Page 11 of Lucifer's Revenge
Luc nodded and they rose, he grabbed the file, finished his drink, and took the empty glass with him. Instead of going back out to the bar, they went through the kitchen, and Luc placed his glass on the side of the sink. Once they were outside, they went around to a spot that had a tarp over some beams, and Luc stepped closer and opened the file.
“The general public will not, I repeat, will not have access to this area. We came through the kitchen, which will still be functioning as is once the new build is operational. This area here will be the kitchen area for the new build. They will butt up back to back, but be separate entities.”
“What will this new build be used for after Halloween?”
“I would like to keep it as an event hall, however, I do not wish to change the theme of what we come up with for Halloween.”
“So, it will be Hell’s Coffin all year long?”
“Yes, with a black and red theme. I’m thinking black floors and ceiling, there will be wood beams on the walls, just like in the bar now, but I want them to be painted black. However, for some reason, I don’t want to paint the walls red.”
“You wouldn’t have to. We can come up with something, and have red lights on the backside of the beams so that they reflect onto the walls, making them glow red.”
“I like that idea. Did Starr tell you about our idea of a coffin, and me rising out of it on the day of the party?”
“Yes, will that be a permanent fixture?”
“Yes, however, I won’t be rising out of it every night, nor will I be in the makeup Starr gives me for opening night. I just want it to be a permanent fixture.”
“You know,” Gary said after several moments of silence. “Depending on what the finished floor plan layout would be, we could always make the coffin on a platform, for dramatic effectson the night of the opening, you can be lying inside, we can hook up mechanics that not only the lid would open, but the entire coffin could rise to a standing position, the door would open, and you could step out. We can then take the mechanics to move the coffin to stand against the wall. There would be a locking mechanism, and you would be the only one, or whomever you assign it to, to have control of it.”
“Could the door close if it’s in its stored position? I don’t want just anyone to walk into it.”
“Yes, we can have that happen.” Gary looked at him with a smirk. “If need be, we can pad it, and if you have to crash for the night, you can lay it down and sleep in it.”
Luc grinned and nodded. “Something to think about.” They took the next couple of hours to go over the plans, and when they went back to the office, Gary nodded. “I like what you’ve come up with. I can’t help with the actual construction of the building, but I can most definitely get a team of students, and former graduates together to come in and deck out the insides.”
“How much would it cost me?”
“Present students? Nothing, it would be part of their class participation. Former graduates, since none of them are really working in the field currently, then probably a few hundred bucks. Nothing like a real interior designer would charge. Not that they don’t know their craft, but they wouldn’t be licensed to do it.”
“Would that cause any problems for me? Them not being licensed?”
“No, because I am licensed, and I can hire them as my apprentices. I also know there will be an NDA that would need to be signed.”
“Correct. You will all have to learn to keep your mouths shut.”
“Why?”
“The construction crew coming in on Monday to start is owned and operated by a fully patched member of the club. He employs other patch members, along with some strikers.”
“Do I need to know what or who that is?”
“It’s the hierarchy of the club. I am the highest it goes, being the President. Down from me is the VP, Sargeant at Arms, Enforcer, Road Captains, Secretary, Treasurer. We are all fully patched members. No one can hold the position of officer without being patched. There are other patch members, but they don’t hold an office, but they are no less important. Next down come the strikers. They are in the process of becoming fully patched. It may take up to two years to receive the center patch. They start as hang around, meaning they hang around the club for a few months or years, depending on their willingness to prove to us they want to join. From being a hang around, if they get patch members approval, the become a prospect, then they show up here and prove their worth by helping out at the bar if we are busy, running to go do this or that if a patch holder tells them to, once they are ready to strike, they receive a bottom rocker.” Luc stood and walked over to the coat tree in the corner and removed his vest. He held it up to show Gary what he was talking about. “While striking, they have to do as told by any patch member, same as a prospect, but a striker doing it is more important because they are trying to earn their center patch. They do things like go get this, go do this. In the summer, it’s especially important to make sure we have enough ice on hand for our parties.”
“Ah, I understand. How long does it take before they get the top thing?”
“Rocker, definitely a year. They’ll wear just the bottom rocker and the MC patch for a year, then if approved, they get the top one. Again, it will take at least a year before they get the center patch. We may be a bunch of rough and ready bikers, however,we don’t deal with any illegal substances. If any member, from fully patched down to a wannabe is found with anything stronger than an aspirin, or a bag of weed, they are kicked out. Every one of us has a job outside the club.”
“May I ask what your job is?”
“I own and operate this bar. I don’t know if this is important or not, but this used to be an old cow barn. I inherited this barn, and the house on the other side of the property when I turned seventeen. My grandfather willed it to me. I couldn’t do anything with it until I turned eighteen, but my parents helped me remodel the house. That’s how I met most of the guys that are in the club now. Oh, and this bar sits on twelve acres. Four of the guys I grew up with, so we’ve known each other all our lives.”
“Privately owned?”
“Privately owned, but commercially zoned.”
“Ah, that’s a good thing. I don’t have to tell you that you need insurance.”
