Missing In Action
With the train moving on in the darkness, the Missouri River bottomlands felt deathly quiet. Henry sat up from his position in the trees, satisfied with the day's work.
"You think he's dead?" John called over to his partner.
"No reason why he shouldn't be, but we better get a body just to be sure."
This time John crawled up the embankment to the railroad tracks and led the remainder of the posse out onto the bridge. Cautious and with guns drawn, they all moved down the tracks and into the fog. Henry limped to the end of the bridge and stood on the abutment, ready to provide accurate fire in case he was wrong.
Matt felt something soft under his shoe. Looking down, he recoiled in horror at the severed arm lying next to the tracks. The passing train cleaved it from the poor soul who was now just fish food floating down the river. Elias found something else though. Caught between two pieces of metal was a hat. Old and worn out, it was now stained with a couple spots of blood and had a small hole piercing the brim. John immediately knew who's hat that was.
"That's our guy."
"Then it was a job well done!" Elias exclaimed. Curious, he put it on his head. "There, fits perfectly!"
"I don't know if it suits you…" Matt claimed.
"Just give it a few days, the look might grow on me." Elias replied.
John called back to Henry. "You got him!"
Henry smiled at a job well done. All these years later and he still had it in him. "Two down, one left! Matt and Elias, you two keep an eye on that farm. The last target will show himself sooner or later."
Now down on the river road running toward St. Louis, Ransom and Ivy turned around as Rocky approached. Half running, half walking, Rocky still hadn't completely recovered from donating blood. The two noticed that Ethan was nowhere to be found.
"Son, what happened?"
"Ethan, he…" Rocky could hardly believe it himself.
"Rocky, where's my brother?" Riley whimpered.
"Oh Riley, I'm so sorry…"
Rocky dropped to his knees and hugged the girl tight. "I saw the shot. I lost sight of him when that express freight went by. Once the train past he just… wasn't there anymore."
"Oh no…" Ivy said, her grip tightening around Joseph's hand.
The news didn't affect Ransom too much, but he remembered what Ethan said. They had to get to safety before their pursuers found their trail. "Rocky, we must keep moving. There's nothing more any of us can do out here."
Riley didn't let go of Rocky as he looked back at the river. "Two brothers gone in one day… dammit!" He said. "But my Dad is right, Riley. We can't stay here. We need to get to town and find a phone.
Bills and paperwork were a never-ending nightmare for Wick as he stayed up late in his office. Something else had been bugging him though. Mitzi didn't reveal every detail, but she said that the boys ran into trouble and Freckle was hurt. While Wick didn't like his estate being the backup headquarters for the Lackadaisy crew, he wasn't about to turn away the same people that kept his favorite underground gin joint stocked with liquor. Checking the clock, it was almost ten. They were supposed to be here two hours ago!
A knock on the door downstairs echoed through the halls. Wick got up and went to let in his expected visitors. As he opened the door, the only face he saw was Isabella's.
"Mrs. Isabella! I see you made it here safely at least. Please, come in. Mitzi is out back in the guest house."
"Thank you, Mr. Sable. Is Ethan back yet? I'm supposed to drive Ivy back to the university."
"I'm afraid not. The lad was due here at eight."
"Do you think something happened?" She asked, taking off her coat.
"Possibly, but if I don't know where they are I can't be much use in driving out there to find them."
"You're right, Mr. Sable. I'm sure they're fine—" Just then the phone started ringing.
"That's probably them right now, in fact!" Wick said as he went to answer the phone.
Picking up the receiver, Wick took a breath and gave his standard greeting. "Hello? This is the Sable Estate."
The voice on the other end was tired, but unmistakably Rocky. "Wick? Can you get Miss M on the line please."
"Of course, where are you boys at?"
"That's what I need to talk to her about." Rocky said, slumping down in the phone booth on the outskirts of town. Ransom helped Ivy and the kids blend into the shadows between two buildings so they wouldn't be spotted.
Mitzi was reading the day's paper when an urgent knocking from Wick spooked her. On the other side of the glass door, he mouthed the words "Rocky is on the phone." Mitzi stretched before walking to the door and slipping outside.
"Something is wrong, Mitzi. He wants to talk to you."
"Oh no, I hope young Calvin pulled through…" She said, thinking of how devastated Rocky would be if his cousin had died during the day.
Walking into the kitchen, she picked up the phone. "Rocky, are you there hon? What's wrong."
"Miss M! I, uh, well…" He couldn't find the words.
"Rocky? It's okay dear, why don't you put Ethan on the line?"
"That's just it, Miss M. Ethan… he's not here."
"What do you mean?"
"H-he… Miss M, Ethan's gone too!" Rocky cried out. "We were ambushed and…"
"What? Rocky, who is with you now?"
"My dad, Ivy, and the kids." Rocky said, wiping his nose. "Ethan stayed back to buy us time."
"Oh…" Mitzi said. "Are you certain that he's…"
"I saw him get shot. It looked like an explosion right next to his face."
Mitzi took a deep breath, trying to process the news. But now her remaining crew plus a couple of children were out in the city somewhere. "Where are you right now, Rocky? Wick and I will come get you all."
Speeding through the night, Wick's big car had enough for everyone inside and the horsepower to get them back quickly. Driving through town at breakneck speeds wasn't how he wanted to spend the evening, but the circumstances being what they were, he was more than happy to lend a hand. Coming up to the address Rocky gave, at first they didn't see anything. Then Rocky waved his hat, signaling to the car where to stop. Loading up, Rocky gestured for Ransom to get in, but he refused.
"It's alright, son. My apartment isn't too far from here and now that everyone is safe, my job here is done for the night."
"You won't come with us?"
"Let's meet up tomorrow, kid. Go get some rest and make sure the kids are doing okay." He said as he slipped into the night.
The ride back was quiet. No one wanted to say much, so Mitzi resigned herself to watching the city go by through the window. Once back, Isabella immediately took Ivy and the kids upstairs to get cleaned up. Now Mitzi found herself alone with a distraught Rocky. She didn't quite know what to do in these situations, but something deep within urged her to say something reassuring.
"So, how is Freckle? Is he going to pull through?"
"I don't know, Miss M. His blood was all over me."
"Oh dear…" She thought.
"Well hon, you did the best you could. And you did the right thing making sure the kids got here safely. I'm sure Ethan, wherever he is, appreciates—" Rocky suddenly wrapped himself around her, sobbing over her shoulder like a kid.
"I lost my mother, my aunt, my cousin, my brother. I failed them all, Miss M!" He cried.
Mitzi was completely caught off guard. Never had she need to comfort anyone like this, especially not a grown man. But then Rocky was a special case. The kid had talent and a smile that rarely faded. And for a time, this same young man was the only thing holding the speakeasy above water. He was drowning himself just to keep the rest of them afloat! She had been too caught up in her own grief over Atlas to notice or care, but now this light in her life was reduced to tears. Though still not comfortable with having to cradle a grown man on the sofa, she decided Rocky would be the rare exception. He needed someone in that moment and she knew more than most what that felt like.
"Shhh… calm down, dear. I'm going to be crying for Ethan too before the night is over. This was a bad day, but there's still hope Freckle will pull through. And I know you're strong enough to get through this."
"I-I don't think I can."
"You will, I know you will. And those two kids are now going to look to you to provide for them."
"Me? Oh no. No, I can't Miss M. Everything I do puts them in danger."
"We're just going to have to be careful, hon."
Isabella could hardly believe what Wick told her. He was… gone. Rocky didn't see him die, but Ethan just disappeared, swallowed up by the black water. Wherever he was, if he was still alive, there was little doubt in her mind that he was injured and half-frozen. She had also heard about Freckle. Sticking to the original plan, Isabella sought out Ivy with a mind to take her back to the campus. She found her upstairs sitting on a bed with Riley, the two holding each other.
Neither were saying anything. Instead Riley was snuggled under Ivy's arm as Ivy stroked the young girl's hair and ears. As upset as Ivy was, she knew Riley had just lost far more.
"Ivy, we should go." Isabella said quietly as she knelt to hold both Ivy's hand and Riley's.
"I promise I'll come back to check on you, Riley. But you're safe here tonight. Try to get some sleep."
Riley nodded her head and fell back into the bed, allowing Isabella to move the covers over her. The two women left Riley to grieve alone, at least for the night. Part of her felt guilty. She should have pushed Ethan to find a way out sooner. She originally didn't have much concern that her boyfriend was protecting a couple of adolescents and a crazy violinist from the enemies of the speakeasy, but it was undeniable now how much pain this line of work was capable of causing and she found herself cursing the situation… and Ethan.
"That poor girl…" Isabella said as she closed the door. "If Ethan shows up, he's going to get an earful."
"But Ethan didn't do anything wrong…" Ivy tried to protest.
"Look, I know he wasn't trying to get himself killed. But putting us all through this… it's too much."
"So what do we do?" Ivy asked.
"I don't know. But the safest place in the city right is on campus. When you get back to your dorm, I suggest not leaving the university until this latest storm passes."
"I won't have to worry about that, they'll never let me leave until my Dad gets here." Ivy said as she put on her coat, her mind still processing all that had happened. Isabella put a hand over Ivy's shoulder. "Calvin will make it, Ivy. And so will Ethan."
The Grieving Process
Rocky dragged himself up the stairs, exhausted and hurt from the crushing weight of the day's events. Everyone else may be telling him that none of this was his fault, but Rocky knew better. Had he just tried to live an honest life, his cousin wouldn't have been shot or estranged from Aunt Nina. If he didn't try to recruit Ethan, he might not have become a brother to the Montanan, but Ethan and Riley would still have each other. The faint sound of crying in Riley's room made Rocky pause.
Cracking open the door, Rocky poked his head in and peered through the darkness, spotting Riley curled up in a ball under the covers. This little girl that had been there for him now needed someone, and Rocky was it.
"Riley?" He asked softly as he snuck up to the bed.
"Rocky…" She replied between sobs.
"I am so sorry for all that's happened." He said, sitting down and swinging his legs up onto the bed so that he was next to the girl.
Riley poked her head out from under the covers and immediately moved to curl up next to him. Rocky hesitated with his hand in the air. Taking a deep breath, he let his hand down gently until it rested on Riley's head. He remembered the feeling all too well. His mother had just died and he couldn't muster the will to get out of bed. It was one of the few times he recalled Aunt Nina showing her softer side as she came into the room. Having lost her sister, the two had grieved together in silence. Now it was his turn to do the same.
"I love Ethan, Riley. And I hope that he comes back to us. But if he doesn't, I won't abandon you."
"I want to go home…" Riley said.
"Back to the farm? I suppose we will in a couple of day—"
"No, back to Montana. When I had all my brothers."
"Well… you've still got one here." Rocky said before the two sat in silence. After a short while, Rocky could sense that the girl was finally asleep. Hoping that she was now off on some happier adventure, Rocky pulled himself from the bed and retreated to the other guest room. Laying down, the exhaustion he had been fighting all night was finally able to overwhelm him. But just before he dozed off, another kitten made his presence known. "Rocky? I can't sleep."
Rocky opened his eyes and met Joseph's. "Too much trauma for one night?" He asked. Joseph nodded before looking away sheepishly. Rocky could guess what the boy wanted.
"Here, climb up. I'll make room." Rocky said as he moved over. In an instant, the kid he promised to keep safe was now next to him, head resting on Rocky's arm. It was a rare moment of clarity for the grey tabby. He truly was all these two kids had right now, and he was responsible for them both. The thought scared him like nothing else, what sort of wisdom was there in putting him in such a position? A few months ago he had been living out of a car that wasn't even his. Now he might have to deal with keeping two kids safe all by himself. Rocky didn't get much sleep as the night wore on as the thought weighed heavy in his mind.
But one thing was certain. Rocky was determined to try his best. He wasn't going to go anywhere.
Zib awoke to the sound of crashing in the back rooms. Thinking there was an intruder, Zib grabbed his bat and crept back into the caverns. He had no idea what time it was and didn't much care. Rounding the corner, he expected to find some bum rummaging through their stockpile of booze. Instead, he found himself face to face with Mitzi, already several drinks deep. It appeared that she was trying to reclaim her "Tipsy Mitzi" namesake from the glory days.
"Mitzi, what are you doing?"
"Oh, hello Zib. I'm… I just needed a drink."
"I see that. Do you have any idea what time it is?" Zib said as he rubbed his eyes.
Mitzi's eyes widened. "Oh, I'm so sorry Zib. I didn't think you'd still be asleep."
"No, I'm serious. What time is it? I don't even know if it's night or day down here."
Mitzi chuckled before answering. "Hon, it's ten in the morning."
"Ah great…" Zib shook his head. "So it is too early. But that doesn't explain why you're back here digging around in the booze closet."
"It's Ethan." Miss M said, wiping tears from her eyes. "He was shot last night."
"What? How? What about Rocky?" Zib exclaimed.
"Rocky isn't taking it well. They were ambushed. Zib, have you ever seen a grown man cry?"
"I wouldn't exactly consider Rocky a 'grown' man, Mitzi. But this is… first Freckle and now this. What's next?"
"I don't know." Mitzi said, looking down in sadness.
Zib shook his head in disappointment. He always knew more than he let on and could have predicted something like this, finally dooming the speakeasy. "You know, as long as we've got all this coffin varnish to ourselves, we may as well take advantage of the ample supply."
"Ugh, I shouldn't be drinking this early." Mitzi replied, unable to look at her own reflection in the bottle.
"So you're feeling guilty, are you? Come on then, let your personal philosopher share in the grief… over at the bar."
Sitting down, Mitzi poured a glass for both. She couldn't help but cry knowing that one of her crew, and possibly two, had just taken a bullet for the place. "You know, I couldn't quite express it until now. But since the quarry incident, I've worried about making the same mistakes as before. Poor Viktor didn't deserve his fate, and neither does Calvin or Ethan."
Zib hummed in agreement before lighting up a cigarette. "All true, and I'm glad to see my old friend hasn't lost her heart. But we can't change the past. All we can do is move forward. So I guess the only question worth asking is, what now boss?"
"I don't know…" Mitzi repeated. "Without those boys we can't keep this operation going."
"Then close it."
"What?"
"Close Lackadaisy. Mitzi, you know I've enjoyed being here. The place has a certain energy to it. But if our boys are getting hurt or killed just to keep this operation going, then I say we need to lay low and let this storm pass rather than try to fight it. When it's all said and done, this place is just a fancy cave."
Mitzi thought it over for a while before finally agreeing. "You're right, Zib. I don't want to make the same mistake again. Time to make a different choice before we lose anyone else."
"I'll tell the band when they've slept off last-night's work." Zib said before polishing off his shot glass and standing up to stretch. As he did so, he happened to glance upward at that portrait of Atlas, staring down at them disapprovingly. Ethan had salvaged it from the ruins of the speakeasy months ago and found someone who could clean it up. Now the man's legacy was the very thing that had caused so much pain.
Something else caught Zib's eye though. Everything was where it should be, but something was missing. It was above Viktor's picture and next to his war medals. Where the rifle once was, there were now two empty hooks.
"Yeah dad. Everything is… fine." Ivy said on the phone. "Oh, the letter? Yeah, I've been getting carried away with things outside of cl— Yes dad, I understand. I won't leave campus until you come to town. I- okay, I will. Love you too." She sighed deeply after hanging up the phone. Ruby wasn't going to be pleased to learn about the extent of her exploits at the speakeasy. But there was no way to avoid it, so all she could do was keep her head down and do her school work for once.
Up in the dorm room, she cracked open her textbook, still emitting the fresh scent that a new book off the press has. At least she could return them at the end of the semester and get most of the money back. Her general studies were far more boring than the adventures she had been having with the boys, and yet the previous night had given her a different perspective on things. Growing up around the speakeasy, she had never known the dangers of work. Looking back, Her dad and Mitzi made sure she was never in any serious peril. Viktor, Atlas, and even Mordecai had taken steps to keep her from seeing the horrors of running a bootlegging operation. The past few months were eye opening in many ways.
Her first time sensing real fear was when she was tied up in the bottom of the quarry. But Ethan and Calvin came to save them all. Even when with Rocky, as zany as he was, she at least had the comfort of knowing he'd gladly take a burst from a Thompson if it meant she would make it back safely. Now it was over, and that was almost as sad as the thought of losing Calvin. Even then, she didn't feel like her own life was at serious risk, but now her last shield was gone. Calvin couldn't be expected to do anything even if he pulls through, and Ethan had been pulled down by the Missouri. It was noon now and there still was no news. That could be good or bad concerning her boyfriend. Most likely he just hasn't woken up yet. But Ethan was a different matter. If he had somehow survived, he would try to make contact, right?
A sudden knock on the door pulled Ivy from her textbook and her thoughts. "It's open!" She called.
Alena nearly burst through the door and immediately bundled Ivy up in a hug. "I heard what happened, Ivy. I'm so glad you're okay though. You are okay, right?"
"Besides my ribs?" Ivy gasped. Alena had clearly inherited Viktor's strength. Or at least as much strength as a woman could possess.
"Oh, sorry." She said, backing off.
"It's okay. I'm glad you're here." Ivy replied, sitting back down. Alena did the same, taking a seat on the bed. "So, is it true? Is Freckle…"
"He's not dead, as far as I know. But he's been shot. It was… oh God…" Ivy couldn't contain herself as she started to quietly cry. Alena noticed that the bedding was tear stained as well. "And Ethan?"
"We don't know, but he hasn't shown up yet. Rocky saw him get shot too…" Ivy said, wiping her eyes. "He's probably dead, isn't he?"
Alena could hardly believe it. Ethan was one of the first to welcome her to St. Louis. He was like a watchful guardian to everyone. A service that they had sometimes taken for granted.
"You know, even if Ethan is dead, he'll still be guarding us."
"What do you mean?" Ivy asked, tilting her head in curiosity while picking up a handkerchief.
"According to Slavic tradition, those who meet a violent end are said to be stuck between our world and the land of the dead. Yet, those who lived honorably will continue to guard the living."
"Wouldn't dying in a shoot out with the mob be a violent death?" Ivy pointed out.
"Well, yes. But he did what he did to protect his family. To protect you. Isn't that noble enough?"
"Maybe you're right, Alena. But I hope that he's still out there and will come back when he's able."
"Perhaps he is, and I hope so too. Anyway, I came by to ask if you wanted to eat lunch together?"
"I can't leave campus, Alena. If I do leave and get caught, the University is going to suspend me. Sorry, but I'm stuck here."
"Then we can go to the cafeteria. Come on, you can't sit up here all day thinking about what has already happened."
Failure
Schoolwork and clothes, that's what the kids needed and that's what Rocky was going to get. He had to hitchhike his way out of town but now he was within sight of the farm house. Was it dangerous and stupid? Sure, but that was just a regular Tuesday for the grey tabby cat. At the end of the day Riley and Joseph couldn't keep wearing the same set of clothes forever and they were going to need to go back to school as soon as possible. There was also one item of value which had been left behind in the frantic scramble to get Freckle to Defiance, his violin. He had set it in the back of the truck when arguing with Ethan, and if left out in the elements the poor instrument would be reduced to a pile of soggy toothpicks.
Ethan. Being mad at him felt silly now. He was only doing what an older brother would do. True, Ethan didn't understand his father like Rocky did, but all that was in the past now. IF he could just talk to him one more time… let him know they'd be okay one way or another… no, he shouldn't think like that! Rocky focused on the task at hand. The farmyard was quiet. No signs of life came from the house or the barn. Perhaps the thugs had moved on after cornering them all at the railroad bridge? That was all he could hope for at this point.
Sneaking across the farmyard and onto the porch, Rocky cautiously entered the house, checking every inch of the place to make sure there were no hidden dangers. Seeing none, he got to work. He'd have to get the farm truck started and motor back into town. The old machine was slow, but its all he had now that the sedan was broken down and abandoned across the river. Just as he was about to leave the house, a loud click behind him made Rocky freeze.
"Well, look who finally showed up." Elias said. "I guess old Henry was right after all."
"We were beginning to think he was just making us waste our time." Matt added. "Now go ahead and turn around nice and slow."
Rocky did as he was ordered, standing up with his arms raised. He immediately noticed that one of the thugs had taken a liking to Ethan's campaign hat. It still sported a small hole and blood from the shootout. "You know, I've lost enough teeth doing this job. Could you just rough me up a bit and move on?"
"Oh, you won't have to worry about your teeth. We aren't looking to rough anyone up." Elias said, a grin spreading from ear to ear.
"Splendid! Then I'll just collect my things and—"
"We just want your life."
"Ah Hell…" Rocky said as his hands were bound by rope. He was escorted to the other side of the property near where the unfinished moonshine still laid in pieces. He noticed that the blood in the grass had dried into a deep velvet color. Rocky's stomach was in his throat. His mind scrambled to find a solution to his current predicament, but none could be found. The reaper was close and he had nowhere to run.
"I don't suppose there's anyway we could just sit down and talk this out? You've already gotten the two you were after, I'm just a violinist."
"Violinist, huh? Well, now that changes everything!" Matt said, checking his gun. "I'm going to put one in you and the rest in that damned instrument. You have any idea how many good gangsters we had to bury because of your friend?"
"Not enough, I'm guessing." Rocky said, his expression turning more serious.
"Say, that reminds me. The one Henry got last night. Was that the ghost? We've been having a bet about who it is we were hunting."
"You think I'd give up my friend that easily?"
"He's dead, remember?" Elias said. "And you're going to be soon, so you might as well just confirm it."
"Fine… Yes, he was the ghost every gangster in the city has been so scared of. Turns out he's as much flesh and blood as the rest of us."
"Yeah, it's sad when a legend becomes myth, isn't it. And what kind of stories will they tell about you, violinist?"
"I'd prefer to tell my own grandkids the story of how I escaped two witless rubes and—" Rocky suddenly got smacked hard with a pistol, falling to his knees, blood gushing from his cheek and nose.
"Keep talking like that and I'll make sure those are your last words." Matt growled.
As they all stumbled through the fields, Rocky came upon a lone shovel and a pile of dirt next to a hole. "Oh, well this is a classic, isn't it? Shallow grave in the back forty."
"Let's make this quick, shall we?" Elias said, taking Ethan's hat off and holding it to his chest. "Now, you want to get anything else off your chest before we get this over with?"
"So you are giving me last words? Gee, I wish there was more time to prepare."
"Yeah, well, we don't all get to choose our time and place, do we? So get on with it so we can get back to more important matters." Matt scoffed.
"If you insist. Let's see. First, I guess it's odd to be speaking at one's own funeral. It would have been nice to have a priest here, but I doubt it would make much difference for this pitiful sinner. Second, could you at least give me the courtesy of not wearing my dead brother's hat around? That's just petty."
Elias looked at Rocky then at Matt before answering. "No."
"Like I said, petty."
"Is that it?" Matt said, readying his pistol.
Rocky held up one finger from his bound hands. "Come on, at least give me some courtesy. I want my last words to be meaningful."
"You can think about it as you get on your knees. We'll wait."
Rocky fell to his knees, the grave staring at him in the face. He let out a crazed laugh, buying as much time as he could. His mind raced to find a way out, but there was none. His mind flashed over the events of his life. His mother, his childhood, his teen years, roaming around the west, playing with the band in the speakeasy, fighting alongside Ethan. So many adventures and loads of fun. But there was something stringing them all together. A deep sadness, like something was missing. Finally at the end of his rope, Rocky was staring at that ever-present void in his life, and it finally stared back at him. He could no longer avoid the truth that despite all efforts, he was about to die alone in some field. A failure to everyone he knew. If things had been different, he could have been more than some forgotten corpse in a field. For a moment, he prayed that something, anything at all, would give him another chance. And yet… nothing.
"I… I wish I could have been better." Rocky said as he looked up at the sky before turning back at his executioners. "Oh, just get on with it. The show must end sometime."
Elias cocked the hammer back on his revolver, taking a deep breath as the sights aligned themselves with the back of Rocky's head. "At least it's a good day to die."
"As good as any other I suppose." Rocky said, lowering his head.
Bang.