Chapter 51: Chapter 51

Michelle takes Kyan before moving to the passenger side to clip him into the middle seat.

| clip Bane in and jump into the driver’s side, starting the engine, it roars to life. I wait for Sondra to pull out before turning the car around and slowly following her out along the windy bumpy road, cringing every time I hear Axton’s car scrub out, the bus moves easily, jostling from side to side.

Coming onto the road, though, I stick close to her, having no idea where we are going when she turns toward the high way heading toward the city. My heart skips a beat, knowing she must live close to the city to be taking this road. We go past the speed limit signs, and she suddenly waves out the window with a white cloth. My brows furrow, wondering if the bus was breaking down, I slow down, getting ready to pull over, not liking that I will be stopped on the side of the road with a stolen car on a major road.

All that was out here were a few farms standing along the stretch of highway, I shake my head, cursing under my breath before I jump in my seat startled. The engine of the bus sud denly roars and cackles, taking off. Noleen leans forward, and I glance at Noleen.

“What the fuck is in that bus,” Noleen says, her mouth gaping, and my fingers twitching on the steering wheel.

“I have no fucking idea, but let’s see what it’s got,” | tell her before hitting the gas. We catch her easily and I can see her laughing in the bus’s huge mirror. There is no way that the bus should have that kind of power. We drove for about an other twenty minutes taking a secluded road that ran along the outside of the city, much too close for my liking but noth ing appeared to be out here when we come to the ranch.

Ranch was an understatement. The place was massive, the main house made out of stone, with a cobble driveway, massive stables sat to the left of it and a huge garage that was bigger than the warehouse on the other side. Dairy cows mowing down the paddocks, and horses.

As we grow closer I can see a huge chicken coop, filled with chicken and ducks, a small lake and more fenced off yards. I pull up beside her as she stops, she leans out the win dow, shutting off the engine.

“Take it to the garage,” she points at the huge galvanized steel building, I nod once driv ing over to it. I peer around, taking in the scenery, when she finally comes over and undoes the huge chains holding the doors together. Noleen jumps out, helping her to open the two huge doors that were on runners. As she does, I see the place filled with cars. Sondra strolls in before lights come on.

“What is this little old lady doing with all these cars,” Michelle murmurs, leaning forward. “I have no idea,” I whisper, pulling in and parking the car. Climbing out, Noleen was look ing under some of the blankets that covered a few of the cars.

I take in the place before seeing Sondra watching us, she chews her lip. “So I may be able to help with the car issue,” she says, and I glance at Michelle as she climbs out of the back seat.

Noleen drops one of the blankets she was looking under, her mouth gaping as she turns her attention to Sondra. “How much do you make at that bakery?” Noleen asks her and Son dra chuckles.

“Not enough to pay for all this,” she chuckles, and I stare at her. “Floyd had a few under-the-radar side businesses,”

“He was a car dealer?” Michelle asks, and I press my lips in a line. “In a way,” Sondra says, and I snicker.

Michelle looks at me and I shake my head. “It’s a chop shop,” and Michelle’s mouth nearly hits the floor. “But… you like …” Sondra cocks her head to the side. “Ancient…” Michelle says.

“What because I’m old I can’t have a chop shop in my backyard.”

“Well.. Yeah,” Michelle squeaks, “Shouldn’t you be cro cheting and shit?”

“And you get cleaning duties, young lady,” Sondra snaps, turning back to the door.

“Wait, so what are you going to do about the car? I don’t see how this helps.” Michelle asks, and I don’t think she is quite understanding. Sondra stops, and thinks for a second.

“You want to give it back, right?” Sondra asks. I shrug. “Maybe dig a hole and bury it.” I offer.

“Don’t you dare, I will take my chances,” Michelle growls at me, rubbing the paint. “I won’t let her bury you,” she promises, kissing the rooftop.

“Or I have a better idea,” Sondra chuckles. I look at her, waiting to hear her suggestion. “We could pull it apart, and post it back to him, piece by piece. Instead of build a bear, we’ II call it build a car. Axton special, think will start with the badges, each week post him a piece,” she laughs, and I snick “Man, that will take so long,” Michelle whines.

“You’ll be cleaning stables for your old lady jokes, so it doesn’t matter to you how long it takes,” Sondra snaps at Michelle, turning on her heel and leaving. She stops, dropping che chain by the door.

“Don’t forget to lock up,” she calls, disappearing outside. I turn back to the car to grab the kids.

“Who the fuck is this old lady?” Michelle hisses at me while helping me with my sons.

“I don’t know, but don’t cross her if she owns this place, and can make a car disappear. No doubt she’ll know how to make you disappear too,” Noleen tells her and Michelle pales, making me laugh. But then again, if she does this, it might not be so far-fetched she could hide a body right under someone’ s nose.

Who would even suspect Sondra or Floyd? Especially now that Sondra is a widow. She looked like the typical grand mother, yet now I was questioning everything I thought | knew about the woman who owns the town’s little bakery.