During a good night, Knight asked Paulie about getting a new kitchen helper. “Friend o’ mine,” Knight said, “Good kid, dependable, doesn’t do drugs’r shit like tha’.”
Paulie said he’d think about it. The last time the kitchen guy had a friend over was Tyler and Micky, and they got nearly nothing done between them, smoking in the back alley or doing drugs out the back door.
That morning, Paulie said, “Call that friend of yours.” He sighed, “Already talked to Tyler – he’s never coming back. Still thinks you did it. My sister’s sending him to rehab.”
“Hope he comes out better,” Knight said quietly.
“Yeah, but I already gave him enough chances. I need someone dependable, Knight.”
“I can vouch for him.”
Paulie rubbed the bar to a high sheen. “Hope so, Knight.”
Knight texted Valko, and after the lunch rush, Valko showed up, already dressed for work. Knight smiled, and Paulie was amused. However, he assumed a tough air during the interview. Knight was in the kitchen while Paulie conducted the interview, though Knight would peek out of the window on and off to check on him. Valko looked nervous, but answered all the questions with enough “sirs” to make Paulie say, “Call me Paulie, laddie.”
Knight finished prepping for dinner, peeling potatoes for bangers and mash, when Paulie came in. “He’s starting tomorrow.”
Knight smiled. “He was ready to start today.”
“He didn’t have his social security card, and I have to do the normal background checks.”
Knight’s face dropped. “He’s been in trouble.”
Paulie shrugged, “Who hasn’t. He told me he turned over a new leaf. I can tell.” Paulie then grinned, “Maybe he’ll take your job.”
“Only when he can make his own sausage from scratch.”
Paulie laughed, waved a hand in dismissal, and let Knight get back to work.