Butcher nodded reluctantly. The men went back to their work, checking their findings against one another instead of assuming the last person to touch a component had understood it correctly. They called the machine shop about one measurement, consulted an experienced specialist about another, and discovered that an earlier reference point used in the assembly had been misread. It was not the kind of dramatic failure that made a good garage story, merely a small mistake in a complicated repair, but it was enough to explain why the engine had caught briefly and then refused to run consistently.
The discovery irritated Butcher because it was his responsibility. Brian had helped organize the notes and recognize the older components, but the adult mechanics had handled the critical work. When he retraced his own checks, he found the moment he had accepted a mark without confirming the engine's actual position. He stood over the page and drew a hard line beneath it, making the correction impossible to miss.
"That's on me," he said.
Crow looked over. "You sure?"
"I'm sure enough to check it properly before I do another thing. Kid was tired, and I was thinking about the clock instead of the work." Butcher shut the notebook. "He taught us not to rush, and then we rushed. There's your joke for the day."
Diesel did not laugh. He had worked with Butcher for twelve years and knew how much admitting a mistake cost the older man. "No joke," he said. "We correct it and move on."
Upstairs, Rex was on the phone with Javier Restrepo, Millie's father, asking questions that felt unfamiliar coming from his own mouth. Javier had represented Thunderfork on ordinary business matters for years and had helped several members handle family difficulties, but he had warned Rex from the beginning that a child's placement had to go through the appropriate public authorities. The law did not recognize a motorcycle club as a parent, and no judge was going to approve a living arrangement simply because a group of grown men promised to be protective.
"I'm not asking you to find a loophole," Rex said. "I'm asking you to tell me what a responsible person would do."
"Then you're asking the right question." Javier's voice carried the weariness of a man who had spent most of his career answering questions after people had already created the problem. "Your housing situation needs inspection. We need the background checks, the references, and a plan for school, medical care, and supervision. The caseworker will decide what is suitable, subject to the agency and court process. Until then, we use an approved placement if that's what's necessary."
Rex wrote each item down. He also asked whether his old experience as a foster parent would count for anything, and Javier told him that it might help demonstrate his preparation but would not replace current approval. He asked how quickly a home inspection could occur, whether his work schedule would need changing, and what would happen if Brian became upset or wanted to visit James outside normal hours. The more questions he asked, the more he understood that this was not a favor he could do in a burst of generosity. It was a commitment that would rearrange ordinary life.
"Are you really willing to do that?" Javier asked.