Chapter 11
“You’re hired, when do you want to start?” Sally asked Petra after talking for almost an hour for their interview.
“I can start now,” Petra said with a laugh.
“Really?” Sally asked in shock, then looked up when someone approached. “Mary, what is it?”
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but Paula called off, again. She didn’t give an excuse. I can stay for three extra hours if you need me, but I’ll have to get home to the kids after that.”
“Mary, this is Petra Thomas, she’s our new hire. She said she can start today, so I’m going to hold her to it. If you could show her the ropes as to where everything is, I would appreciate it. I don’t think you’ll have to stay the entire three hours, but thank you for the offer.”
“Nice to meet you,” Mary said as she held out her hand to Petra.
“Come find me when you’re done here.” She quickly left them, and Sally invited Petra back to her office.
On the way, she pointed out things that Petra would need to know, like where the supplies were kept in the pantry, where the aprons were, the order pads.
When they reached a small office that held a desk, along with several file cabinets, Sally sighed heavily and turned to Petra.
“If you have your paperwork I can get you in the system. I’m not talking about any food ordering system.
We’re still old school here where we write down the orders and put them on the twirly holder for the cook.
It’s been like this for years, and I don’t see any reason to change it now.
” She walked into the office an invited Petra to take a seat before her desk.
“I was looking into putting one of those fancy computer things in, but then things changed, and I didn’t want to go to the expense. ”
“What changed?” Petra asked as she handed over her personal information in the form of her ID and SS card as proof as to her being who she was.
“The factory closed down about a year ago, I’m not hurting as badly as others around here, but that closure hit this town hard.”
Petra nodded, not knowing what else to say, so she kept it simple. “Do you know what my schedule will be going forward?”
“Not right this minute, but how do you feel about closings? The shift starts at noon, and ends at eight, but you won’t get out of here until around nine after cleaning up.
We close our doors at eight every night, and we are open seven days a week.
You’ll have two days off a week, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get them off at the same time. ”
“That’s fine, I’ll tell my boyfriend when I get home, if I could just give him a quick call before I start?”
“Yes, go ahead.” Sally looked at her, and made a quick decision. “Not that I care, but is your boyfriend controlling?”
“Not really, does that make a difference?”
“Again, I try not to pry into my employees personal lives, but I believe Paula’s boyfriend, or husband, I don’t know if they are married or not, is controlling.
I mean there have been some times in the past that Paula has called in, and later that night, or the next day, my brother tells me that she was in his bar with the man she lives with.
Again, I don’t know if they are married or just dating.
” She leaned forward and shook her head.
“I’m not against riding a motorcycle, hell, I’ve done it for years myself and I even have my own bike.
When I get a free moment and need to clear my head, I take it out.
Anyway, Paula’s man is a member of a motorcycle club, and like I said, I’ve been around bikes my entire life, but the people he associates with are bad.
I’ve been known to pull the baseball bat from beneath the counter and threaten that particular club on a few occasions. ”
“Wow, is it something I have to worry about?”
“I don’t know, and I’m not trying to be judgy, but you look like you can hold your own against an unruly customer.”
“I can,” Petra laughed. “I might as well tell you, my boyfriend is starting a motorcycle club himself. We’re waiting for more members to arrive.” She held up her hand and shook her head at Sally’s expression. “We’re the good guys, I promise.”
“I’ll take your word for it, for now, and though there aren’t any clubs in this town, there are several in the surrounding towns.
From what I’ve seen of them, they aren’t good people.
My brother owns and operates the only bar in the area, and there have been several times that he’s had to forcibly either stop fights, or the threat of them, or these bikers harassing the other patrons. ”
“Did he call the cops?” Petra asked, wanting to call Paul immediately and tell him this information.
“He doesn’t have to, he, my brother, Warren, is a cop.
The patrons know this, and it doesn’t take these assholes long to find out.
Warren’s reasoning is that as long as they are paying for their drinks, not harassing his other customers, and are reasonable, then he has no problem serving them.
Since it’s the only bar within a fifty-mile radius, it’s been working.
” She shook her head and gave Petra a small smile.
“However, there are a few new members or striking members of a club that like to push Warren’s boundaries.
It’s been known to happen, and so far, knock on wood, Warren has always come out to be the victor.
He won’t tolerate any bullshit in his bar. ”
“Oh, wow. What’s the name of this bar?”
“Last Chance Tavern. Warren said that if anyone comes in and messes up, then it’s their last chance before he pulls out his badge and has them arrested. I know that sounds bad, but that’s how he is.”
“No, it sounds perfectly fine to me,” Petra said. They finished their work, and she handed her an apron and told her to take a thirty-minute break before reporting to Mary. Petra immediately went outside and went over to the dumpsters and made her phone call.
“Is everything okay?” Paul asked as he answered on the second ring.
“Everything is fine, where are you?”
“In the shop, I decided I wouldn’t go anywhere until I heard back from you. How did the interview go?”
“Good, I’m starting work in thirty minutes. I need to tell you a few things I learned.”
“What’s that?”
“One of the waitresses here is named Mary, I don’t know her last name yet.
However, a waitress by the name of Paula, again, no last name yet, called in that she wouldn’t be in to work today.
Sally believes it’s her boyfriend or husband’s fault.
Sally doesn’t know if she’s married to the man or not.
I know this isn’t a lot of information for us. ”
“No, it’s perfect, you’re gathering information without blowing your cover.”
“Okay, now onto the juicy stuff,” she laughed when she heard his chuckle in her ear and did a total body shiver.
“What’s the juicy stuff?”
“Sally’s brother owns and operates The Last Chance Tavern.
It’s the only bar within fifty miles of this town.
Sally also said that Paula’s old man is from a motorcycle club that doesn’t have a very good reputation.
She, Sally, believes that the man Paula is with is controlling her by telling her when she can work.
This is all speculation on Sally’s part.
Anyway, she said her brother, Warren, who owns the bar is a cop. ”
“Really?” Paul answered in shock. He had been taking notes from their conversation and paused. “He’s owner and operator of The Last Chance Tavern?”
“Yes, I don’t know where it is, but like I said, it’s the only bar within fifty miles of this town.
Sally also mentioned that she rides her own bike, and doesn’t have a bone to pick with any bikers, but she has been known to pull her bully club out from beneath the counter a time or two. She doesn’t take any shit from anyone.”
“Good to know.”
“I also told her that you were starting a club, but we are the good guys. I don’t think she believed me at first until she stared me down, and then she nodded and that’s when she mentioned her brother’s bar.
I didn’t say anything, but I wonder if she mentioned Warren for me to pass the information along to you. ”
“I’ll go check it out. Do you know when you’ll be home?”
“Around nine. I said I could start work today, and with Paula calling off, then it will help Sally out. I’ll have my schedule when I leave tonight. I’ll be working from noon to nine. They lock up at eight, then there’s clean-up afterward.”
“Okay, I trust you Petra, and I’m not being controlling, but could you send me a text, or call when you leave for the night? I don’t want to sit here wondering if something happened to you.”
“I can do that. I’m not saying it will be every night, but do you want me to bring home something from the diner?”
“That’s up to you, after you left for the interview, I threw a roast and vegetables in the crockpot. If you want to bring something home for dessert, that would be great.”
“I can do that.” She laughed, then sobered. “Be careful out there, Paul. Will you be riding?”
“Yes, I want to establish myself as a biker in this area. I might as well go see Warren and put out feelers. I think if I ride, then I can accomplish that I’m a biker.”
“Good, be careful.”
“I will, and you do the same. See if you can’t get last names from Mary.”