Sophie looked at her shoes.
"He died."
Marcus was quiet.
"Last year."
"I'm sorry."
"Motorcycle accident."
Marcus felt something tighten in his chest.
Sophie continued before he could ask.
"A truck ran a red light."
Her lips began trembling again.
"My mom says it wasn't Daddy's fault."
"It wasn't."
"You don't know."
"No."
Marcus looked directly at her.
"But somebody running a red light isn't your daddy's fault."
Sophie nodded.
"I was with Mom when the police came."
Marcus did not know what to say to that.
So he did not say anything.
Sophie suddenly looked toward the diner.
"I had to come out here."
"Your mom knows you're outside?"
The little girl's guilty expression answered before she did.
"I told her I needed the bathroom."
Marcus raised one eyebrow.
"The bathroom is inside."
"I know."
"And then you sneaked out?"
She nodded.
"She's going to be worried."
Sophie looked terrified again.
"But you were going to leave."
Marcus understood.
"If I went back and told Mom, you might start your motorcycle before we came outside."
"So you stayed?"
"I hid behind the blue car."
"How long?"
"Maybe twenty minutes."
Marcus looked toward the vehicle.
The October desert sun was already warming the asphalt.
For twenty minutes, this child had hidden alone behind a parked car because she believed a stranger might die if she left.
Marcus stood.
He pulled his phone from the pocket of his jeans.
He never touched the motorcycle.
He pressed one number.
A man answered almost immediately.
"Yeah?"
"Diesel."
"What's up, boss?"
"Where are you?"
"Shop."
"Get to Rosy's."
"Breakfast?"
"Bring tools."
There was a pause.
"What happened?"
Marcus looked at Sophie.
"Someone worked on my bike while I was inside."
Diesel's tone changed instantly.
"You touch it?"
"No."
"Start it?"
"No."
"Good."
"Bring Snake. Flash too. Anyone close."
"How fast?"
"Now."
Diesel disconnected.
Sophie stared up at Marcus.
"Are they bikers too?"
"Unfortunately."
She looked confused.
Marcus's mouth twitched.
"That's a joke."
"Oh."
"Not a good one."
"No."
Marcus laughed once.
That seemed to help her breathe.
Then Sophie looked worried.
"Are you mad?"
"At you?"
She nodded.
"No."
"Because I touched your vest."
Marcus looked down at the leather.
The back carried the Desert Kings Motorcycle Club colors and the PRESIDENT rocker that had earned him more fear than friendship in the last fourteen years.
"You were trying to keep me alive."
"So it's okay?"
"This time."
Sophie gave the smallest smile.
Marcus pointed toward a concrete parking barrier several yards from the motorcycle.
"Let's move over there."
"Why?"
"If somebody did something dangerous to the bike, I don't want you next to it."
That erased the smile.
"Can motorcycles explode?"
"Not usually."
"That's not a no."
Marcus stared at her.
"You ask a lot of questions."
"My teacher says that's how people learn."
"Your teacher sounds exhausting."