Johnny and Kimi: On the Run [Published - Sample Only]

Chapter 2 - The Hit V2.0

Chapter 2 – The Hit V2.0

The next morning Johnny was up early and rode over to his father's motorcycle shop to start work. Darrell was in the office doing some paperwork. Johnny popped his head in. "Morning dad, what do you want me to start with first?"

Darrell looked up from the dented gray metal desk. "Morning son, why don't you finish the rebuild on that BMW R1200. I told the customer that it would be ready on Tuesday."

"Okay, no problem. All the parts came in the other day, should only take a couple of more hours."

Johnny did careful work and called his dad over a couple of times for an in-progress inspection; this was an expensive bike for one of their best customers. He had insisted on all new pistons, rings, valves and a few other parts. It was overkill but the man had the cash... Johnny finished up the German made bike just before noon, he ran the motor on the lift and then put it through a short break-in cycle. He then shut it down, rolled it off the lift and parked it near the shop's large rear garage door. He walked into his dad's office and placed the keys on the desk. "All done, sir."

"Great, I heard the motor, sounds smooth like a sewing machine."

"Sure is, she's ready for a test drive."

Darrell nodded. "Great, I'll take her for a spin and pick up some lunch. You take a break and then put new tires on that yellow Suzuki 250."

"Okay, no problem."

Darrell then put on his riding gear and helmet and started up the BMW. He was proud of the talent and work ethic shown by his son. Even with that confidence in the work, he did all of the test drives personally and his customers knew it.

Just as Johnny was finishing with mounting the second tire on the Suzuki, his father returned and parked the BMW in the showroom area. Johnny smiled knowing that this meant that the bike had passed his father's rigorous inspection. Darrell brought in a bag from a local deli motioned for his son to join him. They sat on the old leather couch with its duct taped patches. Johnny handed his dad a cold Coke from the small bar fridge and opened one for himself. They ate in silence for a couple of minutes and then Darrell said. "Nice job on the BMW, son."

"Thanks, dad, you taught me everything I know... well, you and Gramps anyway."

Darrell nodded in agreement, "yeah, the old guy sure did know his way around an engine..." With a sad look, Johnny answered. "I sure do miss him, you know?"

"Yeah me too, but you know in the end it was his time. I couldn't bear to see him in pain like that."

They both were silent again. Finally, Darrell asked. "Have you heard from your mother lately?"

Johnny nodded. "Yeah, more or less. I got a postcard last week. Didn't have a return address, but it said that she was living on a commune in Northern California; and get this, she said that electricity was destroying the planet and that she won't even use a phone anymore!"

Darrell gently put his hand on his son's hand. "I'm sorry Johnny, she wasn't always like that.  The Global Warming Alarmists just managed to scare her to death and she just lost it.  But I know that she still loves you in her own way."

Johnny shook his head. "I know, but when she left, she left us not just you. I mean for crying out loud, I was only ten!"

They were both silent again and then Darrell asked. "So...how are things with you and Kimi? Looks like you two had a pretty good time last night..."

Johnny had figured out that this conversation was going to come up again. This wasn't the first time. He'd been dating Kimi, and only Kimi for almost five years. "Dad things are great..."