Thanks to Cal Gal for betaing, and to CFVici at FFN for help with the Latin. As for any remaining foolishness, mea culpa.

Teaser

The night breeze swirled tendrils of fog inland across the waterfront, plucking at the edges of the coats and capes of the occasional passers-by. One man in particular, a dandy in a fine suit and silk hat with a pencil-thin mustache adorning his lip, tugged his gray Inverness cape closer around his shoulders as he swayed tipsily along, whistling an air by the late great Stephen Foster. He paused and smiled at a sandy-haired young man who was puffing on a cheroot as he lounged against the side wall of a building called the Star Warehouse. "Bit nippy t'night, ain't it, sonny?" said the dandy.

The young fellow blew out some smoke, then shrugged in response. "Well, that's New Orleans for you. Muggy by day, nippy by night."

The dandy grinned. "Inspirational, I call it."

That earned him a frown. "Inspirational of what, mister?"

"Why, nippy weather calls for a nip! Wouldn't you say?" He chuckled merrily at his own joke.

The young fellow winced. "Look, mister, if you're looking to get drunk — and plainly you're well on your way already — there's a saloon just down the street and around the corner there, the Blue Mermaid." He gestured with the cheroot toward the corner he had in mind. "In fact, tell Pierre the barkeep that Danny sent you and that I'm treating you to a drink — one drink, mind you! — and he'll set you up."

A smile illuminated the tippler's face. "Why, that's neighborly of you, sonny, mighty neighborly! Much obliged, much obliged indeed!" He grasped the young man's hand and shook it warmly. His voice dropped to a whisper as he added, "Good evening, Danny. Are they all inside?"

Danny blinked. "Oh!" Softly he asked, "Mr Gordon? I mean, that is you, isn't it?"

"It certainly is!" said Gordon with a loud laugh. He clapped Danny on the shoulder and pulled him along into a brief stroll. "They're all inside?" he repeated his question, sotto voce once more.

"All but me, yes."

"And the leader of the gang as well?"

"Yes sir." Danny's eyes darted around. "Look, I'm sticking my neck out here. I'll be all right, won't I?"

Gordon nodded. "We'll have to arrest you along with all the others so they don't realize you're our informant, but yes, you'll be fine. When the officers rush in, you take a swing at me; I'll be minus the mustache by then, wearing brown and looking like a bum. Swing at me and miss. I'll fall down, and from that my partner Mr West will know which one you are and put you under arrest. He'll be in the brightest blue bolero suit you ever saw."

Danny nodded, attending carefully. "Good. Good. I wanna get outta this gang like you wouldn't believe! I mean, we were just a buncha buddies before, hanging around together, having fun, watching the girls go by, not bothering anyone — and then the Boss horned in and took over and turned us into a gang of smugglers! It's…" His words failed him and he shook his head. "Anyway, I want out, and this is my ticket!"

Gordon smiled avuncularly. "We'll take care of you, Danny my boy, don't you worry. Just go on in, and make sure you're surprised — but not too surprised! — when the raid happens."

"Yes sir. Thank you, Mr Gordon!"

Artemus Gordon clapped the young fellow on the shoulder once more and called loudly, "Thanks for the drink, my good man! Around that corner, was it?" And when Danny nodded, Gordon set off for the Blue Mermaid, warbling a version of "Beautiful Dreamer" that managed somehow to be in three or four different keys all at the same time.

Danny watched him out of sight, rolled his eyes and shook his head, then crushed out his cheroot and went inside the Star Warehouse.

The Blue Mermaid, thought Artie as he rounded the corner. That was where Jim would be waiting for him. And Danny was sending him there for a drink? Artie couldn't help wondering if that was simply part of Danny trying to make their encounter look natural — a neighborly gesture and nothing more — or whether there would be a message of some sort included with the drink. At any rate, he would find out shortly.

Artie lurched down the street and made his merry way up to the doors of the Blue Mermaid. He started to amble inside…

And did a double-take as a beer mug, still partly filled with sudsy brew, flew by just inches from his nose to smash spectacularly on the door jamb close to his ear. He had walked right into a bar fight!