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Jun-20-2009 10:19

Thunder Bay, Ontario. May 1931

A getaway, ah, that's exactly what I needed.
Standing beside the crystal clear river, tugging at my fishing rod, I immersed myself in soothing sound of nature. I'd already caught four fishes, and it's only a little after sunrise. The crisp sky promised another beautiful, lazy day. Nothing can ruin the tranquility, when suddenly I heard the voice of Vulkie calling my name. I must have been hearing things. How could Vulkie be all in way up here?

Jun-22-2009 07:13

The next morning....

"Wake up guys,we need to get going" Joseph said. I woke up,still a bit sleepy and with a soar throat. Damn,that wine was dry,I thought. "What's the next step Joseph?" Ace asked. "Hmm... let me think..." Joseph said and he closed his eyes for a second or two. And then he opened them. " I know,we can use Vulkie to meet Mr. Capone a second time. We'll make sure she's "provided" with something." Joseph said.

"What you mean Joseph,provided?" I asked a bit nervous. "A piece of course,a weapon. Take this." Joseph said and he handed me a small snub nosed revolver. I checked the magazine and it containted 5 bullets + 1 in the chamber,ready to be fired.

I called Mr. Capone for a second meeting and Joseph dropped me off near the place. It was a theater and Constansa the clown was on today's list of shows. Mr. Capone really liked a fine piece of humor and he grabbed my arm firm and tight. As he was scared that something would happen again.

But little did he know,what would happen....

As we watched the show from a private booth, I went to the toilet to powder my nose and fixing some make-up. As soon as I returned to the private booth,I saw the door was busted. As I carefully opened it,I saw Mr. Capone lying on the floor with the body of his "assassin".

"Damn hitmans,I f*cking hate them" he yelled,screaming of pain. I escorted him to the ambulance and I slipped him a hint. "Must've been Loopy Lou,he knows we're here and he was kidnapped the other day. Maybe those bastards confronted him with something and he helps them. Or maybe he works for the FBI or CIA. Who knows Mr. Capone,who knows..."

And as I saw his face,it turned red and he yelled :
"LOOOOOOOOPPPPPY,I'LL GET YOU FOR THIS! I'LL MAKE SURE YOU WILL!!!!".

I went towards the hotel, smiling and laughing on the way back...

Jun-22-2009 08:15

((Well... close enough! Besides the gangs didn't just stay in Chi-town... they spilled over, especially into Cicero, which is still rather corrupt.))

"Ana? Ana!" I halted in my tracks, and turned. Joseph and Ace kept walking with Vulkie, listening to what she had to say, unaware that I was Ana.

"Hey Ralph," I said weakly to the man in blue. At the sound of my voice, the trio stopped and spun around to face me.

The big jovial man bounded over and engulfed me in a hug. "I didn't know you were back!" Ralph smiled down at me, gave me another squeeze, and took a step back. "Wanna get a cup? Just like before?"

"Sure, but let me tell my friends something first. Ok?" I nodded to Joseph, who had a thundercloud growing on his face, Ace, who looked perplexed, and Vulkie, who was staring daggers at me. I walked over, and whispered to them, "I'll see what Ralph knows, then I'll meet up with you guys later at the house, ok? I'll explain then. But, you know those ten years I had disappeared? I was here. In Chicago. Becoming a cop." I bit my lip. "I'll explain later!"

I grabbed Ralph by the arm and proceeded to walk away leaving my friends staring after me.

Jun-22-2009 12:37

Anais grabbed that big chuck of a man by his arm and left us. A cop, by the looks of it. Hey, I was a cop once. NYPD homicide division. The corruption there was horrible, and I was sure that what's-his-face... Ralph? (what a sissy name!) was just a corrupted bastard...

"Ouch! Watch where you put that cigarette!" Ace yelled. I then realized I had tried to snuff out my lit cigarette with Ace's arm.

"Oh my-- I'm so so sorry! I didn't know what I was thinking."

"Well yeah I do." Ace said, while Vulkie was rubbing his arm, and he glanced back in the direction where Anais had left. "If you really want the girl, go for it! Forget about Lisette. She's been gone for a long time now."

"Chicago river is just up ahead," I pointed a bit to the left, "If that Jaces guy you revisited this morning is correct, that's one of the favorite hide out for runaway goons.

"Don't try to change the subject, buddy." Ace frowned.

"What?" I choked a laugh. "Let's go! I'm sure someone must have seen Slim if he's in hiding, or has left town by boat." I ran a bit ahead, putting some distance between myself and the couple.

Jun-22-2009 14:10

Good 'ol Ralph. He kept up a steady stream of aimless chatter as he led our way to a little Ma and Pop style restaurant over on Roosevelt Road that we had frequently visited when I had lived here. We settled into a booth, and the aimless chatter dissipated as if it had never existed. 'Here come the questions' I thought to myself.

Sure enough, Ralph opened his mouth, "Ana? Why are you back? You told me you doubted you would be back. Not that I'm complaining. And since you are back, why haven't you stopped in at the station? And how are you doing since-"

I cut him off. "I'm back because a friend needed a favor, a friend who I trust with my life since she has saved it numerous times-"

Ralph cut me off. " You trust those three with your life but not your secrets? Ana, for you, your secrets are-"

"Yes, I know, Ralph. My secrets can be the difference between my life and death. Frankly, I'm suprised you even recognized me. I did chop off my hair halfway between Chicago and New York, dyed it, and switched my clothing style. I couldn't recognize myself in the mirror when I was done with me! So, spit it out. How did you recognize me?"

Ralph blushed. I stared in amazement. "Your butt," he muttered.

"My butt?!" I wanted to scream, but managed to whisper it. No sense attracting attention after all.

"Yes, your butt. Now, explain yourself Ana? I wanna hear it. Now," he ordered me.

"Fine. Vulkie needed help, I need to ask you some questions, anyways, by the way, and I haven't stopped by the station, because half the guys think I am dead like Alfred. And, I'm still recovering. I guess husband-wife teams are not the best idea, huh?" I gave a sad half smile. "How are you doing? He was your brother."

Ralph searched my face. "I'm doing ok. I miss him of course, but..." He trailed off.

We sat in silence for a few minutes, both lost in thoughts of one of our own, one who was forever a part of each of us.

(Continued)

Jun-22-2009 14:33

Ralph piped up suddenly. "Andrew! Come back as Andrew! Everyone thinks he just retired after getting that shot... you know, the one that I can recognize you by?" His grin grew wicked. "Since I had to help hold you down while they operated on it? And I was the one who walked behind you when you were learning how to walk again?"

"I am never gonna live that down, huh?"

"Never!"

"Well... maybe. I haven't bound myself and padded and everything in six years. I'm not sure I can pull it off! Besides, you, Freddie, and the chief were the only ones who knew I was a woman! When Freddie and I got married, you were the only one who knew that! The rest of the guys thought I was just some floozy Freddie picked up in the gutters and swore to silence. And they all thought I was dead when we were found-"

"Exactly!" Ralph interjected, "It would probably be safer to go around like Andrew, too! Less chance of Capone recognizing you. You WERE undercover in the organization for five and a half years! They might be able to recognize you no matter what you have changed, and you know it!"

"Well, if I changed my sex, couldn't they recognize me then, too?" I asked cheekily.

Ralph glared across the table. "Ana!"

(continued)

Jun-22-2009 14:43

I rolled my eyes at him. "And it wasn't five and a half years, you are rounding down. It was five years, seven months, and sixteen days for me. Freddie was under for four year, six months, and twenty-one days. And I managed to get us together a month after our wedding, so I was his 'floozy' for three years exactly. And ten months and seventeen days ago, we were shot multiple times and left to die," my voice grew dangerously quieter and more deadly as I leaned across the table. "I only made it because he moved enough to put tourniquets on me and pressure on other areas, which made the bullets work their way deeper into him, and eventually killed him. I was in intensive care for three months, in therapy for three more. The day I awoke, I told the chief I resigned, and to tell the men I was killed, too- if anyone bothered to ask. I missed my husband's funeral. While in therapy, You helped me get revenge a tiny bit by helping me kill the goon who had followed the orders to shoot my husband and me. Since we didn't know who had given the orders, there was little else to do then. Four months ago, I got a letter from my sister, who had finally tracked me down. My numerous name changes had thrown her. I dissappeared off the face of Chicago, and went to NYC, where the same sister was murdered, I was almost killed numerous times, and so much else that I really don't feel like going into now, Ralph. If I've been this lucky. or unlucky it seems at times, to stay alive, I really don't give a damn anymore if people recognize me and kill me now. Got it?"

Ralph stared at me from across the booth. Then he got up, and slid in next to me, giving me a huge, warm one armed hug. "Ana, I know it has been hard on you. But there are lots of people who care about you, and think how they would hurt if you got killed this way, too. Those friends you are helping, especially that one with the dark hair," Ralph winked at me, "And me, of course. Now what do you need to know?"

Jun-22-2009 14:45

((I think I'm done for right now... I didn't really finish, but my fingers are tired of typing. I'll just add in what Ralph tells me later.))

Jun-22-2009 16:10

"Hello, again, Mr. Jace." Ace greeted the old man. Ace took a turn off to speak with the man again while Vulkie and Joseph spied on the hideout.
"Hello, my friend! Did your girlfriend like the shoes?"
"Oh, yes she did! Thanks much for them!"
"No problem! I have a nice pair of socks right over here that I'm sure would look great with those shoes..."
"Thanks Mr. Jace, but I'm actually here for some more info."
"Well, what else can I tell ya?"
"I'm looking for a man by the name of Slim. Used to hang with this "Loopy Lou" man."
"Well, I don't know anyone named Slim... unless you mean Freddy. People call him slim, sometimes, cause he's so fat." Jace laughed, "People sure are unimaginative. I prefer to call him 'Freddy Fatty' myself."
Ace chuckled, "Know where I can find the fat man?"
"Round the clock at Maude's Ice Cream Parlor." Jace pointed left, "Two blocks in that direction. Seems like he never does anything but eat Maude's food."
"Anyone else I might talk to while your thinking about it?"
"Well, there was this woman used to come 'round and see Lucy a lot." Jace noted, "Long red hair, wire frame glasses, freckles... she was quite attractive though."
"Thanks, Jace, for the help. I'll take those socks."

Thought it might be a good idea to have a talk with ole' Freddy Fatty.

Jun-22-2009 21:01

The dock by the river gave us nothing, so Ace went to find out more from his friend. Good thinking. We waited outside and spied on Lou's pad. His place seemed awfully quiet; Lou must be on the run from Capone by now.

"Maude's Ice Cream Parlor." Kevin came out of Jace's Laces and said. The three of us walked quietly down two blocks south. It was a lovely June day, not too hot, but from the outside we could already see that it was filled with people.

"It' her!" Ace quietly exclaimed. I turned in the direction where he was staring and noticed a tall red head passing by. She rounded a corner and disappeared.

"Who?" Vulkie asked. I could hear a pinch of jealousy in her tone.

"Wire frame glasses, freckles... Jace told me this girl had been visiting Lucy a lot before she died." Ace replied.

"Look!" I whispered to the two, "Over there. The fat guy sitting there with the hat, stuffing his face with Rocky Road... must be Slim." Vulkie stayed by the entrance to prevent Fredrick from escaping, while Ace and I approached the fatty. Freddy suddenly pushed his table up towards us and ran to the back of the parlor. The table flew and hit Ace, who hit some more chairs and tables. Everyone in the parlor started screaming. Vulkie ran over to help him. Freddy exited from the back, I gave chase. The guy was very agile for his size. I was about 10 yards away.

Suddenly the fatty stopped, and fell on the ground. I took out my gun and cautiously approached the guy. Ace and Vulkie joined me. "Everything okay back there?" I asked.

Ace nodded, "What happened?"

"The guy just suddenly tumbled down." I answered, "I didn't see anything."

Freddy fell face down. "Let's flip him over." Vulkie said. We did.

"This guy weights a ton!"

Freddy face was green and white. He had vomited. "Ewww!" Vulkie said, "Green Rocky Road!"

"Look at this!" I held up his hand, those fat finger tips were glowing purple.

"Poison." Ace stated. Freddy shook for the final time and stopped moving. Forever.

Jun-23-2009 14:43

He just fell down,poisoned. The girl must've put the poison on his ice cream and shut him up forever. That's what Joseph,Ace and I concluded. Freddy knew something that Capone didn't want to get in the wrong hands. So the girl is an assassin,probably working for Capone.

But something still bothered me. Why was Lucy killed? Why does Capone kill all his associates? And why don't we still have the autopsy report for the murder of Lucy?.

I asked Anais to contact Ralph, as we really needed the autopsy to examine some evidence. Anais went out and met Ralph. She returned to the motel with the autopsy report and said it was a lot of trouble to get from Ralphie. We owed her some money then (because Ralphie needed to bribe some people,it would be too obvious else).

As I observed the report,I saw Joseph and Anais looking at each other. God,I thought,why don't you just admit you love each other? Just confess it.

"... what you think Vulkie?" Ace asked. "Huh?" I replied. "Sorry Ace,I dozed a bit off. Bit sinked in my mind.."

"I asked you if there was anything particular to know?"

"Yes" I replied, "there were 2 hairs found. One red hair,unidentified and one brown hair,belonging to Vinni."

"So it looks like the cops "forgot" to match the red hair,since they didn't have a red haired suspect and Vinni was the only one who was seen fleeing the scene." Joseph said.

"It looks like that" Anais said. "We must get a hold of this red haired girl. She seems to be the missing key. I'll ask Ralphie to look for her,while we concentrate on Capone and Loopy Lou."

Just as we were about to leave,we heard three knocks on the door. Everybody froze. Joseph pulled his revolver out,Ace his tommy, I pulled my old Colt. 38 out and Anais was at the door.

And as she opened it quickly,we saw Loopy Lou at the door....