Red Rides And Retribution
A/N: Thank you to those of you who have been reading this. I really do appreciate it.
Chapter four
Cho was furious. He stood outside the ruins of the meth lab, with Abbott next to him. The four men inside had managed to escape with minor burns, but the entire building had been razed to the ground. Cho turned to one of the men. "Who was this?"
The man had had most of his shirt burned off of his skin. "It was the Outbackers. Three of them."
Cho nodded, and Abbott pulled him to one side. "Iceman, do we hit them back now?"
Cho shook his head. "Knowing Trigger Lizzy, she is waiting for us, and the first corner we go around will have us all shot."
Abbott nodded, and climbed onto his bike. He rode off, leaving Cho with the ruins of the meth lab. Cho took one last look before climbing onto his bike and speeding off into the night. The fire brigade hadn't been called, because it was better for the whole lab to be destroyed. If the rubble were sifted through, the entire meth operation in east Sacramento could be blown wide open. Cho rode back to the bar to regroup, and work out a plan of action.
XxxxxxxxxxxX
Lisbon placed her foot on the floor and turned off her bike. It was early morning, and she noted with some curiosity the smoke in the air. She was on a street corner deep in the heart of her territory. She glanced around, and spotted the person she was looking for. One of her lower-level drug dealers – who was also her street contact – had only just arrived for the day.
Robert 'Showtime' Kirkland watched his boss walk towards him and raised an eyebrow. "Boss," he said. "What can I do for you?"
Lisbon pulled the picture out of her jacket pocket and handed it to him. "Do you remember her?"
Kirkland nodded. "She died five years ago, by the border of the two territories."
Lisbon nodded. "Any idea who killed her?"
Kirkland shook his head. "I don't think it was one of us. I'm not sure about anyone from the Bloods."
Lisbon nodded. That had confirmed her suspicions. "Is there anyone on the street who could have that kind of knowledge?"
Kirkland thought for a moment. "You can try Grace. She might know."
Lisbon nodded. Grace Van Pelt was a hairdresser right on the border of the two territories. She was a young, attractive redhead who didn't take any crap from any gang members. She catered for both sides, and didn't tolerate violence in her salon. Lisbon remembered Van Pelt kicking four guys out of her salon who had tried to start a fight. If anyone would know, it was her.
Lisbon turned to Kirkland. "Thank you, Showtime."
Kirkland held up his hand. "One more thing, boss."
Lisbon stopped. She raised her eyebrow. "What?"
Kirkland suddenly felt a bit nervous. Lisbon had a reputation that he was well aware of. "There was a hit on the Bloods last night. I just wanted to know if you knew."
Lisbon's eyes opened wide. "What kind of hit?"
Kirkland looked away. "Molotov into a meth lab."
Lisbon nodded. "That explains the smoke around this morning."
Kirkland nodded. "Boss, I heard that three green bikes were seen riding away."
Lisbon frowned. "I will get to the bottom of that too."
Kirkland nodded. "See you around, boss."
Lisbon got onto her bike and rode off. She was pensive, and wondered who had ordered the hit on the Bloods. She was sure it wasn't Rigsby, but worried about somebody trying to usurp her position within her gang.
She pulled to a stop outside the hairdresser, and switched off her bike. She headed inside, and stood at the counter just inside the door. Van Pelt looked up from her current client, and smiled. "Trigger Lizzy. What brings you here?"
Lisbon smiled. Van Pelt was the only person brave enough to call her Trigger Lizzy. "Grace," she said. "I need to talk to you in a spare moment."
Van Pelt nodded. "Let me finish up here, and then we can talk out back."
Lisbon nodded and sat down on one of the chairs by the door. Fifteen minutes later, Van Pelt headed over to where Lisbon sat. Lisbon stood up, and the two women headed through the shop and out the back door. Lisbon turned to Van Pelt and pulled the picture out of her jacket pocket. "Do you know her?"
Van Pelt nodded. "Angela Jane. She used to come to my salon often."
Lisbon nodded. "Any idea who killed her?"
Van Pelt looked at Lisbon. "I don't think it was any gang member who killed her. Nobody came in and spoke about it, and no contacts from the Blood Guns have said anything when I have been with them. I wish I had more, but I know no gang members killed her. It was an outside job, or my name isn't Grace Van Pelt."
Lisbon nodded. "Thank you, Grace. Mr Jane is going to appreciate this."
Van Pelt nodded. "I heard about the hit on you guys last night. I also heard about the retaliation on the meth lab."
Lisbon frowned. "The meth lab hit wasn't us."
Van Pelt raised an eyebrow. "I will let you know what I find out about that. Also, let me copy that picture and I can ask any Blood Guns if they know anything."
Lisbon nodded and followed Van Pelt back inside. Van Pelt photocopied the picture and gave the original back to Lisbon. Lisbon slid it back into her pocket. "I will call back in a few days to see if you find out anything."
Van Pelt walked with Lisbon to the door. "I will call at the end of the day. Good luck, Trigger Lizzy."
Lisbon smiled and headed outside. She climbed onto her bike and drove back to the bar. Rigsby was standing outside talking to one of the other guys when Lisbon turned off her bike. She motioned for Rigsby to follow her, and the two of them walked through the bar into the back room. Lisbon shut the door, and turned to her second in command.
"Wayne, there was a hit done of the Blood Guns last night." Lisbon folded her arms and looked at her long time friend.
Rigsby sat down at the table. "I can promise that that was not me. I didn't authorise a hit, and I didn't lead one."
Lisbon paced the width of the room. "Then we either have people acting on their own, or we have somebody who is trying to be the leader instead of me."
Rigsby nodded. "Should I call a meeting?"
Lisbon stood up. "Yes. Call one for tonight."
XxxxxxxxxxxX
Cho stopped his bike outside the salon late that afternoon and entered. Van Pelt looked up, and raised an eyebrow. She didn't currently have and clients, and so walked over to meet him. "Iceman, what can I do for you?"
Cho looked around. "Have any Outbackers been in today?"
Van Pelt nodded. "Trigger Lizzy was here today. Not for a haircut, but she was here."
Cho looked at Van Pelt. "I'm not here for a haircut either. I'm here for information. Trigger Lizzy took out my main meth lab last night. Burned it to the ground."
Van Pelt lowered her voice. "She told me that wasn't them. But if it was, it was probably in retaliation to your guys trying to kill her last night."
Cho took a step back. "What?"
Van Pelt looked around. "Did your guys not hit her last night? She was shot at."
Cho shook her head. "I had no knowledge of that."
Van Pelt looked surprised. "I honestly thought you knew."
Cho shook his head. Van Pelt picked up the photocopied picture off of her desk. "Do you know this woman?"
Cho nodded. "She was killed. But I always thought an Outbacker had killed her. It was nobody from my side. Trust me, I would know. Why are you asking?"
Van Pelt looked away. "It was as a favour for the woman's husband. Thank you for the information."
Cho turned to the door. "I will be in touch with you, Grace."
Van Pelt nodded and watched him leave. She had never had both bosses in her salon on the same day. Something was definitely going on, and Van Pelt didn't know what it was. She put the picture back and picked up her phone. She dialled Lisbon's cell, while she looked out the window suspiciously.
XxxxxxxxxxxX
Lisbon answered her cell phone, and listened while the person on the other side spoke. She said a few words, before cutting the call. That was all the information she needed.
Rigsby headed over to her. "We're ready, Boss."
On the east side of Sacramento, Cho sat at the bar. He gulped down the last of his drink, and turned as Abbott entered. "Boss, we're ready for you."
A/N2: Please leave me a review and let me know what you think so far. Thank you.