Rory's entire way up the first aisle of the grocery store she felt eyes on her. She was adept at knowing her surroundings and trusting her intuition at all times. Stopping in front of a giant peanut display she turned and looked at the two detectives who has spoken to her outside her apartment.
"If you're going to arrest me can we at least go outside first?"
After all her years working bounties and as a PI, the danger and years of a nomad type lifestyle, she was suddenly embarrassed by her it all. The last thing Rory wanted was to be arrested in full view of the neighbor housewives and mother's of her children's schoolmates.
"Sure," the one man nodded.
They followed her to the parking lot and, before she could even turn to face them, they were cuffing her wrists.
"Aurora Lowman, you're under arrest for felony possession with intent to distribute, trafficking of illegal firearms and trafficking of a controlled substance."
"That all?" She asked coolly as they pulled her away from her SUV.
"Oh no," the one detective chuckled. "We have a laundry list but those are the big ones, for now at least."
As they helped her into the backseat of their unmarked car Quinn, who had been charged with keeping an eye on Rory, raced off toward the clubhouse.
--
"Why don't you go check on Abel?" Gemma asked Emma as she folded a basket of the boys' laundry.
Emma shrugged, playing aimlessly on her phone, and refused to make eye contact. "I don't even know what to say, Grandma Gem."
"All you do," she came toward the gable, "Is give him a hug and tell him you're sorry about his mom."
Even though she was scared to talk to Abel she was more afraid of Gemma. Leaving her phone on the table she dragged her feet to the back bedroom where Abel sat with Thomas.
"Hey guys," Emma lingered in the doorway.
"Hi Em," Abel immediately moved to hug her while Thomas buried his face in the pillow.
"I'm sorry, Tommy," Emma began to cry.
Down the hall the club members gathered in Gemma's dining room, having nowhere else to go, while Happy and Opie headed to visit Jax.
He was pale, his eyes red and bloodshot, but he remained stoic as he entered in visitation room. Opie hugged his briefly, Happy too, before they sat to talk.
"I'm sorry brother," Opie grumbled, Happy nodding in agreement.
"We're gonna make it right," Happy added.
"Romeo said they hit Lin's family after what happened to Knox. We still need solid proof but they got motive."
Jax's nostrils flared at he listened to Opie and Happy explain the situation. "Don't move on them," he said darkly.
"What?" Opie was dumbfounded. "Jax, we're doing this."
"I want to do it," he growled. "You act like nothing happened. You just do business as usual and when I get out here I'll take care of Lin."
Happy nodded with every word, knowing exactly how Jax was feeling and supporting his need for revenge but Opie seemed hesitant.
"They're going to think they got away with this, Romeo is going to want to move before you're released." He tried to make Jax see the bigger picture.
"Ope," Jax grabbed his best friend's hand, "Take care of it."
--
"You're not going to say anything?" Patterson smiled smugly. "Last time we spoke you had some strong words for me but now...nothing."
"I. Want. My. Lawyer. Four words for you."
Patterson pushed the photos of her apartment closer to Rory. "This is pretty straight forward," she explained. "Guns, cocaine, clearly more than just personal stock, your ties to a criminal organization, ties to known felons who have mysteriously gone missing and some that are still with us."
Parker and Trevor, Rory knew that much. "Criminal organization?" She cocked her head to the side. "I'm not sure what you're talking about."
"The Sons of Anarchy," she huffed. "And don't give me 'they're a the club' lie."
"They're a club," Rory sneered.
"Agatha Whittle," Patterson smiled, "Your nanny. How well do you know her?"
"She's been with us for years," Rory explained. "She's like a mother to me, grandmother to my kids. I trust that woman with my kids. I know her very well."
Patterson was hoping for that kind of bravado and certainty. "Did you know her deceased husband was suspected as the primary enforcer for the Smaldones? They're Denver's most powerful crime family, well they were, most are dead or locked up."
"Small world," Rory shrugged. "Two innocent women guilty of loving wrongly accused men randomly finding each other. Almost sounds like a love story if you switch a few details."
Lowen barged into the room furious she'd been kept from her client. Slamming her briefcase on the table she pointed to the door.
"Interviewing my client without counsel?"
"We're just chatting," Patterson said as she moved toward the door.
"Not anymore," Lowen took Patterson's spot at the table.
The door shut and Rory's stone expression cracked instantly. "They want me to rat. They got me, Lowen, like I'm really fucked."
Her lips were tight as she skimmed the arrest warrant and summary of evidence. "I'll have to look at it all and see what I can do." Slipping the folder in her briefcase she looked at Rory. "Would you take a deal?"
"The only deal or plea they'd offer would be contingent on me giving up the club," Rory shook her head. "I can't. After everything, I can't."
"Life in prison doesn't change that?" She asked quietly.
"No," she shook her head. "You gotta tell Hap I'm here."
Lowen didn't want to be the one to deliver he news but nodded. "They're transferring you to county before your arraignment. I'll try to get you segregated or back here until trial but I doubt the judge will allow it. Not with your charges."
"Yeah, I figured."
Taking her hand she gave Rory a supportive squeeze before standing and heading toward the door. "I'll be back as soon as I can."
--
Lowen looked everywhere for Happy. His ever changing phone number didn't help he search but finally she arrived at Gemma's and was face to face with him.
"What happened?" Opie asked. They all figured she was there because of Jax but they were quickly proved wrong.
"Rory's been arrested," she frowned. "It's serious, she's looking at twenty-five years, give or take a few charges."
"Rory," Happy looked at Lowen with fire in his eyes. "What do they have her on?"
Rather than explain it, Lowen handed him one of the photos of the interior of Rory's apartment stocked with guns and cocaine. Happy's face turned down and his eyes filled with tears despite how he begged himself to remain calm.
"I'm sorry," Lowen whispered. "I'll be in touch as soon as I hear anything."
"It's on us," Happy mumbled once Lowen saw herself out. "It's on me." Dropping the photograph as an explanation, Happy stormed out of the house and headed home. He buried his face in her pillow and breathed in her scent as he settled in for a torturous night of panic.