Redwood Nine Ch. 04

JT smiled and nodded his head to look behind him, making Chico follow his gaze. Chico turned and looked at the storage building, it's present appearance not gracing it's future merits. He didn't seem to be as impressed as the others were, so JT walked him over. One thing Jake had given him in the office, was the keys to the building and a key to the lock on the gate. JT knew the trust bestowed on him, as he opened the door. They walked in and JT walked him around, taking care not to stir the dust on the floor up too much. He used his hands to describe the ideas they had for rooms and other uses and Chico could start to see what was planned. JT told him of the plan to get materials from Oswald Construction and use the site truck to get it to the clubhouse. Lenny was going to make sure he had what they needed put aside, so they could load it and get out of there quickly and get the truck back on the lot. By the time they walked out of the building, Chico was flashing his smile and pleased with what he had learned.

True to his word, Lenny was working on his bike and draining the oil, as Jake began cutting the old muffler and pipes away. Piney had all the new pipes out on the floor beside the car, in the order they would go on, clamps and hangers, as well. When Jake had everything off, he put the torch away and Piney hauled the rusted metal to the bin. It was a movement of people in a small space and what was being done, that JT watched and studied, understanding what Jake was talking to him about earlier. One by one, the pieces of the exhaust system went back on tightened into place.

Lenny had the old oil and filter out and the new ones in, just topping up the oil to the right level, as Piney started lowering Wally's car. Jake used the roll up and the air hose was neatly stored away, then put the impact gun and sockets away. JT took a rough guess at the time, but figured it was close to fifteen minutes to do, maybe a little more. Jake's idea of so many cars per hour started making sense and dollars began flashing in his eyes. Once an idea hit the right spot with him, JT was tenacious in making it happen.

When Lenny finished, he took him, Wally and Chico over to the building and opened it up completely. Once again, roiling clouds rolled out into the sunlight, to show their true volume of dust. JT told them where the brooms and rags were and gave them their jobs. At first, they were almost going to refuse, then JT gave them a look that let them know his position with them. He said he'd be back with Piney at lunch and they'd pitch in as well, after they ate something, of course. Jake had the hood up on the old Chev, making some adjustments and checking the filters. He changed out the gas filter and it instantly ran smoother at idle and revved up easier. Piney shut it off again and looked at Jake.

"What's next boss? We have two brake jobs, a distributor to put in the Dart, that part for the Lincoln hasn't come from the dealer yet, I can call on that and see. The Fairlane needs that electrical done under the dash and no one has said anything about that old pick up down at the end, looking all lonesome by itself."

"The pick up is mine. It needs some work to get it running. The engine is done, that needs replacing. Second gear is gone in the transmission and reverse may or may not work. The seat won't be much good to you, the springs will be sticking in your ass, you try sitting on that thing. Have to say there's more wrong with it, than right with it, I just like the looks of the thing, has nice lines."

"Yeah, me too. Looks like a forty something, Dodge."

"It's a forty. Has a 201 six in it. I've been looking for another six and transmission to come up, but I've given up spending time and effort on it."

"What about another engine and tranny? Does it have to be the exact same?"

"I would have liked it to be, just makes it easier in swapping out that way. Why, you interested in it, Piney?"

"I wouldn't mind putting another six and tranny in, that would fit. Not hard to go to the wreckers in Lodi and find one and a seat out of a wreck. Take it over to Otto's work and he can fix any body work and get some paint for it."

"So what do you want an old pick up for, Piney? Thought you guys were all about the bikes and riding?"

Piney looked at Jake and then around him for anyone close to them.

"I'm all for the bikes, Jake, I love riding. I said it to JT, the very first mention of getting bikes. One thing I do know, is how fucking heavy they are to push, when they break down and damn it, they break down. Now who do you think all those guys are going to be calling, when those bikes break down? Me and my pick up truck, that's who. When it's pissing rain and someone needs to go somewhere? Piney's pick up to the rescue again. Food, booze, parts, you name it, Piney and his pick up. You wait and see, that pick up will make me money."

Jake laughed, looking at Piney in a whole new light, yet again.

"You're a smart man, Piney. At the very least, you'll never have to pay for gas."

Piney pointed at his head and winked at Jake, letting him know he was thinking ahead.

"It's yours, Piney. I have no real use for it and it just takes up yard space, to me. I'll help you put whatever engine and tranny you get, in it. Just a matter of brackets and linkage fitting. Mess around with the drive shaft and make it fit."

Piney looked at the truck, imagining it in his mind.

"Think a V8 would fit in it, auto tranny?"

"Sure. Hardest part is getting all the linkage to work from the steering wheel to the casing."

"What about a floor shifter? Like in the Mustangs and Corvettes. Just need a hole in the bell housing then, right?"

"That's right, nothing more than that and get the linkage to line up. Is that what you're thinking of?"

"Maybe. Just keeping my options open."

"Go over and have a look at it, see what you think. Take a tape measure with you, see what space you have to play with in the engine bay."

Piney went to the tool chest and took the tape with him, looking over at the dust billowing out from the big bay door, as the guys worked at moving the filth from one end to the other. JT came out of the shop with an order and got in the car. He started the two year old Thunderbird and warmed it up. He played with several of the power features, including the seat, until it warmed up and he put it in drive. He slowly pulled out of the spot and turned towards the bays. He chose the second one and aimed the nose of the car for it. When he went to brake, the pedal sank to the floor and he kept going. Just as panic was about to set in, he remembered and jammed his foot on the emergency brake and the back tires locked up, screeching to a halt. He put it in neutral and looked around to see if Jake had seen it happen, then noticed he was standing right in front of him. He kept his hands up to stop JT from moving and went to the window.

"Sorry JT. I should have noted that the brakes were completely gone on it. Mrs. Portman is notorious for driving with her foot on the brake and she goes through shoes faster than kids go through underwear. Just use the E brake to ease on in and leave it in neutral. The drums and the shoes should be here soon with Dennis, along with the other brake job and the distributor. Might as well get the other brake job in here in the third bay and put the Dart in bay one. Piney's up having a look at the old pick up for a minute, but he can give you a hand pushing it in."

JT saluted and eased the car into the bay, stopping it, shutting off the engine and getting out, then setting the hoist. He brought the Plymouth Fury in the centre bay and got it ready to go up on the hoist as well. He opened up the doors to the Dart and then walked over to Piney at the front of the lot, looking under the hood of the truck.

"What do you want with this piece of shit?"

"This piece of shit my friend, is our new club truck. Jake will help me get it running again. This engine is pooched, so I'm trying to see what will fit in the space it has. I asked Jake if a V8 would fit and he says it might, so I'm thinking of getting the 312 V8 and tranny out of that '56 Ford Fairlane wreck, just down from my parents. I noticed it yesterday when we were there and it's got to be ten years or more that thing has sat there. I told you I like bikes, but I hate pushing them. This little thing is perfect for hauling one. We still have to find a way to get my dad's bike here."

"Who's bike?"

"My dad's."

JT smiled and motioned for him to think about what he was saying.

"Who's bike?"

Piney caught on and smiled.

"My bike."

They walked back over to the Dart and pushed it into the first bay. Jake already had the wheels and drums off the Thunderbird, shaking his head, as he looked at what was left of the brakes on it. The guys came and looked at it with him, shocked to see such a great degree of wear and the damage.

"And she calls to say her brakes seem to be making a noise."

"A noise?'

"Yeah, a noise. They also seem to be not working as good as they used to."

JT and Piney looked at the shoes on the vehicle and they were devoid of any braking material left. The rivets were rattling on them, she had worn them out so badly. The drums were scored deeply and Jake just shook his head and continued tossing the parts into the garbage can.

Jake looked at the jobs lined up and then the dust clouds coming out with every broom stroke.

"Guys, I'm good with the brakes, if you want to give the guys a hand over there. Once they get the bulk of that dust out, a good mopping will take care of the rest. Shouldn't be so bad to be in there then. Mop and bucket are in the store room over there"

They thanked Jake and JT went for the mop and bucket, while Piney went over to the building and looked inside. Lenny, Wally and Chico were sweeping together, moving a large line of dust towards the door. Piney grabbed a shovel and put it down by the line for them to sweep into it. Chico pushed everything he could onto the shovel and Piney carried it out to the bin. He came in and told them the place was looking great and they were doing a good job, then JT rolled the mop and bucket in, already filled with water.

"Jake said if we got rid of the major stuff, mopping would clean up the rest, so we can take turns mopping and I think it's time for a joint."

That was something the guys could all agree on and Wally was quick to get set up and start rolling. JT took first crack at mopping and cleaned a large area of the floor, then rinsed the mop several times and continued. Once Wally had the joint rolled and lit it up, JT had the entire front area mopped and left it to dry. They stood around the old office desk and smoked it, enjoying the reprieve from doing such menial work.

Piney took up the mop after and went to work doing as much as JT had done and then took the bucket and emptied it, filling it again from the shop's water supply. He rolled it back in and looked at the guys, to see who was going next. Lenny took the mop and put a scowl on his face, as he looked at his friends.

"Arr, ye scurvy dogs, it be time to swab the deck."

Lenny dunked the mop in the water and began mopping the next section, continuing his portrayal of a pirate, until he finished. He left the mop in the bucket and stood looking at Wally and Chico, to see who would go next. Chico shrugged his shoulders and picked up the mop.

"Ain't done no mopping before, man. I always avoided doing this shit. Okay, just push it over the floor and rinse it out, right?"

The guys had to laugh, such a simple task, being made out to be such a difficult procedure.

"Yeah. Just wring it out, so it isn't soaking and clean an area, rinse it out, wring it dry, repeat. Clean down to the line in the floor and then Wally can finish it up and we're done. I'd like to get to building, as soon as we can. Lenny, how are things looking at the job site?"

"They want me back tomorrow and I'll be there the rest of the week. I'll have things we need, sorted out and put aside by tomorrow night, if you want to make a run?"

JT looked at the others, seeing if there was any objection to the timing and announced that things were a go for tomorrow night, to do a supply run at the site. JT showed them the keys to the gate and the building, guaranteeing them the ability to work under the cover of night. Handshakes and pats on the back, had them focused on the task and the bond between them. Wally danced around with the mop, to finish up the last of the floor, then laid the mop back, like he was dipping a dance partner. Once he put the mop away in the bucket, Chico got their attention.

"Hey Amigos, got some news, almost forgot. I talked to my guy in Oakland about running more pot up to them and they like the idea. They can't keep up with the demand that's growing and want to meet. If they like what they see, they'll talk to the guys down in TJ and set it up. I said I'd talk to you and get back to them, when we can meet up."

"Fucking excellent, Chico. Hundred bucks a run each and we're going to be living in style here, guys. Look, Chico, you go tell your guys that we're almost ready. My bike is almost ready to do it, I hope and once we get Piney's bike going, that'll make five hundred per run coming up. We do that three times a week and we won't be hurting for money anymore. I'm trying to think of ways to get more business for Jake too, so it won't be long before we can make this club legit and get our patches."

"Holy shit, JT, when you dream, you dream big, man."

"Go big, or go home, Chico, that's the way I look at it. Why have something half-assed, when you can have so much more, if you try a little harder at it?"

Chico, as well as the others, could see that JT wasn't going to just be happy with the guys just riding together. He had ideas and plans for making this a club of note, one to make an impression on people. One thing they knew in their hearts, as they stood in the empty building together, the Sons of Anarchy was now a brotherhood, one that would soon take to the open road and claim their place in the world they lived in and the road they rode on.

The deep rumble of a motorcycle came through the walls and the guys went out to see who it was. Keith rolled up to the entrance of the building and stopped, getting off his bike and coming over to the guys, just inside.

"Morning gents. Grand morning, so it is."

They welcomed Keith and asked how things went with meeting Marlene and if he got a job or not.

"Aye, she a nice lady, once you get past the nasty attitude. We all sat and had a cup of tea and she told me of the things she wanted doing. I told her aye, no problem, I can do that, just need the tools. She said she'd supply everything, as long as I did a good job. Gave me a room of my own, too, so she did."

The guys were pleased with Keith's success at finding work and the money situation just continued to look better for them, at every turn. JT asked about the girls and what was happening with them.

"Aye, that. Well, Mary and Gloria are back at their places now. They weren't interested in doing housework and would rather dance at the club in Lodi. Ann-Marie is staying, so is Suzy and as far as I know, they're going over the manual Marlene gave them. If it works out like the rest of us, you'll have a room to stay in, Lenny. I have to go over and see Jake now, pass along a message she wanted me to give him."

"What's the message, Keith?"

"That's for his ears, Lads."

Keith winked and smiled at them and walked out and over to Jake, now doing the brakes on the Fury. JT looked at the guys and couldn't help but smile at their good fortune. As much as he saw a rainbow arcing towards his goal, he knew that there were many things that could wipe away those bands of colour and leave them with storm clouds instead.

From all that happened over the last twenty four hours, JT felt a sense of purpose to himself, one that meant something, to more than just himself. From the death and ashes that had been presented to him, a life was taking hold. A life that would bring forth a new era, a new order, a new purpose for being.

*

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RC