is more. Mr. Whitlock, you do realize it's against the law to have drugs inside this club?"
"I'm well aware of what the laws are, Detective. I'm sure if you raid every club in this city you will find some form of drugs. It's a nightclub and while I take every possible means to keep my club drug free, they do get in. I'm willing to bet you found that stuck down the back of the chair, correct?" Jasper replied almost smugly.
"We did. It will be sent to the lab for testing to find out exactly what sort of drugs this club is milling."
"Milling? Detective, if that is the only sign of drugs you found, that also happened to be found down the back of a chair, then I would hardly class this place as milling anything. You have nothing on me, and you know it. The place is clean. Now, unless you want to start tearing up the floorboards, I suggest you leave and take your lap dogs with you," Jasper said never breaking eye contact with Detective Swan.
"I know you have something to do with his disappearance, call it a hunch, but you are behind this."
"Hunches don't hold up in a court of law, evidence does and you don't have any. I suggest the next time you get a tip off you check it out first before you come charging in and ripping the place apart," Jasper stated.
"A tip off? I never said what led us here, did I?" Detective Swan fired back.
"Call it a hunch. Anything you have removed, file wise, I want it back by the end of the day. Or should I send my accountant to the local cop shop when my books need doing?" Jasper mused.
Detective Swan stared at Jasper before turning on his heel and walking back out of the club, closely followed by the rest of the police officers that had been on the raid. Silence fell throughout the club, almost as though everyone was taking in the damage. Jasper looked far from amused that his club had been turned over to such a degree that the place had been trashed.
"Emmett, get on the phone. I want clean up in here now. This place better be up and running again in the next few days. Garrett, Peter, track down where Billy Black is and Harry Clearwater. I want to get to the bottom of this today. Mase, come with me," Jasper ordered.
Jasper hadn't even finished talking before Emmett was on the phone and sorting out the place being cleaned up. Following Jasper, I expected him to head upstairs to his office. Instead, Jasper walked through the cellar doors. Reaching the main cellar, Jasper pulled up the loading bay shutters and walked outside.
Standing back a couple of feet, I watched as Jasper pulled out a couple of empty beer bottles and spirit bottles from the bin. Walking back into the loading bay, Jasper lined up the spirit bottles against the wall and placed the beer bottles off to the side. Walking back to the loading bay doors, I noticed that Jasper's car had been pulled up outside.
Garrett climbed out with a nod to Jasper and disappeared back through the cellar doors and into the club. Walking to his car, Jasper opened the glove compartment and pulled out a gun. Slamming the door shut, he walked back to me, loading the chamber and taking the safety off.
"You know how to shoot, Mase?" Jasper asked.
"Been to a firing range a couple of times," I answered with a shrug.
"Here, safety is off. Just point, aim and shoot at the bottles," he said as he handed me the gun.
Looking down at the gun, I wondered why Jasper would possibly hand me a gun now. After all, my recruitment into the mob world had only been a few weeks ago and today was my first real day working with Jasper.
"And how do you know I'm not going to turn the gun on you?" Jasper laughed at my question.
"Because, Mase, you had the perfect chance to show me to the cops and you didn't, that earned you a small bit of trust," he grinned. "Besides, I don't think you're that stupid to try and kill me, not when you are well aware of the boys lurking. You'd never make it out alive. Now, point, aim and shoot."
Holding the gun, I pointed it at the bottles that lined the wall. I could feel Jasper's eyes on me, watching everything I did. Aiming the gun, I pulled the trigger back and fired. The shot of the gun echoed in the cellar followed seconds later by the smash of the bottle as the bullet hit it. Taking aim at the next bottle, I did the same thing and continued to do this until all the bottles along the wall were left smashed and broken on the floor.
"Well done, you seem to be a natural," Jasper said while clapping. That, and the fact that I've been trained how to hit targets. I thought to myself as Jasper lined up the beer bottles. "Let's see how well you get on with a smaller bottle."
Aiming the gun at the beer bottles, I pulled the trigger back and fired. The bottle smashed into pieces as the bullet shot through it. Moving to the next one, I did the same thing until all the bottles joined the spirit bottles in a crumbled mess of broken glass on the floor.
"Anything else you want me to shoot?" I smirked out at Jasper who was sitting on one of the larger beer barrels.
"Nope, I think you showed me you can shoot and hit your targets. I am wondering how you learned though? It seems you've had more experience than a few goes at a shooting range. Care to share?" Jasper pressed as he jumped down from the barrel and walked towards me.
"I never said how many lessons I took at the range. Besides, my uncle was big on hunting and I used to tag along when I was teenager." Jasper thought for a moment before smiling.
"Fox hunting?"
"Yes, my uncle married into money. His wife's family was really into it, so he used to go and asked me to tag along so he didn't feel completely out of his depth there," I replied smoothly.
"They're a different breed entirely, a bunch of stuck up twats with nothing better to do if you ask me. I can hardly see you fitting into the sport of it. You seem too down to earth and not stuck up," he smirked out making me chuckle.
"Neither is my uncle, hence why he asked me to go. It was fun, laughing at them taking it seriously, but I did enjoy it. So I took some lessons at one of the ranges when I didn't go along with my uncle."
"Bit of a thrill isn't it, holding something so powerful and deadly, and feeling it in your hand as the shot gets fired? I can certainly understand why you sought out some lessons. It's almost as though you were looking for something to take away that itch," he said as he placed the safety on and tucked it in the back of his jeans,
"Guess you're right. I never really thought about it like that." Just then Peter came into the cellar.
"Billy Black is out of town, his son Jacob is running things. We're still trying to track down Harry Clearwater. Garrett has taken over for Emmett for the time being," Peter informed Jasper.
"Looks like Jacob Black is where we are heading. Where's Billy Black gone?" Jasper asked as he began to walk through the cellar and back into the club.
"Not sure, all we know is he jetted off late last night. Sure Jacob will soon tell us if we put enough pressure on him," Peter almost smirked out.
"I want you two and Emmett ready and in the car in ten," Jasper shouted as he turned and headed up the stairs.
Peter nodded at Jasper, and smirked at me. "I take it you're a dab hand with a gun then, judging by the mess in there."
"Yeah, I know a thing or two. Not sure how good I am when the object is moving but standing still I have a good shot." Peter nodded knowingly, "So, how long will it take to sort out the mess in here?"
"A couple of days. The boys did a number, but most of it is just mess by the looks of it. Did they leave the stables in a mess?" Peter asked as we made our way out the club.
"Not really from the looks of it, though I didn't go inside any of the buildings." Peter nodded, and signaled to Emmett that we were due to leave.
"You met Jacob Black the other week, didn't you?" Peter asked and I nodded in response. "Arrogant little kid who needs a good kicking."
Climbing into the back of the car with Emmett and Peter, we waited on Jasper returning. A few moments later, Jasper appeared dressed once again in his tailored suit that fit him perfectly. Getting in, Peter started the engine as Jasper took out a gun and a fresh clip. Sliding the clip into the gun, he loaded the chamber and handed it to me.
"Just in case you need it," he said with a slight smile.
Taking the gun from Jasper, I stuck it in the back of my trousers and pulled my shirt over it. The atmosphere in the car had become tense. Emmett seemed to have lost his playful nature, and while he was clearly looking forward to whatever may come of this, he had taken on a more serious nature to him. The ride to Billy Black's restaurant was silent. Though Jasper seemed to be more relaxed on the outside, he certainly wasn't happy. His hair was out now and rested against his jaw, and even though his hair was in the way, I could still see the hard set line of jaw.
Coming to a halt outside the restaurant, we left the car in silence. Jasper made the first move into the club, with Emmett and Peter flanking him and me walking behind. There was a certain buzz to this, different from anything else I had done before. Yes, I had gone on raids, been armed and been in gun blazes, but never on the wrong side. It added to it, and made it that little bit more exciting.
Pushing open the double doors, Jasper stepped inside the quiet and almost empty bar as there were only two couples in the restaurant. Looking at the couples, Jasper smiled and turned his attention to the corner booth where the top of Jacob's head could be seen. Walking through the restaurant, Peter made a quiet comment to the couples to leave now.
"Jacob Black," Jasper said as he sat down across from Jacob.
"What do you want?" Jacob asked while he wiped his mouth on the napkin and pushed his empty plate away.
"I'm looking for Billy," Jasper said, placing his clasped hands on the table.
"He's not in town," Jacob spat as he picked up his beer.
"I know. What I want to know is where he is and when he is coming back."
"Like I would tell you that." Jasper smirked at Jacob's words and sat back in the booth.
"No, I suppose you're not going to tell me freely, are you?" Jasper mused. "Maybe you know why my club was raided this morning?"
Jacob snorted , "Sorry to hear about that. I guess this is what happens when you move in on someone else's turf."
Jasper chuckled and shook his head. "You see, Jacob, I didn't move in on anyone's "turf". I saw an opening in the market and I took it. You and your father are small businessmen trying to make it big, and my being here has pissed off a few people. It comes with the nature of the game," Jasper smirked and leaned forward again. "So, you wouldn't have anything to do with the raid? And your father hightailing it out of here is purely coincidental?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Jacob spat
"Really? Funny how he has disappeared and his chum is nowhere to be found. Start talking Jacob, now!" Jasper demanded.
"You really think I'm -" Jacob's words were cut off by Jasper leaning over and grabbing a fist full of Jacob's hair and smashing his face on the table, breaking his nose.
"Em, make sure there isn't anyone else in here and lock the doors. We are going to have a more personal chat with Jacob."
XXXXX
Ten minutes later, the doors to the restaurant were locked and the blinds were closed. Jacob had been bound and tied to a chair in the center of the room. Jasper pulled out a chair and spun it round, sitting down with the back of the chair against his chest with his gun resting lazily in his hand as he smiled at Jacob.
"Start talking, Jacob!" Jasper demanded.
"I don't know anything, I swear."
"Bullshit! You know more than you are letting on. Who tipped them off?"
"I don't know."
"You do! Now, tell me. Was it Harry? Your father? Who?"
"I swear, I don't know who it was. We knew it was happening, that's all I know."
Jasper stood up and moved towards Jacob. "I will not ask you again, who tipped them off?"
"I told you, I don't kn-" Smack. Jasper's fist connected across the bridge of Jacob's nose.
"Last warning or you are about to find out how much it hurts to be knee capped," Jasper threatened, while loading his gun and placing it above Jacob's left knee. "I'm not playing games, Jacob. I hear this is very painful, your call."
"What makes you so sure I-" The gun went off, shooting Jacob in his left knee. "FUCK!" Jacob screamed as blood began to pour from the wound.
"Who? Or I'll do the other one."
"Shit, man, come on, I'm just a kid," Jacob pleaded, making Jasper snort.
"If you're big enough to play a man's game, Jacob, then you are big enough to take the punishment. Now who tipped them off?"
"Harry, Harry Clearwater."
"See, that wasn't so bad, was it?" Jasper mused. "But, something isn't right. Why did your dad go AWOL?"
"I don't know!"
"You're lying again. Your dad tipped them off, didn't he?" Jasper spat in Jacob's face.
"No. All I know is that my dad and Harry talked about Sam's disappearance and assumed you were behind it. That's all I know, I swear!"
"Very good, Jacob, you're not as dumb as you look," Jasper smiled and fired the gun into Jacob's other knee. Jacob's screams echoed in the empty restaurant.
"Wh... What did yo.. you do that for?" Jacob asked through his tears and screams.
"Why? Because you lied, and because I don't like you." Clicking the safety back on, Jasper tucked his gun away. "Emmett, Peter. Drag this low of piece of fucking scum out of here and put him out the back, Mase? Come with me."
Following Jasper, we walked to the car. Jasper popped the boot and pulled out two large petrol cans. Handing me one, Jasper walked back inside the club. Even though I knew what he was doing, there was still a part of me that was wondering why he would go to such lengths over a tip off? Torching the place seemed far too extreme for me, and would surely just open up the battlefield for them to do the same to Jasper's club.
"Mase!" Jasper growled out, "In here now!"
Following orders, I walked into the club carrying one of the petrol cans. Jasper had taken off his jacket and was in the process of smashing up the chairs. His cheeks were slightly flushed and his hair a tousled mess. All in all, Jasper pissed off was one hot looking Jasper. I had to stop this! Jasper was off limits, no matter how badly I wanted him, I couldn't have him. Somehow I was going to have to find a way to either put some distance between us or get off the mission, there was only so much a man could take before he cracked.
"Carry on staring at me like that, and I will fuck you over the table before I torch the place," Jasper said, snapping me out of my thoughts.
"I wasn't staring at you," I lied making Jasper snort.
"Of course not," he brushed off in an aggravated tone. "Petrol, pour it, now!"
Taking the petrol cap off the can, I began pouring the petrol over the place as Jasper did the same. Pretty soon the restaurant was covered in petrol and the fumes were starting to give me a headache. Throwing the now empty can in the middle of the room, Jasper did the same and picked up his suit jacket. Tossing it over his shoulder, Jasper pulled out a box of matches and moved to the back doors. Waiting for me to move out of the doors, Jasper lit the match and threw it in before moving out of there. Coming outside, Jacob was still tied to the chair with Emmett and Peter standing either side of him. Jasper smirked at Jacob as the restaurant went up in flames.
Grabbing hold of a crying Jacob's face, Jasper leaned forward and said, "Take a good long fucking look. You wanna play fucking ball with me, I will destroy you in seconds." Jacob spat in Jasper's face.
"You'll pay for this," Jacob threatened.
Wiping his face, Jasper chuckled, "Oh really? And what exactly are you going to do about it?" Jasper smirked out as the windows shattered with an explosion. "Tell you're father and that fat lump Clearwater, that if they so much as breathe my name to any fucking pig, none of you will live to see the end of the week. Do not play this game with me, Jacob. You will lose."