I don't usually do this but I am so proud of how my story is coming along so far. The stats for this story are mind blowing. I have never written a story that has gone for more than 20 or so chapters. It means a lot people are still interested in this story. This is just one big thank you to everyone who reads, reviews, follows and favorites this story. Also I am sorry for the delayed update. It's been/going to be a long week or so with [good] personal stuff. Hope you all enjoy this chapter and don't forget to review.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE: A Possible Lead.
Lacey walked up the narrow footpath to her best friend's house and knocked on the front door. She didn't have to wait long for the door to swing open revealing Donna. She moved aside letting the younger woman in and closed the door behind her. Opie and Jax were helping with the search for Daryl.
"No babysitter today?" She asked as they moved into the kitchen.
"I made Jay wait in the car." Lacey said sitting at the table as Donna turned on the coffee machine and walked to the refrigerator pulling out the orange juice.
It had been three days since the phone call and they had found nothing yet. Lacey had since been stuck with a prospect while they were out looking. She didn't see the point to having a prospect with her. She had a prospect with her the last time something happened and Daryl didn't care who got hurt.
"Jax isn't going to like that."
"He isn't here."
"So what are you doing here?" Donna asked.
"You sent me a text last night saying you needed to talk," She gave her friend a confused look. "So here I am."
"Oh right. I'm sorry my brains been all mush lately."
"Same here. Apparently your brain becomes all mushy when you're..." Lacey paused as her eyes went wide in shock. "You're pregnant!" Donna giggled and nodded her head. Lacey jumped up hugging her friend tightly, congratulating her.
"I got it confirmed yesterday."
"How did Opie take the news?" she asked letting Donna go and sat back down.
Donna smiled. "He was shocked at first, but he's happy."
"That's great, I'm happy for you both."
"Thanks Lace."
Lacey went to say something only to be interrupted by her phone beeping. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at it. She saw a text from Gemma asking if she could run the office while she had to run a few errands. Lacey quickly answered her and stood up. "I have to go to work for Gemma. I'll call or text you later."
"Okay, keep safe." Donna said following her the front door. Lacey gave her one more hug before walking out of the house. She got back into the car and drove back to the lot making small conversation with Jay. She didn't miss how nervous he seemed. It was no doubt due to what Jax would do if he found out Lacey made him wait in the car. The kid was terrified of Jax.
Once Lacey and Jay got out of the car, he handed her keys back to her before running into the clubhouse. Lacey watched him and shook her head before walking towards the office. Gemma stood up, picking up her handbag when Lacey walked in. "Everything okay?"
"Yeah, sorry about asking you to come in on your day off."
"I'm never allowed to leave unless I have someone with me so it's not like I had anything better to do." Lacey joked.
"I know you're meant to be taking it easy." she sighed again. "I needed to do a few things today and the guys are too busy to handle the office as well as working on cars and finding that jackass."
"Just go do your errands, I'll be fine."
"Get one of the guys to help you if something comes up."
"I will," Lacey said as she took the seat behind the desk. Gemma gave her a small smile before leaving the office.
Lacey looked down at the pile of receipts that sat on the desk. She started going through them when she noticed a familiar name. She frowned standing up and walked into the garage. She found Chibs and Tig working on a motorcycle some weekend biker dropped off yesterday.
"Hey babe, what's up?" Tig asked when he saw her.
"Not a lot. I need to ask you something since Gemma isn't here. I don't know if you'll be able to answer it though."
"What is it?" Chibs asked putting down the spanner he was using and stood closer to her, folding his arms.
"Were you guys working last..." she paused to look at the receipt. "Tuesday?" She looked up at the two men again. Chibs nodded but Tig shook his head no. "Do you remember this car?" she asked Chibs handing him the piece of paper.
"Yeah I do, why?"
"Look at the person's name. It can't be right, right?"
He looked at the name on the piece of paper. He read it out loud making sure he was reading it right. "It can't be, he's been dead for nineteen years."
"Did you see what he looked like."
Chibs shook his head. "Sorry Love."
"Looks like I have to do a little digging myself, thanks anyway." She sighed and went back to the office.
She sat back down and started going over the receipt and information he left behind. She noticed the address was to a house that had been abandoned since before she could remember. She knew the address because of all the ghost stories Jax and Opie would tell her to try and scare here. She looked at the number and got a feeling that was fake. All the information seemed wrong and didn't add up. She grabbed her phone and dialed Jax's number hoping he would answer. As soon as it reached voice mail, she hung up and tried again. This time he answered.
"Hey Darlin', everything okay?" He knew something was up. Lacey usually left him a message if he didn't answer his phone.
"I have something I think you guys should look at." She told him still looking at the piece of paper in her hand.
"How important is it?"
"I'm not sure, that's why I want you to have a look at it." she sighed. "It might be nothing, I just want to make sure."
"Okay, we'll be back at the lot soon."
"Alright. I love you."
"Love you too." He said hanging up. Lacey went back to concentrating on the piece of paper to see if she could figure anything else out until Jax got back.
The roaring sound of the motorcycles pulling into the lot was music to Lacey's ears. She quickly stood up grabbing the piece of paper she left lying in plain sight so she wouldn't lose it and rushed out to meet Jax and the others. "You okay Lace?" Opie asked his friend who still looked extremely puzzled by her findings.
"I think you guys should look at this." She held out the receipt and information that had been left with it.
Jax took it from her and quickly scanned over the writing before handing it to Clay. "This can't be real."
"It's not." Clay frowned after looking at it. "Sam Rodes has been dead for nineteen years, the address has been abandoned for years and the phone number is missing a number."
"It's fake right?" Lacey asked looking between the men. Jax and Clay nodded. "There's no chance my father would still be alive squatting in some old house that hasn't been lived in, in years?"
Clay shook his head. "There's no chance."
"That's what I thought." She sighed. "What about Daryl? Do you think this could be another way to play mind games? He could be using my dead fathers name or getting someone else to use it. I'm his main target right?" She could feel herself start to panic. "We know what he's like now. We know he could be capable of anything. He could -"
"Hey," Jax reached out at gently took her hand in his, cutting her off. "If it is Daryl we now have a lead. We can go to the house and check it out, see what we can find. You need to try stay calm." She nodded her head. He pulled her into him and kissed her on the top of her head before letting her go.
"Jax and I will go check out the house now." Clay told her.
"I know I say it a lot but please be safe." she told the both of them. Even though her and Clay had their moments of not getting along, he was still family to her and didn't like it when he got hurt, just like she didn't like it when any of them got hurt.
"We will."
Clay put his hand on her arm in a reassuring way before getting back on his motorcycle. Jax gave her a quick peck on the lips before getting back on his own motorcycle and followed Clay to the abandoned house.
"You think this could be a lead?" Jax asked Clay as they walked up the footpath surrounded by overgrown grass.
"You're the one who mentioned it could be." Clay answered as they reached the front door. They noticed it was slightly opened. They both pulled their guns out and held them in front of them just to be safe. Clay nudged the door and it opened further with a creak. "This house is already giving me the creeps," he whispered.
"Me too." Jax agreed following his step-father inside.
They started searching the house and once satisfied no one was there, they started looking for any clue to who could have been there if anyone had been. Clay opened the door to one of the bedrooms. His eyes suddenly went wide with shock when he saw what was in the room. He called out to Jax not taking his eyes off the sight in front of him. Jax was soon standing beside him with the same expression on his face. Only five words came out through his gritted teeth as anger started to consume him.
"I'm gonna fuckin' kill him!"