I listened in on my radio as it played out a ritzy jazz tune. I tapped the side of my desk as the rhythm made my mind wander. Soon my eyes closed and I drifted off into a tranquil state. A knock at my door alerted me back to reality. My aide, Jenny, came with a nicely dressed man. Which was a rarity considering what the rest of the country was like. Hell, considering what the world was like.
He coughed for a moment and looked down at me. Surprisingly not my boobs though, which to be fair, weren't that big compared to other women. Anyways, back onto track, I looked over the man's face waiting for what he said next.
"Are you Patricia Delacroix?" He told me. I smiled, with one hand I pointed out my name plate in gold. Which was just painted that way, I wouldn't keep actual gold in the presence of others in this day and age.
"At your service, what can I do for you?" I asked. I shook his hand which made my boobs wobble for a bit. It smacked down against my desk, but my extra strength bra did its job. He sat himself down on a chair and began to discuss his woes.
"My name is Dan Mackenzie an-"
I interrupted his sentence to put in my own observations. "Mackenzie? Any relations to Lisa Mackenzie?"
"Nephew." The poor boy blushed at that. I groaned though at his words, internally of course. The Mackenzie's were the biggest crime family in the upper northside of the city. They beat back the mafia even when the Italians brought in major firepower. Even when the mafia lit two blocks on fire. It was bloody but the Irish still stood tall. I tried to remember if Dan was one of those who stood beside Lisa, but nothing came to light.
I knew she had many nieces and nephews for the life of me though I couldn't find a Dan in my mind. I'd sort that out later as I refocused my attention onto my client.
"So what do you need?"
Dan slid a piece of paper across to me, it was a photo of a diamond ring with intricate spirals. Reminded me of an Oriental vase or various other riches of that like. I looked up at Dan to let him explain himself.
"It's a ring." Was all he stated either he got tongued tied or he wanted the obvious pointed because he didn't say anything for awhile until I spoke.
"I thought it was an amulet, I thank you for the clarification. What's so special about it?"
"It's the ring Auntie took from Chinese Lance. It represents the unity of our factions in the face of the mob."
I nodded at his words. I always had an inkling that the Chinese helped the Irish when the Mafia came rushing into their turf. I just never had the curiosity to see it thoroughly investigated. Odd that he was telling me this, unless...
"What happened to it?"
"I...I lost it." Dan said his words like they were a pain to say. I blinked at him in surprise.
"Why'd you have it in the first place?"
"My auntie asked my mom for a favor; we aren't part of the business, so I was told to keep it. Yeah we have the same name as auntie, but my mom makes sure that none of us are seen with her. So I guess it fell to us to keep the thing all nice and tucked away. I was supposed to keep it for a few days, I don't know why auntie's men couldn't just have it in their hideaways. Everything was fine, that was until yesterday I got my home broken into and found out that the ring's gone missing." Dan explained.
"So have you've gone to the cops yet?" I asked. He shook his head. Smart guy, I knew at least six cops were on the mob's payroll so If this got out it would've been a disaster.
"Why'd you come to me anyways?"
"Auntie's said you were good people." Dan answered. I felt touched at that, if not for the fact Lisa was a goddamned kingpin. "Look, I'll pay you seventy-five of what my aunt gave to me for keeping the ring if you'd help out. All in cash."
The poor guy looked destitute at the thought of failing his aunt. If it was anyone else I probably would've helped, but an idea popped into head. I could just deny the looking for the ring and let it rot, it's not like I had any love for the Chinese underworld and Irish here. Let them duke it over this fancy ring, which I wondered why it was so important besides it representing their hand-holding. At the same time, the mafia could come in and take what was left of this city. Well besides the docks at any rate.
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