Chapter 2: New Opportunities
Anchorage April 6, 1929
Anchorage was a bitterly cold place; and Andre could say the same for the rest of the state. He disembarked the plane he had been on for the last day. As he came down the gang plank with his two heavy suitcases, he saw a man standing next to a large black car. The man was holding a sign that read:
Mr. Zacherov, complements of Chicago.
Andre strolled to the street and the man folded the sign and put it in the glove's compartment. When he finished, he turned and gave a slight bow.
"Welcome to Alaska sir, my name is Jefferson, I have been instructed to give you a quick tour around town and then take you to any place of your choosing." As he finished his exposition, he opens the door to the rear of the car and then picked up the two suitcases.
"Allow me sir." Andre thanked him and climbed in. After a pair of loud thunks of the heavy suitcases settling into the trunk and then the sound of the trunk closing, Jefferson climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine. The town itself was not too bad, dozens of mom and pop shops and tiny restaurants on the shore. Everything covered in a thin layer of snow.
"Winter has been kinda stubborn this year." Jefferson said as he drove, "I heard it is worse up north though."
"Terrific," Andre hated the cold, and hated the snow more. "I need you to take me to this address." Andre reached into his coat and took out a slip of paper. Jefferson took the paper and quickly studied it.
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, this address is in the warehouse district. Are you in the import/export business sir?"
"You could say I handle the specialty items. My employer maintains dozens of these warehouses all over the country for them."
"I see, my brother is in the business as well, from what I hear the trade has some serious competition."
"Deferentially, it's practically cutthroat." Andre chuckled to himself. The car sped over the bumpy street and made its way to the dockyard warehouse. Jefferson opened the door and handed Andre his suitcases.
"Thank you Mr. Jefferson." Andre walked to the warehouse door shuttered open. Inside three men sat at a table playing a game of poker, they stood and greeted him. Jefferson sped off in the car.
"Hey boss!" Said one in a rather emasculate voice. Andre sized up all of them. The one who just spoke was somewhat short and had a lump in his jacket, presumably a large handgun. The taller one next to him wore a turtle-neck sweater and had a green snow cap on his head with a monogrammed Anthony on it. The last one, a man his own height with a bald head and an extended belly. Andre recognized the trio immediately; they were the best group of thieves, safecrackers and smugglers in the entire Outfit.
"Hello gentlemen. Rico, I imagine by your enthusiasm that your little fact-finding mission was a success?" Andre asked the shorter man. In return Rico took out a stack of photos and laid them on the poker table.
"All of the targets are all there. Too bad we can only take a couple, we could make a killing." he said. Andre looked at the photos and saw the one's Chicago wanted.
"These three, those are guys the higher-ups want."
"A'ighty boss-man, there is one other small twist." Anthony stated.
"Like what Tony?" The fat man moved another photo out of the stack.
"These Andre." the photo was of two adults and half dozen pups.
"These could make grabbing them difficult." he said.
"No, in fact Jimmy, those little monsters are a new opportunity." Andre cracked a wicked smile.