Domino Effect (2019 Edition)

and I can get on with my life.”
Frank eyed Shea, who still sat on the stool next to him. “You trust this guy with need-to-know information?”
She nodded.
Frank pointed to Shea. “What I’m about to say is beyond top-secret. No one has this information, so if it gets leaked to the press, I will be back to arrest you.”
Shea waved him off. “I’m the king of secrets.”
“Damn it,” Frank said. “What have I got to lose.” Hearing Frank swear drew Sin’s undivided attention. She looked up from the newspaper and put down her mug. “The president’s daughter has been kidnapped,” he said. “I need you to find her before she’s hurt, or worse.”
“You have a stable of agents who would salivate over this assignment. I’m not interested.” She stood to leave, dropping a twenty-dollar bill on the bar.
“See you for dinner, Suze.”
“She disappeared in Key West. Spring Break,” Frank said. “No one knows the Keys like you do.”
“Still not interested.”
“Before you walk,” Frank said, reaching inside his suit coat, “look at this; if you still want to resign, I’ll sign the papers here in front of you.”
She slowly reached for the cell phone in Frank’s hand. She knew deep down, she’d just been bested by Frank Graham . . . again. “This is a burner,” she mumbled, examining the phone.
“I didn’t think putting the video on my office phone was advisable,” Frank said.
Sin turned on the phone, read the text, and watched the video of Becca. Her heart sank. It was as if she could feel the girl’s fear. Handing the phone back to Frank, she mouthed, “Why me?”
“Because you’re the best and because if it was my daughter, I’d trust you to find her.”
She picked up her creds off the bar and slid them into the back pocket of her jeans. “I need to stop back at the house, pick up some stuff.”
“Done.”
“Did you come on a company jet?” she said, walking toward the door.
“Yeah, why?”
“You better call ahead and make sure they make room for my bike. I’m not leaving without her.”
Two hours later, showered and packed, Sin walked out of the bedroom and into the den where Frank and Shea were waiting. “Shea? What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been meaning to give you something, but the timing neva seemed right . . . I mean, with everything that happened.”
She appreciated that he didn’t mention Charlie’s passing and nodded.
He lifted a worn, black leather jacket off the couch and held it in front of him. “The club voted a while back and decided you deserve this.”
She reached out and took the jacket. Opening it, she looked at the back, her expression pinched. “This jacket is dressed in full colors, I can’t take this.”
“You can and will,” he said. “I’m sorry it’s worn, but we didn’t have time to get you a new one. This was Suzy’s, still has her name on it. She asked me to give it to you. If you don’t take it, she’ll be mad. Do you really want her pissed? Do ya?”
Sin laughed. “Hell, no. I saw her pissed one time, and I don’t want to witness that terror again.”
“Damn right,” he said.
She studied the jacket closer. “Why is it so heavy?”
“You know Suzy,” he shrugged. “She’s as proud of the club as she is her other assets and likes everyone to notice both. The club,” he emphasized, glancing at Frank, “has its share of haters, so I wanted her to be as safe as possible. I had Stitch sew a Kevlar insert in between the leather and the liner. It adds some weight, but I think it’s worth it.”
“You’ll make sure she gets another?”
“Absolutely.”
Shea handed her a box and a folded piece of paper. She opened the box, her jaw fell open. “It’s beautiful,” she mouthed, running her fingers over what lay inside.
“It’s sort of a tradition,” he said. “Every member of the club carries one. I had this made special.”
She reached in and pulled out a pearl-handled switchblade. With a soft touch, she depressed the button, and admired the blade. Her lips slightly pursed, she exhaled a soft whistle. “It’s gorgeous.”
Shea nodded and chin-pointed towards the paper. “That’s my cell numba. If you need help, you call.”
She took a step forward and hugged him. “No one has your cell number except Suzy and your mother,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
He tipped his chin in response.
“I have a favor to ask you,” she said.
Shea eyed the jacket. “We take care of our own; what’cha need?”
“I need you and Suzy to move in here and take care of the place while I’m gone. All the bills are paid through the trust, so it won’t cost you a penny. It would do you and Suzy some good to spend time together away from the business. A girl can only take so much of living above a bar.”
“I don’t know what to say,” he stammered.
“There’s nothing to say,” she said, handing him two sets of keys. “The first are the house keys, the second are the keys to my Barracuda. I want Suzy to drive her while I’m away. She needs to be driven, and they look good together.”
He fisted the keys. “You’re talking like you’ll be back. I like that.”
“I’ve felt more at home here than I have anywhere in a long time,” she smiled, “and you and Suze are like family. I’ll be back.”
Shea stepped away and cleared his throat. “I got heads to crack and a bar to run,” he winked, “so I gotta get going. You keep in touch and don’t forget what I taught ya.”
Sin placed the palms of her hands together in front of her chest and bowed. “Thank you, Sensei.”
Frank stayed quiet during the exchange. After Shea left, he stood, shrugged on his coat, and nodded. “I like the hair,” he said pointing to her head.
“I figure if I need to go back to work, it might as well be the same color as my soul.”
The corner of Frank’s mouth rose