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Only half the bays had anything in them – which was not how it normally was. We were usually packed with routine maintenance jobs. The really elaborate paint and body work was backed up for weeks.
My guys were working, but they seemed listless. Distracted. And that was the few who were there – half of the mechanics scheduled weren’t even in the shop.
I noticed the absent ones were all members of the Midnight Riders.
When I walked onto the lot, Jimmy gave me a somber nod – but Antonio and Sam looked away, as though embarrassed.
They knew.
Kade was in the office, shuffling through some papers and writing down some notes. He looked up when I walked in.
“It’s alive,” he said in a deadpan voice.
“For now,” I said. “I don’t really have to ask, but where are Charlie, Leon, and Bug?”
“Under new employment with Lou Shaw Enterprises.”
I grimaced. “Figures. This is going to be a bitch until we hire some new guys.”
“I wouldn’t worry about that just yet.”
“Why? Are we not getting any new work?”
“No. In fact, we’re losing work we already had.”
I stared at him. “What?!”
Kade pointed out the window of the office.
A grey-haired guy was walking onto the lot. His name was Tom Crossman, and he was a longtime customer. He was something of a muscle car nut – at least, as much as he could afford on a mid-level banker’s salary. We’d done restorations for him on a ‘72 Dodge Challenger and a ’74 Camaro over the years, and we were about to start on a rusted-out ‘69 Barracuda he’d picked up at an auction.
Tom walked nervously over to the office and stuck his head in the door. “Jack,” he said in a friendly voice, though it definitely had an edge to it. “Kade.”
“Good to see you, Tom,” I said. “Come on in.”
Kade nodded his head in greeting as Tom walked inside.
“I’m still waiting on the parts for the Barracuda,” I said.
Tom shifted uneasily from foot to foot. “Yeah, about that…”
Shit.
“What’s up?” I asked, though I knew exactly what was up.
Tom wouldn’t meet my eyes. “Um, well, money’s tight with my daughter in college, and my wife is throwing a fit… so I think I should probably put off the rebuild for a while.”
“You paid me $10,000 up front for parts,” I reminded him. “We haven’t even touched that yet.”
“Um, well, I could use that back, too, if you don’t mind.”
I could understand him wanting his money back, but the bullshit story was making me angry.
“Tom – tell me the truth. This isn’t about money.”
He wouldn’t look at me. Just kept his eyes on the floor. “Well, you know, things are tough right now…”
“Not for bank managers.”
