Mama’s Gone

by Leopold Borstinski

  “Let‘s not get greedy so close to the end of our discussions. You can have fifty per cent of all revenues from the girls but not a penny more. Anything else we wring out the johns is our affair.”

  Bobby sat back in his chair and noticed Naldo place both hands on his lap. The man was ready to pounce because this was the moment when the deal all came together or fell apart into violence. Bobby had ceded ground until his final push and Nikolay might not fall for the ruse.

  “This is acceptable.”

  Nikolay leaned across the table to shake Bobby‘s hand and the two smiled. He knew better than to trust the Russki but he‘d stopped the bloodshed - for now. And they had a new customer for their brown sugar.

  As they walked out onto the car lot, a gust of wind hit them all in the face like they‘d been slapped back into reality. Far in the distance someone was playing carols. The sound of sleigh bells permeated Bobby‘s consciousness and he remembered what time of year it was.

  “Merry Christmas to you and yours.”

  “Huh? Oh yes. Season‘s greetings.”

  They stood facing each other for a second until another blast of wind cut through them. Bobby nodded, slapped his hands together in a failed attempt to improve blood flow to his fingers and walked away. Naldo waited a short while to watch the Markovs depart.

  “We should have killed them while we had the chance.”

  Bobby glared at Naldo‘s rare intrusion into family decision making.

  “We‘ll make money out of them and no-one has to die over the vacation. Besides, we only promised to stay out of prostitution for a year. The man has dreams but at heart he‘s a street fighter and they get toppled by the next guy with a bigger baseball bat.”

  SAM SPENT CHRISTMAS Day at Alice's, watching the sea beat against the beach although they went to a restaurant for a five course lunch. She enjoyed her time with Alice but the initial buzz had worn off. Separated by thousands of miles, the relationship needed a kick up its ass. Because they only saw each other one or two weekends a month, they both made sure there were no arguments or any reason to spoil the experience when they were together. That also meant all their different expectations and opinions remained unresolved.

  Alice was besotted with her, but Sam could no longer tell herself she reciprocated. Of course, the sex was still good and the presents lavished on her were not to be sneezed at. All the same, she was bored but didn‘t have the energy to end it.

  Christmas Day was a perfect example of what was wrong. Each individual moment was wonderful whether eating the most perfectly cooked turkey in the world, sitting watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean or clinging to the headboard of Alice‘s four poster bed. But they added up to nothing. They would never be a normal couple and when they talked about the future, they were kidding themselves.

  So Sam sowed the seeds of her departure before she even arrived, blaming a work party for her need to return to the east coast. The sadness on Alice‘s face almost made her cry but Sam tried her damndest to ensure Alice had the best Christmas away from her Mama she‘d ever had. If not the best then filled with the most sex.

  AS SOON AS the plane landed at Logan, Sam felt a tremendous weight lift from her shoulders. She scurried back to her apartment, cracked open a bottle of wine and got merrily drunk watching TV reruns until she gurgled asleep in the late evening.

  The next day, she opened her address book and investigated the party scene in her home town. With only three days before New Year the last thing she needed was to spend the upcoming nights alone. Good news: she was in luck. Every night had something to offer until the clock struck midnight on Sunday, December 31.

  Thursday evening was a washout. Sam found herself cornered by a rich doofus who was more interested in his opinions than hers but that didn‘t stop her taking him home. His punishment for the tedium inflicted on her was to hail a cab on the street at four in the morning when she decided he wasn‘t going to be any more use to her in bed.

  Having secured two days vacation time, Sam went to the gym on Friday afternoon and dolled herself up. She wouldn‘t make the same mistake tonight. Kickass: that was her new motto.

  The party venue was a penthouse overlooking State Street and, given the height of the apartment block, looked like it had a great view of the bay. Sam mingled, chatted with a few interesting people and was considering leaving to find action elsewhere when she went to the makeshift bar for one last drink.

  “Champagne?”

  “Why the hell not?”

  “I‘ve yet to come up with a good reason myself.”

  “In that case, let‘s see what happens. What‘s the worst, right?”

  Sam clinked glasses with the guy who was very self-assured but wasn‘t trying to take over the conversation.

  “You local or breezing through town for the festive season?”

  “Grew up in New Jersey but I‘ve been living here since I left college.”

  “Study here?”

  “Used to.”

  “Bright girl. And smart enough to stay in this beautiful city.”

  “And you?”

  “I split my time between here and my other ventures on the east coast.”

  “Entrepreneur?”

  “Do my best. Business is never easy...”

  “... but you‘re doing well to afford that suit.”

  Sam reached out to feel the material of the jacket and the guy smiled and seemed to puff his chest as she did it. Having fingered the schmatta, Sam pressed down the lapel so it was flat again and gave herself the opportunity to lay her palm on his upper torso above his heart ever so slightly longer than was proper.

  They continued to talk and she moved onto a cosmo or two, a habit she‘d acquired from Alice. The guy took Sam‘s glass and placed it on a nearby table. He put his hand on hers and led her to the dance floor where a DJ was cranking out the tunes. He had some good moves but focused on dancing with her rather than impressing her. The same couldn‘t be said for most of the others hovering near her like flies buzzing around a picnic hamper.

  When the beats slowed down and half the people sloped off to drink a little more, he got intimate without getting fresh. For Sam that meant she was happy for him to kiss her neck and put his hand on her ass but he didn‘t try to rearrange her panties. What a gentleman.

  “Would you mind if we found somewhere quieter?”

  “Good plan. Like to come back to mine for a coffee?”

  “Your place sounds fine. Okay if I bring some party powder to help with the... coffee?”

  “Nice idea. I‘m Sam Wray.”

  “Frank Lagotti.”

  SAM AWOKE FACE up from the brink of a horny dream to find her feet on the pillows and Frank‘s head between her thighs. She stretched her arms and arched her back. In the corner of her eye she saw two lines of white on the bedside table.

  Although she needed a hit to kick-start the day, there was no way she wanted to interrupt Frank who was hard at work creating ripples of tingles throughout her body - emanating from her groin but spreading to her toes, her fingers. Even her eyelids felt more alive.

  Later they snaffled up the remaining coke and spent the rest of the day naked and sweaty. The simple act of having Alice‘s twin in bed with her turned Sam on. Whenever his dick was inside, the rush was immense.

  “So am I better than Alice?”

  “If I thought you‘d compare yourself to her, I‘d never have mentioned it.”

  “Don‘t lie. Must be freaking awesome to have a brother and a sister.”

  “Has its moments, for sure.”

  Sam didn‘t want to get bogged down by thoughts of Alice and her delectable body. She was having fun and wanted more.

  “Are we going out tonight or shall we party at home?”

  “No need to decide. You throw a dress on and we'll hang out with some people I‘ve met and if everything‘s cool, we can invite them here - or to mine - to carry on the fun until the sun rises again.”

  Sam rolle
d on top of Frank so her groin touched his, rocking forward and back until his breathing changed rhythm.

  “Sure thing honey - only not just yet, eh?”

  1996

  20

  THE PREVIOUS YEAR ended with Indiana's decision to reintroduce a handful of riverboat casinos. One of the earliest licenses to be granted was run from Chicago, out of East Dubuque and Mary Lou saw this loosening up of gaming laws as a natural extension of their existing casino operations. All she needed to do was convince the Gaming Commission that Alice was an appropriate person to own the riverboat.

  “Another day, another license to be bought.”

  “How is Teddy Prescott?”

  “Been better. He had a heartache three months ago and there's talk he'll step down soon.”

  “We should have a conversation before he does anything rash.”

  “I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you. Always has been in the past.”

  “Send my regards.”

  Bobby flew out to Prescott's mansion the following day. The butler answered the door and showed Bobby to the library. This room with its musty books felt like a home from home although Bobby had only visited Prescott a handful of times. Unlike every previous occasion Hannah Prescott appeared in the doorway in place of her husband. Bobby stood up from the insanely luxurious armchair and took the five steps forward to introduce himself and to shake her hand. Hannah kept her arms by her side and her expression reflected her disgust for him. Teddy had briefed her.

  “Mr. Trevestan, I'm so sorry you have had a wasted journey.”

  “Call me Bobby. How is Teddy?”

  “Far too ill to receive visitors, I'm afraid.”

  “So he knows I am here then? Or have you reached that decision on his behalf?”

  “Mr. Trevestan...”

  “... Bobby...”

  “... my husband has made me only too aware of you. He asked me to convey his apologies but you will not be seeing him today.”

  Bobby stared into the eyes of this shrewish woman. Chances were she was just trying to protect her husband from the myriad strangers who spend their lives lobbying politicians.

  “Has Teddy told you how he and I first met?”

  “No, he hasn't mentioned...”

  “... then you can't possibly expect me to believe Teddy won't see me. So either you have decided for yourself or he isn't here anywhere. Which is it, Hannah?”

  Bobby's expression gained the edge of a grimace and he moved a step forward to enter her personal space.

  “Men like you do not intimidate me. You think you can walk into people's homes and order them about, but you are wrong.“

  “And women like you think you can boss men like me around and we'll do what you say. You are not just wrong - you are making a very poor mistake. I can help your husband get the finest medical treatment, for example. I could protect him, you and your entire family from life's misfortunes.”

  “Don't threaten me, Trevisan.”

  “Lady, this is no threat. Answer my question: is Teddy in this joint?”

  Hannah looked at Bobby's eyes and her cheeks flushed red.

  “Yes he is, but he's too tired for visitors. He asked me to send you away as he doesn't have the energy to see anyone nowadays.”

  “He'll see me. Now.”

  Mrs. Prescott nodded and walked out of the room at such a pace that Bobby could easily follow her up the stairs, along the landing and into a large bedroom. Hannah pulled up a chair near the bed and Bobby sat down facing the tired man lying under the sheets. Without turning around, Bobby issued a clear instruction:

  “Shut the door on your way out.”

  Hannah parted her lips as if she planned on replying but closed her mouth and left.

  BOBBY SAT BACK in his seat and watched Teddy Prescott wheeze in front of him. The heart attack had knocked him sideways.

  “Hi Teddy. Good to see you.”

  “Seen better days.”

  “Maybe so, but I‘m sure you‘ve got some great years ahead of you still.”

  “Not sure about that from what the doctors have told me.”

  “Ah, their job is to make money out of you being ill. Of course they want to keep you down. You‘ll bounce back from this. Just focus on building up your strength and you‘ll be in the Palace humping your way through our girls like there‘s no tomorrow.”

  “There may be no tomorrow for me. That‘s my point.”

  Bobby watched this old man‘s face. He had a real fear he was on his last legs.

  “I hope you‘re wrong, Teddy - for your sake and mine.”

  “You always want something but this time I‘m far too gone to do your bidding.”

  “You‘re still here, Teddy. And this isn‘t about you. It‘s about your darling Hannah.”

  “Leave her out of this.”

  “I can‘t ignore her when you sent her down to meet me instead of calling me up here to speak to you, my friend.”

  Prescott began to cough, caused by the tightness in his chest: the stress of seeing Bobby.

  “Do you fancy a beer? I think I do. Shall I find Hannah and ask her for one?”

  Beat.

  “Did you ever tell her?”

  Teddy‘s pale complexion gained a reddish hue.

  “Thought not. I mean, how can a man explain to his wife he raped an underage prostitute to death with a glass bottle? Fucked if I know how to start that conversation, but that‘s what you‘ll be doing soon unless you listen carefully to what I need you to do, you shit bag.”

  A pause as Bobby crossed his legs and picked off a piece of white fluff from Prescott‘s sheets.

  “It‘s your reputation on the line, not mine. In five minutes time I can tell Hannah what you did and then you‘ll be dying and divorced. Well, what‘s it to be?”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “I brought a letter with me today and you will sign it. You‘ll be recommending Alice Lagotti as a fine upstanding member of the community to the Gaming Commission. The family wants to run a riverboat casino.”

  Bobby pulled out the typewritten sheet from his inside jacket pocket and fumbled around until he found a pen. Teddy took it and Bobby held the paper so he could write a wobbly signature.

  “Thank you for your cooperation. As ever, we appreciate the assistance you‘ve provided over the years.”

  “This was the last time. I can‘t...”

  “Don‘t be ridiculous, Teddy. Of course you can - and you will. We don‘t ask much but, as you know, sometimes we need an accommodation. Besides, mark my words, you‘ll be out of this bed in no time. I made this offer to Hannah but I'm making a promise to you. I will arrange for one of our doctors to pay you a visit.”

  “Please don‘t...”

  Bobby stood up, put the letter in his pocket and patted Prescott on the shoulder. He might never have liked the senator but Teddy had always come good for them and he looked pitiful right now. Worth showering a few thousand dollars on the old goat if only to make Bobby feel better on the off chance he had to come calling again.

  ALICE ENJOYED SPENDING time with Mama especially as she had been entrusted to kick off another key project for the family. East Dubuque nestled just south of the state border with Wisconsin and on the opposite side of the Mississippi to its bigger brother, Dubuque in Iowa. To describe the town as small would be an understatement but Mary Lou wasn‘t shacked up in the East Dubuque Regal to settle down and make a home for herself.

  She and Alice only needed to spend a few days here to set up a boilerplate legal entity and to ensure Alice met the residency requirements laid out in the statutes to secure the casino license.

  “We‘ll have to stay past the weekend, won‘t we?”

  “Looks like it right now. Can‘t be helped. People don‘t move fast in these hick towns - and we‘re from California.”

  “I know, but this is the first place I‘ve been where I feel bigger than it.”

  Mary Lou smiled: she‘d raised herself a ci
ty chick.

  “It‘ll grow if we have anything to do with it.”

  “Saturday, shall we visit Chicago for some shopping?”

  “Spoken like a true Al Capone.”

  “A girl has to have fun sometimes. All work and no play...”

  “... makes Jill a rich woman.”

  Beat.

  “I‘m teasing. Chicago is a great idea - unless you‘d rather meet up with Sam instead of hanging out with your old mom.”

  “You‘re not old. Anyway, I told Sam I‘d be busy the next few weeks so she wouldn‘t think I was ignoring her. The family business comes first.”

  “It‘ll take two hours to drive over there, less if I‘m behind the wheel so why don‘t we stay overnight?”

  Alice clapped her hands with glee like a little girl and gave Mama an enormous hug.

  “That‘d be great. Just like we used to pop over to LA when I was a kid.”

  “Only one difference, darling.”

  “Huh?”

  “This time you‘re paying.”

  SIXTY YEARS BEFORE, Chicago had been at the epicenter of mob activity thanks to its location smack in the middle of the country's waterways for transportation and to the pliability of its local law enforcement officers. That was then. Now the organized crime syndicates were no more and anyone could walk the streets safely without the grinding fear of being shot - unless you were black and poor of course.

  Mary Lou and Alice checked into their hotel and sat in the bar contemplating where to eat dinner. Alice thumbed through the local newspaper while Mary Lou went to a phone to speak with Bobby. When she returned five minutes later, concern was written all over her face. Alice's back stiffened as she braced herself.

  “What's happened?”

  “I've got to go.”

  “Go? Where?”

  “Atlantic City.”

  With those two words, Alice's heart sank because it meant only one thing: Mama needed to bail out Frank. Mary Lou saw Alice's expression shift from excitement to misery.