Chapter 3: Thieves?

Things were looking up for Rogue with her next ride established. James seemed like a decent enough man even if he did have a slight attitude problem. Rogue wasn't deterred by his gruff exterior she was positive she found a good soul. Reading people was becoming an art form to her. She had made mistakes before that ended with her assaulter downed by her powers. The plus side to her mutation no man with a wicked mind could full fill his fantasy before having the life drained out of him.

Still sweltering out in the heat she kept to the shade of a tree starting to feel the hunger in her stomach take a demanding presence. She looked about and decided to check how much money she had left in order to ration it accordingly. However to her horror her hand came up empty.

"Mathew's wallet!" she gasped.

It was gone along with the key to the storage locker containing her worldly possessions. She tried to think if she could have dropped it somewhere today. But alas she hadn't taken either one from her pocket since she placed them in there in the bathroom. She probed her pocket in earnest examination there was no hole at all and deep enough that it was unlikely they had fallen out by themselves. In conclusion she had to admit someone had picked her pocket in this crowd without her knowledge. Straight away she turned towards the lockers. As she rounded the corner she saw that in deed the locker containing her things was opened and cleaned out. Gone... all gone. She didn't really care about the clothes and piddly things but Mathew's trench coat and his wallet were her prize possessions. She felt the tears coming and she couldn't understand how this could have happened.

With no choice she headed for the RV lot that had Mr. Howlett's Winnebago. She passed out in the shade waiting for his return.

"Most likely out ridding his bike. Be'n the whole point of this here rally and all." She mused before letting the heat drag her in to sleep away from the biting hunger of her belly.

Meanwhile across town there was a red-eyed thief who was sitting in his hotel pondering about the days intake.

He didn't know why he had taken the girl's wallet and then raided the locker. He could pass it off as habit but he had an inkling it had been more about the curiosity of such a mysterious young lady. A shining southern gem all the way up here in the middle of no where. She just didn't strike the Cajun as that much of a bike enthusiast to haul cookies all the way up north for a rally. Her clothes didn't reveal much information to him just that she seemed to pack with the care of a runaway. Her wallet held a small amount not enough for an extended trip unless she replenished it as she went. His mind wandered on that category for a moment thinking of the hows a rogue like her would earn money.

Shaking his head sharply he stood up to pace. "Nah Remy, non of t'at."

But the second after he said it his mind wandered back to her waist in his grip. Short lived as that moment had been he let it loop around in his head a few more times before shaking his moppy haired head once again.

"Homme, it be seriously time for a night of fun."

It was near dawn when Rogue awoke from what she had every intention of making a nap. As she stared up at the branches of the tree weaving elegantly in the wind next to James' Winnebago she realized something was different. She shifted on to her side and her cheek pressed into her duffel bag. Startled fully awake now Rogue sat up straight and looked around. Not a soul was stirring nearby. She glanced once again down at the bag. Sure enough there it was. Some creepy stranger had stolen it then taken the time to find her and tuck it under her head like a pillow.

"Oh mah Gahd..." Someone could've touched her. They hadn't, for Rogue would know right away if they had done so but still to come so close to such a calamity and walk off with no damage done was a real blessing.

Giving one last good look around she opened the bag to reveal her clothes and wallet. But the trench coat was still gone. Inside the wallet she found a lot more then she had started with.

"Who in th' world steals from yah, only to give back what they don't want, and pay for what they do? If that be the norm around these parts it's awful strange."

Just the she heard motorcycles come up the bend fast. She could make out Red Bob, and James but the others she didn't know. Almost like it had been choreographed Red Bob and his crew each spun a cookie heading out the same direction as they just entered all but James. James was already dismounting his bike when Rogue gathered her stuff.

"Come on kid we're outta here!"

James was on edge. Everything about his body language screamed danger.

"Waz go'n on?"

"No time, just hop in if your going." he growled. Strapping down his bike in the back trailer was his only occupation before booking it. Rogue threw her bag in the back and hopped in the passenger seat. Buckled and ready as James came around the other side. She didn't ask why they were taking off so soon again but there was something she really wanted to know before to much time elapsed.

"So... yah got anytha'g to eat?"

James looked over at her and attempted to banish the smile from his face.

"Glove compartment's got jerky."