Page 119 of Jackass

“Spit, blood, or hair. The hair needs to have the root attached. Are you with the person?” he inquired carefully.

“Not yet, headed there now.”

“Ok, if you find the person is not available, a toothbrush or hairbrush will suffice. Or a tissue with a good amount of blood on it. Take it back to the clubhouse. Don’t come here,” he clarified.

“You got it.” I cut the call as we pulled into the motel parking lot.

We each climbed off our bikes, and Mimic led the way to Derek’s room.

“I don’t see his car,” Mimic said, looking around the lot. “Looks like he took off. We might not have much time.”

“Should have brought Billy,” I remarked.

“He’s still watching the bitch’s house. But he taught me a few things,” Mimic said, pulling a small case from his saddlebag.

He didn’t get the door open as quickly as Billy would, but it was quicker than Blade or I could have done.

Within a few minutes, Mimic had the door open. I wasn’t opposed to kicking the door down, but this worked better to prevent Derek from knowing we’d been here.

We looked around the room. “Patch said spit, blood, or hair. Tissues, toothbrush, or hairbrush.”

I moved into the bathroom and found both the toothbrush and a comb. I grabbed them both and wrapped them in a towel.

Walking back to the main room, I told the guys, “Got it. Let’s go.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Samantha

Seeing Derek in the clubhouse was jarring. I didn’t expect him to show up, though perhaps I should have. I knew he wouldn’t just sign the papers. For years, I had believed he’d been following me around the country.

Learning it was Carrie threatening Charlie was hard to understand. That was until Jack told me everything.

She was mentally ill.

It was hard not to have compassion. I understood she put Charlie at risk. But I couldn’t help wondering what had happened in her life that made her that way.

I would never be the person who believed people were born bad.

When it came down to nurture vs. nature, nature was strong. Genetics played a powerful part. But nurture went a long way too. Children learned what they lived.

That was true for Derek, too.

I knew he had an abusive father. He told me stories about his childhood. How his father beat his mother. I guess that’s why he thought it would be ok to hit me.

His dad would hit him also, for any perceived infraction. Would he have hit Charlie if I’d stayed? Most likely.

We hadn’t heard from him in a few days. Jack disappeared that night, climbing into bed with me early the next morning. He didn’t tell me where he’d been or what he had done.

I had to wonder if Derek was even an issue any longer. With that in mind, I made sure Tank could stay with Charlie and went to find Jack, so I could let him know I was heading out.

I found Jack outside, working on his bike. He looked up witha smile as I walked over to where he was. I stopped and looked down over the bike at him.

“Hey, Sammy.”

“Hey, Jack. I wanted to let you know I’m going over to The Bookstore to see Ryder. I have some things I want to go over with him about the book signing.”

Jack stood up, grabbing the rag he had laying on the seat. Wiping his hands, he walked around the bike to stand before me.