Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14
PART I
SPEAKING IN TONGUES
15
THE NEXT MORNING, Trey was summoned to the Jackson County Democratic Club, which he had expected to be any day now. Trey took Boss Tom his books around the middle of every month, but not until he was summoned.
Trey passed all the cats lined up a block long to ask Boss Tom a favor. Rich men asked for political favors. Poor men asked for food for their families and a job. The line to get to Boss Tom was the great equalizer. The only people who got past the line were folks bringing something to Boss Tom.
“Yeah, Boss,” Trey drawled when he was shown into Boss Tom’s very small, modest office in a very small, modest building on 19th and Main, his books and an envelope of cash tucked under his arm.
Boss Tom tapped his finger on his desk and Trey dropped his books and cash on them, then dropped himself into a chair.
Pendergast thumbed through them and checked random lines against a book he already had open. Trey had every confidence in his own bookkeeping. He had no confidence in whoever did the bookkeeping Tom was checking against.
“Why’s mine say you took delivery of forty-eight cases of my gin, but you only show thirty-six?”
“’Cuz I only got thirty-six.” Trey remembered that delivery, too. “Stu checked that delivery and called me out back, said I got shorted a dozen cases. I counted ’em. Thirty-six. Called Vern out. He counted ’em. Thirty-six. Cat says, ‘Oh, no, I got another dozen comin’.’ I say okay, sign off on thirty-six—bill of lading’s right there, see the bookmark—and bring me the dozen you owe me. Cat never shows up. An’ I remember that ’cuz I knew he wa’n’t gonna come back. Damn near called up a notary, I was so sure.”
Boss Tom pursed his lips, pulled the lading slip out and saw that it had Brody’s initials, Vern’s initials, Trey’s initials, and the delivery man’s signature.
“You can’t prove he didn’t come back with the other dozen.”
“No, I can’t,” Trey said firmly. “But ask your Mormons.”
“I’ll do that,” Boss Tom said vaguely, snapping the ledger closed. He took the cash and began to count, saying, “And if you’re right, I’ll have you take care of it.”
“Boss,” Trey said flatly. “I ain’t got a murderin’ interest in this cat an’ I’m busy with Marina Scarritt.”
“How’s that coming along, by the way?” Tom asked pleasantly enough when he was finished counting, tapped the pile until it was tidy, and put it back in the envelope. “You never were one to let grass grow under your feet.”
“If you know that much, you know how I’m doin’,” Trey shot back. “Handlin’ her and her little friend’s a delicate operation.”
“Yeah, I want to talk to you about her little friend. You don’t catch Dot in whatever crossfire you and your gigolo—”
“Maître d’.”
“—gigolo are setting up, you hear me? Last thing I need is Rev Albright in my office for unpleasantness.”
Trey suddenly realized Boss Tom actually respected Albright and having Gio mess with his daughter was a bit short-sighted on Trey’s part. At this point, Trey was convinced that for the last few years he’d been traveling too fast for his headlights and his brakes had just gone out.
“Might be too late,” Trey mumbled. “Gio went an’ got himself smitten. He’s due at her church tonight to see some show they’re puttin’ on.”
Boss Tom groaned. “Good Lord.”
“On the bright side, now he has a reason to keep her out of the crossfire.”
Pendergast conceded that point with a grunt. “And if Albright finds out, it’s not on me.”
“Nope.”
“Now, Dunham, I’m a little concerned about your lack of firepower over there.”
Trey’s eyebrow rose and his spine began to tingle. “I didn’t think I needed much.”
Boss Tom’s eyebrow rose. “You’ve got Giuseppe Morello’s runaway hitman who now makes his living with his dick—” Oh, shit. He did know who Gio was. “—the daughter of a Mormon bishop who is my friend, my speakeasy which is now in play, an upstart mick wanting a piece of your heroin action—” Trey waved a hand. “—and various and sundry folk who want to know when and where you’re picking up your Remus whisky and storing it—” Shit! “—and you think you don’t need much?”
“I’ll rethink.”
15
If you don’t want to wait 2 years to get to the end, you can buy it here.
*presses play*
It would make a terrific show.
It would.
Boss is Boss for a reason
It’s good to be First.
TFW you loose a screw on the shop floor. TFW it is unobtanium.
Le sigh.
Friday nights are really pathetic around here.
/reaches for whiskey bottle, decides on whisky instead.
Nope, whiskey it is.
Ha! I spelled it “whiskey” in the pirate book and “whisky” in the Prohibition book because those were the spellings most in use in those time periods.
I go by the snobby “where it was made” rule. 🧐🥃
Apologies to Mark Twain, whisky is for drinking, whiskey is for fighting.
I resemble that remark.
Thanks, Moj. Good as always. Hope no one gets hurt.
Thanks, Fourscore. Again, I am sorry for your loss.
I sorry to hear of your loss, 4×20.
Virtual hugs and very real condolences for Fourscore.
I am also sorry for your loss sir.
very small, modest building on 19th and Main
I looked it up on Google Maps. I might have driven through this intersection, and past 1520 Main, on my way to the First World War Museum.
“Handlin’ her and her little friend’s a delicate operation.”
“Delicate operation”. Reminds me of some women I’ve been interested in. Some succeeded, some I failed to be appropriately delicate, some we’ll see.
Trey suddenly realized Boss Tom actually respected Albright and having Gio mess with his daughter was a bit short-sighted on Trey’s part.
Ouch. I did not see that coming.
“On the bright side, now he has a reason to keep her out of the crossfire.”
Nice save.
I look forward to the next part.
I like nicely tied bows. 😉
Boss Tom is played by Lawrence Tierney in my head, FWIW.
Thanks, Moj.
Not bad, but Tundra called dibs on playing Boss Tom.
If Tundra is Boss Tom, you might have to throw in a showdown at a hockey rink.
I pictured him more like middle-aged Raymond Burr.
But with the seething bad-assery he had in some of his early bad-guy roles.
He’ll always be Captain Lee Quince to me.
Glibs After Dark.
https://archive.ph/Vc2T6/4815f0a6befa61abf2e3f6b6479ab34a4bcdb89b.webp
NSFW.
https://i.imgur.com/JOv3XRh.gifv
NSFW.
https://archive.ph/LnSVS/4d36b643bd19e6f576e6d09723f297868fb16340.webp
NSFW.
https://archive.ph/vSry6/b6e9465f28077382aaf23c2db898b5bfbe311a7e.webp
NSFW.
https://archive.ph/y0qBb/3c7939e5868cb563388242c46389698e84abe9cc.webp
NSFW.
Reminds me of an ex-girlfriend.
She is bouncing in sync with Diamond Head’s Am I Evil? Coincidence?
Wow. Slow night. Is there some sportsball going on?
Nothing special – some basketball.
All on the zoom? Out living life?
I’m mostly reading and occasionally checking here.
3 on zoom. Otherwise people getting back to life
I had a fairly late dinner, then dozed off in front of the TV because that’s what I tend to do on Friday evenings. Also, the cars featured on the Mecum Auto Auction were very pretty, but the plot wasn’t all that engaging.
I’m supposed to complete my yearly review by “end of day”.
Yeah OK lol.
Assume that meant by sundown. Pretty sure your boss won’t check before Saturday night.
My boss won’t check before Tuesday.
What is he, Ninth Day Adventist?
No, just lazy about this stuff, like the rest of us.
*counts on fingers*
I think the nearest (((executive))) is five levels up.
You know what’s disappointing? Flipping on Baywatch to see Donna D’Errico, Carmen Electra, and Yasmine Bleeth in their red swimsuits only to have the rest of the episode focus on Yasmine Bleeth. I didn’t tune in to be disappointed!
Still, would.
Have at it.
https://images.app.goo.gl/RUimCu2SFtLm132x9
*would have
Still, probably better off than all the cocaine. But a happy medium exists.
Are you saying she survived and the cocaine didn’t?
I’m pretty sure she would kill me in my sleep but I’ll choose this.
https://pagesix.com/2022/11/14/baywatch-star-donna-derrico-54-poses-in-lace-lingerie/
I found this film for you called “Panther Squad.”Filmed in the 1980s, big hair, leotards, gun toting hussies..
How could that go wrong?
Well, it did. Just not good. I was made sad by this.
On paper it sounds perfect.
Worth it.
I bet for some of us she’s a lot more fun to hang out with.
I too subscribe to the idea of “I don’t give a fuck”.
Dude…
What does mine say?
Game night followed by sleepover. Oy. I am watching 3 Stooges with the cats. Time for bed.
I feel your pain.
And I’m up.
Guess it’s Waffle House and off to work.
Good Morning everyone.
Something to stay positive with:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap_yuU1mUK0
Mornin
Community Services Board to temporarily close the Sunshine Lady House
It’s better they don’t get treatment rather than get treatment that worked before.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=-z02Y54Ce3U
🎶🎶
Last time I checked, I couldn’t find this on Amazon music.
Such a good tune.
Loudoun Co. prosecutors will stop trying some misdemeanors
I look forward to each county deciding which laws it will enforce. Devolution now!
I’d bet good money that doesn’t include businesses which fail to abide by their many, many city ordinances.
In general that reads like a “fuck you” to property owners and businesses mixed in with some reasonable reforms.
NJ kills whales.
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2023/01/whales-are-washing-up-on-the-jersey-shore-heres-what-we-know-about-what-may-be-killing-them.html
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/14/mega-millions-drawing-winning-ticket-1-35-billion-sold-maine/11040405002/
Fucking Maine.
https://billypenn.com/2023/01/13/cacias-bakery-eagles-green-rolls-bird-dogs-dietz-watson/
You know who else liked green bread?
Sam-I-Am?
https://www.fox35orlando.com/video/1166450
Manicure caused cancer. 😧
https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/foodnews/limited-edition-paczki-day-vodka-returns-how-to-buy-it-before-it-s-gone/ar-AA16j73Q
Sounds interesting.