After the meeting Eddie drove the car to downtown Boston saying. "I'm meeting someone for lunch so you can eat before we go and get you some new commodities."
"that's alright." Violet said quietly.
After that they continued to drive on until they reached a seafood restaurant. Eddie parked the car and got out opening the door for the children then going up to the restaurant entrance and holding the door open for an older couple who were leaving and the children. After entering Eddie stopped in front of the Maitre d's station and said he was here with a man named Saul. "Of course, he said you'd be coming along today, this way."
After saying that the Maitre d lead them into a back room where a man wearing a black silk suit and a red tie, smoking a cuban, sat staring out a window at some warehouses near the Boston harbor. "I see you've finally made time to meet me." The man said in a typical Boston accent. He had white hair of medium length, a medium sized red nose and a small white goatee. His features were weathered and look like he was in his late forties. He had a light sounding voice.
"Yeah, well I finally got the time to do so. It's been a long time." Eddie replied.
"What was it? Bastogne?"
"I think Holland."
"Ah yes, with the 2nd armored."
"You wouldn't have thought they were armored after we saw what those king Tiger III tanks could do."
"Yes but you and your talent with explosives led to more than one death of those metal monsters."
While Eddie and Saul talked Klauss looked at the newspaper Saul was reading. Its headlines read; Top story: "Two Justices of the supreme court under investigation for accusations of them to numerous accounts of arson and unsolved murders."
The pictures below the headline showed that of the man with a beard but no hair and the woman with hair but no beard. Klauss then nudged Violet and showed her the picture saying. Violet looked towards the picture and silently gasped. Some of the people who seemed to be connected to Count Olaf were going to jail.
She was interrupted from her thoughts when she heard Eddie say, "These children here are some kids I'm taking care of for a while, their names are; Klaus, Violet and Sunny."
"Pleased to meet you," Saul said, "I'm Saul, owner of this restaurant and friend of Eddies. We both survived D-Day together but during a fire fight with some krouts in Holland he continued on to Germany while I went to the states for being shot through the knee."
"Umm…. Pleased.. to… meet you…. Sir." Klaus said nervously as he shook the out stretched hand.
After shaking each of their hands and asking a little about themselves he motioned for the Baudelaire children to sit. After they sat he called a waiter over and got orders from everyone. Klaus had some Maine king crab and a rootbeer, Violet some chicken soup with salad and a water, while Sunny had gravy and biscuits and some milk. Eddie had chili and a beer and Saul had a 16 ounce steak and beer.
After they were eating for a while Saul asked Eddie, "What have you come here for?"
"What do you mean?"
"I know you haven't come here just to eat and visit, there's almost always something else."
"Alright, alright, I need some info on the gangs that I have been doing jobs with."
"Some of them aren't doing so well, Papa Louie is beating the living shit outta them."
"We have children present."
"Sorry, the living hell."
"Better, what all can you tell me about Papa Louie?"
"Not much, you upset Charlie a lot."
"That was just a few hours ago!"
"Word travels fast, especially to my end. Your dock working buddies are worried about you. They say they don't want to have to bail old Krausnic's Swedish ass out of the cooker again."
"Tell them that they don't have to worry. Now what can you tell me about Papa Louie?"
"Not much on him lately. He's apparently trying to negotiate a deal with some of the local Russians. And I've heard something about some disguise artist but nothing else."
Violet looked up when he mentioned a disguise artist. Could it be Count Olaf? She wondered.
"You get a name on this disguise guy?" Eddie asked.
"Not a word. But if he comes in here I'll let you know, everyone comes in here after a while."
After saying that Saul finished off his steak then leaned back and lit up a cigar. He handed a cigar case over to Eddie and asked. "You want one?"
"Sure," Eddie replied as he grabbed one, bit off the tip then lit it up with a Zippo. "I'm staying at Kolkov's if you need me."
"Alright I'll keep you posted if anything happens. And if you need help I can get you all the help you can possibly want. Heck, I know a guy who can get you a howitzer."
"Hahaha! I'll remember that if I decide to shell Papa Louie."
"Don't take that idea out of your mind to early, he is getting very strong friend. I can protect you but only so far. I don't want to see your body floating in the harbor one day. You have to many friends that will do anything for you. It will be a blood bath if Papa Louie does anything rash."
"Thanks my friend I'll take that into account. But I have to leave now. I'll contact you sometime soon."
After saying their good byes Eddie and the Baudelaire children left the restaurant and headed towards a market place to get new toiletries and clothes. What they didn't notice was a car follow them out of the parking lot. A car that had very distinctive bullet holes in the trunk.
After arriving at the marketplace Eddie let the children have $30 each and free reign and pick out what they wanted. If they needed him for anything he'd be close by. He walked to a kiosk that was selling cigars and smoking accessories. He bought 5 Havana's and asked the man working.
"Do you happen to know where an ex-longshoremen might be in this area? He has a flat nose and is missing on eye."
"Who the hell is asking?" Said a voice with a North London accent behind Eddie.
He turned around and was greeted by the sight of a tall ugly man with a cauliflower ear, a flattened nose and an eye patch and tan weathered wrinkled tan features. He was wearing a blue buttoned frock and matching trousers like that of an army officer of the eighteen hundreds. His shoes were black dress shoes you might see at a ballroom dance and were impeccably shined. A name tag on the right side near the shoulder of his frock depicted him as the head of the department stores security.
"Ah, James it has been a long time." Eddie said to the man.
"Bloody Fuck! It's fucking you! Where the hell have you been you twit?" James replied incredulously.
"Almost everywhere, but that's not important. I need information."
"I might not be able to help you. I may be doing security for this hell hole but that doesn't mean I know everything."
"That's true but I do know you still follow ship movements for certain undesirables."
"Shut your fucking mouth yank!" James said quietly, "not here. "
After saying that he lead him into a bar that was nearby in the market place and ordered 2 sherries.
"People can't know of my extra activities or else I'll do time. I already escaped the Billies in London by taking a ship here. I don't want to have to go somewhere else."
"Well then we may be able to help each other. I need to know what Papa Louie is taking from ships."
"Aw fuck, I can't help you there mate. I've only been helping the Irish. Nice blokes. Better then the damn English. Not so snotty."
"Well then I guess you have to find a new place to live James."
"I'm telling you the fucking truth! Why would I risk my personnel freedom for a mob boss? I would rather die then go into one of those rat holes."
Eddie looked at him for a few minutes and decided he was telling the truth. He then took on a hard look and said to the Brit.
"Alright mate. I believe you… For now, but if I find out you're lying I will kill you personally. I don't have those guns in my trunk for show."
After saying that Eddie finished his glass then walked out, leaving James staring at him thoughtfully, and waited on a bench for the children to finish up.
Again another short chapter but like I said I don't have much time to write. I promise the next one will be longer.