by S G Read
‘Two can play at that game.’ He said. ‘So she reckons you only get to try once a day eh. You've got friends here haven't you?’
‘Yes Why?’ Cally answered.
‘They've only got the two counters in that bank so that one does both normal stuff and the boxes as well. If we had a line of people there waiting to open a box normal business would come to a standstill, all we have to do is keep at it until we either find it, or they let us try all the boxes in one go!’
‘Might work.’ Dan admitted.
‘Me and Caleb used to pull it all the time. Not with boxes I mean but with change. With him being blind and very slow they used to pay us to stay out! So go get as many friends as you can find and we get them to line up at the counter. All the one in front has to do is slip the key to the next one as they go out.’
The two split up and hurried off in search of their friends. Dan drove back to the home, in case anyone needed to use the truck. He agreed to meet them at the bank in two hours. In his mind he could picture the line of boys and girls coming out of the bank and down the street.
Back at the house he walked up to see Dermot. As Drummond had explained how they found out which bank the box was in he thought he might be able to help them.
‘Hello Dermot. I know you can hear me from what Cally's told me. They are trying to find out the number but the bank is not being very helpful, you know what banks are like when you need help. Can you remember the number?’
Dermot was an accountant, numbers were his business. He blinked once.
‘Good. Now I am going to count up slowly, you blink when I get near the number.’
Dermot blinked once. Dan started to count up from one, he reached a hundred without a blink.
‘Are you still awake Dermot?’ Dan asked just to make sure he wasn't wasting his time.
Dermot blinked once.
Dan continued until he reached one hundred and sixty four, then Dermot blinked.
‘One hundred and sixty four?’ He repeated but there was no blink. ‘One hundred and sixty five?’
Dermot blinked.
‘The number of the box is one hundred and sixty five?’
Dermot blinked again.
‘Good. I'll go and tell them, it will save them a lot of time and trouble.’
When Dan walked down stairs, he saw the truck disappearing down the road. He threw his hat on the floor and jumped on it.
‘Damn you and your lady friends Charlie.’ He complained but there was nothing he could do but wait.
Back at the bank Drummond and Cally met up and this time they had lots of friends. They had both outlined the idea and what they wanted the others to do.
‘Can I do it too?’ A little voice squeaked.
‘No Ronald, you're too young.’ Drummond replied.
Ronald was six but had two older brothers and always wanted to do what they did. He was often told to get lost, mostly by them.
‘That's not fair, they get to have all the fun!’ He complained. ‘Can I at least watch?’
‘Yes, from over there!’ Drummond replied and pointed across the street.
‘No one likes me.’ Ronald complained as he walked across the road dodging what traffic there was.
The boys lined up and the first boy thrust the key forward and said ‘Number Two!’ It failed to open the box and as he walked away he slipped the key to the next one in line. By the time the manager saw what was going on and the size of the queue which was growing quickly, being swelled by normal customers who could not get to the other counter. It was Drummonds' turn to go in when the manager hurried over to the woman behind the counter.
‘Mrs. Grant, there is a queue!’ He said but by now it was an understatement. Then he saw Drummond. ‘You there, I recognize you don't I? What pray is going on?’
‘They are here to open safety deposit boxes.’ Mrs. Grant answered.
‘I was not asking you.’ He asked curtly, then turned back to Drummond. ‘I was asking you though. What will make the queue disappear and quickly?’
‘Let me find out which box this fits.’ Drummond held up the key. ‘I know it's one of them but I don't know which one!’
The manager turned to the security guard who stood waiting to escort the next boy down.
‘Bentley take the young gentleman down and make sure you find the box his key will open.’
‘Yes sir.’ The security guard replied and turned to go.
‘Oh and Bentley.’ The manager added.
Bentley turned back.
‘Make sure the young gentleman empties the box and we retain the key.’ The manager finished talking and walked away with Mrs. Grant glowering at Drummond.
‘Yes sir!’ The security guard replied. ‘Come on son, we'll soon get the right box.’ He walked away and motioned Drummond to follow him.
Drummond turned to the boy behind him.
‘It's okay Willy you can all go now but we'll meet where we arranged when it's all sorted. Tell Cally what's happening, tell her I won't be long.’
Willy nodded and the queue started to disappear. Drummond followed the security guard down to the vault deep in the cellar to the security boxes. Outside Willy walked over to where Cally was sitting on a railing, facing the bank with her back to the road.
‘It worked. Drummond's gone down to find the right box, he said for you to wait here, he don't think it'll take long. He said to meet him where we arranged.’
‘Thanks Willy we'll see you later.’ Cally replied and winked.
Willy smiled and walked after his friends. Cally watched them as they rounded the corner out of sight, soon it would all be over. She shuffled herself about on the railing to be more comfortable and settled down to wait, after a quick glance up the street to where Dan would park when he came back. There was still no sign of him.
‘I bet Old Charlie has took off in the truck again!’ She chuckled. ‘When we get the money the first thing we are going to but is a decent car, one like we used to have! Grandpa can have his operation and Dan can have a new boat if he wants it.’ She thought about her father, no amount of money would help him! Only time and a lot of effort.
Chapter 4
Emil Shultz sat drinking coffee. Michael was sitting next to him, Emil had chosen him to replace the dead Luigi Clo.
‘I hope you are going to run it more profitably than your predecessor?’ Shultz said as he wiped his small moustache. ‘Do you think it suits me?’
‘I am sure I will and yes Emil, I think you are going to turn a few heads with your moustache.’
‘Good. You can borrow Bertram when you need him until you can find a good, honest man!’ The last bit was aimed at the appointment of Dermot as book keeper.
‘Dill is a good man. I will have a hard time to better him.’ Michael admitted.
‘We do not want another leak of money now do we?’ Shultz asked.
‘No Emil.’ Michael emptied his cup and stood up. ‘I will keep you well informed.’
‘See that you do.’
Michael drove to his new office and phoned Dill who was working in his hotel.
Bertram drove across town to where Michael held court in the nickelodeon and walked into his office without challenge.
‘You ought to see to your dogs! I walked in unchallenged!’ Dill warned.
‘Only unchallenged because they knew you were coming, I don't count you as one of my enemies Bertram! Should I?’
‘If I were your enemy, you'd hardly be breathing now!’
‘That's as maybe but I have decided to look into this Doyle affair! What can you tell me?’
‘I know it cost Clo and all his employees their lives. Why in the hell do you want to get involved with it again?’
‘It's a matter of face, standing, you know, with Emil.’ Michael explained. ‘After all she's only a girl! Last time the police were involved, now they are not. If we pick this girl up she'll soon tell us what we want to know!’
‘Then what?’ Dill asked.
‘If she promises to keep quiet then she can go home.’
Dill guessed that Michael was only saying that to please him but he needed to believe it and chose to.
‘You know what she looks like, so I want you to take a drive with Peter and try to find her without raising any suspicions. Take Jacob as well, he can sit on her when you have her. No one argues with Jacob! Blindfold her and bring her back here.’ The idea of a blindfold was to make Dill think she would be allowed to go home afterwards and it worked. ‘Once we have her we can persuade her to talk.’ Michael repeated.
‘How?’ The watchful Dill asked. Not happy at a girl, even a girl as feisty as Cally, being tortured.
‘It seems to me if we took the girl and held a gun to her pa's head she'd talk soon enough!’
‘How are you going to get Doyle out of the hospital without raising anyone's suspicions?’ Dill asked.
‘Surely you can handle that.’
‘I'm the accountant remember. You're the one who does the dirty work.’
‘I'll look into it.’
‘Send Smithy up!’ Michael called down to the reception desk. This was no ordinary reception desk, under the counter was an arsenal of weapons.
‘Yes Michael.’ The receptionist replied. He was no ordinary receptionist, if it was needed he could hold the police off for long enough to allow Michael and the book keeper to escape.
‘You wanted me boss?’ Smithy asked when he arrived.
‘Yes. Go to the hospital Doyle is in and work out a way to borrow him.’
‘Yes boss.’
‘And Smithy-’
‘Yes boss.’
‘I want him alive. Well as alive as he is, do you understand?’
‘Yes boss.’
‘Take Peter with you in case of trouble.’
‘Yes boss.’
Smithy left. Soon after that Bertram was on his way. He sat back in one of Michael's limousines and found it very comfortable. This was the way to travel. They drove across Chicago heading for the highway that led to the retirement home.
‘Stop by that bank.’ Dill said suddenly.
‘Why are you planning to rob it?’ Jacob asked.
‘No, but the girl we are after is sitting outside that bank on the railing!’ Dill replied. ‘And she has her back to us!’
The limousine stopped behind Cally, Jacob grabbed her as though she was a rag doll and threw her inside the limousine. Dill restrained her with one arm while Jacob climbed in. Then the car sped away.
‘My names Bertram Dill. We almost met once. Nice to meet you Cally.’
They drove to the nickelodeon and Cally was taken upstairs.
‘This is Cally Doyle.’ Bertram said when they carried her into Michael's office.
‘Nice to meet you Cally.’ Michael greeted, as if butter would stay hard in his mouth. ‘You might be able to help me.’ Michael turned to Jacob. ‘Where is the rest of the family Jacob?’
‘Smithy said he weren't at the hospital boss.’ Jacob replied. ‘We're going to go to the home, to see if he's there.’
‘Well Cally, we will talk later then, when the rest of the family is here but make sure she doesn't make her escape like she did before gentlemen.’ This was addressed to the other men in the room and led to Cally being tied to a chair in the middle of the room she was in, with a guard inside the door but out of reach of her, as though she was really dangerous. While Jacob and Smithy drove to the retirement home to fetch her father.
Drummond followed the guard down the stairs and they tried to open box after box until they came to One hundred and sixty five. The two keys turned in the lock and the box opened.
‘You have to take what's in there and go.’ The guard informed him. ‘I don't make the rules son but I need the job!’
‘It's okay. I'll take what's in-’ As he spoke he pulled the box open to reveal nothing but two more keys. ‘-Here and go. I know when I'm not wanted.’ He pocketed the keys and walked up the stairs to where Cally was waiting, trying to find a way of telling her what he had found without her being upset. When he came out of the bank he was alone. He looked up and down the street but Cally was gone!
Dan paced up and down until Charlie returned then drove to Chicago. He found Drummond standing outside the bank looking for Cally with two keys in his hand.
‘Did you open the box?’ He asked when he walked up to Drummond.
‘Yes but there was just another two keys in there and when I came out Cally was gone.’ Drummond replied.
Dan looked at the two keys.
‘Now where do you suppose they fit?’ He asked.
‘And where is Cally?’ Drummond added.
‘We can find out where the keys fit from Dermot but he won't know where Cally is.’ Dan replied.
‘How can Dermot tell us that?’
‘By us asking the right questions, that's how.’
‘How do we find Cally?’ Drummond asked.
‘Now that I don't know. If I thought having a drink would help I'd start now but the truth is, I have no idea.’
Jacob watched the truck drive away from the retirement home then drove up to the door. There was little resistance to his kidnapping of Dermot. The only one to try and stop him was Charlie and Smithy left him in a pool of blood in the hall while Jacob walked out with Dermot over his shoulder. By the time Cally's grandfather was able to get to his feet it was all over and Jacob was gone, with Dermot.
With no sign of Cally and two keys, Dan drove back to the retirement home looking for Dermot. But with them both gone it looked bad. While they were looking to see if they could help Charlie, Barbara returned from the shops in a friend's car, she heard what had gone on and had to run down the street to phone the police. Sergeant Grogan answered. He was stuck behind his desk until he was fully fit, it was the only way they would let him back to work. He recognized the name and phoned his lieutenant. The lieutenant immediately organised a raid on the hotel but they no longer used it and it was now just a vacant hotel and up for sale. They searched it thoroughly but found nothing to say anyone had been there.
Soon Cally was able to see her father but she had no idea where she was and the only noise she could hear were the boats on the lake. She knew she was near the lake but that was all. How near and where exactly she needed to find out if she was going to get help but no one was listening to her. Even when she told them she needed to go to the toilet they ignored her, it did not bode well for when she actually wanted to go!
Barbara was not happy, she had lost Cally once through her obstinacy and did not want to lose her again.
‘What do we do now Dan?’ Drummond asked, near to tears.
‘We think. First we think of a way of finding where Cally is. Remember we don't know if she has been taken, she still might be on the run again.’
Drummond snapped his fingers.
‘Her gang! The den! Come on there's no time to lose.’ He shouted.
‘I'd like to come with you but I have to sort out poor old Charlie.’ Barbara said. ‘I need to let his next of kin know and see which of them will arrange to lay him to rest and where.’
‘I can do that daughter.’ Her father said from the door way holding his weight up with the walking frame.
‘But the phone, how will you manage?’ Barbara asked. ‘You can hardly stand up let alone use a pay phone!’
‘The lieutenant has arranged for the phone to be reconnected and they are paying the tab. You go do what you have to.’
‘Thanks pa. Let's go!’
Drummond turned to argue but stopped with his mouth open when he saw the look on her face, he had seen the same look on Cally`s face.. He looked to Dan for help but Dan was on his way to the truck.
‘I won't get in the way.’ Barbara added and walked past him to the truck.
They drove round for the rest of the day without any success and returned home dejected. They stopped at a gas station and Barbara phoned the precinct but there was no news there either.
; Archie settled by the telephone. He had to wait as it seemed to be in constant use by the police and in the end he went in search of Charles' file. He found it in the bureau desk, they were not in alphabetical order but he soon had the one marked Charlie Bellini. He recognized the name as being the name of the lieutenant who was shot in the last shootout at the house and wondered if they were related. Lieutenant Cooper replaced the mouthpiece as Archie shuffled back to the phone and sat down.
‘All right to use the phone to let the next of kin know about Charlie, Lieutenant?’ He asked.
‘Help yourself.’
The lieutenant walked away and missed the low whistle that Archie allowed to escape from his almost closed mouth. He had just read the name of the next of kin and far from being another policeman it was none other than Alcosio Zicci, the head of one of the rival factions in Chicago.
Different father, same mother, now sparks would fly! He asked for the number and waited. No one spoke to Alcosio directly and Archie was put through to his ‘secretary’.
‘I need to speak to Mr. Zicci personally, it's about his brother.’ Archie said and waited patiently.
‘He doesn't have a brother!’ The secretary replied.
‘If you're wrong about that you might soon be out of a job!’
There was a long pause before Zicci himself spoke.
‘To whom do I speak?’
‘Archie Stone from the 99th precinct retirement home.’
‘What news is there about my brother?’
‘Hard to explain over the phone and the police are all over this place but let's just say he's dead and it weren't from old age.’ Archie replied.
‘Archie Stone, I know that name my brother spoke of you several times until we came to our parting. Can we meet?’ Zicci asked.
‘I reckon we should. Do you have a car that isn't known to the police, I'd rather them not know what is going on.’
‘That's odd coming from someone so well respected.’
‘It involves my granddaughter and her father.’
‘I'll send the car.’
Cally was taken from the room her father was in and once again tied to a chair but this time in a bigger room with bare floorboards. Her father was no longer in the same room and her face was stained with dried tears. By now she really did need to go but there was still no reaction from the man in the room with her. Soon she would go in her pants, not a pleasant thought. She pleaded with her gaoler but he was unmoved.
