Then she met the Iron Wolves.
Big men.
Leather vests.
Weathered faces.
But none of them treated her like Donna Prescott did.
They shook her hand.
They welcomed her.
Hank Morrison told her:
“Anyone who bleeds for one of us is one of us.”
Bryce smiled.
A real smile.
But Cedar Falls didn't smile with her.
Donna Prescott owned the diner.
She also had influence.
She watched Bryce closely.
Then she began talking.
A petition appeared around town.
“Concerned Citizens of Cedar Falls.”
It described Bryce as an “unvetted transient of unknown background.”
Thirty-one people signed.
Then more.
People who had never spoken to Bryce.
People who didn't know her.
People who didn't care what had happened in the parking lot.
They simply believed Donna.
Bryce recognized the feeling immediately.
It was the same feeling she had known in foster care.
Being judged before anyone heard her story.
But Walt wasn't willing to let history repeat itself.
The Arrest
Craig Dutton was Donna's nephew.
That explained everything.
Craig and two friends went to the police station.
They lied.
They claimed Bryce attacked them.
They claimed Walt was caught in the middle.
They called her dangerous.
Officer Tate believed them.
Or perhaps he simply didn't care enough to investigate.
No security footage was checked.
No witnesses were interviewed.
A report was filed.
Then an arrest warrant was issued.
Bryce was in the garage with Walt when police arrived.
Red and blue lights flashed across the walls.
“Bryce Fletcher.”
She froze.
“You're under arrest for aggravated assault.”
Walt stepped forward.
“She saved my life.”
“Sir, step back.”
They handcuffed Bryce.
She didn't resist.
Helen stood on the porch.
Her hand covered her mouth.
The cruiser drove away.
At the station, Bryce sat alone in an interrogation room.
Four hours passed.
No lawyer.
No phone call.
No one believed her.
Officer Tate finally entered.
“Want to tell me your side?”
“I was defending an old man from five men.”
“Three witnesses say otherwise.”
Bryce stared at him.
“Your witnesses are the ones who attacked him.”
Tate shrugged.
“That's not what the report says.”
Bryce understood.
The system had chosen its story.
And once again, she was the person nobody believed.
The Call Walt Hadn't Made in Five Years
The county newspaper published the story.
The headline called Bryce a violent homeless woman.
Nobody mentioned that Walt had been attacked first.
Nobody mentioned her size.
Nobody mentioned the petition.
Nobody mentioned Donna.
Walt called every lawyer he could find.
No one would take the case.
Then he sat at his kitchen table.
His wife was crying upstairs.
Walt stared at an old number in his phone.
A number he hadn't called in five years.
Reed Garrison.
His successor as president of the Iron Wolves.
Walt pressed call.
Reed answered immediately.
“Walt.”
“I need help.”
Walt told him everything.
Reed listened.
When Walt finished, Reed was silent.
Then he said:
“If you say she's family, she's family.”
A pause.
“Give me forty-eight hours.”
The call ended.
Reed immediately began making calls.