Author Note…another short chapter as promised but it's only one half hour long so it's kind of hard to expand on that. Pay close attention folks – we are nearing the end.


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Chapter Four

5:30 PM

Of course the Vista Cruiser would have to pick NOW to act up. Eric twisted the key in the ignition again and with a cough and a painful grinding noise the engine finally started. He grinned at Hyde and gave him a "Told Ya So" face. Hyde lifted his brows and slugged Eric in the upper arm. Both men laughed.

Looking over his right shoulder, Eric slowly backed out of the driveway keeping an eye out for errant cats (nightmares of a second Mr. Bonkers accident still haunted him) and turned onto the street. "Leo is cool with this?"

Hyde rolled down the Cruiser window and thrummed his fingers on the sill. "Leo is always cool. Just drive to Grooves and he'll meet us there. God Forman, we went over this plan three times already. Remind me to never bring you on another stash run!"

Eric chucked and signaled for a left turn. Thunderous sounds rumbled from the cross street and Hyde sniggered, "I think that's your mom's biker gang."

"Oh the Point Place version of Hell's Angel's" Eric joked. Still he watched as four loud Harley Davidson motorcycles rolled slowly past the intersection. Eric noticed that one of the motorcycles had ape-hanger handlebars just like Laurie's old Schwinn Stingray. No sissy bars, but it was definitely a dominant bike. The ground vibrated with the roar of the powerful engines.

Hyde lifted his shades to get a better look at the metallic blue Shovelhead Harley. Its clean lines and chrome forks were appealing. The leather saddlebags were well cared for and if he ever wanted to get a cool bike – this was the one he'd think about getting.

The hefty dude in the leather vest had a ZZ Top beard and a rose tattoo on his thick upper arm. He paused in the intersection and gazed to his left almost as if he knew Eric and Hyde were looking at him. The tattooed bicep flexed and the muscles in his forearm contracted enabling the biker to flip the most efficient bird the two boys had ever witnessed.

"Damn." Hyde said almost reverently. "Well that had to be the best executed middle finger I have ever been on the receiving end of."

Eric looked at his friend, 'Better than Red?"

Hyde scoffed, "Yeah like your dad would flip somebody off. Maybe if the finger was attached to the toe of his boot!"

Eric laughed and started to pull into the intersection but two of the Harley riders stopped and glared at him. "Whoops!" he joked. "Don't want to piss off mom's biker boys." Eric waved his hand indicating the men should proceed through the intersection. The larger of the two bikers took off his black brain bucket and his bright blue eyes stared at the window of the Vista Cruiser. Eric could feel the hairs rising on the back of his neck. Without a word, he put his car in reverse and using the rear view mirror, drove around the block and set course for Grooves in a different direction.

Minutes later, Hyde crossed his arms and when Eric finally put the car in park he smirked, "So now do you need to go home and change your diaper?"

Eric glared, "Not funny man. How are you not crapping your pants? Didn't you see that huge dude? His hands are bigger than your head!"

Hyde didn't want to admit that he was maybe two percent intimidated by the guy, but it was more fun to watch Eric squirm in his seat. "Well, crisis adverted and my buzz has worn off. Let's find Leo and get this over with okay?"

Eric nodded and pocketed his keys as he headed around the front of the car towards the door. Hyde was unbolting the door while a loud rumble was coming down the street towards the store. Frantically, Eric started pushing at the glass, "Hurry man! Get inside before we become biker bait!"

"Forman. Chill out! Did that last hit make you paranoid or something?" Hyde asked incredulously. The one and only time he got paranoid was when they smoked too much and Kelso called the White House with a purposed death ray threat. (Of course they had to get rid of the evidence!) Man, what a buzz kill that was!

Safely inside the record store, Eric peered out the glass door as the four Harley Davidson's cruised down the street. Even though they wore dark sunglasses, Eric knew they were looking for him.

In his gut, he knew.

Why?

Hyde came out of the back room with a puzzled expression on his face. "Well, Leo was here but all that's left is a pizza box and an empty can of grape Nehi. I wonder where he went."

The cash register till was open and there was still some cash in the trays – Eric pointed at the register and suggested, "Munchies?"

Hyde smirked and replied, "He must have got the good stash! Let's find him."

Eric shrugged, "How do we know where he went?"

Hyde pointed to the street, "You go to Fatso Burger and I'll go to that Korean market on Fifth. Leo likes this stuff called Kim chi."

Eric felt his heart stutter for a second and nodded, "Okay, whoever gets Leo comes back here first."

Hyde grabbed some bills from the register and closed the drawer. "That's the plan man. See ya soon!"

Before he could censor himself, Eric muttered, "I hope so."

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