A Crisis With Hop

Final Battle

Luke came up soon after we finished our drinks. "Go back down to him, he'll be a little less abusive."

I poured Luke a drink. Straight whiskey as he preferred it.

"No. Let him spend a little time all balled up." I suggested. "He'll be even more receptive when you come around next time."

Carol smiled at me. "You read my mind."

"I'll tell him you already left." Luke said. "It will give him some time to really think."

About this time we heard the shots from outside. I remembered the rapid shots from when I was held up in a Southern manor and Luke's men had set up machine guns at either end of the house to stop a rival gang from burning down the manor and us in it.

Luke grabbed Carol and pushed her to the ground covering her with his own body. I ducked behind the bar where I was mixing drinks. None of the shots made it inside of the closed speakeasy. Luke drew his revolver. The two other men came charging up the stairs with Phillip behind them. Both men carried altered shot guns. With their triggers wired so that the shotguns fired as fast as they could pump the shells into the chamber.

As Carol and I cowered behind the bar with Phillip. Whom I admit was shaking as we were.

Luke and the two men charged out the door. There were no further shots. Much to my relief. That would mean Luke wasn't in any danger. Luke came in with Henry and the other two men. I would learn later that they had fired into the cab of our Silver Ghost. Missing Henry, but only because he had the presence of mind to duck when he saw the barrel sticking out the window of a car as it passed.

We didn't have to guess who it ordered the hit. By this time Luke had a name. Mitchell O'Dea. An Irish gang syndicate operative. Apparently a different syndicate from the Irish gang Luke appeared to operate with. I learned since my time with Luke that different ethnic cultures had different crime syndicates in most major cities. Many of them weren't exclusively of one culture. Just most of the leaders of that syndicate. The soldier's cultural backgrounds might vary.

"It's time to pay Mister O'dea a visit." Luke said. "Phillip, I can't spare these men anymore. Can we let you go home with your wife assured that you won't hit her again?"

"If she'll still have me." Phillip said. "I don't want to hold you back either way."

"I assure you, you won't." Luke told him. Giving him a hard stare.

Henry drove Phillip and Carol to their home. I was driven back to the mansion. Luke was setting things in motion. He would spare no resources for this particular raid. Only Henry would be left behind to guard me and protect the mansion. Marco had taken Tony with him. He was gathering his own men. O'Brian and Thane were with Luke in the makeshift headquarters in the old speakeasy.

Waiting is the hardest part for me. Sitting in that mansion waiting for Luke to come back alive. If something happened to Luke, I doubted I would survive long. I would lose this lavish lifestyle I am used to, at the very least. More likely I would be killed as another liability to the winning side. Even if Luke's men win and he is killed. Marco would most likely take control. I had no doubt what would happen to me then. Marco would not want me alive for fear of my controlling the organization.

I would learn later that the sudden attack on the kingpin's lair was a complete surprise. He had ordered hits on several of Luke's men. Only O'Dea's men couldn't find Luke's men. That was because they had all been gathered up for the raid. All accept one. O'Dea's men attacked the mansion.

In the same manner that they had shot at Henry. Putting holes in that lovely Silver Ghost that Henry drove Luke and I around in. A car passed through our circular drive and shot out the bottom windows of the mansion. The front foyer that was empty. The Dining Room likewise empty and the billiard room which was empty. I was not particularly upset by the bullet holes in the furniture and walls. I had wanted to remodel anyway. Although Henry was angry they shot the pool table up.

I suppose we were fortunate that the men did not get out of the car and finish the job by hunting down the staff and I. Of course this was merely met to be intimidation. After the shooting I phoned Rae from Luke's office. The hall phone had a bullet in it. Warning her there could be trouble. Rae made a call to Zach Nathon who came by with a couple of officers which he assigned outside of Rae's theater. Which seemed to be sufficient since no one bothered the Warehouse Theater.

I was surprised to find Zach Nathon knocking on Luke's bullet ridden door. One thing I learned was to treat people graciously until they proved they didn't deserve it. Zach was happy to sit down in our living room off of the foyer, where no bullets had penetrated. I had the maid serve coffee. My dear Clara had been busy directing the clean up of the rooms that O'Dea's men shot up. Making her the head of the household staff means I simply can't manipulate her time the way I used to.

"Surely, by now, you are beginning to realize the seriousness of your situation, Miss Cross." Zach said. "You could have been in the path of those bullets."

"I would think that you would be more interested in catching the men who did this, than interrogating me." I took a sip of my coffee.

Zach seemed cautious of the delicate coffee service cup. Little did he know how many of these coffee cups and saucers I have broken. I tend to be a little clumsy. I simply have the worse luck where breakable things are concerned.

"Miss Cross, this is a very serious situation." Zach might have been more intimidating if he didn't look so uncomfortable. "You could easily be caught up in Luke Mason's illegal activities. If you are willing to talk about this I can help you get out of this business. I can promise you protection if you are afraid to come forward."

"Illegal activities?" I feigned shock. "Surely you are mistaken. Luke runs a legally sound business of pleasure boats. There are no laws against it."

"I'm talking about the speakeasies. The ones that are usually behind the supposedly legal activities Luke engages in." Zach said. "The murder, kidnapping, and other crimes we know that Luke Mason is involved in."

"If you know this for a fact." I said. "Why don't you arrest Luke?"

"There is a lack of actual evidence." Zach allowed the maid to refill his cup. I suspected that this might be a ploy for free coffee. Why would I willingly betray Luke when he is loaded with sugar, and satisfied with being my sugar daddy.

"When you get the evidence. Please, let me know." I escorted Zach out.