Crimson Oil

Young welder from Texas heads to New York, he soon finds out that people are not who they pretend to be and gets drug into the dark side of his work.

Mitchell_Stout · Realistic

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4 Chs

Chapter 3 Work and to the Party

Eric and Hector awoke to their alarms buzzing at 5:30 am. Groggily they both stretched and yawned. Eric made his way to bathroom and took a quick shower. Hector got dressed and ready for the day. "Have you heard from Johnny and Thomas?" Hector asked as Eric walked out. Eric checked his phone and replied, "Johnny said they rolled in about three this morning, said they got a place down close to the yard." Eric and Hector gathered their cloths and luggage and left the room. "Guess we will get that tire swapped before we head out." They made their way down to the lobby and to the checkout desk. "Hope you gentlemen enjoyed your stay," said the clerk. "Hope your manager learns some manners," replies Eric sarcastically as he handed over the room keys. They patiently began waiting for the valets to bring their rigs as Eric asked Hector, "have we got our copies of the welding papers for this job yet?" "Yeah, they finally emailed them yesterday, I just noticed that they left out a tig procedure, so we may have to do a test for that," Hector replied. "We'll I haven't seen anything requiring tig for this project, so maybe we won't need one," Eric replied. After waiting just a couple of minutes, the valets brought up their trucks. Hector found a gas station that was close by on his phone. They headed to the gas station to change hectors tire and get something for quick for breakfast. When they pulled into the gas station, Hector parked into a spot with plenty of room to work. Eric got out a jack and started lifting up hectors back axel. Hector ran inside to get them each a breakfast burrito while Eric worked on the tire. By the time Hector had came outside Eric was already torquing down the tires. "Thanks for the help," Eric said sarcastically. "It's really no problem at all, I figured you needed the practice," Hector said laughing. They hopped back in their rigs and headed towards the yard. The yard was located on the north western side of New York City. It was located just three miles from the construction site. After about a 30 minute drive, they had finally arrived at the yard. The yard had was surrounded by a chain link fence with a double gate at the north and south ends. There was a large shop in the middle of the yard large enough to house an large fleet of semis and trailers. On the west side there was a smaller shop, that could fit about 10 welding booths on the insides. Both shops contained 20 ton over head cranes and over head doors at north and south ends of the buildings able to drive vehicles straight through. There was a small office building located on the northeast side and small another building on the southeast side that built for housing complete with beds, a kitchen, and a decent bathroom with showers. There was a black luxury car waiting by the main gate, so they parked their trucks and walked over to it. It was mister Timberwoods assistant and he was waiting for them so he could hand them a key. "Hello you guys, Mr Timberwood could not make it up here to meet you today, he sends his regards," the man said. He then pointed to a person sitting in the passenger seat, this is the head inspector for the job, and he informed us that we were missing a weld procedure for one of the process and wanted to see if one of you could run a test weld today. "No problem said" Eric, "what are testing on?" "We just a need a tig coupon," the inspector said. Just a six inch five hundred wall. We will let you roll it out sense it for procedure, but if you want to save testing next week, you can do it in position." "Let's just do it in position, no need to waste another coupon," Eric replied. "We have everything inside the small shop over there, we won't even need you to roll out your truck," the inspector said. Eric look over at Hector, " I'll take care of this coupon if you will meet Johnny and Thomas when they get here. Since I won't need my truck, will you see if they can't get my truck to a shop for the ac, I will just grab the spare?" "That's no problem," Hector replied. "I'll get them taken care of and get us a place to stay." "Sounds good," said Eric as he grabbed his duffel bag and his suitcase out of his truck. He made his way into the shop and saw the setup. It was an electric welder and two argon bottles set up with regulators ready. Eric pulled a welding hood and his tig torch. He got everything set up and tacked up his pipe coupon. He started his purge and sent a quick text to Kimberly letting her know that he was going to be running just a little bit behind because of a test he has to do real quick. When Kimberly read his text, she was confused. She didn't understand what kind of job has a person testing. She just responded, "no problem, here's my address, you can come pick me up and shower here if you'd like." He responded back, " that will work good, I will call you when I'm on my way." He put up his phone and began to weld. He welded in his root pass and had the inspector come look at it. The inspector looked it over and had him continue. He spent the next two hours welding on the test piece. After he had finally finished welding, they had him cut six straps out of his coupon. After they finished testing his welds he was finished up and ready to go. "I'll email your your paperwork," said the inspector as he shook Eric's hand. "You have a good weekend," Eric said as he began walking to the spare rig. The spare rig was an older model truck from the early 90's. It had a badge that read turbo diesel. It was a five speed manual without four wheel drive. It was not in rough shape, but it definitely showed it's age. It's bed was just a flat bed converted into a welding bed. The welder was and old machine from the late 50's. It was not the nicest machine to look at, but it ran like a top. He then called Kimberly to let her know he was on his way. He looked at the clock and it was almost five, so he drove as fast as he could. Eric arrived at Kimberly's apartment at five thirty. He knocked on the door and she was over joyed and answered the door. When she answered the door she was shocked to see how dirty he was. His face was black from the dust of prepping his straps. His long sleeve button up shirt had tons of hole burned into it. "Sorry I'm late, I'll be quick," as he headed to her bathroom to take a shower. After about fifteen mins he was coming out buttoning up his shirt. He was wearing a plain white pearl snap western shirt light starched blue jeans, his belt and the same cowboy hat from the night before. Kimberly had noticed all the burn scars on his arms and the noticed a big burn scar on his chest as he was buttoning up his shirt. She chose not to ask, after all she just met him and didn't want to seem nosey. She just rushed him out the door as they headed to the truck. It took her by surprise when she noticed the old truck sitting in the parking lot. "Where's your green truck she asked?" she asked. "Getting the ac fixed," he replied. The truck was loud as he started it up. The interior was not as nice as his green truck, this one still had a very impressive interior. Kimberly noticed he had to keep moving the gear shift as he drove. "What's that for," she asked. His expression was puzzled by the question. "It's just I have never seen any vehicle that you have to keep moving that thing there. You can't forget, my family has drivers, so I don't get to see neat stuff like this." "It's a manual transmission," he said. He continued to explain a manual transmission and how they operate. They chatted away as they drove to her parents house. "You sure are trusting of a stranger he said." "Meh," she said. "My dad keeps a close eye on all of us. He tracks our phones and if we don't text where we will be headed, he sends our body gaurs Henry. I'm always protected she said, what about you? You sure are trusting." Slowly lifted the lid to the center console and said, "I'm always protected," as she looked inside and saw a pistol. Her face had a small look of unease on it. "Don't worry, I've only ever used it for target practice, contrary to popular belief to you yanks, we don't go out and dual in the streets." Her unease settles and she chuckled. After a good 45 minute drive, they finally arrived at her parents house. The house was a large three story mansion. It had a brick fence with a steel decretive gate. Eric pressed a button and a voice came through a speaker, "um, I think you're at the wrong address." "Roger it's me," Kimberly said over replied. "Sorry miss Lewis," the voice replied. They pulled through the gate and into the courtyard. The road into the courtyard was red brick, and massive fountain sit in the middle. As he pulled up by the stairs, a valet too helped them out and took his keys. "You ever been to a house like this?" she asked him. "Just once," he replied, but since patterning up with Hector, he had actually been to many homes of wealthy oil tycoons, he just didn't want to be arrogant. She smiled and said, "well good, I want you to be surprised." She tugged his arm, but he felt his phone vibrate with text from Hector. He took a quick glance, and it had the address of the place he found to stay, it was the Hudson Trailer Park at northern part of the city, trailer number 362. She tugged his arm even harder and they hurried inside. The inside was had the typical circle staircase and balcony that is portrayed in movies. "It's about time you got here," a deep voice said. "Sorry daddy, I was waiting on waiting on my friend," she replied. "He's from Texas and just got to town, he's a welder." Kimberly's dad looked him over for a second and with approval said, "nice to meet you, I'm James Randall." "Hello sir, I'm Eric Grange," he replied as he reached out his hand. James shook Eric's hand and asked him, "where are from." "Palo Duro Texas," Eric replied humbly. "Oh nice, come have a drink with me come tell me about yourself," James said as the three of them made their way out back.

To be continued

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