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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-21-2009 11:52

.... "And afterwards,we can all regroup. Got it?" I asked a bit nervous. Everybody said yes and so we went.

The first part of the plan was to call Mr. Capone to have a meeting.

"Mr. Capone,it's the lady who you encountered yesterday. I wanted to meet you. Do you know a nice place where we can have a bite?" I said,with my best "Chicago" accent.

"Sure thing doll. I'll let Lou pick you up and drive ya over towards the Golden pelican on 54th street." Mr. Capone said.

I quickly wrote what he said and Joseph,Anais and Ace all looked astonished.

Loopy Lou coming to pick me up. This was our chance to get him.

The next part of our plan was, to have me settled with Mr. Capone and have Lou captured.

Joseph checked his tommygun,Anais her revolver and Ace his tommygun. I had an old Colt.38, just for back-up.

"Beep beep" I heard outside. "Alright guys,must be Loopy Lou downstairs. Y'all know what to do,right?" I said. "Right" everyone said.

As Loopy Lou drove me towards the restaurant,I talked a lot with him. He told me about what he did for Mr. Capone and that he usually drives girls for him everywhere they want. "It pays good doll,that's why I'm doing it. I used to be a cabbie. But Mr. Capone once saved me from some crooks. I'm eternally indebted to him." Loopy said.

"Here we are sweetie,the Golden Pelican." Lou said.

"Well,hello doll" I heard coming from the private area. It was Mr. Capone. He was surrounded by bodyguards,enjoying a steak. "Please,join and eat something."

I ordered a steak and thought about the third part of the plan....

Jun-21-2009 11:56

The third part of the plan was : Ambush the restaurant,fire some bullets and take Loopy Lou with us to the hideout.

As I enjoyed my steak,I saw Joseph and the gang pulling up. I watched them carefully. Anais was standing near Lou,and Joseph and Ace were standing for the window. Just as I put my fork down,they took their tommy's out. "GET DOWN" I yelled and I ducked behind the table with Mr. Capone. A sudden burst of bullets filled the restaurant and when it ended,I saw three bodies falling down. 2 bodyguards and the pianist were down (yeah,the pianist must die. He played terribly xD).

"You alright Mr. Capone?" I asked,acting as if I was really nervous. I helped him up.

"Thanks sweetdoll,for saving my life. How can I ever repay you?" he asked.

"Well,I'll come up with something,eventually" I replied.

As I made my way out,I saw that Loopy Lou's car was empty. So the gang had secured him. As I made my way back to Vinni's place,I bought a nice bottle of wine to celebrate our victory and good ending of the plan.

And so I arrived at Vinni's place...

Jun-21-2009 19:53

I asked Vulkie to hide in the other room while we question Loopy Lou. It's not good to let him know that she's in this with us. When Vulkie's well hidden, Ace woke the tied up Loopy.

"You'll never get away with this! Nobody messes with the Outfits! You guys are as good as dead. DEAD!!" Loopy Lou screamed.

Anais stuffed the gag back into Loopy's mouth. "Hush, Mr. Lou. We meant you no harm. We just need to get to the bottom of a few things." Anais said nicely. "Now, do we have your cooperation or do we need to 'silence' you some other ways?"

Loopy sighed and shrugged. I added, "Mr. Lou, we're detectives, and we're interested in the death of Lucy Demidova, yes, that's your girlfriend. Now, do we have your cooperation?"

Loopy shrugged again and Anais tried removing his gag. "What is her death to you, 'detectives'? You guys look out of town. Go back where you came from! My dame is dead. Vinni is the killer and Steamer is behind it!"

"How can you be so sure? Did anyone actually see him do it? Apparently there was not a mark on Lucy's body. So how did Vinni kill her? And why would she end up at the flat of your goon Frederick 'Slim'? Where is Slim now anyway?" My rapid fire of questions finally got the driver thinking.

"Slim has disappeared since the day Lucy died. True. But since Vinni was at his joint we all believe Steamer's gang did it. Hey, Vinni probably did him in too!!" Loopy argued.

"But where's the body if Vinni killed him?" I asked. Suddenly the sound of Siren filled the street outside.

"The cops again!" Ace said, looking out the window. "The neighbor must have heard Loopy screaming about the Outfits back then. We must go, now!"

Jun-21-2009 20:00

"Sorry, Mr. Lou." I knocked Loopy unconscious again. Vulkie came out and we all scurried down the fire exit, Ace and I carrying the heavy Lou. The two girls went ahead of us. "Remember not to go into the alley. That's where Vinni got caught." We went around the block in hopes of getting to our car.

The street was full of flatfoots patrolling. Our gang hid behind a wall, looking covertly at our ride. "We must dash for our car." I whispered.
"We can't do that carrying Lou!" Ace replied.
"Well, I guess we'll just leave him here."
"But he recognize our faces!" Anais added.
I thought for a moment. "Not that of Vulkie. He has nothing on us. We're just a few out-of-townies. Anyway, this will be a sign of good faith."
"Good faith my arse, we killed two of Capone's bodyguard! We're as good as dead!" Ace said.
"Now don’t let Loopy's word get to yâ€"" Suddenly a cop saw us and blew the whistle. Without a choice we ran for our car, leaving Loopy behind.

The cops were easy to lose. Half an hour later we were driving aimlessly in the quiet outskirt of Chicago. "Where're we off to now?" Vulkie asked.
"We can't go back to Vinni's. Maybe check in a motel? Anyhow, we must find 'Slim'. He seemed to be the missing piece of the puzzle." I lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. "Also, if we can get the autopsy report of Lucy, that'd help too. To save Vinni, we must find out what happened."

We drove to a motel and opened the bottle of wine Vulkie meant for celebration. We all drank in quiet contemplation.

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?"