CHAPTER 5
The two stepped into a huge, luminous lobby. All around, workers buzzed around, some saluting Brad, others shaking his hand. Brad approached a secretary working at a desk and told her that he and Kyle were due for a meeting. The secretary nodded her head and sent the two on their way. They entered an elevator at the far end of the hallway.
"So, what are we talkin' about", Kyle asked, looking at Brad. "We're having a huge meeting tonight, regarding everything. Anyone who's anyone in the RAS is going to be here tonight.... ah, here we are."
The two stepped out of the elevator and into a long hallway. Brad greeted some people and rushed down the hallway, Kyle close behind him.
The two stopped outside of a large oak door with the name "Mostou" on it. Katsopolis knocked on it three times, and the door slowly creaked open. The two entered the room.
Inside was the same room that Frank Cassidy had had his fateful meeting with Mostou earlier on in the day. The room was full of chairs that were gathered around a circular table. Already there was a bunch of people who were familiar with Brad and Kyle. He saw Josh Goncalves, the owner of The Strippa, Gary Borges, Josh's best friend, Owen Columbe, who worked for Brad as a sort of assassain, among others. Then there was a group of people in business suits who Brad had no familiarity at all. Brad simply guessed these were just other important RAS figure heads. Standing by a window, looking down at the street below, was Jon Mostou.
He turned as Kyle and Brad entered the room. A smile crossed his lips, and he motioned for them to take a seat. Katsopolis casually walked towards a seat and sat down; Lewis did the same, only more nerviously. He did not know what to expect at one of these meetings, and was on edge.
Mostou began to walk around the table, speaking as he walked. "Well," he began. "I guess that this meeting can finally get underway now that Mr. Katsopolis and Mr. Lewis have decided to join us." A shifty looking fellow on another end of the table stifled a pompus laugh.
"Ah, screw you, Joseph", Brad yelled. The man looked tense for a second and hung his head down. Mostou laughed aloud and continued with what he was saying.
"Yes yes, screw you, Joseph," he laughed, before sighing and giving this Joseph a hearty thump on the back. "Well now, like I said, we can begin. As you all know, right now is a critical time for the RAS. We got the Triads breathing down our necks- we got the Police onto us- and we got this bullshit 'SPA' to contend with. Now I called all of you here for a reason. We have to develop a war plan, so to speak, if we want to survive. We MUST be rid of our enemies. And you all will be critical in doing so."
Brad glanced over to see Kyle, who had a look on his face that was a cross between bewilderment and wonderment. Brad sighed a heavy sigh and fixed his attention back upon Mostou.
"First of all, we have the Bradman," Mostou continued, pointing out Katsopolis, and smiling. "My second in command, so to speak. Mr. Bradman has just as much power over this city as I do, so don't any of you forget it," Mostou said, pointing out various people sitting around the table. "His yearly income profits not only Decaferon Ent., but helps to.... fund our cause. A very influental man right here, ladies and gentleman. It's his way with words that not only keeps us out of trouble.... but in a way, keeps us on top." Brad smiled a half smile and raised his head up.
"Mr. Bradman, from now on, I want you to concentrate 100% on ways to manipulate the public to believe that our Mayor... is a piece of crap, so to speak. I want you to use your money. I want you to use your influence. I want you to use your devine way with words. I want you to make our mayor appear to the public as the insolent little worm that he is."
Josh Goncalves spoke up. "But Mr. Mostou....why? What are you getting at?"
Jon smiled and walked around the table to Josh. "You see, my friend, it's quite simple. It's electon year, it 'tis. And you see, part one of my 'war plan' is very simple.... you see, you're looking at the next Mayoral candidate."
There was a collective hush in the room. All around the circular table, open eyes and wide mouths were visible. Except for Brad, whose eyes were narrow and his mouth was closed.
Mostou laughed. "Yes yes, that's right. That is phase one of my grand war plan. Oh, come off it, all of you. You knew it was inevitable. We own this town as it is. You don't know how many bribes our dear mayor has accepted from the RAS in the past, anyway. But what you need to understand, is if I own the Mayoral office.... we own this town for real. We'll be legit." Mostou laughed once more, hopped into an empty seat, and propped his feet up on the table, clearly enjoying himself at the moment.
"Now, you might be thinking to yourself, 'Mostou? Just what the hell is phase two of 'yo plan?' Well, boys, it's like this." He chuckled once more. "These gentleman here," he motioned towards the men in suits, "are some of our finest secret agents. So secret, even Bradman hasn't seen them." Brad raised one eyebrow.
Mostou continued. "These guys have to much dirt on everyone in this town, it's not even funny. To me! To me, it's not even funny, honest to god. They've got....crap about how old Mrs. Fielding actually killed her husband that went missing last year. Got pictures of her BURING the guy, for chrissakes. They've got.... taped telephone convos of the Chief of Police and his goddamn mistress!" Mostou emitted a high pitched giggle. "Anything you can think of, they- WE- have. This town- if they try anything on us- won't know what hit them."
All of the men in suits smiled proud smiles.
"Now, to the actual 'Nitty-Gritty', so to speak." He turned to Owen Columbe, reached into his suit jacket, and pulled out an envelope. He plopped it on the table in front of Columbe. "Mr. Columbe, you've been working for Mr. Bradman as an assassain recently, correct?" Own nodded, smiling. Mostou continued. "In that envelope, you'll find a list of names of all the scum residing in this city. I mean ALL the scum. From little Kwik-E-Mart robbers to mass-murderers, it's all in there. I think you know what I want you to do." Columbe nodded his head once.
"And then, there's the matter of this 'SPA'," Mostou began again. "I have negotiated with Mr Goncalves and Mr. Borges here, and they are now safely part of our operation. Any member of SPA goes into the Strippa? They're ours. Isn't that right, Gary?" Gary Borges gulped, smiled, and nodded his head yes. "Oh hohoho, but that's not all!" Mostou chuckled. "I have given our military commanders the complete go-ahead to establish battlefronts and wargrounds to fight battles against ALL our enemies". He motioned to a few of the RAS military commanders sitting around the table. "This city is now ours for the taking, gentleman. Just realize what you are apart of right now. The RAS.... which will soon run this city for years, and years- to come." Mostou stood up, and began laughing softly. He slicked his hair back and yawned. "Gentleman, you are dismissed. Carry on, and have a lovely evening." He started chuckling and walked back to the window as the sounds of chairs pushing backwards and men getting up filled the room. Brad Katsopolis got up, but before he could walk away, he was pulled back. He turned around the see Kyle Lewis holding his shoulder.
"Uh, Brad? Just... what did he want with me, then? Why was I here in the first place?" Kyle questioned over the noise of men leaving the room.
Brad looked round for a second then responded. "Well, I frankly have no clue. Hold on." He walked away from Kyle and approached Jon, who was still standing next to the window, looking downwards. Brad spoke up.
"Hey Jon- just what the hell did you want with Kyle Lewis anyway?" He stared at Jon for a few seconds. Then Jon smiled, and turned his head to face Brad.
"Well, Mr. Bradman, it's like this. I've seen Kyle Lewis in action before. That's right, I have. When I was younger, I used to go to these stupid little gun fight competitions down near the Red Light Distrect- don't ask me why, I was stupid then. But Kyle Lewis- he was there. He could do more things with a gun than you can think of." He laughed, looking at Brad's look of surprise. "Oh, yes, yes. Your friend over there has killed many, many men before. Just the type of person we need commandng our troops!" He laughed. Brad shook his head.
"Whatever, Jon. But let me tell you this- I have never, ever supported the killing of innocent people. Pieces of shit? Fine. But don't use your power- this power that you command- the way your father would have."
Mostou grimaced, and a slight look of anger crossed his face. "Don't you dare bring my father into this! Are you going to get all moral now on me, Brad? After all these years?" His face softened a little bit. He put his hand on Brad's shoulder. "That's what makes you my best friend man. Always here to keep me in tow." He chuckled some more, then shook his head. "Don't worry man, don't worry. Everyone will be fine. Your friend Lewis- he'll be fine. He'll adapt to his role nicely, I tell you. No one innocent will be harmed in our crusade. No one has yet, right?" He laughed again. "I'll talk with you later, Bradman." He turned his head down again to watch the street.
Brad watched Jon once more, a look of puzzlement and anger on his face. He slowly backed off, then turned around and headed towards the door. He was intercepted by an eager Kyle Lewis, still inquisitive as to why he was here.
"Well Kyle," Brad stated. "Looks like your one of us now." He walked away, leaving Lewis standing in the room.
"Uh- Brad? BRAD?" He yelled, starting to chase after Katsopolis. "You're my ride home, man!! And where's that 3 mil?"
The two stepped into a huge, luminous lobby. All around, workers buzzed around, some saluting Brad, others shaking his hand. Brad approached a secretary working at a desk and told her that he and Kyle were due for a meeting. The secretary nodded her head and sent the two on their way. They entered an elevator at the far end of the hallway.
"So, what are we talkin' about", Kyle asked, looking at Brad. "We're having a huge meeting tonight, regarding everything. Anyone who's anyone in the RAS is going to be here tonight.... ah, here we are."
The two stepped out of the elevator and into a long hallway. Brad greeted some people and rushed down the hallway, Kyle close behind him.
The two stopped outside of a large oak door with the name "Mostou" on it. Katsopolis knocked on it three times, and the door slowly creaked open. The two entered the room.
Inside was the same room that Frank Cassidy had had his fateful meeting with Mostou earlier on in the day. The room was full of chairs that were gathered around a circular table. Already there was a bunch of people who were familiar with Brad and Kyle. He saw Josh Goncalves, the owner of The Strippa, Gary Borges, Josh's best friend, Owen Columbe, who worked for Brad as a sort of assassain, among others. Then there was a group of people in business suits who Brad had no familiarity at all. Brad simply guessed these were just other important RAS figure heads. Standing by a window, looking down at the street below, was Jon Mostou.
He turned as Kyle and Brad entered the room. A smile crossed his lips, and he motioned for them to take a seat. Katsopolis casually walked towards a seat and sat down; Lewis did the same, only more nerviously. He did not know what to expect at one of these meetings, and was on edge.
Mostou began to walk around the table, speaking as he walked. "Well," he began. "I guess that this meeting can finally get underway now that Mr. Katsopolis and Mr. Lewis have decided to join us." A shifty looking fellow on another end of the table stifled a pompus laugh.
"Ah, screw you, Joseph", Brad yelled. The man looked tense for a second and hung his head down. Mostou laughed aloud and continued with what he was saying.
"Yes yes, screw you, Joseph," he laughed, before sighing and giving this Joseph a hearty thump on the back. "Well now, like I said, we can begin. As you all know, right now is a critical time for the RAS. We got the Triads breathing down our necks- we got the Police onto us- and we got this bullshit 'SPA' to contend with. Now I called all of you here for a reason. We have to develop a war plan, so to speak, if we want to survive. We MUST be rid of our enemies. And you all will be critical in doing so."
Brad glanced over to see Kyle, who had a look on his face that was a cross between bewilderment and wonderment. Brad sighed a heavy sigh and fixed his attention back upon Mostou.
"First of all, we have the Bradman," Mostou continued, pointing out Katsopolis, and smiling. "My second in command, so to speak. Mr. Bradman has just as much power over this city as I do, so don't any of you forget it," Mostou said, pointing out various people sitting around the table. "His yearly income profits not only Decaferon Ent., but helps to.... fund our cause. A very influental man right here, ladies and gentleman. It's his way with words that not only keeps us out of trouble.... but in a way, keeps us on top." Brad smiled a half smile and raised his head up.
"Mr. Bradman, from now on, I want you to concentrate 100% on ways to manipulate the public to believe that our Mayor... is a piece of crap, so to speak. I want you to use your money. I want you to use your influence. I want you to use your devine way with words. I want you to make our mayor appear to the public as the insolent little worm that he is."
Josh Goncalves spoke up. "But Mr. Mostou....why? What are you getting at?"
Jon smiled and walked around the table to Josh. "You see, my friend, it's quite simple. It's electon year, it 'tis. And you see, part one of my 'war plan' is very simple.... you see, you're looking at the next Mayoral candidate."
There was a collective hush in the room. All around the circular table, open eyes and wide mouths were visible. Except for Brad, whose eyes were narrow and his mouth was closed.
Mostou laughed. "Yes yes, that's right. That is phase one of my grand war plan. Oh, come off it, all of you. You knew it was inevitable. We own this town as it is. You don't know how many bribes our dear mayor has accepted from the RAS in the past, anyway. But what you need to understand, is if I own the Mayoral office.... we own this town for real. We'll be legit." Mostou laughed once more, hopped into an empty seat, and propped his feet up on the table, clearly enjoying himself at the moment.
"Now, you might be thinking to yourself, 'Mostou? Just what the hell is phase two of 'yo plan?' Well, boys, it's like this." He chuckled once more. "These gentleman here," he motioned towards the men in suits, "are some of our finest secret agents. So secret, even Bradman hasn't seen them." Brad raised one eyebrow.
Mostou continued. "These guys have to much dirt on everyone in this town, it's not even funny. To me! To me, it's not even funny, honest to god. They've got....crap about how old Mrs. Fielding actually killed her husband that went missing last year. Got pictures of her BURING the guy, for chrissakes. They've got.... taped telephone convos of the Chief of Police and his goddamn mistress!" Mostou emitted a high pitched giggle. "Anything you can think of, they- WE- have. This town- if they try anything on us- won't know what hit them."
All of the men in suits smiled proud smiles.
"Now, to the actual 'Nitty-Gritty', so to speak." He turned to Owen Columbe, reached into his suit jacket, and pulled out an envelope. He plopped it on the table in front of Columbe. "Mr. Columbe, you've been working for Mr. Bradman as an assassain recently, correct?" Own nodded, smiling. Mostou continued. "In that envelope, you'll find a list of names of all the scum residing in this city. I mean ALL the scum. From little Kwik-E-Mart robbers to mass-murderers, it's all in there. I think you know what I want you to do." Columbe nodded his head once.
"And then, there's the matter of this 'SPA'," Mostou began again. "I have negotiated with Mr Goncalves and Mr. Borges here, and they are now safely part of our operation. Any member of SPA goes into the Strippa? They're ours. Isn't that right, Gary?" Gary Borges gulped, smiled, and nodded his head yes. "Oh hohoho, but that's not all!" Mostou chuckled. "I have given our military commanders the complete go-ahead to establish battlefronts and wargrounds to fight battles against ALL our enemies". He motioned to a few of the RAS military commanders sitting around the table. "This city is now ours for the taking, gentleman. Just realize what you are apart of right now. The RAS.... which will soon run this city for years, and years- to come." Mostou stood up, and began laughing softly. He slicked his hair back and yawned. "Gentleman, you are dismissed. Carry on, and have a lovely evening." He started chuckling and walked back to the window as the sounds of chairs pushing backwards and men getting up filled the room. Brad Katsopolis got up, but before he could walk away, he was pulled back. He turned around the see Kyle Lewis holding his shoulder.
"Uh, Brad? Just... what did he want with me, then? Why was I here in the first place?" Kyle questioned over the noise of men leaving the room.
Brad looked round for a second then responded. "Well, I frankly have no clue. Hold on." He walked away from Kyle and approached Jon, who was still standing next to the window, looking downwards. Brad spoke up.
"Hey Jon- just what the hell did you want with Kyle Lewis anyway?" He stared at Jon for a few seconds. Then Jon smiled, and turned his head to face Brad.
"Well, Mr. Bradman, it's like this. I've seen Kyle Lewis in action before. That's right, I have. When I was younger, I used to go to these stupid little gun fight competitions down near the Red Light Distrect- don't ask me why, I was stupid then. But Kyle Lewis- he was there. He could do more things with a gun than you can think of." He laughed, looking at Brad's look of surprise. "Oh, yes, yes. Your friend over there has killed many, many men before. Just the type of person we need commandng our troops!" He laughed. Brad shook his head.
"Whatever, Jon. But let me tell you this- I have never, ever supported the killing of innocent people. Pieces of shit? Fine. But don't use your power- this power that you command- the way your father would have."
Mostou grimaced, and a slight look of anger crossed his face. "Don't you dare bring my father into this! Are you going to get all moral now on me, Brad? After all these years?" His face softened a little bit. He put his hand on Brad's shoulder. "That's what makes you my best friend man. Always here to keep me in tow." He chuckled some more, then shook his head. "Don't worry man, don't worry. Everyone will be fine. Your friend Lewis- he'll be fine. He'll adapt to his role nicely, I tell you. No one innocent will be harmed in our crusade. No one has yet, right?" He laughed again. "I'll talk with you later, Bradman." He turned his head down again to watch the street.
Brad watched Jon once more, a look of puzzlement and anger on his face. He slowly backed off, then turned around and headed towards the door. He was intercepted by an eager Kyle Lewis, still inquisitive as to why he was here.
"Well Kyle," Brad stated. "Looks like your one of us now." He walked away, leaving Lewis standing in the room.
"Uh- Brad? BRAD?" He yelled, starting to chase after Katsopolis. "You're my ride home, man!! And where's that 3 mil?"