Chapter 16: The Patch

The text came on Thursday evening, and it was for both of us.

Church tonight. Eight o'clock. Wives stand at the door when a brother's rank is on the table. Bring Marianne.

"He's moved the week," Joss said.

"He's seen Pauline's Micra go out and come back, and he's missing a baby."

"He wants me to hand her over."

"Then he can want."

We drove to the mill in Joss's truck, and I sat as far from him as the bench seat allowed.

Every man in the club saw it.

The meeting room is a long upstairs room with a trestle table down the middle and the president's chair at the head.

The men sat along the sides in their cuts.

Joss walked in alone and stood at the foot of the table.

I stopped on the threshold, where the wives stand.

Three of them were there already, in coats, with their arms folded.

None of them looked at me.

Dennis was in his chair with his flask at his elbow.

"Brothers," he said. "We've a hard thing tonight."

He said it so sadly.

"Anchor, you claimed a boy at this table. You've kept him from the club's care. You've hidden his mother, and you've told me nothing. Where is she?"

"I don't know," Joss said.

"Is that true?"

"I'm not discussing my family."

"The club is your family."

A man at the side shifted in his seat.

It was the old brother, the one with the white beard, who had taught Joss to weld when Joss was fourteen.

He stared down at his hands.

"I'm calling a vote," Dennis said. "Road captain. And the garage lease reverts to the club on Monday."

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