Chapter Twenty-Seven Babe

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN: BABE

Once outside, I call Mode and conference in Byte. I still don't know if I can trust Mode, but I need his help. If he's the traitor, he could lead me on a fruitless chase, which is why I'm including Byte on the call.

"Mode, I need you to track a vehicle for me. Billings and Blankenship have Min and they kidnapped a young woman. The hospital security feed showed them getting into a black Denali. They gave me a copy of the feed." I reel off the license plate number.

"I'm on it," Mode says over the sound of keys clicking. "I already have access to their security cameras, so I have the car."

"You do?" I ask in surprise.

"Of course. As soon as you mentioned the planned kidnapping, I hacked my way in, just in case."

"What happened at the hospital?" Byte asks. "I thought the cops were covering Min."

"So did I. Schwartz said he called it in, but someone called it off. Said it was a hoax."

"Someone who works for Jordan?" Byte asks.

"That's what I think."

"Okay, I've got their trail," Mode chimes in. "They're headed toward Whiting, I think. Caught up to them on the freeway. They're staying out of the carpool lane and driving near the speed limit. If you leave the hospital right now, you might catch them up."

"Any thoughts on where they could go?" I ask.

"Maybe. I've found other properties that they might own, but I'm still checking through the records."

"Shoot me the addresses and I can check on my end," Byte chimes in.

"Done," Mode says.

All I can hear is the clicking of keys in stereo. Byte and Mode work feverishly to help me locate Min, while I fly down the highway, checking out every black Denali I come across. I never considered how many black Denali's there were until today. For every one I spot, the routine is the same. I approach on the driver's side and check to see who's behind the wheel. When I don't see Billings, my temper and panic spike. Logically, I know I have to eliminate each one, but I feel like I'm letting Min down. Even though I know she can take care of herself. I can't shake the feeling that her situation is dire. She's unconscious and outnumbered. Plus, they have an innocent they can use against her. Min will do anything to protect Jessica. That's who she is. But it isn't just her current situation that has me wanting to shoot the drivers of every Denali I pass on the road. Blankenship knows her cousin. I don't want to imagine the horrors he'll inflict on her if he gets his hands on her.

"Okay, they're getting off the freeway. They're heading…" Mode grunts before going silent. I hear a crash come over the line and Byte calling Mode's name.

"What the fuck is going on?" I yell.

"I don't know. I think something happened to Mode. Smoke, call Chrome. Tell him to check on Mode."

"Any idea of where they exited the freeway?" I ask Byte.

"No, I was looking at the properties Mode sent. Let me see if I can access his computer."

I increase my speed even though I have no idea where I'm going. According to Mode, they exited the freeway. I consider doing the same, but then what? My only hope is if Byte gains access to Mode's computer.

"Fuck. Babe, you need to get to the clubhouse. Chrome said someone attacked Mode. Hit him over the head with a baseball bat and smashed his computer."

"What about Min?" I ask.

"I'll keep searching. Smoke has access to the hospital and traffic cams. He'll find where they exited the freeway and I'll keep searching the properties to see if I can find where they might have taken her."

"I'm going to keep looking," I tell him.

Byte sighs. "Get back to the clubhouse. It isn't a request, but an order from Chrome. He thinks you know something about the attack on Mode."

"What the fuck? Didn't you tell him I'm on the fucking freeway looking for Min? That I wasn't anywhere near the clubhouse?"

"He knows. He also knows that you think there's a rat in his club," Byte says. "Look, Smoke and I will find Min. Go to the clubhouse and talk to Chrome. If we locate her, we'll call you."

"Fuck," I mutter as I aim my bike for the clubhouse. All I want to do is tell Byte and Chrome to fuck off, but I'm a club enforcer. I'm responsible for the club's safety. Chrome has a rat problem. The rat must be fucking desperate if he attacked Mode. Attacking a club member is the fastest way to earn a dirt nap.

I arrive at the club to find they're on lockdown. That's good. Whoever attacked Mode is likely still in the building. Unless he left before they locked it down. Either way, we should have an easier time identifying the rat.

Stepping inside, all eyes turn to me, but I ignore them and head straight for Chrome's office. When he doesn't answer my knock, I turn towards the infirmary. However, I stop at Mode's office on my way. Inside, I find a smashed computer and blood. Too much blood. Backing out of the room, I continue on to the room they use as the infirmary. Chrome and Scorch are standing outside the door watching whatever is going on in inside. They both turn when I approach.

"My office," growls Chrome, leading the way back down the hall to his office. He unlocks and steps inside. I follow Scorch and take a seat across from Chrome. "What the fuck is going on, Babe?"

"I think you've got yourself a rat," I reply.

"Bullshit! There's no fucking way."

I ignore Scorch's outburst and keep my eyes locked on Chrome. "Unless you have another explanation for how someone attacked your tech guy in his office?"

"Maybe you did it. Or your girl, Min. Where the fuck is she? Maybe she came in here, attacked Mode, and snuck out again."

I flick my eyes to Scorch before returning my focus to Chrome. I have to use every ounce of control to stay in my seat when all I want to do is rush out and tear the city apart until I find Min. After I beat Scorch's ass for his accusation against my girl and partner. "Blankenship and Billings kidnapped Min along with a young girl Min was trying to protect. Mode was tracking them when someone attacked him."

"Doesn't mean someone in the club attacked him," Chrome protests.

I don't roll my eyes, even though I want to. "You think someone crept in here and managed to get past everyone in the common room? That's bullshit and you know it. Besides this isn't the first time I've suspected you have a vermin problem."

"Explain," Chrome demands.

"I first suspected when Jordan and his men evacuated the community center. Someone or something tipped them off. They didn't notice the drone, and the prospects were on their way back when they spooked out."

"So that makes you think we have a rat? It was a coincidence. Nothing more," Scorch sneers.

"Maybe. But that isn't the only time Jordan bugged out after we discovered their location. They abandoned the church after Min rescued the women. Then there's the attack on Cicely. Min mentioned Cicely having worked for the Marshalls here in the common room. Then they tried to kidnap Cicely. Now the attack on Mode."

"Do you suspect someone?" Chrome asks.

"You don't fucking believe him, do you?" Scorch shouts at Chrome. "This is all bullshit and circumstantial. For all we know Babe and Min are working with Jordan."

Neither Chrome nor I spare him a glance. "Honestly, I suspected Mode. There was an incident earlier that made me consider him. But I'm fairly certain he didn't attack himself."

"So, someone here is working for Jordan. May not be a brother," Chrome says.

I shake my head. "Jordan or the Triad."

"Who?" Chrome asks, while Scorch splutters, "What?"

"When we found Blankenship at the hospital, he was talking to three Asians. Min recognized their leader. His name is Fenhua. He's Ghost's brother and Min's cousin. He's the son of those assholes we killed at Dante's wedding. Fenhua is in town and he's looking for someone. He's the one who has Jordan kidnapping women who used to work for Chambers Medical Group. I don't know why, yet. But if I had to guess, I think he's looking for his parents. He may have followed their trail here to Chicago. We already know his parents, the leaders of the Triad, were tracking down those responsible for the bombing that killed many of the criminal underground. Fenhua could have made the same connection between the Marshalls and Standish."

"Why do you think our rat is working for Fenhua rather than Jordan?" Chrome asks.

"You're not actually believing this bullshit, are you?" Scorch goes off again, but I continue to ignore him. I can understand his reluctance to accept the implication. Grimm would be just as irate to hear someone accuse one of our brothers in San Diego of treason.

"Mode showed us the security feeds on the church. We had images of Fenhua and his men, but they kept their backs to the camera. Almost as if they knew the cameras were there. They're the ones looking for former staff members of Chambers Medical Group prior to the attempt to grab Cicely. Finally, I followed Fenhua from the hospital to a building that Mode verified is owned by a company out of China. As Mode was checking for the owners, the men rushed out of the building and chased me through Whiting. Somehow, they knew I was outside watching them."

"They probably just saw you," Scorch scoffs.

"Maybe, but I was outside for several minutes before they rushed out. Long enough for Byte to run the search first before I contacted Mode. I only asked Mode to check the address as a test." I tell them about the chase through Whiting, which delayed my return to Min. "It's possible that the rat works for Jordan who left instructions to protect Fenhua."

My phone buzzes. Pulling it out, I see that it's Byte.

"You got something?" I ask, standing and walking toward the door. Byte gives me Min's location.

"Where the fuck are you going?" Chrome asks.

"I have to rescue Min."

"Not alone you aren't. We're all going. Scorch, grab the men."

I want to protest, but I know I can use the help, even if I consider every man a possible threat.