Chapter 20

When John woke, he found the pair laying on him naked. Copping a feel as he got up, they snuggled into each other still asleep.

After his coffee was loaded into the travel mug for the scooter, he walked out, locking the door. Using battery power only, he pumped up the air suspension until he could push his bike down the road enough that it wouldn’t wake the girls when it started. Firing up the bike, he got on his way. He was soon merging with 93 North. The ride was enjoyable with little traffic to keep him company. He’d almost forgotten the peace he found at being alone like this. Thinking to himself, ‘My old life is irrevocably fubared, then thinking further about last night’s team tit fuck, he thought fuck it, it’s worth it.’

He made good time, rolling into Vegas at 0700. He stopped for some breakfast and gas at a truck stop. Looking out across the lot, he saw a few *lot lizards flitting about, but no threat in the immediate area, as he fueled.

He also saw a Forest River RV dealership across the road, something to investigate before leaving.

After stuffing his face and downing more coffee he rode over to the RV lot. Parking his bike next to the entrance chain, he got off and walked around the lot. He noted a sale poster on the window for last year’s XLR Nitro Fifth Wheels. Looking around, he soon found one. He noted through its glass, it had a pass-through door into the toy hauler area. Looking at the slide out, he took note of the cameras mounted and figured this was a used unit. By this time, an early bird salesman had noticed him.

After he had toured the unit, the salesman said, it was a custom order, but the would-be owner ran afoul of the IRS, and never made the last payment.

“So, you need to get rid of this unit to clear space?”

He looked askance at John, and quoted him a figure that was damn near full price. John started to walk away at which the guy stopped him. “What would it take to get you in this unit?”

John replied “Thirty percent off the number you just shot me and it will be gone by this evening. Paid in full.”

The salesman raised a finger as if to say pause, then fished out a phone calling a number. After speaking to someone John assumed was a manager for ten minutes, the guy looked at him and gave a thumbs up sign.

After hanging up, the man said “My manager agreed contingent on payment in full today before noon.”

John said “Drop the chain over there so I can pull my bike up and let’s go write it up.”

After some more back and forth, and a call to John’s bank, the deal was finally done.

The salesman, Ralph he had learned, said to John when the paper was all done, “I’ve been coming in on Army time since I got out of the service. The rest of them always told me it was too damn early. I’ll be glad to tell the next one that does about this.” he said with a grin.

John looked at him and said “Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children here, I know what you mean about those early get ups.”

John continued, “I need to park this in the trailer then call a cab to take me to get my truck.”

Ralph said “Don’t worry about a cab, I can give you a lift if you’d like?”

John just nodded at that and said “Thanks” right as the V-twin fired up.

Ralph lowered the toy hauler ramp for him, and he rode in as far forward as he could get, then shut down. Looking back, he saw enough room left for a small car.

After locking up, Ralph drove John over to pick up his truck. Getting out in front of the impound yard, John looked at his watch, then turned and shook Ralphs hand “Thanks, I got it from here.”

Entering the building, he touched base with the desk clerk and was escorted to the back gate, where he identified himself once again.

After an hour of bread and circuses, he was finally in his truck, and very pissed off. The idiots had taken apart his interior and done a shit job of putting it back together.

His first stop was the Paint Rock dealership. After asking for Tony, and giving his name, he was led back to the office where he had first sat down with the man. When walked in, Tony looked at him with some concern on his face. “John, good to see you my friend, what can I do for you?”

John looked around, tapping his ear, and ask, “Do you still have that welder?”

Little Tony’s look got more concerned, “Yes we do, let’s have another look at it.”

After walking out to the shop and into the repair area where it was stored, John reported what had happened at the federal building, including the likely location of where the surveillance photo had been taken.

Tony mumbled “Rat bastards.”

After he was done, John then asked Tony if he or someone he knew could help him with a union problem. Then went on to describe the issue, making it clear he was just serving as an intermediary.

Tony said “I know such people, but what is in it for them?”

John said, “I don’t know the cost of such things, that is between Señor Roriguez and them.”

Tony said, “Have your friend call here and ask about the Thruxton bagger. We’ll take it from there. Do you actually want this welder, or was that a just a precaution?”

John replied, “Both actually, how much for the welder?”

For you my friend $4,500, including the trailer.

“Done” replied John.

He then said, “I need to get a fifth wheel mounted on my frame. Can you recommend a shop?”

Tony nodded but then asked “What happened to your bed?”

John reiterated the fiasco with Alba.