Mercury Decending (Mercury Black Authority Book 3)

by Finian Blake

  It was time to call Snark. He dialed the number he was given before. Snark answered the phone.

  “We need to talk. There were no prints on the envelope or your tray. I am impressed. Your back ground checks out and all of your documents are real, but there is nothing to follow up on. We need to know who you are. Where can we meet?”

  “The Cubs are in town Sunday. Why don’t we take in a ball game? I can send a ticket to your office.”

  “Do that. I will see you there.” Rich bought an entire box half way down the first base line and had the ticket delivered to Snark. It was not hard to get tickets. The Cubs were fighting to stay out of last place and this was the last game of the season so only the diehard fans would attend. Rich was done with his errands by eleven so he called the Alderman and got the name of a local jewelry store with the intention of doing some scouting for a ring.

  Rich went over to the bar to see how plans were developing for the party. He just cleared the door when John took him by the arm.

  “My son Troy has an appointment to interview for a job with the Fire Department.” John held out his hands. “He never turned in an application!”

  “Tell him not to assume that he has the job. The rest is up to him, but have him fill out an application.” Rich hesitated. “There is an election next month and Troy may be asked to knock on some doors for a politician.”

  “If he doesn’t I will bash him on the head, thank you,” John exclaimed loudly.

  Rich did not want to be embarrassed, “I just wanted to be sure that everybody knows that they may be asked a favor in return.”

  “We Armenians are one hundred percent loyal to those that befriend us. You can depend on our people.”

  Rich had a thought, “If you would like, I will introduce you to my friend. He prizes loyalty and rewards it. Of course you would have to relay all requests for favors personally you must never send someone to see him.” John could not believe his luck. This meant a big step up in prestige for him in the community.

  “There is one thing that I ask.” John knew that no favors were free. “If I must move will you be kind to Chloe’s family?” This was not difficult because John already treated Chloe as family. She was always the first one to offer to sit with family members when they were sick. Chloe helped all of her neighbors. The two men walked out to see how the preparations were going. John’s face broke out in a frown when he looked at the bar. The health inspector was waiting for him. Rich stood close by.

  “You are roasting a goat in your back yard and that is against the health code.” The back of the inspector’s open hand was bouncing on the bar, indicating that he was looking for a bribe. He never asked directly, but there was no mistaking the signal.

  “Keep him talking,” Rich whispered in John’s ear. He went to the phone dialing a number. When Rich had his party on the line he walked over to the inspector.

  “You have a phone call.”

  “I don’t care who you call, the law is the law.” Rich pointed at the phone. The inspector snatched the phone from his hand.

  “Who the hell is this?”

  “Oh, I see,” the sound of his voice changed completely and after a brief conversation, he hung up. “You didn’t tell me that you knew the Alderman. Everything is fine.”

  “I am not a name dropper. John has done him several favors. I assume that you will not forget this place. The inspector hurried out of the bar like a scalded dog. John was paying some lucrative bribes. As he left, the inspector knew that he would lose other businesses in the area. John reached under the bar pulling out a bottle of thirty-year-old scotch with four shot glasses pouring them full.

  “Here is to the bride and groom, to be. You are my good fortune.” They sipped their toast. The scotch was too good to slug down. Two excited people ran in the bar. They had also received good news. It was only one in the afternoon and the party was starting early. Rich made it clear that John had a direct pipe line. Rich called the alderman back making a firm invitation to the Alderman, which was accepted. When the Alderman showed up he was warmly greeted later that evening. The alderman was bombarded with drinks and plates of food. A hat was passed around for his re-election campaign. Rich threw in four thousand dollars. John threw in a thousand and the rest of the partiers combined to throw in another two thousand.

  “These people are loyal to the core. If you get their loyalty, you will have it forever.” Rich held out the hat, to the Alderman. Rich’s gesture was received with a warm smile.

  “I will test that out.” The Alderman jumped on the table. “I need some workers for my campaign. Is there anyone that will help me?” Everyone within ear shot raised their hand. After the word passed, even the people outside raised their hand. He looked at Rich and pointed to a six-year-old with his hand up. “Even the kids are loyal. Let me know what they need.” He grabbed Rich by the arm.

  “I don’t know what you said to her boyfriend, but he is moving to Cleveland.” Rich smiled.

  “Did you get any flack?”

  “No, he just seemed like he was in a hurry to leave town and wanted me to know that he was leaving.” Rich called John over.

  “John takes care of the neighborhood. Can he talk to you directly?” The Alderman wrote his private number down on a gold business card.

  “Call me Monday morning.”

  When the Alderman left, John cornered Rich, “You could have taken all of the credit.”

  Rich smiled, “When you take all the credit, you could take all of the blame if something goes wrong. I am only concerned with taking care of business. You have committed to helping him. If you help him, he will help you. With the Alderman loyalty is a two-way street.”

  “We will always help a friend.”

  “Then there will be no problem.” Rich smiled patting John on the back.

  Rich claimed Pat and drove to the jewelry store that he was recommended to. They worked their way slowly through trays of rings. One caught Pat’s eye. It was a simple mounting with a few diamond chips on the side. The size was perfect. Next they selected the diamond. Rich wanted Pat to be envied so he selected a one point twenty-five carat diamond. It was near five o’clock and the Jeweler was preparing to go home, so Rich offered him a day’s pay to work late to mount the diamond. Rich had so much on his plate the extra money was inconsequential.

  The store was a family business and the jeweler’s wife stayed with them. While they were waiting, Rich picked out two matching sapphire pendants for Pat and Chloe. By five thirty they walked out of the jewelry store with Pat wearing her engagement ring. When they walked in to John’s bar Pat ran around the bar showing her ring to everyone starting with her mother giving one of the pendants to her mother which Chloe put on immediately. Pat bent over so that the pendants touched. The party was a huge success Pat was the envy of every woman at the party, and Chloe was congratulated for having such a wonderful son in law. The Alderman had arranged for all seventeen requests to be granted and he was mobbed by requests which he referred to John.

  Rich awoke around ten AM with a huge hang over. He showered and dressed for the day. He tried to sneak out of the apartment to make a few phone calls. Chloe caught him before he reached the top step.

  “That was a hell of a party. I started breakfast and the coffee is made. Come up and have a cup while I finish cooking.” Chloe was not hung over, but Pat was wrecked.

  “Never again, that was way too much. I have never seen a party that big in this neighborhood.”

  “There was a lot to celebrate.” Rich smiled.

  “Speaking of celebrations, I promised John that I would help clean up this morning.” Rich hurriedly ate his breakfast and went over to the bar. The door was open and there were ten enthusiastic people working to clean things up. All of these people had received positive calls about their requests. Rich looked for John and found him in the basement putting the empty bottles from the drop into cases.

  “You do not have to clean up. I have all the help that
I need.”

  “I never cause a mess and not at least offer to help clean it up. I also need to pay you for the party.”

  “You gave me five thousand up front. I decided to do it at cost. You have some change due to you.”

  Rich could not refuse hospitality so warmly given. “Thank you, if it is alright with you, we can forget about the change.” John smiled and extended his hand.

  “Then we are even.” He held on to Rich’s hand. “There is also the business with the Alderman. It seems that somebody told my friends that I had something to do with their windfall. All of those people cleaning in the bar seem to think I am their benefactor.”

  “You are responsible. Remember, if you want the favors to keep coming you need to take care of the Alderman. The Alderman for this Ward is a Republican and the Alderman would go a long way to see that change so he is backing his opponent to the hilt.”

  John hit his chest solidly with his fist, “We always back our friends.”

  Rich prompted John, “We need voters. Your people must register to vote soon and he will ask you to knock on some doors.” There were a few Republican wards on the north side, and Rich knew what the Alderman was going to ask for. He would give John a head start. Hopefully the alderman would see someone willing to back his views. Rich had whole week to lay out the rest of his plan for Mooney. First he wanted to secure the relationship between John and the Alderman.

  The two men went upstairs joining the others. The bar was very close to being ready for the day. Rich excused himself walking down the street to the butcher shop, buying thirty half pound rib eye steaks. When he returned the helpers were putting the finishing touches on the outside of the building. John’s lunch cook was his wife Louise. Rich gave the steaks to Louise having her cook twenty steaks. John walked in the kitchen.

  “What’s going on?”

  “It’s time to pay the help. I bought the steaks, so you can cover the sides and drinks. You have some good friends. Let’s enjoy the day. I’ll call Chloe, Pat, and the boys.” Rich was enjoying doing normal things. He spent a little time socializing with his new friends, but whenever he received a request he would send them to John. John had his mother bring his two youngest boys down to the bar. The bars could allow children inside as long as food was served. With few exceptions the people drinking were from the neighborhood, and most local places had a limited menu, so burgers, hot dogs and a few other items were served along with drinks. The bar was a social institution where some people would come in and nurse a short beer for an hour. John allowed two beers for the helpers with their lunch and then started charging. Rich was starting to remember what a normal life was like. The Alderman walked in with his wife.

  “I was wondering what this place was like during the day.”

  “Sir would you and your wife like some lunch.” John offered. “We were feeding the cleanup crew.” The Alderman looked at his wife and she nodded. John had Louise throw some steaks on the grill pouring their drinks. Chloe slipped in the kitchen taking Louise’s place so that she could socialize with the Alderman’s wife. When Louise brought the first steaks out John introduced her and called his boys over.

  “I have another son who is twenty I believe that he is around somewhere.” After the alderman was finished eating, he walked over to the end of the bar where Rich was drinking.

  “A drill press,” Rich could hear him chuckle.

  “I told him that he would have to pay on his bets.” Rich spoke into the glass he was holding to his mouth. “I did not say which bets.”

  The Alderman was curious, “Which bets were you referring to?”

  “He bet that he could harass your daughter and get away with it.”

  “He was sure to lose that one.” The Alderman tapped Rich on the shoulder. “Speaking of bets, I bet my wife that I could come up with twenty campaign workers this afternoon on short notice.” John walked over to see if the two men would like a beer.

  “John, the Alderman was hoping to find twenty campaign workers this afternoon.”

  “On short notice it will take me two hours. Is twenty all that you want?”

  “More would be nice. With more they will finish faster.” John walked into the office, and after an hour he came out.

  “There will be twenty-five people here by one thirty.” Chloe, Cyrus, Philip and Pat decided to join them. By the time the Alderman finished explaining what he wanted done there were twenty-five more people. They all left to cover the area that he had indicated on the map when Rich got up to leave the Alderman held his arm.

  “You don’t have to go.”

  “I never send my wife to do what I won’t do.” Rich said.

  “John passed the test,” The Alderman smiled.

  “I knew that he would,” Rich walked out the door with an arm full of flyers. “He will always be there when you call.”

  Everyone was back by five. John was sitting by the cash register. Rich stood for the first two rounds of drinks.

  “John, I need your advice. I want Pat to have a good wedding, and I know that things are thin in Chloe’s house. How can I give her this without offending her?” Rich produced a bundle of bills.

  “There is a tradition in our country to cover that problem. We kidnap the bride.” Rich gave him a strange look. “The women take the bride somewhere. You say that someone has kidnapped your bride and we pass the hat for ransom. When it is all finished, you get your bride, and we give the mother the ransom.” Rich slid the stack of bills across the bar to John. “Bring Chloe and her family back around seven and we will have some fun. Rich looked back at the bar as he was leaving. John was on the phone before Rich reached the door.

  Rich showed up with Chloe and family around seven. The bar was packed. There was one table reserved near the bar. After the first round, the women took Pat to the lady’s room. When she came out they took her to a nearby home. John went into his act. He held up a piece of paper.

  “The bride has been kidnapped. We need to help Chloe ransom her.” John picked up a bucket starting with Rich, who threw in a few hundred dollar bills. John walked around the room, with the bucket. It quickly filled with money. Chloe looked at Rich suspiciously. John put the bucket on the table, so that they could count the money. Except for Rich’s hundred there were all twenty, ten, and five dollar bills. John had earlier called around and converted all of Rich’s hundred dollar bills to small bills. As people walked in the bar, John handed them money for the ransom, so there was a little over seven thousand dollars in the Bucket. John handed the bucket to Chloe.

  “Go ransom your daughter and bring her back to her husband.” Chloe clutched the bucket to her chest running to rescue her daughter. Rich smiled at John.

  “The smaller bills were a nice touch. I am glad that you were thinking.”

  “Everybody loves Chloe,” John said in a serious tone, “We would walk on broken glass rather than hurt her. Times are hard in this neighborhood. She knows where most of the money comes from. This way she can hold her head up.” He knew that Rich had money, and was glad to see that he was sensitive about the feelings of others. Pat had come up with a prize. As they walked home Pat held Rich tight on one side, and Chloe held him tight on the other side. Both women felt truly loved by the new member of their family.

  John and his family started to clean the bar. He was well satisfied with the way the evening turned out. By spreading the money out everybody at the bar could show their appreciation to their new benefactor without seeming like a beggar. This made John, a true leader in the community. He and his family would be shown greater respect from now on and this was accomplished by being a good man and not a villain. The day could not have been better. John delivered when the Alderman asked him to, he helped his new benefactor and he helped his good friend save face. John’s future looked very bright. His wife Louise was at the cash register counting the till. The night’s receipts doubled anything that they experienced since they opened the bar, even on their best night. She held
up the bank bag. We will make the bills this month, with cash to spare and the boys made good tips too. I will make them put it in their college fund.” John nodded with a smile. He thought to himself and ‘we will not have to bribe inspectors anymore’. Bribery was a way of doing business in Chicago. It was an expense just like paying the utilities or rent. John thought about getting an entertainment license, but he dismissed the idea quickly. They lived over the bar and that might be a pain in the ass. John and Louise went to bed discussing improvements that they wanted to make. Things were looking up and they could not thank Chloe enough.

  There was a knock on the door at six. Rich promised to go to church with the family. He tried to beg off and ended up opting for the early service. Orthodox churches normally did one service a day but this was a working community and jobs were tight. The Priest agreed to do an early service, so that he would not lose any of his sheep, so there was a short service at seven AM. Chloe did not like the idea of Rich taking the week off and working on Sunday. The service was brief and they talked with the Priest for a few minutes in front of the church.

  “Father, my daughter is planning to marry this young man. We need to set a time to discuss the arrangements.”

  “The church is booked for a month, and we have plenty of time.” Rich started to say something.

  “That will not…” Chloe squeezed his arm to silence rich.

  “You run along with the boys. Pat and I will talk to the Father.” Rich left with Cyrus and Phil.

  The boys did not have an interest in baseball, especially since this was the last home game of the season with the Cubs being fifteen games down. Rich arrived early deciding to walk around the park. After finding his box, he stood up on the concourse watching the stadium fill in. Snark settled in his seat drinking a beer engaging in casual conversation with the men in the next box, discussing the Cub’s prospects for next year. Rich waited for the first pitch before joining Snark in the box and after the second inning of uninspired baseball they got down to business. Rich ordered three beers and four hot dogs placing the refreshments on the seat next to him.