Deception
The road was quiet outside of Orchard Farm. The cargo was safely transloaded from riverboat to truck, and now it was bound for the beating heart of Missouri, St. Louis.
"Keep your eyes peeled, Luke." John said as he looked intensely at the surrounding foliage. "There's a cut on the side of the next hill that the road needs to travel through, it's the perfect spot for an ambush."
"Gun is at the ready. And if you don't mind, don't be calling me 'Luke' around the others. Who knows who's father or brother I might have killed years ago?"
Climbing the hill with the truck in front of them, their convoy slowed to a crawl as the driver of the loaded rig found the right gear. Engine roaring, the truck dug down and found its footing, pushing itself up the incline. At the top they were barely going five miles per hour.
"This would be it, right here." John said. Both men tensed up and prepared to take incoming fire at any moment. Yet… nothing happened. In fact, as they carefully ate up the miles between Orchard Farm and the river, the drive went smoothly.
"Huh? Maybe Vito's intel was wrong?" Luke postulated.
"That's odd, it hasn't been wrong before. Maybe the Russos called off the ambush? Or they might be laying in wait at the bridge?"
The convoy continued without issue, slowly creeping over the old steel bridge that was due to be replaced any year now. By the time they were in the outskirts of the city, both men were confused. "This isn't right…"
"This plan is ridiculous." Mordecai growled as we sat in the bushes. I could tell he was getting annoyed at being in the dirt, sitting on half-rotten leaves.
"Nonsense, Mordecai. I have faith in our boy." I said, giving Rocky a thumbs up as he tried his best to get into character for his part in the whole scheme.
"I have been around gangs for most of my life, Ethan. Never have I seen a distraction such as this work."
"Have you ever seen a distraction like this before?"
"No."
"Then that's precisely why Rocky's idea is going to work. Assuming you've done your part with all those fake messages."
"Oh, that part I am quite confident in. But making Rickaby, perhaps the least lady-like person in the city, a damsel in distress is absurd. You could have at least gotten an actual woman to play the part!"
"So what you're saying is I should have gotten Ivy or Alena to join us?"
"What? No, of course not! They shouldn't be anywhere near this operation."
"And they aren't. But that means we must make do with what we have."
"They might not even fall for this ruse! What if they blow right past him?"
"The car is blocking the road and a lady dressed in fall colors is distraught over the unfortunate damage caused by a deer collision. Would you simply run over the woman and keep going about your day?"
"No…"
"Of course not! Because as much as you try to portray yourself as this soulless killing machine, you at least have some sense of chivalry. They'll stop as well. And that's why we're close enough to get the drop on whoever comes out of that truck. I don't exactly trust your two former colleagues to not make a mess or keep Rocky from getting hurt."
Weatherbird up in the tree started waving and pointing, catching our attention. "Here they come, boys!"
"Alright people, it's showtime! Rocky! It's all you, buddy. Don't try to oversell it!" I then gave a thumbs up to Nico who returned the gesture before ducking down onto the other side of the road.
"Brother, you think this will go down smoother?"
"Like whiskey on dem rocks, Sera. Mordecai is smart, you gotta give 'em that."
The loud rumble of a big bore engine got louder and louder. We could see the dust before the truck itself. Right behind the rig was a solitary car. The swampy bottomlands between Horseshoe Lake and the Mississippi made for the perfect ambush site. No one lived out in these parts, and this back road would take us straight into town.
Neither man could hear the other inside the cab of the truck. The old thing was loud and the gravel from the road was bouncing off the cab floor, making it even louder. The driver spotted an obstacle up ahead and downshifted, tapping his gunman on the shoulder to be ready with the shotgun. As they coasted up to the car stuck in the middle of the road, a slim figure in a white dress came into view through the dust. The poor woman was weeping hysterically.
"Well, would you look at that?! Today's our lucky day, Boris. Maybe we can give her a ride back to town?
"Oh come on, Clyde. She probably just needs a tire changed or something."
Struggling to roll down the window, Clyde stuck his head out of the cab. "Hey, miss, what's the trouble?"
Mordecai got his pistol ready as did I.
Rocky didn't break character though. Sticking to the plan, he simply made high-pitched wails and pointed at the deer I shot earlier that morning. The driver seemed to understand.
"Ah geez, she hit a deer. Radiator is probably busted up." Clyde said to Boris. Boris rolled his eyes. "I guess she could ride in the car back to town."
"Aw, come on!"
"Hey, she doesn't want to sit between a couple of dudes who reek of river water and booze. Besides, the boys can take her to a tow shop. Eh, we'll call it community service for the day, how bout that?"
"I guess one way or another we need to get that car moved." Clyde said as he climbed out of the cab of the truck. Boris did the same, but Clyde caught sight of the shotgun. "Hey, it's just some lady. We don't need to scare her!"
"Right, fine." Boris said, leaving the gun in the cab.
"I can't believe that worked…" Mordecai whispered to me. I just winked at him. "Be ready, this is where things get tricky."
"Heya lady, can't help but notice you've got some car trouble there. How's about you ride into town with our friends back there in the car while we moves ya car?"
Rocky gave it his best. "Oh, you are such gentlemen!" He said, avoiding eye contact and keeping the brim of his hat bonnet low. "And what of the poor deer? I don't have a shovel."
"We'll, eh, come back for it." Boris said, going up to the deer. "But we can't stay here for long, so why don't you let us handle this mess and you take it easy in the car."
"Oh, how kind!" Rocky declared with his best southern accent. He was rather wobbly in heels, but they were the best women's shoes we had laying around. Boris pulled on the deer and upon flipping the carcass over, he noticed the distinct markings of a gunshot wound. "Hey, Clyde, this deer's been shot!"
Rocky, hearing this, tried to walk away faster. A sudden breeze blew the bonnet right off him, clearly revealing his face to both the truck driver and the gunmen in the cab.
"What the hell? You ain't no dame!" Clyde declared while Boris got up.
"Take them!" I yelled. One precise shot from Mordecai dropped the driver as he stood there with no place to go. The two gunmen in the car reacted to our presence immediately, attempting to bring their arms to bear. However, in one big motion Nico dragged one man out through the window while Sera got in close with knife and pistol to finish off the second man.
Boris could only think of one thing. "Get that shotgun!" He told himself as he crawled around the backside of the car. He couldn't quite reach the cab as he was pinned down with fire from Mordecai. However, a flash of white caught his eye. The deceiver was trying to get distance between himself and Boris. The man produced his pistol and lunged at the cat, grabbing hold of Rocky. Rocky froze with a gun to his head.
"Alright, enough! Anyone makes a move and I'll—"
Mordecai unleashed one last shot, putting the bullet right in the man's forehead. Rocky rolled to the side and away from the pistol before looking at the carnage and laughing hysterically!
"And that's how you do an ambush!" He triumphantly said, standing on top of the backseat to get a better view of the battlefield.
"I will admit, this was… effective. Now where is that man you call a father?" Mordecai asked.
"Oh, he should be here any second now." I said, digging around for the keys in the dead driver's coat. Pulling out, I threw them to Rocky. "Good job, buddy. Thanks for killing that last guy, Mordecai."
"Consider it a professional courtesy. Now we had better get this site cleaned up before anyone is drawn to the area by the gunfire."
"This was easier than the last time." Sera said as she pulled out a cigarette and leaned against the car.
"See, that's why we have to work together!" Frank said as he pulled a cigarette of his own out. "I knew we could count on those two."
"For now…" Nico commented as he rummaged through a dead cat's pockets.
"Alright Savoys, how would you two like to put the fear of God into the Green Ones?" I said, producing a freshly sharpened blade.
Rocky unlocked the doors and opened up the back of the truck with a whimsical look on his face. It was stacked high with the finest liquor money could by this far from an ocean. As if on cue, the pie truck appeared from a side-road and Ransom pulled up alongside the liquor truck. He took one look at Rocky, and though feeling second-hand embarrassment that his son would don a dress and act as "bait", he couldn't help but notice that Rocky really did have a lot of his mother's features. If Ransom stood back and squinted, it was almost like seeing her in the flesh again.
Engagement
It took a while, but we got the pie truck loaded down with liquor. The suspension looked like it was going to give out, so I saw fit to remove a few bottles. "Alright, Rocky. Let's see if this is the good stuff or not. Mind if you mix the contents with some gasoline?"
"Yes, general!" Rocky saluted as he grabbed an armful of bottles. "Oh yeah, and get out of that dress, would you? You did bring extra clothes, right?"
"Why would I bring extra clothes?" Rocky replied, not fully understanding that he was going to have to drive back to town in women's clothing.
"How does a cat who comes up with such a scheme also forget his own clothes?" Mordecai asked.
"Don't push him too hard about the clothes thing. Otherwise we might have another streaking incident on our hands."
"What?"
"Mitzi said it was his way of protesting prohibition. I don't know, just don't make him feel self-conscious." I then took one last look around the scene. Nico was spreading out gravel from the shoulder of the road to cover up the bloodstains. All bodies, deer included, were discreetly disposed of. And in the now empty delivery truck we had some great surprises for the Green Ones.
"Alright, let's get this circus on the road, shall we? Rocky, Ransom, you're parts have been played."
"Was I good?" Rocky aske as he climbed into the car up front.
"An Oscar-worthy performance, Rocky. Now get home safe and go find your clothes! We don't need you to show up at the school looking like that, they might think our family is crazy."
"We certainly don't want to give them that idea!" Rocky shouted back. Ransom climbed into the pie truck and started it up. The Lackadaisy's convoy was soon making dust toward town.
"So what about us?" Nico asked.
"Nico, Sera, you two in the back of the truck. You'll be our first big surprise when we roll in like a Trojan horse. Frank, I'll need you to be our escort. Just park somewhere outside and gather the rest of our assault team.
"Will do, Ethan. Let's hope our luck holds!"
Mordecai scoffed as he climbed into the passenger side. "Luck? This was preparation and planning."
"Hey now, we might need luck depending on how this goes. But your fake messages were a stroke of genius. If all goes according to plan, a good number of the Green Ones should be out protecting the wrong road. All we need now is to channel some of Rickaby's improvisation skills for the next part."
The unassuming truck rolled into the warehouse courtyard. The place was a beehive of activity, and both of us in the cab knew that once lead started flying it would be easy to be stung. One young-looking lad in a flat cap waved us back to an open bay. Throwing the truck into reverse, I backed the rig up until it was close to the loading dock. Setting the brake and shutting off the truck, I stepped outside as a big guy approached.
"Hey, you ain't the regular."
"Yeah, poor guy has been nursing one hell of a headache since last night. Too much of the corn juice if you ask me." I replied as I handed off the keys to the teen who guided us to the open door.
"Clyde? Nah, he don't drink. Probably his wife giving him a hard time again." He said, slapping me on the back. "Say, where's the car?"
"We got a tip from the higher-ups that there might be trouble with the Russos, so they're taking an extra look around."
"Ha, I'd like to see them try. This place is a fortress. Well, let's get this rig unloaded and then you boys can go—" The foreman caught sight of a familiar face. One he recognized from many years ago, but it still struck fear in his heart. At the same time, the teenager I tossed the keys to fumbled with the lock, and finally got it to open. Pulling the chain off the door handles, he threw open the door and was confused by the empty void which was before him. The void suddenly gained two sets of eyes and a pair of devilish smiles.
"Heller?! What the hell is—"
I drew my revolver, stuck the barrel in his head and pulled the trigger. As the shot rang out, everyone stood still, no one quite knowing what to do. Heller was instantly by my side, watching our flank. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one cat reaching for his pistol. Taking aim, I let two more bullets fly, one winging the guy in the arm while the other splintered a wooden beam behind him. From the back of the truck erupted a hail of gunfire, cutting down several people inside the warehouse.
And with that, the beehive reacted just as we had anticipated. Mordecai and I dove for cover while Serafine made a sweep with her BAR. Everyone else found something solid to hide behind and our little strike team was now caught in tremendous crossfire.
"Where's Frank?" Mordecai asked us.
"Oh, I'm sure he'll be here. Conserve ammo for now. I need to get my rifle out of the cab." I then tried to open the door but several bullets landed all around me and I dropped back down to the barricade next to the truck. Reloading my pistol, I spotted one gunman moving to outflank us. With one well-placed shot I gave him a nasty wound in the shoulder. Mordecai did the same, covering our rear ends that were exposed beneath the vehicle. Sera and Nico each took one side of the warehouse door and were able to cover each other. We were now in an intense standoff.
"Come on out you bastards!" I heard someone call from across the courtyard. "Let's get this over with."
Just then, Weatherbird appeared at the entrance with a Thompson in hand. Tossing a black-market grenade, he signaled for what seemed like an entire company to invade the compound. Reloaded, I stood up and shot the closest gunman square in the chest then wheeled around and grabbed my rifle while Mordecai gave me covering fire. Locking the bayonet in place, the whole of time and space slowed to a crawl for me. I was no longer seeing gangsters; they were the Kaiser's best. And we weren't stuck between a truck and a concrete barricade, we were in a trench. Locking my eyes on one target, I brought the rifle to bear and pulled the trigger. I then moved onto the next target and did the same. It was now a full rout as friendly soldiers flew past us and took on their enemies in hand-to-hand combat. Leaping over the barricade, I ducked under a pistol shot then brought my bayonet up into his chest. Pulling back, I reloaded once more and shot another target as he made a charge right at me.
Sera, Nico, and Mordecai could only watch as I tore through people one after the other, not a bullet able to land a hit on me. But soon I needed to reload so I fell back. Sera took the opportunity to step out and started to blast everything that moved. Nico did the same, covering the other side of the door. As I loaded a new stripped clip, I noticed someone sneaking up behind her with a club. Sera saw me as I put the rifle to my shoulder and froze in fear. At the last second, I took aim and pulled the trigger, dropping the man right at Sera's feet.
All the teen could do was curl himself into a ball and pray that he wouldn't be found. Fire landed all around him as Molotov cocktails found their mark, spreading flame to all the crates full of whiskey, rum, and moonshine stored in the corners of the warehouse. Through the fire, he spotted one figure coming for him. In the background, two other cats exchanged gunfire with the last of the Green Ones who were desperately holding the line in their own facility. As the cat approached him, he closed his eyes and whimpered, waiting for the inevitable. After a few seconds, he dared to open his eyes again, this time seeing a hand reaching out for him to take.
Hesitantly, he grabbed hold and was pulled up to his feet, coming face to face with a stern-looking cat in a beaten-up old hat, rifle in hand.
"How old are you, kid?" I asked.
"S-sixteen, sir…"
"I suggest you find a new line of work, kid. I'll help you find your way to the door."
"Really? You'd just let me go?"
"I'm not after kids like you. I'm here to end this gang war before anyone else I love gets hurt. Which reminds me, I need you to do one last thing before you take a leave of absence. Take this letter and this package to Vito Giannola. Tell him what happened here. Oh yeah, and don't look inside that sack."
Declaration
"What the hell happened?!" Vito said sternly as he looked up from his desk at his brother and Luke.
"Obviously, you know something we don't." John said, adjusting his collar.
"Our main distribution center was just attacked. Over a dozen men dead and twice as many wounded. There was nearly a million dollars' worth of booze in there and it all just went up in smoke!"
"Oh shit…" John said. "But we followed your orders."
"I know, and I gave you those orders based on information that our informant dug up."
"So, I'll bet you want us to bring this guy in, don't you?"
Vito shook his head and ran his hands through his greased hair in frustration. "As much as I wish we could, we can't. We go after that guy and we're all going to regret it."
"Then what are we—" There was a sudden knock at the door. One of Vito's bodyguards opened it up and in stepped a young, skinny teenager. "Sorry boss, but this kid says he has something for you that one of the attackers forced him to take."
"I see. Well kid, what is it? You didn't happen to get a good look at their faces, did you?"
"N-no, mister Giannola, sir. But there were a lot of people who attacked the place. It was chaos."
"Well, I can't blame you for being all shaken up. Now, what was it they wanted you to give me?"
"This." He said, producing a letter from his pocket and a bag that was tied off and bundled up to look like a bag of onions. The teen quickly left the room and made a promise to himself to stay out of jobs involving the mafia from now on. His mother was going to be furious when she found out that her son's workplace was actually moving liquor.
Giannola cut open the envelope and opened up the message inside.
"Vito,
Your gunman, Luke Kennedy, shot an innocent boy who's only crime was defending his woman's honor from the perversions of Elio. Your other gunmen attacked a young man I consider to be my brother. This was a mistake. You should know that I acted alone in killing your nephew, and therefore your fight is with me alone. Until the events of this week, we could have settled this peacefully as all men should. That time has now passed.
Consider this to be a declaration of war on behalf of myself, the surviving Russo brothers, and Al Santino's gang. I have no interest in taking prisoners, and so I have saw fit to give them back to you in the way our Canadian allies taught me in Europe. By the end of this year, you will join them.
-The Ghost"
Vito's heart stopped in that moment as a chill ran down his spine. At the bottom of the page was a symbol he did not recognize. It looked like many eyes peering into his soul, all woven together into a fabric. Taking hold of the sack, he dumped its contents out onto the ground. Scraps of flesh and hair fell onto the hardwood floor. Some dried, others bloody. John, with a horrified look on his face, picked up one with distinctive markings.
"My God, that's Matt's hair!" Luke said, lips quivering.
John threw the matted piece of fur on the floor and stepped back. "Holy shit, they scalped them!"
"There's at least a half a dozen of them here." Luke added while prodding the bloody heap with his shoe. "If I had to guess, they must have taken out one of the delivery crews."
Vito was shaken. "That farm you guys attacked is empty, right?"
"Yeah, we were there just yesterday."
"Then this ghost must have moved into the city. Find him and eliminate him. No excuses this time, I want a body right here on the floor!"
"Yes sir, understood." Luke said, standing up to leave.
"And get someone to clean up this mess."
The smoldering wreck that was once a freight warehouse burned all around Ulysses and Jim. The agent was busy taking pictures of the destruction for future evidence. Jim was horrified at what he saw. Though the dead had already been collected, he could just picture the brutality of how each died. Most were gangsters, and the life they chose often meant an early death. He could get over that, but at least a couple of victims were not known to be directly connected to the mob.
"This was all the work of one person?"
"Pfft, no. According to a witness, this gunfight involved over two-dozen individuals with another two-dozen workers caught in the crossfire."
"This can't go on, Ulysses. Even the most corrupt officer on the force wouldn't turn a blind eye to this."
"I should hope not! But I think we've got enough evidence here to confront Ethan Kelly. He's not part of this just for fun. No doubt this is retaliation for what Ransom said went down a few days ago. If we get Ethan on our side and give him a deal, he might be useful to our end goal. Besides, I want to know more about what happened to my predecessor and Kelly might be our next best source of information if we can't get close enough to Heller.
"What do we tell the commissioner? He's going to want names, addresses, whatever you got."
Ulysses thought about it for a moment. Releasing names of suspects would tip off every other gangster in St. Louis to his presence. Not being able to buy him off, surely, they'd come for his head instead. "You'll have to tell the Commissioner Gerk that because alcohol was found at this site, it is a federal matter and this falls squarely within my jurisdiction. I can't risk names going public, but assure him that when the time is right, I will provide him with everything he asks for. Until then, let's just keep compiling everything in my office until there's enough of a case to bring down the kingpins.