Ride With Me (Paige and Jace) novel Chapter 25

CHAPTER 16-2

never imagined my sister would choose this over a real career.” Charlotte added and I finally

looked up and I smiled pleasantly.

“I spend five days a week fixing expensive machines. You spent yours creating problems so I think. I’m doing alright.” I said.

Hunter happened to walk through the roller door carrying a box of oil filters and he stopped just inside the entrance and immediately sensed the tension.

Charlotte noticed him and smiled politely.

“I see your biker friends are still visiting.” Charlotte said.

“They’re customers.” I said.

“They seem to spent a lot of time here.” She said.

“They appreciate quality workmanship.” I said and she laughed softly.

“Or maybe they enjoy rescuing you.” She said and I shook my head.

“I’ve noticed something interesting.” I said.

“Oh?” She asked.

“The only person who keeps insisting that I need rescuing… is you.” I said.

For the first time since she arrived, Charlotte’s confident expression slipped slightly. It only lasted a second and then a smile returned.

“I’ll let you finish my motorcycle.” She said.

She turned gracefully and walked toward the office while I watched her from the corner of my eye.

Something about the way she moved through the workshop made the hairs on the back of my

neck stand up.

Charlotte had never gone anywhere without a reason and I had learned that lesson years ago. So this morning wasn’t going to be any different.

Charlotte collected her motorcycle twenty minutes later after paying the invoice without arguing. That alone should have worried me. She had never left quietly unless she believed she’d already

won.

I watched her ride out of the parking lot before turning my attention back to the next motorcycle

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waiting on the left.

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t belong to one of my regular customers and I’d serviced it often enough to know every scratch on the frame.

Ben rolled the tool cart beside me.

“Ready?” He asked.

“Always.” I said.

He handed me a socket while I began the inspection and everything looked normal/Until it didn’t..

I stopped halfway through checking the rear brake assembly.

“What?” Ben frowned and I crouched lower and shined my flashlight toward the brake line.

“The retaining clip.” I said.

“What about it?” He asked.

“It wasn’t like this.” I said.

I carefully reached in with a pair of pliers and lifted the clip free. Someone had partially loosened it.

Another few miles on the highway and vibration alone could have worked it completely loose. And my stomach tightened.

“This wasn’t an accident.” I said and Ben looked confused.

“You can tell?” He asked and I nodded slowly.

“That clip was secure when the bike came in.” I said.

I immediately reinstalled it correctly before checking every other critical component.

Nothing else had been touched. Just that one part.

“Who would’ve done it?” Ben asked.

The answer flashed through my mind almost instantly.

Charlotte.

I didn’t have proof. Only instinct and unfortunately my instincts had been right more often than

they’d been wrong.

I wiped my hands on a shop towel and looked toward the office.

“Ben.” I said.

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CHAPTER 16-2

“Yeah?” He said.

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