Mercury Decending (Mercury Black Authority Book 3)

by Finian Blake

  He caught a motion out the corner of his eye. The other man was close to him, so he used his elbows in a right / left combination, and struck out flat handed to the assailant’s throat. The pick moved to protect his partner. Rich lashed at the knee of his attacker with his foot. He felt the knee move sideways and the thief folded up with a scream. Rich finished off by kicking the second man between the eyes leaving a ‘cat’s paw’ logo from the heel of his shoe on the man’s forehead. He pulled Pat under his arm leading her into the crowd. The whole attack took less than ten seconds. Pat was still trying to figure out what happened.

  “What the hell was that?”

  “That was a pick pocket. They usually work in pairs. If one gets caught the other one creates a fuss and they both get away.”

  “One of them had a knife!” Rich slipped her purse from under her arm. The strap was cut through.

  “When one got my wallet, the other would snatch your purse and they would run off in opposite directions so you don’t know who to chase.”

  “Why didn’t you wait for the police?”

  “There may have been a third, so we needed to leave. Besides I did more to them than the police would have.”

  Rich and Pat caught a cab, and went directly home. Pat went up to her house and Rich walked down the steps. Instead of going to his apartment he went to the garage, and hopped in the Nova. Rich drove to Cook County Hospital. He had a hunch that the two pick pockets would require medical attention. He found a likely spot to wait outside the county hospital and about two in the morning a man in a sling walked out of the emergency room accompanied by a man on crutches moving slowly to the bus stop. Rich pulled a baseball bat out of the back seat walking with a slight limp using the bat like a cane. When they stopped to see who was closing on them Rich was sure that they were his two assailants.

  “You two look like you could use a Louisville Massage.”

  “What the hell is a Louisville Massage?” Rich swung the bat into the shins of the man with his arm in the cast. He pulled a full swing across the good leg of the man on crutches. After five or six swings on each man Rich grabbed the collar of the conscious man.

  “The problem with picking on strangers is sometimes you pick the wrong stranger. Don’t sign up for any Marathons.” Rich pushed the screaming man roughly to the sidewalk walking quickly to the Nova driving off slowly. Some miles away he found a full trash can. Rich pushed the Louisville Slugger in the can, setting fire to the trash. The can was burning as he looked in his rear view mirror. He was in bed by three.

  Pat knocked on his door about nine AM. She had a cup of coffee in her hand.

  “What are we going to do for excitement today?”

  “I thought that we might go up to Lake Geneva,” Rich offered. “I know an interesting restaurant not far from there. Ask your mother if she would like to get out of the house.” Momma decided to go along. The day went smoothly with Rich making it a point to include Chloe in all of his discussions with Pat.

  Pat’s mother left their home in Armenia due to the ethnic purging in Turkey after World War Two. Neither, the Russians nor the Turks trusted the Armenians. Thousands of Armenians died in a mass relocation. Her father was shot by a guard during relocation. Chloe picked up her father’s shotgun shooting the guard. In the relocation camp she married and with a super human effort, Chloe, Cyrus, Philip and her new husband immigrated, to the United States after Stalin died. Chloe was pregnant with Pat at the time. Her two boys were nine and ten. Life in New York did not suit Chloe well. When her husband died working in the subway she took the settlement and moved to Chicago. Chloe understood that Rich was not the usual law abiding citizen. Pat seemed to have attracted his attentions and she needed to watch Pat carefully. Rich spent the next week romancing Pat being careful to include the family.

  When Pat needed to return to work, Rich switched back to business starting with Wanda.

  “Are we prepared for next Friday? I don’t want any confusion, and I will pay whatever your contact needs to insure his time.”

  “How do you want to transmit the documents?”

  “I will pick them up in person. Do you have Laurita’s documents?”

  “Yes, they are Spanish papers. Both of the histories are finished, and I am holding them. The histories are independent of each other. The family name Garcia is a common name in Spain so there was no problem with both of them having the same last name. Juan’s history is rooted in Catalan and Laurita’s history is rooted in Castile.”

  “Have you checked both names with all of the agencies?”

  “I was the one that told you about doing the checks!” Wanda sounded annoyed.

  “I trust you implicitly. These are questions that I need to be sure of. Mooney is going to ask me if I asked you. There is a lot on the line. I am betting my life on this.”

  “I won’t let you down. My reputation is on the line too.” Wanda gave Rich the contact information for the man in Houston. “The contact is listed as a patient at the clinic. He has an appointment at the same time as Mooney. The clinic back dated the time for the appointment by sixty days. All of the back drops and cameras are already at the clinic. The only thing that he will leave the clinic with will be the film.” Wanda thought for a moment. “He owes me a favor. I can have him hand deliver the film to me undeveloped.”

  “It would be better for me to stay away from your operation. I will pay first class for his expenses and if he has a wife or girlfriend I will pay for her too. Tell him to make it a vacation. I will call you after the appointment.” Rich broke the connection.

  Next Rich called Tony and he was surprised to find he had an indirect message from Snark.

  “Somebody named Snark wanted to get in touch with you, but I don’t have your number, so the message is a few days old. He wants you to call him at this number.” Tony read him the number. “How am I going to get in touch with you? There is a rumor out that Mooney is going to turn states evidence. The boys are getting nervous.”

  “Tony, this is just for you. He will not turn but expand the rumor. That is why you don’t have my number. I need to stay as far away from you as possible. Tony we go way back and I do not want any of this to reflect on you. If you need to tell them something, say that there is a contract out on him. Make it a very strong rumor. I want to rumors to come from both sides of the fence.”

  Alright but I hate working blind.” Tony wanted more information

  “When this is over, you will thank me. This has a strong potential of backfiring. If it does you will be clear. I need to setup a drop for messages. I will give it to Snark. If you need me call Snark.”

  Tony had to trust his protégé, “That sounds screwed up, but I will go with it. After all I put you out there on your own.”

  Rich called Snark. He was surprised when the party answered the phone, ‘Cook County Assessor’s Office’.

  “I was told to call a Mister Snark at this number.”

  “This is Mister Snark. I left a message for ‘Hermes’ to call me.”

  “This is ‘Hermes’.”

  “It was a personal message why don’t we meet for lunch? How soon can you get down town?”

  I can make it by eleven o’clock.”

  “There is a steak house across the alley from the Chicago Theater. Meet me there at eleven thirty. Go all the way to the back of the restaurant. I am wearing a black suit, and have a brush haircut. I was given your picture, and there should be no problem.”

  “I will see you at eleven thirty.” Rich took the elevated to north State Street, and was an hour early. He located the restaurant and decided to look around. The restaurant was a cafeteria style set up. You placed your order, and walked through to the cashier while your steak was being cooked. ‘Hermes’ grabbed a piece of pie. He faked a limp, and walked slowly to the rear of the restaurant. He saw his contact sitting at the back wall talking to a man in a police commander’s uniform. Snark looked up and recognized ‘Hermes’ from a picture that he had
. He waved his hand from side to side, and pointed across the room to an empty table. ‘Hermes’ took the empty table and watched the conversation. He had used paper napkins to hold the edge of the tray. ‘Hermes’ slipped a cut corner of an envelope over the handle of the cup using his fork to stir his coffee making a mental note to take the fork with him. When he put his hand down, he rested it on a napkin. When the police commander left ‘Hermes’ picked up his tray, and walked to Stark’s table.

  “We could have met in your office.”

  “Maybe some other time, I thought that we would meet here first. Try the steak it always comes out right.”

  “The pie is good for me. What do you need?”

  “I was told by a mutual friend to get you a ‘Mercury Black’ clearance. The only name he gave me is ‘Hermes’ and we both know that is not your name. I require a normal name to clear you.” ‘Hermes’ did not tell him that he already had a ‘Mercury Black’ clearance. He wanted to see what would come up with Snark’s check.

  “That’s ok we will just pass on the clearance it was not my idea,” ‘Hermes’ started to get up from his chair.

  “It was a command not a request. I was told that we would clear you. When you go to a restaurant and wait for a table, what name do you give them?”

  “Why don’t we use Noah Body?”

  “Alright Noah, I was asked to have you deliver this envelope to this address.” The envelope was covered with cellophane tape. Noah let the envelope sit on the tray. He palmed one of the prepared corners, and when there was a distraction he picked up the envelope slipping it in his shirt pocket. The envelope was addressed to Mister Snark at the assessor’s office. When he got up to leave Snark told him to leave the tray on the table. As the two men walked out of the restaurant, a mime was plying his skills on the corner. Snark blew up at the mime.

  “Get the hell away from me!” Noah stared at Snark as he screamed. “I hate those morons. I hate the makeup and the act. What are they smiling about when they can’t talk? Call me tomorrow morning.”

  Noah went to the assessor’s office and dropped off the envelope. He went shopping at Marshall Field’s and strolled around a few book stores. He caught a CTA train north and took a bus to his car. Noah turned down a few alleys to be sure that nobody was following him back to the apartment.

  Chloe invited Rich to dinner. She made a simple chicken dish. None of the other family members were around, because everybody was told to work overtime and not return until seven. Chloe poured Rich a drink.

  “Pat is quite taken with you. Before this gets too serious, I need to find out what your feelings are. She is my only daughter and I want her to be happy.” Chloe smiled at Rich. “I know that you have connections. I have seen a lot of powerful people in my travels. You disappeared after you dropped Pat off the other night and did not get in until four in the morning.” Rich looked surprised that she noticed. “I am a mother and I cannot go to sleep until things are right in the house.”

  “Chloe, I would never do anything to hurt Pat.”

  “I believe that you would not do anything intentionally. Whether you intend it or not, I don’t want her hurt.” Pat walked in the kitchen and put her arms around Rich’s shoulders kissing the top of his head.

  “What are you two plotting?” Rich turned in his chair and put his arm around Pat’s waist. “Your mother was worried that I would do something crazy like ask you to marry me.”

  “That is a crazy idea.” Pat looked at momma.

  “You cannot put a clock on love. Do you love him?” Chloe had lived through uncertain times. She knew that both life and love were fragile. The answer was only a second in coming.

  “Yes, I do.” Rich looked at Chloe as she smiled her approval. Rich pulled Pat gently on to his lap and held her close.

  “Will you marry me?” Pat looked at her mother.

  “The decision is yours.” The old country came out in Chloe. “I will say that you have my blessing.”

  Pat kissed Rich whispering tenderly in his ear, “I would love to marry you.” Chloe stood up kissing them both, she was about to jump out of her skin. Rich was wild but in less than two weeks he had done big things for the family. Chloe was hoping for a wealthy husband for her daughter and Rich did seem to care for the whole family. He never mentioned his family and that made Chloe partially happy with the situation. They had a party scheduled for tomorrow and Chloe would turn the party into an engagement party. Rich offered to buy the liquid refreshments not wanting to diminish her efforts.

  “We need an engagement ring. I would like you to pick it out with me. When can you take some time off of work?”

  “I have to work in the morning and help momma set up the party in the afternoon.”

  “When you get off work we can set a time. Maybe we can take an hour to take a fast look. I will pick you up after work.” When Cyrus and Philip came home they all walked down to the corner bar. It was owned by an Armenian. Chloe told everybody she met, about Rich and Pat. As people called their family, the bar filled to standing room only. Chloe invited everybody she met.

  “Chloe how many people are coming to the party,” Rich asked. She was fairly well loaded. Chloe waived her arm around the room, indicating the entire crowd. She was proud of her daughters catch. The only thing wrong with him was that he was not an Armenian and she could live with that. With good jobs her sons became good prospects for the best of the neighborhood girls and their families. Her family line was assured. Chloe guided her future son in law to the owner John and the three of them went in the back room. Rich opened his money belt, and gave the owner a $5,000 deposit, for the use of the bar tomorrow night. John was duly impressed. John had changed his first name when he entered the country. Armenians were fiercely loyal immigrants and they loved the United States. Most Armenian Immigrants Anglicized their first names to honor their new country. Momma finished her arrangements with John, and went to leave. John held on to Rich’s arm waving her out of the room.

  “You have treated Chloe very well. Her boys tell me that you helped them with their problem. She is very dear to us.” Rich waited silently to hear the rest of what John had to say. “My son Troy wants to be a fireman, but cannot get through the politics. If you could help him, I would work with you on the price of the party.” Rich knew how to do business in Chicago.

  “Give me his name. I will see what can be done.” John handed Rich a slip of paper. During the course of the evening Rich received several such requests. The answer was always, ‘I will see what can be done’. Finally, Pat took Rich by the arm, leading him back to her family’s apartment.

  “I had to get you out of there. A line was forming to talk to you.” Pat was looking worried. Pat pulled a small stack of papers out of Rich’s shirt pocket. “A lot of people will be disappointed if you cannot help.”

  “I have done a lot of favors over the years without asking for anything in return. I know that I can help some of these people. As I have promised, ‘I will see what can be done’. That is the only promise that I made.” Half of the jobs requested were for city jobs and he knew the alderman to talk with. Rich had done several favors for the alderman and for others at his request.

  Rich called the Alderman in the morning meeting him for breakfast, around the corner from the Alderman’s home. After the pleasantries Rich pulled a stack of papers from his pocket. The alderman smiled.

  “I was wondering, when all of those favors that you did would come back to haunt me,” The alderman said quietly. “What do you have?” Rich went through all of the papers which totaled seventeen in all.

  “I am not sure what you can do. I would appreciate it if you would consider these requests.”

  “We go way back. I will have a look at what you have here.” He put his hand on Rich’s forearm, “While you are here I do have a favor to ask.”

  “My daughter broke up with her boyfriend and he keeps stalking her. I want you to give him a message.” He slid a picture along with a slip of pa
per across the table. “This is where he works.”

  “Call the watch commander in this district, and tell him not to respond to any calls from this address.” Rich climbed in his car. He drove straight down to the address on the slip of paper burning it in the ashtray when he parked the car. It was a small machine shop with a simple layout. There was a front office that was separated from the shop by a partition. Rich threw on a jacket slipping a .38 revolver in his pocket. As he walked in the front door the receptionist tried to stop him, but he brushed her aside. There were seven people working in back. His target was working a drill press. Without introduction Rich kneed him in the balls and slammed the man’s head on the table of the drill press. Two of his co-workers moved to stop Rich. He held the revolver in the air without pointing it at anyone in particular, and everyone stopped. Rich brought the drill within an inch of the man’s ear.

  “You know what you are doing,” Rich whispered. “If she even sees your face again we will finish this. Do you understand?” The terrified man carefully nodded his head. “This was your one and only warning. Rich released his head and walked back out through the reception area. The owner approached him. Rich flashed the handle of his gun. “Your man needs to pay off on his bets.” The owner nodded without saying a word. “I apologize for disrupting your business. I assure you this will never happen again.” Rich walked quickly around the corner and drove off in the Nova stopping at a pay phone to call the Alderman at his office.

  “Your daughter will never see him again. The only thing that got damaged was his laundry. I believe that he pissed his pants.” Rich made it a point not to ask about his list. “This was no strings attached for friendship. Have a good one.” He hung up the phone. Rich knew the art of doing business in Chicago, so he did not want to make a hard demand on his friend. The Alderman took out the stack of papers, and started making calls.