Free Rod by Nella Tyler

She’s an innocent fucking kid, Owen, so tell
me if you know anything.”
    “I dunno anything about any missing kid.”
    The line is dead.   I look down at my phone and say aloud, “You
fuckers better not hurt a hair on her head.”
    Shoving the phone back into my pocket, I
hop back on my bike and ride the streets looking for Sasha.   This search is an awakening for me and I can
see clearly that my father’s people would easily lie for the almighty dollar.

 
 
 
 
 
    Chapter Five
    Trish Fitzgerald

 
    I thrash my way through the house, not
taking into account that my mother is back from tending to the family
store.   She shows no interest in my
issues, but I force them on her just the same.
    “ Ya know what
bugs the shit out of me?” I blather.
    “No, Trish.   Tell me, what bugs the shit out of you?”
    “The way I feel right fucking now.”
    Mom tries to dismiss the conversation
there, but I won’t let her.
    “Aren’t you gonna ask me how I feel right now?”
    “I’ll bite.   How are you feeling right now?”
    “Like shit.”
    “I think everyone is going to feel like
shit until your sister is found.   It’s
natural to be upset.   We’re all upset.”
    Her failure to comfort me isn’t all that
shocking in the least.   She spends most
of her time catering to my father’s every whim.   She deals with me because we are family, but she only puts up with
Sasha.   It’s a dull nagging in her vacant
eyes to see a constant reminder that my father cheated on her all of those
years ago.
    “I just feel so fucking useless in this
whole thing,” I confide in her.
    She nods as if she understands.
    “I’m of no use to anyone inside of the
club or out.   This fucking sucks,” I add.
    “I’m sure there is some way you can help.”
    Her tone sounds hopeful, but I recall my
father’s warning to stay out of it.
    “No, I ask but dad tells me to stay out of
it every time.   I come up with one solid
lead and that’s more than anyone else, but he basically tells me to go fuck
myself.”
    She begins wiping down the counter tops at
home and turns the dial on the stove to pre-heat the oven.
    “You have a solid lead?”
    “And then there’s fucking Rodney,” I
rant.   “Rodney makes me like him and then
turns on me the moment dad comes around.   It’s stupid, really.”
    She reiterates, “You have a solid lead?”
    “Yes, I already said that.   It’s no use, though.   Rodney shot that idea out of the sky.   He knows the guy I thought took Sasha.   He said he’s a good dude.”
    Mom goes back to cleaning the kitchen up
and I satisfy my need to sit around and wallow in my own self
pity .   I plunge my body down on
the couch and hit the red power button on the clicker.   I reach over to the bottle of wine and drink
directly from it.
    The television blares relentlessly.   I stand up, put the bottle down and
leave.  
    “Alright, well I can’t turn into you, now
can I?” I ask aloud as I leave the room and then the house.
    I feel the wind in my face as I ride to
the Lair.   I need some words of
wisdom.   I seek out Jasmine or any other
friendly faces.   In a whirlwind, I pass
by the Sargent-At-Arms, Josh Lucas, and sit at the bar.
    He approaches me from behind and taps my
shoulder.
    “Didn’t your father tell you to go home?”
    “Yeah, but I feel so obsolete.”
    He taps me again on the shoulder, but this
time it’s more reassuring.   He feels my
pain.  
    I see Jasmine standing behind the counter,
busy doling out drinks to the remaining members.  
    “Are ya drinking?”
She asks.
    “No.   I just need to talk to someone who understands.”
    “And you think that’s me?” She asks, but
feels the flattery in my words.  
    She looks to the guy occupying the space
behind the bar and says, “Hey Jeff, take care of the bar for me, would ya ?”
    He nods begrudgingly and she walks around
to where I’m sitting.
    “Alright, let’s talk.”
    “I just feel so bummed out that