Page 6 of Rough Start

“Last I heard my mom was serving twenty-five to life in Timpanogos,” Kye began as he stuffed his hands in his back pockets. “Haven’t seen my dad since we lived in Utah.”

“When was that?” Max asked, leaning against the far wall and lighting a cigarette. His brand had a much starchier smell than the sickly-sweet ones Hal smoked.

“About five years ago.”

“He abandoned you?”

“Guess you could say that.”

“Don’t be coy, son,” Max reprimanded, the lit end of his cigarette reflecting off his eyes and making them almost look red. Kye clenched his jaw. He didn’t appreciate the interrogation. “What did I say about answering questions?”

“Well, we stopped at a rest stop halfway between Salt Lake City and Vegas. We stopped to take a piss, and when I came out of the bathroom his truck was gone. So, either he abandoned me, or he went on ahead to set up house.”

“Watch your tone!” Hal snapped as he smacked the desk. Max was chuckling, though, his lips parting in a smile that revealed straight white teeth.

“Kid’s got spunk,” Max said to Hal.

“A bit too much,” Hal mumbled.

“What’s this about?” Kye asked, feeling he couldn’t muster any more patience.

“Hal says you’re not the smartest, but you’re good with cars. Ever worked on bikes?”

“Ten-speed or beach cruiser?”

“Save the sarcasm, kid, it’ll only get you a black eye,” Max said calmly as he flicked ash from the tip of his cigarette.

“A few,” Kye admitted.

“Where’d you learn?”

“Clark County.”

“Juvie? How long?”

“Eight months.”

“For?”

“Defacing city property,” Kye said, crossing his arms. Max’s heavy brow furrowed. “I punched a cop.” Max erupted in loud and husky laughter. Even Hal let out a bark of amusement, and Kye couldn’t help but grin along.

“What’d you do that for?” Max laughed as he wiped at his tears of amusement. Either that or the smoke-filled office was stinging his eyes the way it was Kye’s.

“He hit me first.”

“You got a temper or a death wish?” Max asked, putting out his cigarette in the ashtray on Hal’s desk.

“Neither,” Kye said with a shrug, “I just don’t like assholes.”

“Cops?”

“Like I said, assholes.” Max laughed again and clapped a large hand on Kye’s shoulder.

“Yeah, you were right, Hal. I like him.” For a strange reason, Kye felt a sense of pride that he’d earned the approval of this man. “I got a proposition for you, kid. You fix up my bikes, clean ‘em up real nice, I’ll pay you and make you another offer. One that requires more discretion in what you store in the spoilers. Understand?”

“Yeah, I get it,” Kye said, feeling this meeting had actually been an interview.

“The more offers I make, the better the money,” Max stated as he began removing another light from the packet that he kept in the front pocket of his leather vest. “You wanna make some money, kid?”