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Feb-11-2009 11:40

November 5, 1934 - New York - The Tricky Mister - close to midnight

“You want me to rob a bank?!?” said Joey in surprise, suddenly realizing his voice was a little louder than he would’ve wanted to. He quickly scouted the room and was relieved to see no one seemed to have heard him. The Tricky Mister wasn’t really crowded on that late week night.

His interlocutor though didn’t seem to bother much about this situation. He was a middle age slim man in a dark pin striped suit, sitting relaxed across the table with both hands crossed in front of him. His tie was straight, his jacket fully buttoned up, his hair posed a clean arrangement on a side. A short and perfectly cut mustache was framing a slightly prankish smile, as his eyes were thoroughly scouting Bane’s reactions. Although his attitude was loose, he seemed to be the kind of man who always likes to keep himself sharp.

After a short moment of silence he slowly lowered his look, shaking his head in an almost imperceptible move, miming a disappointment gesture. “Mr. Bane” he continued in a low voice “that is…’come si dice’…” snaps his fingers “ILLEGAL!” He rose back up his eyes. “We are not asking you to do anything against the law, but only to acquire the possession of some documents that actually regard US. It just happens that these papers are currently stored in a safe deposit box inside the National Bank and since we have already attained this piece of information, we believed it would be helpful to pass it on to you, in order to make your work easier. However you will decide to retrieve these documents, it is entirely up to you.” He stopped, straightened up his back and took a sip out of the wine glass he had ordered. “Exquisite flavor, Mr. Bane, you should give it a try.”

“Ya, well…I’m more the whiskey type of man. Now…Mr…”

Feb-12-2009 16:59

He pointed back his attention to Maria and continued: “Did J.C. give you any clue of how he could be found? What was the favor that he wanted, anyway?”

“Come on, Bull…you guys don’t ever tell me anything. You’ve always treated me on simple ‘need to know’ basis. I haven’t got the vaguest idea where he’s hiding. And about his favor…I guess it won’t hurt him to tell you. Strangely enough…he was actually looking for a painter. A certain one, I might add.”

“A painter? And did he find him?”

“No. He had passed away a few years ago. I couldn’t help J.C. Now let’s quit with the questions and tell me about that favor you want.”

Joey took a small break to gather up his thoughts. The news about J.C. had dazzled him a bit. He pointed to Rose and started speaking. “I need the kid brought in a better shape. I don’t know anything about women and even less about little girls. If I remember well, tomorrow’s your day off. She will be sleeping at my place over the night, but I’ll be leaving early in the morning. What do you say I give you a little cash and you pay her a visit? You could get her some better clothes and show her around the city a bit.”

“Now that’s a favor that I’ll gladly do. At last you started to make some sense tonight.”

…

They stayed a little more out in the alley exchanging memories about old days, as Rose was finishing her meal. Upon reaching Joey’s apartment, he handed her a pack of clean sheets and a blanket and set her in the living room.

Next morning Rose woke up to find out Joey had already left. A short knock on the front door startled her. She was relieved to recognize the voice behind it: “Hey, Rose! It’s me, Maria! Open up. I haven’t had a chance to drink my coffee yet this morning.”

Feb-14-2009 20:48

Rose sat up, unwilling to leave the comfort she was currently in. Sure, it was just an old, tired couch, but she'd never slept on something so soft before. There was another knock at the door and she figured she better answer it, she didn't want to go making enemies on her second day here.

Maria came bustling into the apartment and headed straight for the kitchen. She started to make coffee, cooked eggs, lit up a cigarette and started talking all at the same time. After ranting about how long it took her to come over there and how she wasn't no baby sitter, she was just doing her old friend Joey a favour, she finally looked over at Rose, now curled up on the couch and decided she was far to dirty. She walked into the bathroom and filled the bath, before coming back into the living room and looking Rose right in the eye.
"Now I ain't bathing you" she said. "That ain't in my job description. I'm only makin' you do this cause I bought you some new clothes and I don't want you dirtying them all up." She pulled a parcel out of her bag.
"These were my nieces. Till she married some rich twat and decided that these clothes were no good for her. Sent em all to me. Never even been worn. I'm thinking they'll fit you. Off you go now, clean yourself up".

A few hours later, Rose was standing in the middle of New York, in brand new clothes, filled to the brim with Maria's best scrambled eggs. The dirt had been scrubbed off her face for the first time in years, and she'd forgotten what it felt like to have clean cotton against her skin. Maria hadn't stopped talking since they had left apartement. She'd pointed out everthing that they had passed. Rose now knew every place you would get good cigarettes, and all the places that ripped you off, where the good markets were, which were the dodgy alleys and which were safe to walk down, where the mob did their business. Everything you needed to know to survive New York.

Feb-14-2009 21:04

They were just heading back to Joeys place when Maria decided to take a shortcut down one of the alleys. Just as they were entering, a tall man brushed past Rose, dropping a piece of paper as he did so. She stopped and stared at him as he walked away. He was dressed in a black suit and had a hat pulled down over his face, shading him from the world.

Maria continued walking, leaving Rose where she stood, when she heard a moan coming her left. She looked around to see a dark shape lying against the wall. Carefully, she walked over, cautioning Rose, who had now caught up to her, to stay back. As she got closer, she saw that it was a man, both hands clutching onto his right leg. Maria carefully rolled the body over before exlaiming in shock.
"But... It's Joey Bane. Quick child, help me."

Together, the two women managed to help him stand up, and hobble down the alley, luckily his apartement was only two blocks away. Just as they were starting their long and painful journey, Rose quickly slipped out from under Joey's arm and ran back to pick up the scrap of paper the stanger had dropped. She heard Maria's curses and quickly ran back to her position, carefully guiding the injured Joey along. Blood, streaming from the gash on his leg.

Feb-14-2009 21:18

"I've never walked to blocks so slowly" Maria complained as they finally reached the apartement.
Groaning, Joey lowered himself onto the couch, sitting very still as Maria attempted to clean his wound.
"So, are you ever planning on telling us what happened?" Maria asked.
"I met up with J.C. found him at some place I knew he liked to go to. We talked for a while and I told him about my... situation. Finally we ended up walking back to my place, he told me to take that alley as a short cut... and he stabbed me. I don't even know why. I never did nothing to upset him."
"Look, i don't know the details of your... situation" Maria replied. "But you're best to just leave everything as it is. Don't get back into the crime scene again. It's no good for you. Look at what's already happening. And by someone like J.C."
"Butt out Maria. This is none of your business. What I choose to do is my opinion. You can't change your mind"
"Fine then, if that's the way you want it, I won't help you anymore" Maria screamed angrily, tightening the bangage she was applying on his leg and storming out of the room.

Rose had been hovering awkardly in the corner of the room, but as the door slammed shut she walked over to Joey who was sitting on the couch staring at the door in shock. She handed him the scrap of paper she had found in the alley and walked off. Joey turned it over. It was written in J.C.'s shaky handwriting
'Barresi - National Bank. Deposit Box'
Clearly Joey wasn't the only one working on this case.

Feb-15-2009 00:40

“Seriously! You really do think that a private eye is up to this!?” Joseph Collin Zeo exclaimed, gulping his favorite morning whiskey, with Barresi sitting across from his tall figure. The empty nightclub was the perfect spot for ‘less legitimate’ conversations in the morning, before the little cabaret theatre heats up when the sun went down.

Barresi blew out another thick smoke cloud from his cigar. “Mr. J.C., we have only three more days before the mayor returns to town. We do not have a wide selection.”

“Well, at least you could’ve told me, Franco. I thought Bane was with the police, that he was onto me.” J.C.’s tone cooled a little.

“We only reeled him in last night. I was going to let you know about him this morning. What? Did something happen?” Barresi eyed J.C. carefully.

J.C. gave him the poker face. “I just made sure I wasn’t being followed.” There was no need for them to know about the two old partner’s little ‘run-in’. Besides, Bane was a tough man, and he would recover from the stab wound quickly.

“Now that you got the answer from the horse’s mouth, will you get the job going?”

“It’s already in motion. That’s all you need to know.” J.C. sipped his whiskey and didn’t even bother to look up. What have La Cosa Nostra got on Bull? He wasn’t the type who’d accept a bank job, and he didn’t need the money badly like J.C. did.

The short trimmed mustache couldn’t hide Barresi’s prankish smile. “You know, you two have very similar tastes. Only you are a much heavier drinker.”

“Well, some men are made to hold their liquor.” J.C. took the last gulp of his whiskey, and left the nightclub from the backdoor.

Feb-15-2009 02:44

The bank looked serene and solemn in the sunlight. JC straightened his sleek black suit and strolled in. The lovely bank teller with red curly hair beamed at JC. “Hello Mr. Smithson! Good to see you again.”

JC flashed a bright smile which never touched his eyes. “Well, I have to find a reason to see you, my darling Ruby.” Ruby flickered her eye lashes, it made JC sick. He smiled. “Ah, how about seeing my bank deposit box again?” JC handed her his fake identification and signed a fake signature.

Ruby led JC into the vault, walking very close to JC that her body almost touched his… in the more private area. JC counted his steps, making sure that he’d know the way even in the dark. Penny put her staff key into deposit box #623 and asked JC to do the same. JC let his gaze travel to the inner vault where a guard was standing post, and he casually asked Ruby, “Honey, there are sufficient securities out there, how come there’s another guard inside. Isn’t that invasion of privacy?”

“Oh he won’t bother you. The additional guard is there for some evidence for the court. You know, that La Cosa case?” Ruby babbled on, “I heard that the mayor want to nail the mob bosses for good, and thinks what’s inside that box will do the job.”

“Does he ever sleep?” JC said as he put his key into deposit box #623.

“Oh, he’s only here during the day. He goes home at night like the rest of us. The new alarm the bank has installed will do the job after dark when no one’s allowed in here.”
JC smiled to himself as Ruby left him to look at the content of his deposit box.

JC shifted some blank paper and a few dollar bills in his dummy box as he silently congratulated himself for another obstacle incinerated. His next step was to approach Bull. His old partner’s detective skill would certainly be beneficial to this job, although they were on the other side of the law this time. Perhaps a good bottle of whiskey can cure some scars, old and new.

Feb-15-2009 15:46

Day 1 - November 6, 1934 - a bit past midday - Joey’s apartment

Bane was breathing hard from the effort of walking in his current condition and from the loss of blood. “Damn…he messed me up pretty good” he grumbled. “How the hell am I going to rob a bank jumping around in one foot?” He looked at the note in his hand and then lifted his eyes at Rose. “Fix me up a whisky on rocks, kid.” Rose started heading towards the kitchen. “On second thought…” he continued “…forget the ice. Just bring me the whole damn bottle.”

Rose stopped a bit looking back over her shoulder as if she was going to protest, but then she appeared to have decided against it. “As you wish, monsieur.”

Bane took a thirsty gulp from the bottle and then poured a bit over his bandage. “Damn, this was an expensive suit!” said him looking at his ripped off pants. He took another gulp and rested the bottle close to him on the couch, still holding it by the neck. Rose sat down on a nearby chair, hands on her knees, waiting for him to address her again.

After a few minutes of silence she decided to speak up: “Monsieur, you have been so kind to me. If there is anything I can do for you…”

Bane looked at her as if he was awakening out of a dream. “Well, actually…there is.” He straightened up his position on the couch and continued. “Look here, kid…I am…messed up in a tricky situation. I need some help with it.” His eyes then felt upon his wounded leg. “Especially now, under this condition…” He took another gulp. “The less you know, the safer you are, so I’m just gonna give you the basics.”

Feb-15-2009 15:46

He reached his chest pocket, took out Mona’s picture and handed it to her. “This is an old friend of mine. Her name is Mona McGregor. I am supposed to do a certain job, or else she’s gonna end up as fish food on the bottom of the river. She’s currently being held up by the mob. Now here’s the thing: I’m almost certain that I won’t be able to do this job in time. This means I have to find her…and fast. I need to grab her out of their hands.” He grinned in pain while attempting to set his bandage straight. “This is…dangerous for a child, but I figure that if you’ve managed to survive so far, you will do fine. I need you to scout the city a bit...and especially a few locations.” He pointed towards a desk by the window. “Bring me a pen and paper, kid.”

Rose watched him silently as he was writing down some addresses. “Check out the one at the docks first. They are a few safe houses that the mob’s using…as far as I know, anyway. Lay low, try not to raise suspicion.” He stretched his arm intending to hand her the paper and then stopped. Pulling it back he wrote another address on the back. “Go here first” he said. “It is a pool parlor downtown. Go in and ask for ‘Whispers’. Tell him you come from me and give him this.” He reached his neck and pulled out a small medallion. It was a bullet…one looking as if it was shot and hit a wall or something. Joey handed it to her along with the note and continued: “He owes me a big favor. You give him that and he’ll know I’m in trouble. Tell him to move his arse in here fast. I’ll be waiting for him.” He took another gulp. “Now be gone, kid. And don’t be spending the night outside. If you don’t find anything, come back. You’ll try again tomorrow.”

Feb-15-2009 15:47

Rose got up aiming for the door. “Will you be fine, monsieur?”

“Don’t worry about me, kid. I’ve lived through harder wounds than this.” As she was just about to leave he stopped her. “Kid…put on the worn out coat that you were wearing when I met you. You’ll look a lot less suspicious in it.”

Rose made a grimace of disgust thinking about putting on that rag again, but he was right. She picked it up and left.

Upon remaining alone in the room, Joey started again to speak his mind out loud: “There’s only one possible reason for J.C. to do what he did. He must be in on it…robbing the bank. He wanted me out of the way.” He looked back at the piece of paper Rose had handed him. “He’s also not a stranger to Barresi. Hmmm…well…J.C….we need to have a chat. But this time it will be one in my terms.” He reached inside his jacket and pulled out his revolver. “You might’ve wanted just to wound me, but I ain’t gonna play with you…partner.”

Feb-16-2009 02:15

JC scaled up the fire escape two steps at a time, with a bottle of the finest Macallan single malt scotch in his hand. The air was crisp and dry this November afternoon, JC wondered when it would start snowing in New York. Snow was already an inch thick where he left Kristen; he wondered how she was holding on. He knew he needed to finish the job quickly, get paid and return to her. Kristen couldn’t wait.

Joey’s apartment was on the fourth floor. JC slowed his pace as he reached the landing, and stalked quietly to the large window by the back door. He peered inside; Joey was sitting on the couch looking furious, with a revolver in his hand. JC checked his own guns in his holsters, but decided to leave them there for the time being. No use making a bad situation worse. He was quick enough to get to it if necessary. JC took out a thin wire and began to pick the lock.

Although enraged, Joey’s keen sense of hearing didn’t diminish. He knew someone’s behind the backdoor, and focused his attention on it. His gun was aimed at the handle. Three knocks were heard, before the door flung open. No one was at the doorway.

JC, with his back to the outer wall beside the now opened doorway, called into the living room, “Hi again, old partner. Something for your wound.” He held out the bottle of scotch whiskey at the doorway with his left hand so that Joey could see it. Joey fired a shot and the bottle shattered, broken pieces of glass scratched JC’s hand. JC pulled back.