The Lagotti Family Series

by Leopold Borstinski

  “Everyone we approach is in somebody's pocket - it's ridiculous. We can't trust anyone because they owe somebody else a tithe.”

  “And we don't have this problem with the Lady Fortune?”

  “Hell no.”

  “That's the answer: pay the best we have in Vegas to do a stint afloat and every outfit will see they've got no way to earn off us. They'll back off and if there's anyone worth hiring then we can afford to pay them a premium. At least while the dust settles on the venture.”

  Alice understood the riverboat, which they'd christened the Queen of Sheba for no good reason Alice could fathom, was going to draw gamblers away from local games but their real market was tourists and high rollers. None of the penny ante hustlers nearby would lose out of the big money because neither group frequented their dive bars now.

  Her other thought - and natural response which she hadn't acted on yet - was to break a few heads so the various gangs who were buzzing around their ears would receive a clear message to stay out of their way. Alice knew her Mama would want a more subtle approach. Mary Lou preferred to give everybody a chance to do the right thing. If they made a poor choice, a ton of shit would descend on them, but they got an opportunity to succeed upfront.

  With the Queen of Sheba fresh out of the dry dock, they sailed the steamer up and down the mighty Mississippi as a pre-launch for the casino. A special guest list was operating where you only got on board if you were a Vegas regular or local dignitary.

  Like all Lagotti venues, cameras operated in every room. Technology had moved on from the early days of the Palace and video replaced the need to pick up the film from each device. Instead surveillance was set up to catch thieves and blackmail the rich and powerful.

  The launch showed the debauchery of the average joe and revealed a few minor glitches in their security. With one round trip under their belts, the rest would be a walk in the park.

  THE WINDY CITY offered Mary Lou opportunities way beyond riverboat gambling and with the mob receded into the distance, there was every reason to exploit them as much as possible. In reality, the lack of any organized approach to criminal activity created a hole into which she happily jumped in.

  The sheer size of Chicago as a major city meant there were millions of worker bees and the onslaught of the Reagan years had left them with fewer rights and a much quieter voice. There remained unions representing the case for labor over capital, but they had fewer supporters than in the good old days. Mary Lou figured they needed an edge and she‘d be happy to supply it.

  Union membership was still strong among government workers like teachers and fire fighters although they weren‘t militant because of their sense of vocation. The same couldn‘t be said of the private sector and that is where Mary Lou focused her efforts.

  The Roofers and Bricklayers Union represented those in the building profession and Mary Lou reckoned they‘d want to ensure they had continuity of employment. With the large amount of skyscrapers still ripping through the horizon, there was a huge amount of money to be made from the inherent conflict between big business and the contractors they hired.

  “So let me get this straight: you want my members to pay you out of their hard-earned wages in case the bosses turn violent. And that is something that hasn‘t happened in Chicago since before the Korean War.”

  “That is correct.”

  Mary Lou sat with Jerred Dudley in the headquarters of the Roofers and Bricklayers Union building. The irony was not lost on her that the joint was a decrepit mess but it was no worse than she had been expecting.

  “That‘s not much of a proposal now is it?”

  “You see Jerred. That depends on your perspective. If all you ever do is to look back over your shoulder at the lessons of the past, it doesn‘t come across as an interesting proposition. But if you‘re the kind of man who has his eyes set on the future, that‘s a different matter.”

  “And I suppose you think I‘m that sort of guy?”

  “Naturally. I don‘t need to remind you of the brute economics facing your men. Big corporations spend millions to vie with each other to build the tallest, the fanciest skyscrapers in the world. They rely on hiring locals to do all the hard work. Only trouble is that union rates of pay cut into their profit and they are tempted to bring in outside agencies.”

  “We make our contributions so those kind of problems don‘t arise.”

  “Haven‘t happened in the past. Sometimes bribes are not enough.”

  “Listen lady, we don‘t get involved in bribery. We pay into an arbitration service so industrial action is minimized.”

  “You must consider what happens if that fails. Four major projects are about to break ground in the next six months and your members need to be on site for all of them.”

  “I am aware, of course, but I don‘t see why you are bothering me with this.”

  “Because Jerred, I have it on good authority that you will be facing this problem very soon.”

  Dudley laughed and allowed himself to wallow in his perceived joke. All the while, Mary Lou sat and stared at him. Motionless.

  “I suppose you want me to believe you can save us from an event that isn‘t likely to happen.”

  “Oh, it will.”

  “Tell you what: come back when we actually have a problem and if you fix it, we can have another conversation. Until then, you‘re wasting my time.”

  A DROP OF blood splatted on Alice's cheek after the sharp blast of air flashed past. Nikolay hit the ground almost before the slug had landed in Mama's body. Almost as though he knew it was coming. The tear that fell out of Bobby's eye and deposited itself on Mama's chin.

  Total disorientation. No sooner had Alice hit the floor, she lost track of which direction she was facing. Her entire focus was on Bobby holding Mama. Her red pool growing and pouring down her body and over Bobby too.

  Alice looked down at his hand and they were still listening to the sermon. The constant monotone was hard to follow. She wished the priest would shut up. A brief twist of her head revealed Frank sat on Bobby's other side.

  He was bowed and his hands gripped his knees like they were about to fall off. Alice had no idea quite how he was coping - they’d hardly spoken since the day Mama died. His knuckles were white. Not going well.

  Alice swallowed and blinked. Then she was back on the Queen of Sheba.

  22

  THAT WEEKEND, BACK in the summerhouse, Mary Lou, Bobby and Alice mulled over the week‘s events.

  “We can nix any plans for labor racketeering. Illinois is dead to us. The lack of organized crime has turned the town soft. The unions have figured out how to get on with management so we have no leverage.”

  “How many did you hit?”

  “Double digits: builders, carpenters, road repairers, duct repairs, refuse collectors and so on. I‘ve tried them all and got nowhere. It‘s time to leave Illinois.”

  “Apart from the Queen of Sheba, of course.”

  “We need to get out - there‘s nothing here for us.”

  “Gambling. That‘s working really well. We might not be at full pelt yet but we‘re in profit and set to do even better this year and next.”

  “Bobby‘s right. And I know we can build on the work we‘ve already done. We shouldn't walk away at this point.”

  “There‘s a time to stay and a point to go. And now we should say goodbye to the Land of Lincoln.”

  “Why not sleep on this? The revenue from the riverboat has been good for us already. We shouldn‘t throw the baby out with the bath water.”

  Alice nodded to reinforce Bobby‘s concerns. Her eyes flitted from him over to Mama and back again. All her hard work was about to be poured down the drain by her mother. It made no sense but what flashed across her mind was how the decision was so irrational.

  “We‘re leaving Illinois and there‘s nothing more to say.”

  Alice walked out the room and headed into the kitchen for more coffee. As she returned, she found Bobby sat on a
lounger with a cigar in one hand.

  “Did you storm out or were you thirsty?”

  “BOTH. DO YOU know what happened in there?“

  “Not too sure. Mary Lou hadn‘t talked about this. I can see why the labor racket is not for us. But the Queen of Sheba is set to rake in a lot of cash.”

  “Yep.”

  They were silent for a spell and the only sounds came from Mary Lou inside the summerhouse.

  “What can we do?”

  “Keep the place running - at least for a while. Mama has had a series of knockbacks and that has clouded her judgment. Give her time for the dust to settle.”

  “How long is she going to need? I mean I can‘t sit here for a week and wait for her to see sense.”

  “If you go back tomorrow, I can handle the situation here.”

  “You intend to handle Mama?”

  Alice allowed an enormous laugh to erupt out of her mouth - so much so, her hand was forced to quickly muffle the noise. They both turned their heads to check on the summerhouse door but it remained firmly shut. Bobby smiled.

  “She‘s a force to be reckoned with, but she has been known to listen to me.”

  Alice raised one eyebrow in disbelief as a response.

  “No, really. But I don‘t have those kinds of conversation in public.”

  “That‘s your idea of pillow talk, I suppose?”

  “Don‘t get fresh, young lady. In private, away from people, is all I meant.”

  ALICE AND BOBBY sat down with Mary Lou, who had been sitting at the desk making lists. Once she noticed their return, she stood up and joined them on the more comfortable seating.

  “Is there anything else for us to discuss?”

  “Alice will go back to the Queen of Sheba tomorrow and begin the wind down. I‘m sure we can find someone to buy the license off us pretty quick.”

  “No more boat trips, you understand darling? We are quitting Illinois as of this minute.”

  “Yes, Mama.”

  A glance to Bobby. Alice was far from happy lying to her mother but they couldn‘t afford to stop the riverboat operation now. The payoff for all their hard work would land in their laps over the course of the next twelve months.

  “Good girl. I can always rely on my Alice.”

  Mama hadn‘t spoken those words to her daughter since before she was in High School. She almost felt like a child again. This perspective repeated itself that night when Alice stayed over in her old bedroom. She was so unnerved that when she woke up in the darkness just after midnight, she crept downstairs and crashed out on one of the living room couches.

  Before the rest of the house surfaced, Alice got up and headed back.

  BOBBY RECKONED HE woke first but Mary Lou beat him to it. He rolled over and they hugged.

  “I think I heard Alice‘s convertible roar into action a few minutes ago.”

  “Me too. I wonder why she‘s off in such a hurry. She could have waited for us to have breakfast together.”

  “Perhaps she wants to beat the worst of the traffic.”

  “Even so.”

  She nuzzled in and they hugged some more.

  “Do you still feel the same way about Illinois this morning?”

  “Yes, babe.”

  “Because I‘m not so sure.”

  “Oh? The Queen of Sheba will make us a lot of money over the next two or three years.”

  Bobby was puzzled because Mary Lou had made a complete turnaround since last night.

  “Keep the riverboat?”

  “Sure thing. Why not? You think we should ditch it? To be honest, babe, Alice has done another fantastic job and we should let her keep going. It‘s right for her and right for us.”

  “I agree.”

  “I thought you just said the opposite. You really should decide what you think and stick to it, babe.”

  Bobby continued the hug which turned into kissing and before long, neither were focused on the Prairie State.

  ST THERESA CHURCH stood on East Ramon and South Farrell Drive. A new build from the 1940s, it didn‘t come across as a bastion of the Holy Roman Empire from the outside. The modern facade hid the grim reality of the Christian temple. As you walked through the entrance, you were greeted by row upon row of wooden benches facing away from you and positioned so the altar was the main attraction. Halfway along on the left was a large cupboard with two doors, one at each end.

  Without giving it a moment‘s attention, Mary Lou headed straight for the confessional and entered on the right-hand side. The space was poorly lit and a small window slid open once she‘d closed the door behind her. She knelt down because there was a cushion on the floor and no chair.

  “May God, who has enlightened every heart, help you know your sins and trust in his mercy.”

  “I haven‘t been to a church or spoken to a priest since I was fifteen years old, but I want to speak with one now.”

  “My child: this is a confessional. I am happy to spend time and discuss what troubles you, but unless you wish to confess your sins to me then we must go somewhere else.”

  “Then what are we waiting for?”

  Mary Lou followed Father Ardal Carmoody past the altar to a door on the other side of the church, which she hadn‘t noticed when she first arrived. The priest led her down a short corridor and into his office, indicating for her to sit down while Carmoody walked around and sat at his desk.

  “So what‘s troubling you, my dear?”

  “HOW‘S THE WORLD of Mark Twain?”

  Bobby and Alice sat in her South Dubuque office overlooking the harbor. It wasn‘t her favorite place but it was functional. Desk, chairs, window, filing cabinets - without the luxuries she‘d enjoyed at the Lady Fortune. The town lacked the charm of Las Vegas too - or rather it had none of the razzmatazz.

  “Same old. We need new ways to squeeze the green out of the tourists. The high rollers seem to enjoy not being stuck inside a darkened hall.”

  “Nice to hear we‘re doing something right. But you didn‘t ask me to visit this backwater to give me good news.”

  Alice took a sip from her coffee and swallowed as though the liquid contained razor blades.

  “How‘s Mama, would you say?”

  “Fine. She‘s concerned we still have too much exposure in narcotics but apart from that, she‘s okay.”

  “I‘m not talking about business. Is she in a good shape?”

  Silence. Bobby ground his molars and stared at Alice, making no sign of answering. He glugged some of his coffee down and Alice felt as though he didn‘t take his eyes off her for a second.

  “Why d‘you ask?”

  “Have you forgotten what happened with Mama just the other week?”

  “Are you still thinking about that?”

  “Of course, aren‘t you?”

  “She was tired - not thinking straight.”

  “I‘m not sure that‘s all it was. I mean: the next day you said she acted like the night before never happened.”

  “Lack of energy - no more and no less. I spend way more time with her than you do so I know what I‘m talking about.”

  “I‘m concerned, Bobby. Mama never gets anything as wrong as she did that night. Like she was a different person.”

  “Don‘t worry, it‘s all fine. Only low blood sugar.”

  Alice shook her head but failed to respond. She couldn‘t understand how Bobby wasn‘t able to see what she could. Mama was not the same, but she had no idea what was up.

  “You don‘t sound certain. Think for a minute. Is there anything you can think of?”

  “Tiredness is all.”

  “Then give her a vacation. If you‘re right, take her away for some R&R. Then she can come back and be completely better.”

  Bobby picked at a piece of fluff on his sleeve while Alice watched and tried not to fume. Her concerns were genuine and he appeared to ignore them completely. In reality, he had noticed his Mary Lou had behaved a little strangely. She would vanish for hours at a time a
nd not say where she‘d been. More than that, she acted as though she hadn‘t been anywhere even though he knew she hadn‘t been at home.

  He considered tailing her but decided against it: whatever she was doing was none of his business. Unless she had started an affair which was unlikely because he was still getting action in the bedroom. A vacation might clear the air.

  23

  MIAMI WAS A crazy town - the mix of people and the Latino beats conspired to produce a city teetering on the edge of excitement every day of the week. Boca Raton was where gangsters went to die and Miami was the place for those who chose to live.

  Their seafront hotel was close enough to the action on Ocean Drive to be fun, but the Jackson Hotel had sufficient stars on its hoardings to ensure the hardcore party animals stayed away. Mary Lou and Bobby sat at a table in the patio restaurant watching the world walk past. They held hands all the while and pointed out to each other amusing or interesting sights: rollerbladers with neon pink thongs and their miniature pooches, bowling ball shaped men sweating into white linen suits, wrinkled hags wearing leopard-print butt-length dresses. The freak show that was Miami Beach.

  “I‘m glad you talked me into this.”

  “We both deserved a break. It‘s been a tough few months.”

  “I‘d forgotten how much I love this town.”

  “Didn‘t know you‘d been here before.”

  “A lifetime ago. Before we met.”

  “I see. Were you with Frank?”

  “He wasn‘t born then.”

  “I meant his father.”

  FRANK LAGOTTI FOLLOWED Mary Lou into a boutique of Collins Avenue filled with chichi beachwear. She grabbed six or eight different bikinis of varying styles, colors and patterns. After what felt like an interminable amount of time, she reappeared from the charging rooms with a red and white striped bikini which looked the same as all the others to him. She kissed him as they left the store.