Chapter 143: Shopping
*There are worse things to do, prospect. Want to scrub the toilets at one of the strip clubs? – Knuckles*
Knuckles grabbed a prospect as they passed in the hall and told him to bring one of the vans around. The younger man grumbled and found himself shoved up against the wall with his feet several inches off the ground. After a few encouraging words, and possibly what could be considered a threat of violence, the prospect agreed.
There was something about him that didn’t sit right with Knuckles. He brushed it off as youth since the kid had just joined and maybe he would grow up in the next year.
Thinking back, he tried to remember if he was that insolent in his youth. He decided that he did not think he was. His dad, however, might have a different opinion.
By the time Stephen brought the van around, Nessie was ready to go also. Her hair was tied up in a scarf and she wore a plain black hoodie with blue jeans and black tennis shoes. Although she wore other clothes around the clubhouse, this is what she always wore when she left. If she left. This was only the second time since she arrived that she was leaving the compound.
Knuckles knew that she had an abusive ex who had been searching for her. He also knew that her ex had the money and connections to hunt her down. What he didn’t know was who it was.
Somethings were deemed to be for officers’ knowledge only. This was one of those.
The vote to protect her and offer sanctuary was made by the club. And they had voted to have the kitchen reopened. They would be completely stupid to have a professionally trained chef living in the clubhouse, with a full kitchen, and not take advantage of it.
As they rode to the office supply store she talked excitedly. This was the most emotion that Knuckles had seen from her since she arrived.
He didn’t understand half of what she said; partially due to her accent and also because he had no idea what blanching was. But with what he’d had of her cooking, it made him want something blanched.
Stephen pulled into the parking lot and they both stepped out. He motioned for Knuckles and they stepped in front of the van.
“What the hell is she saying?” Stephen asked.
“No clue. But a happy woman who likes to cook makes me happy. Life lesson for you, kid.” Knuckles smiled and then went to open the door for Nessie.
She described the simple desk that she asked Sticks for. Then they found her a laptop and printer. Nessie picked out a dry erase monthly calendar and another dry erase board.
Stephen picked up a pack of cork boards and push pins. “My grandma always swore her life would fall apart if she didn’t have her boards.”
Nessie smiled at him and they were placed in the cart. She picked out markers, pens, pencils and highlighters. Knuckles picked up some colorful sticky notes and she agreed.
Several hundred dollars later, they loaded up the van. As Stephen took the cart back, Knuckles opened the door for Nessie.
“You want to put some paint on the walls before Sticks brings over your furniture?” he asked leaning on the opened door frame.
“Toad won’t mind?” she asked clicking her seatbelt.
“Nope. Besides, I need something for Stephen to do. He ticked me off earlier and I feel like making him work. Want new floors too?”
She laughed as she looked at him. “Yeh would make him do that because of what? An insult to yer ego?”
“Worse than that. He questioned an order and insulted a friend. If you think I’m being hard, wait until your uncle gets wind of it.”
“What will Toad do?”
“Not certain. When I disrespected an old lady as a prospect, I had to clean the entire clubhouse after an all nighter.” He grinned at her. “With a killer headache and hangover.”
“Not with yer toothbrush?”
“Nah. My dad wasn’t that mean. I got a small scrub brush and a kids play broom.” Knuckles said as Stephen got in the driver’s seat. He tapped the roof before straitening to close the door and get in the front seat.
“Head over to Home Depot.” Knuckles instructed as they pulled out onto the main street.
Once there, they found a soft purple that she liked. They got brushes and rollers and other things that Knuckles thought Stephen would need. Nessie picked out a tongue and groove hardwood flooring.
“Might as well get new lights while we’re at it.” Stephen said sarcastically and Knuckles added to his to do list.
Camille, the daughter of Trigg, the president of another local chapter, was staying at the Shack and she volunteered to paint a mural on the wall behind Nessie’s desk. A window that looked out over Loch Ness.
