Truth and Lies: Chapter 2

One of the jobs at the diner that I most detest is cleaning the toilets. People are so disgusting it makes you want to vomit. Toilet paper all over the floor, water splashed everywhere, the soap dispenser hanging off again. The things to sort are never-ending in here.

Grabbing a pair of gloves, I set about cleaning all the toilets. The industrial cleaners always make my eyes water, so I don’t usually wear my contacts, but for some reason, I decided to keep them in today.

I have my earbuds in and listening to some rock music, I’m not up to date with the newer groups, but I’ll enjoy listening to them and working out which ones I like the best.

Once I have the toilets cleaned, I start mopping out the stalls, and then I’ll move on to clean the urinals. Men stink. Can they never piss straight?

Finishing the urinals, I set about cleaning the sinks and mirrors. My mind is miles away, trying to work out how much I can save from my next paycheck.

Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I spin around and smash out with the heel of my hand and hit someone in the nose. A loud ‘What the fuck!’ is snarled, and I step back when I see it is a man with a kutte. This man is around six-two, dark hair in a man bun, close shaved beard, very handsome, kill me now is my thought.

‘Oh, I’m so sorry, you scared me,’ I say, trying to sound like a weak little lady.

‘I’m sorry too, I didn’t mean to frighten you, I just wanted to take a piss and was letting you know I was here,’ he states, and that’s when I notice his kutte says President – Axel.

‘It’s okay, I’ll go stand outside until you’re finished.’ and I try to get out of the bathroom fast, but he reaches out and takes hold of my arm.

‘Do I know you?’ he asks, frowning at me.

‘No, I don’t think so.’ I pull my arm away and quickly go out and to the kitchen, holding a hand on my chest, deep breathing to try and get myself under control.

Graham looks up and frowns, but I shake my head and nod to the bathroom down the corridor.

I stand and wait, leaning on the wall, doing my best to look like I’m bored waiting to get back to work.

The man named Axel comes out of the bathroom, nods, and walks past me back into the dining area. As I watch him pass, I turn and see the back of his kutte, which has the logo Raging Barons MC.

My heart settles down now I know they’re not the MC I have to stay hidden from. But one thing is for sure I don’t want to get mixed up with another MC ever.

I return to the bathroom and finish up as fast as I can. The urgency to get back to the apartment is snapping at me. I need to get behind a closed door and feel safe for a while.

As I pass the kitchen, Suzie shouts to me, so I turn and pop my head in, asking, ‘You okay, Suzie? Do you need something?’

‘We have a full house Mia, could you help out? I don’t want you to be put in a position, but I’m falling behind. It’s not the ones who you’re worried about.’ Suzie states giving me a hopeful look.

‘Shit Suzie,’ I say. ‘Okay, but if it looks like trouble, I’m outta here.’

‘Thanks, Mia.’

I owe these two people such a lot I don’t have a problem helping them. It’s the current customers that are the problem. Sucking it up, I grab my apron and head into the diner, Graham giving me a thank you look on the way past.

Shit, the place is packed with MC men. I take a breath and head to the first table, ‘What can I get y’all?’

Taking the order, I hand it to Suzie, who pins it up for Graham, then I take the following table, and that is all I do, keep my head down, take orders, give out meals, top-up drinks, I say as little as possible.

I don’t recognize any of these men, so they shouldn’t recognize me, especially with my different hair color and contacts. I don’t remember mixing with this club when I used to go to the clubhouse with Gunner.

Thankfully, no problems arise, but I note that the President Axel has been watching me work. I’m sure I don’t know him, and I think with his six-foot four-inch height, I would remember.

They all seem to have eaten, so I start clearing tables and topping up any cups. I hand out their checks as I go along. One of them grabs hold of my wrist as I reach to pick up dirty plates, and I rotate my hand from left to right, which makes him lose his grip.

I jump back from the table, and I have my blade strapped to my calf if I need it. Thankfully my loose pants keep it from being obvious.

‘Keep your hands off, Knuckle, or you’ll answer to me.’ the President has stood and is walking over towards us. I back off, not wanting to get close to anyone. ‘Sorry, he’ll be spoken to once we get him back to the clubhouse. Are you okay?’

‘I’m fine, thank you.’ I step back even further, then I feel someone at my back, but before I react, Graham steps in front of me.

‘Time to leave, boys. Come back anytime when your boy here has learned his manners.’ Graham keeps his calm and speaks only to the President.

‘No trouble here, we’ll be back when passing, and he’ll have manners,’ Axel responds, nodding to them all to head out the door.

They all leave the diner, and Axel throws down a couple of hundred dollars, nodding at Graham, and closes the door as he leaves.

I stand until they have all left the parking lot in front and then sit heavily at one of the tables. Suzie rubs her hand over my shoulder and squeezes it.

‘Did you know any of them, Mia?’ Graham asks, sitting opposite me.

‘No, I didn’t recognize any. I don’t think I’ve seen that MC before.’ I pinch the top of my nose with my thumb and forefinger, trying to relieve some of the stress.

‘The one who paid, with President on his jacket, kept looking at you.’ Suzie murmurs, frowning with some worry, ‘He either thought he knew you, or he liked the look of you.’

‘Christ, I hope not. I don’t want anything to do with any MC. I know Nevada has a few MCs around and Montana. Those are the states these two clubs come from, so unless I move totally out of the way, I think there’ll always be one.’ I state.

‘Do you ever think of clearing your name Mia?’ Graham asks, placing an iced tea in front of us all.

‘Not really, Graham. I don’t think there’s any way I can do that. Cara would never admit to lying, and no one ever asked me what happened. They all just believed her. Even Zara didn’t say anything, and she was seven, as I told you. She could have told them I didn’t hurt her.’ That’s what hurts me more than even Gunner never asking me what happened.

I’d helped everyone in that club one way or another, from babysitting to shopping when they were ill, driving them if they didn’t have a vehicle, cleaning the bar, and even cooking up meals now and again.

Five years inside, I still don’t understand how any of them could believe I would hurt Zara when she was like a daughter to me. I’ll never forgive them, and one day I hope Cara and Gunner will both get what karma throws at them.

Crack

Sitting in Church, I look around at my brothers, and I’m not sure I should bring up the subject I’m about to as it has been a topic no one wanted to talk about for the last five years.

We discuss the run we just finished and the upcoming business. The coffers are in good shape for this time of the year. Two new prospects were voted to try out, both being relatives of brothers of the club.

Sharp, our President of the last eight years, is trying to get the club clean, and we are getting to that point. We just have to sidestep gently from some of our oldest customers.

‘Any other business?’ Sharp asks as he lifts his gavel.

‘Yea, I have somethin’ I want to discuss,‘ I add before I change my mind.

‘Okay, Crack, what do you want to discuss?’ Sharp says, leaning back in his seat.

‘Everyone here remembers Miriam,’ this has the room bursting into grumbles, snarls, and deadly remarks, ‘Hang on, let me speak.’ I snarl, ‘Does anyone know when her time was gonna be up?’

‘Anytime this year.’ Gunner snarls, ‘When she gets out, I’m gonna kill her if I find her.’

‘You know what, Gunner? I never believed what was said. Miriam loved you and Zara. We all could see that. I don’t think for a minute she would hurt anyone, let alone that little girl. Now Cara, yea, that bitch would, and you never even spoke to Miriam to find out the truth. You also made sure none of us got to speak to her either. If she didn’t do this, she’s served five years for something she didn’t do.’ I state, giving him it straight. He should have had her back, found out at least what she had to say.

‘What? Did you want to fuck her Crack? Did you want in her panties?’ Gunner snarls.

‘You are disgusting, Gunner. She’s better off without you. If I ever find her, I’m gonna ask her what happened. I’m gonna find out if Cara lied, and if she did, you can believe she’ll be in the fuckin’ shed.’ after slamming my hands on the table, I walk out, pissed off, and make sure I shoulder slam Gunner as I walk past him.

Zara

Knowing I shouldn’t, I listen in on what is being said in Church. I’ve gotten into the habit of listening since I was attacked when I was seven. I know where the air vent is, and you can hear everything clearly.

I don’t want to talk to anyone here. They never spoke to me about what happened, and they just listened to that bitch of a mother of mine. I hate her; she is a horrible person.

I’m scared of her, and she hits me when my dad isn’t around, but never anywhere that will show bruises only on my body. I don’t bother with my dad much anymore either. He’s always so busy or trying to stay away from my mother that he ignores me most of the time too.

If Miriam is going to be around, I want to find her. She loved me. She used to sing to me, hug me and kiss me on the nose. They should all know she wouldn’t hurt me.

I’ve got savings now, and I’m not a baby anymore. I’m twelve, nearly thirteen. I’m going to find Miriam if I can. If I watch Crack and keep my ears open, I may know where to look. He didn’t say everything he knew, I’m sure of it.

‘Zara, where are you?’ Cara is shouting. I refuse to call her mother even in my head: she doesn’t deserve it. I’m gonna hide in my place until she’s gone.

I look like Cara. I’m just over five foot at the moment, still may grow a little more, but she’s five-three, so I think I’m going to be short like her. We have dark blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles over our noses. My dad is six-foot-two, with short brown hair and brown eyes. I don’t think I have any of his looks or traits as he is a hothead and stubborn.

‘Zara, where are you?’ I hear Cara shout again, but I slink away to my hiding place.