1520 Main – The Fix

by | Sep 30, 2022 | Fiction, Prohibition | 109 comments

So Swiss went begging again for content, and though I thought serializing one of my doorstoppers would beĀ de trop, Swiss does not. So here we go.


During Prohibition, Trey Dunham only wants two things out of life: money and respectability. And he doesnā€™t care how he gets them.


KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
APRIL, 1929

ā€œDONā€™T GO GETTING above yourself, boy.ā€

Trey slid a glance at the old man beside him, his eyebrow raised in question.

Boss Tom Pendergastā€™s glance slid across the street toward the prim young woman whoā€™d caught Treyā€™s eye. She was short, her cheeks filled out, with clear peachesā€™nā€™cream skin. She had sleek chocolate brown hair rolled up into a fat bun, which meant it was long and thick and straight. She wore a fashionable blouse and trousers of good quality fabric and construction, but they were all the wrong cut and color. He could only guess at her figure, but heā€™d seen hundreds of women nude, so he had a pretty good idea she was an hourglass with just enough plump in all the right places.

She and another girl were walking toward Kresgeā€™s with their schoolbooks clutched to their chests, chatting and laughing. Her friend was blonde, with a cute permed bob and she was wearing a pretty dress.

ā€œYou know who that Jane is?ā€ Boss Tom asked.

ā€œNope.ā€

ā€œDot Albright. Her daddyā€™s a Mormon bishop.ā€

Treyā€™s eyebrows shot into his hairline. ā€œOn your payroll?ā€

Boss Tom shook his head. ā€œNot him, no. Heā€™s straight, works for himself. He just doesnā€™t get in his congregantsā€™ business, even if their business is with me. And you know those folksā€™re armed to the teeth.ā€

Trey was too, and he wasnā€™t somebody who could legally be shot on sight. ā€œBut they let their girls wear trousers.ā€

ā€œThe one in trouserā€™s Gil Scarrittā€™s daughter. Marina.ā€

Trey pursed his mouth. That was ā€¦ interesting, especially when the girls suddenly caught him staring. The pretty blonde in the pretty dress curled her lip.

ā€œTold you not to get your hopes up.ā€

The interesting brunette in the trousers blinked at them innocently then looked at the pretty one with a scowl. Their lighthearted discussion turned into something more contentious.

ā€œTwo preachersā€™ daughters,ā€ Trey mused. ā€œWhyā€™s a Pentecostal lettinā€™ his girl wear trousers?ā€

ā€œHis idea of a chastity belt.ā€

Trey nodded approvingly. ā€œThatā€™s logical,ā€ he said. ā€œInconvenient and a damned shame, but logical.ā€

ā€œHer?ā€ Boss Tom hooted. ā€œMarina?ā€

ā€œYeh. Pretty girls are a dime a dozen and I got a dozen of ā€™em on my payroll. How old is she?ā€

ā€œSixteen. What is wrong with you? Sheā€™s no looker.ā€

ā€œLikely not to anybody else, no.ā€

ā€œYou have weird taste in dames.ā€

Treyā€™s taste was in interesting-looking dames. As he watched, the pretty one dragged the interesting one into the drugstore, with one last sneer over her shoulder at them.

ā€œTrust Reverend Albrightā€™s girl to know whatā€™s what,ā€ Boss Tom muttered, turning away.

ā€œI thought you said he was a bishop.ā€

ā€œHe is. Reverendā€™s his given name.ā€ Trey had heard stranger. ā€œDunham,ā€ Boss Tom rumbled, amusement heavy in his deep voice. ā€œYou wrestle that bluenose into bed and knock her up, Iā€™ll turn the keys to 1520 over to you, as is, free and clear.ā€

Trey was so shocked he barely kept his cool. ā€œMarina, you mean?ā€

ā€œYes, Marina. Albright stays out of my way and I stay out of his.ā€

Trey thought about that a few seconds. Finally he said, ā€œThatā€™s some bounty, Boss. I might start thinkinā€™ you donā€™t like the good Reverend Scarritt.ā€

ā€œDonā€™t start up thinkinā€™ again, boy. People get in trouble that way.ā€

Not Trey. And what Trey thought was that this wasnā€™t a bet so much as an order. Trey didnā€™t hesitate to take orders he had several good reasons to carry out.

ā€œAnā€™ if I donā€™t?ā€

Boss Tom gave him a stone-cold glance. Definitely an order. Shit. ā€œTell you what, Dunham. I know you want to buy 1520 Main. I also know you are nowhere near being able to buy it at my price and you never will be.ā€ That was debatable. ā€œSo Iā€™m giving you a sporting chance. You have two months. And if you think marrying herā€™s gonna get the job done, think again.ā€

Marriage was not in Treyā€™s plans. ā€œConsider it done.ā€

0

About The Author

Mojeaux

Mojeaux

Aspiring odalisque.

109 Comments

  1. kinnath

    more please

    • Chafed

      That’s how you first.

  2. Fourscore

    Sounds like Trey has a real challenge. Love the dialect. I listened to all the radio detective shows in the ’40s, very familiar language.

    Good show, Mojeaux

  3. rhywun

    No idea what this is about, but based on the cover alone, this is the one I wanted.

    /diving in

  4. Sean

    *unzips*

  5. Spudalicious

    Sweet!

  6. DEG

    Kansas City.

    ā€œTwo preachersā€™ daughters,ā€ Trey mused. ā€œWhyā€™s a Pentecostal lettinā€™ his girl wear trousers?ā€

    ā€œHis idea of a chastity belt.ā€

    I chuckled.

    Great start!

    • Gender Traitor

      I know how it ends! šŸ˜šŸ“–

      • UnCivilServant

        Don’t spoil it for them.

      • Gender Traitor

        Wouldn’t dream of it! šŸ™‚

        Just gloating a little. šŸ˜‰

      • Mojeaux

        {so many jokes, so many faux spoilers}

      • UnCivilServant

        Oh, that reminds me, Monday I saw a souped up PT Cruiser with a spoiler.

      • Mojeaux

        I do like Kansas City. Wasn’t great art, but I liked it.

      • Zwak. who's suit is as ragged as his nerves.

        The music was wonderful. I agree with you about not being great, but being likable.

  7. rhywun

    Intrigued! This ought to fill the Friday night slot for the next few months šŸ™‚

    • Mojeaux

      That is the idea. Just a little lightheartedness to fill an unpopular spot.

      • kinnath

        Thanks for the story. I enjoyed this intro. Looking forward to following this.

      • Mojeaux

        Not sure it really fits this crowd because I write with an emphasis on the heroine and her progression. I don’t know if y’all will care about the maturation of a 16yo girl or a trapped 24yo kid.

      • MikeS

        the maturation of a 16yo girl

        Giggity

        Seriously, I think the majority of us enjoy a gifted author. Hence, the majority of us will enjoy your story.

  8. MikeS

    I say yeah to this.

      • MikeS

        +1 “Hey. Hey what? Get laid, get fucked.”

    • Mojeaux

      Thank you!

  9. Swiss Servator

    “So Swiss went begging again for content, and though I thought serializing one of my doorstoppers would be de trop, Swiss does not. So here we go.”

    MUHUHUHUWAHA!

    • UnCivilServant

      You’ll get the stories when they’re done. I don’t want to leave the audience hanging due to writer’s block.

  10. hayeksplosives

    Good stuff, Mojeaux.

    I enjoy the serials and other literary outpourings of the Glibs.

    • Mojeaux

      LOTS of unbelievable talent around here. It’s an amazing concentration.

      • UnCivilServant

        I don’t believe it.

    • Mojeaux

      How did you know that is probably one of my top 10 favorite songs ever? I’d put that on and dance with my little girl when she was a toddler.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Just luck? Going for a theme tonight, last day and all.

      • Mojeaux

        Ah, well. October is pumpkin spice and mulled spider. *gives scented wax the side-eye*

      • Gustave Lytton

        And bestest month evah!

      • Gender Traitor

        Doubt if I’ll still be awake at midnight to post this.

      • Mojeaux

        EXCELLENT CHOICE!

      • Gender Traitor

        Theme? Would I be catbutted for linking to another show tune?

      • Mojeaux

        I know that song from somewhere vaudevillian or cartoony or something. It rings a bell, but a caricature of the song.

      • Gender Traitor

        You know, I trust, that Jerry “created” the role in the show whence that came and was the first to sing the song?

      • Mojeaux

        I did not know that. However, I know the song from somewhere frivolous that I cannot remember. Heh.

      • Gender Traitor

        Fun fact:

        The show’s original off-Broadway production ran a total of 42 years (until 2002) and 17,162 performances, making it the world’s longest-running musical.

      • MikeS

        RIP Lenny.

  11. Mojeaux

    If you don’t wanna wait for the 2 years this will take at 1 chapter per week (some longer than others) here is the book.

  12. Gustave Lytton

    Ugh, wife has the Sharon Osborne whine fest on. Kill me now.

    • MikeS

      I thought Sharon got canceled for not being sufficiently woke?

      • Gustave Lytton

        Supporting piers Morgan, apparently. She’s on fox now.

      • rhywun

        Saw some preview on Tucker – don’t know what to think, other than that is a LOT of plastic surgery.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Ozzy doesn’t look good either.

      • Chafed

        Yeah but earned his look.

      • MikeS

        Snorting ants will do that.

      • Chafed

        šŸ¤˜

      • Gustave Lytton

        Hah! That part of Ozzy’s life is being covered right now.

      • Chafed

        Maybe that show is worth watching.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Ok, after having watched all four episodes of her show, I’m still of the mind that the view portion was whiny, overly melodramatic, and either she is completely naive or intentionally obtuse about her former cohosts. I did like the rest of her life story but she’s very charitable to herself and shaded how she described events (such as the Randy Rhoades crash).

    • Chafed

      Interesting. I guess Russia is busy at the moment

  13. hayeksplosives

    Mission Kitteh Snip-Snip was a success. He has not worn his cone of shame for more than 2 minutes at a time.

    Heā€™s in the guest bedroom by himself with a ā€œhuggie kittyā€ therapy plush toy that has a purr box and heated (microwaveable insert).

    He has 3 days of painkillers and really doesnā€™t even act like he needs them right now.

    Poā€™ Kitteh.

    • creech

      Therapy plush toy? I don’t remember getting anything for my vasectomy.

      • UnCivilServant

        You used the wrong vet.

      • Mojeaux

        LOL

      • hayeksplosives

        Well a vasectomy is significantly different from a castration. If not, you really ARE using the wrong vet!!

      • creech

        Well I didn’t get castrated and I did get some wonderful “gifts” from a grateful spouse. Speaking of castration, the soldier who shot John Wilkes Booth, Sgt. Boston Corbett, subsequently castrated himself with a pair of scissors. Can’t imagine…

    • MikeS

      a ā€œhuggie kittyā€ therapy plush toy that has a purr box and heated (microwaveable insert).

      Peak peak

      • MikeS

        We have a semi-abandoned kitten that adopted us. He went through a phase of nursing on our two Toms. I think/hope it’s over now. Haven’t seen him do it for a while.

      • Gender Traitor

        *****SQUEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!***** So CUUUUUUUUTE!!!!! šŸ˜»šŸ˜»šŸ˜»

      • hayeksplosives

        Thatā€™s Exactly what Bodie looks like! Gray tabby with very white ā€œunderchinā€.

        That boy is now running around like nothing happened. Iā€™ve given up on the Cone of Shame, but he doesnā€™t seem to be bothering his incision area anyway.

        Heā€™s in the guest room and seems to have his appetite back, although food is restricted the first day to prevent nausea after the anesthesia.

    • Chafed

      I picture Tres using that for all the wrong reasons.

    • hayeksplosives

      If Germany needs more gas, canā€™t they tap into their Strategic Sauerkraut Reserves?

      • Mojeaux

        I explained the whole Germany gas problem to my husband so I could read him that line.

      • hayeksplosives

        šŸ¤£šŸ‘

  14. hayeksplosives

    Jupiter is looking awesome these days.

    I love the lack of light pollution out here.

    • hayeksplosives

      The moon is waxing but itā€™s still slim enough that the Milky Way is visible from the back yard.

      Purrrā€¦.

    • JaimeRoberto (carnitas/spicy salsa)

      If you have binoculars you can see the moons of Jupiter.

      • hayeksplosives

        Thanks! Theyā€™re here someplaceā€¦

        I also would like to invest in a hobby telescope for star gazing,

        No idea how to choose one though.

  15. groat scotum

    Ian Fleming wrote the children’s book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was based on.

    Nothing to do with Moj writing content for glibs, I just think it’s an interesting fact.

    • UnCivilServant

      Why do you think Bond’s car kept getting more gadgets?

  16. slumbrew

    Excellent, Mojeaux. Drew me in immediately.

  17. Ted S.

    Good morning, everybody!

    • Fourscore

      …and back atcha…

      Sleep done, coffee down, time to enjoy the weekend. Cranked up the wood furnace this morning so it’s comfortable now

    • Gender Traitor

      Good morning, Ted’S, 4(20), and Shiny!

      Welp, Boston Stoker just lost my business to Panera. It’s a story as old as…online commerce itself. Found myself without my weekend morning beverage of choice this morning. Internet says BS opens at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday. Drove up right before 7:15, pick my poison, drive up to the window to order…

      …and no one comes to the window. I then notice the small sign down in one corner: “New Fall & Winter Hours.” They now don’t open until 7:30. Someone finally comes to the window to reiterate this inconvenient truth. I drive away and head just a little further up the road to Panera where an inexplicably perky young male voice over the speaker graciously takes my order for a chai latte. No waiting even! (Bunch o’ suckers next door waiting in line for Starbucks. Ha!)

      • Ted S.

        I would have gone into a Stewart’s, but you don’t have them in your neck of the woods. You even get a discount if you have a reusable mug.

        Of course, you also have to get out of your car.

      • R C Dean

        ā€œOf course, you also have to get out of your car.ā€

        Donā€™t be ridiculous. Weā€™re not animals, you know.

  18. Yusef drives a Kia

    It looks like another beautiful day coming,
    Enjoy it!
    CovfefešŸŒ…

    • Gender Traitor

      Chai latte! ā˜•