It had been another busy day on Vegas’ streets, the business district was booming and cash was flowing in nicely. Seanie was finished for the day so decided to head to his favourite club to unwind. As he got there, he was greeted by lots of familiar faces, as well as a few not so familiar ones.

“Welcome gentlemen” Seanie gestured to the two men to join him. “Are you new to Vegas? Don’t remember seeing you guys here before.” The two mysterious men ordered a drink and offered to buy one for Seanie.

“We’re from Detroit, we’ve come here on business. We need to discuss something with you, something that will earn you a considerable amount of instant cash.” Seanie sat up tall, the thoughts of instant cash appealed to him, he was a money man after all. “Meet us properly at this location in one hour, we’ll discuss the terms and the matter that needs attending” With that, the two men downed their drinks and walked out, leaving Seanie to his drink and his thoughts.

Thirty minutes had passed and Seanie figured he must be on his way to this meeting. A potential life-changing amount of money could be heading his way. If only he knew what was required of him. As he headed to the exit door, he couldn’t help but feel funny. The room was spinning, the door seemed to be getting further away. Did he really drink that much? What was happening? “Watch it!” shouted the doorman as Seanie unceremoniously crashed into him. With that, Seanie was tossed to the kerb.

As he stumbled to his feet, he tried to compose himself, but it was no good. He couldn’t control his body and his mind was playing tricks on him.

“Move it old timer!” came a voice from a young lad in front of him. Seanie’s head was gone. He wasn’t thinking straight. In an instant, he drew his gun and pulled the trigger. The young lad dodged it and escaped. Crowds gathered and Seanie was hauled into the station for questioning.

Luckily, he was bailed by two guys that he recognised. It was the Detroit lads again. Seanie was starting to come to his senses. He thanked the men, but they said nothing. They simply escorted him to their meeting place.

“Sit down” ordered a deep voice from the shadowy corner. “I need someone taking care of, and I know he’s currently here in Vegas. I hear you’re the man for the job, your reputation exceeds you”. The man slides a picture towards Seanie. “Get rid of him and the cash is yours, deal?”

Seanie took one look at the picture. He recognised that young lad instantly……….”Shit!”

John was newly homeless, having just moved to New York from his quiet midwestern life, he was struggling to find work and make enough to survive. He had all intentions of finding honest work and making a good living, but he was quickly swallowed up by the New York underworld. John quickly graduated from petty robberies and street scams to strong-armed robberies and B&E’s.

Though he had only been in New York for the last six months he was already starting to gain a reputation as a skilled criminal in the eyes of his peers and his rivals. John soon set to start his own crew, they all had the same aspirations to get off the streets and get into their own fancy HQ, and nobody was going to tell them what to do anymore.

John was ready to move up in the world, no one to answer to and no more hard living on the streets; and most importantly, he knew what he needed to do to get there. 

Several weeks earlier, John had been casing a small jewelry store when he noticed several men in fancy, expensive suits entering through the backdoor of the local butcher shop. Fueled by his curiosity he began prowling around the butcher shop trying to catch a glimpse of the activity inside. Finding a small window to peer through, John was able to see inside.

Much to his delight, John had discovered an underground poker room and not just any poker room. The participants all wore expensive suits, fine jewelry and watches. These fools had more money than sense and John thought, ‘Who is better than himself’ to profit from this discovery. 

John spent the following weeks casing the butcher shop more thoroughly; taking notes of the employees, customers, shipments and most importantly the comings and goings every Saturday night in the poker room. John had estimated that more than $500,000 in cash and jewelry were in that back room on any given Saturday. John made the plan, he had lookouts on the street corners, John and three of his best would go in, secure the room, get the loot and get out. 

As Saturday night rolled around John and his boys took up their positions and stormed the butcher shop poker room. All in all, John made it out of the poker room with $556,017 and not a single shot fired; far easier than John or anyone else expected it to be. They almost just let him walk out with the money, but John wasn’t concerned, by the time anyone knew what was happening John was already back at his hideout celebrating with his gang ready to move up in the world. 

Two weeks had passed since the poker room job. John was sitting inside his newly purchased apartment, sipping a cup of coffee when he received a coded knock at the door, a delivery from one of his guys. John checked the peephole, saw the familiar face and quickly opened the door.

“Letter came for ya boss. It’s from the Costello family over on 42nd Street. They wanna have a meeting wit ya’s. Could be big for us boss.”

John’s outward expression did little to betray his inward excitement, but as soon as he shut the door he tore open the letter and began to read the letter; an invitation for drinks and a show afterwards with THE Frank Costello. The invitation was for later that evening so John spent the day preparing, suit cleaned and pressed, shoes freshly polished and shined. He even spent some time working on his introduction and handshake, if he ever needed to impress someone this was the man to impress. 

Later that evening John found himself outside Frank Costello’s social club. He was a bit early for his meeting, but greeted the doorman and gave him name. The doorman nodded without needing to check the guest-list and opened the way for John to enter. Despite it still being early in the evening the club was already filled with patrons and merriment; John was beginning to relax and made his way to the bar to get a drink while he waited. He made eye contact with the bartender and waved him over.

The bartender, an older gentleman with graying hair, greeted him with a warm smile. John ordered a whiskey and ginger, turning himself away from the bar to observe and soak up his surroundings; he hadn’t spent much time with the well-to-do, but he was finding himself getting used to the idea of hanging out in places like this.

Turning back to the bar, John was greeted by the smiling face of the bartender holding the expertly crafted cocktail in front of him. As he slid the drink across the bar to John, he leaned in and whispered to him, “Mr. Costello will see you now. He’s waiting upstairs. Thought you might need some liquid courage.” The bartender winked and turned his attention to someone at the other end of the bar. 

John could feel the dryness of his throat as the bubbling excitement and nervousness began to set into panic. In an attempt to steel himself from the onslaught of emotions John quickly downed his drink, sweeter than his usual drink; better quality liquor he thought to himself as he pushed himself away from the bar and started towards the stairs.

John made his way across the room towards the stairs. He was stopped at the bottom of the stairs by two men in suits, they quickly frisked John, removing his gun then allowed him to continue upstairs. John followed a small narrow hallway towards an office situated at the end of the hall. The closer John got to the office the more tight and constricting the hallway felt; every step he could feel his heart beating faster and harder. As he reached for the door handle, it felt as if time slowed down. He could still feel his heart beating furiously in his chest. The door handle turned and as the door opened John saw Frank Costello sitting behind his desk waiting for him. 

John took one final deep breath and took a step into the room. As he did, everything went dark for John.

Frank Costello and his men watched as John convulsed on the floor and foamed at the mouth. After a few moments, John stopped moving, and the bartender appeared in the doorway. Frank Costello looked up from the dead body on the ground to the bartender, and the bartender spoke,

“My apologies Mr. Costello. Perhaps I was a bit heavy-handed tonight, I thought our dear friend would be able to handle the poison a bit better. It seems it worked its way to his heart quicker than I expected.”

Frank nodded at the bartender and then spoke to two of the guards in the room. 

“Get the body of that no-good thief out of here, and make sure his boys find the body. I want them to know that NOBODY tries to muscle into my territory and NOBODY robs my interests. Let this chump be a lesson to all those half-wit pricks out there messing with forces they don’t understand. This is the price of doing business in my city.”  
 

Time: 8:55am

Place: TipToeTimmy’s office

The walls were warping around Tommo, try as he might to focus on one spot it all seemed too fleeting. A clock would seem like salvation until a second later it was gone, lost in the dizzying waltz his mind seemed to be dancing. The most important moment in his life and he was about to throw it all away. All the blood, sweat and tears he had spent in the last few months would be wasted if he couldn’t get a handle on the situation. 

His friend Jack had been the one to suggest stealing cars in South Side, Tommo had thought this was just a small play to earn some quick cash but it turned out to be much more. What Jack hadn’t told him was he was doing this for TipToeTimmy, a name Tommo had heard only uttered in hushed voices in dark corners of the bars his ma told him not to spend time in. It turned out Timmy had a rival with a used car business and if a few of those cars went missing then it was suggested there would be more lucrative work to come their way. So the cars went missing and on his word more and more work was sent their way, a store to extort here, a truck to rob there and that’s how it went for three months. Three months until Tommo was in his favourite diner and the phone called for him. “Come to the office, 9 am sharp, wear a suit, don’t be late” the line died. 

Time: 8:45

Place: TipToeTimmy’s office

“Refreshment? A glass of water?” Ask a young lad wearing a flat cap and suit two sizes too big for him. Sipping on the water, Tommo couldn’t see or taste the powder whirling around within the glass. It started with sweat, his palms becoming clammy but that was just the nerves he thought. Nervous because he wasn’t sure if this meeting was him finally being brought into the crew or something much worse perhaps he had messed up somehow. Ten minutes later and the walls are spinning, sweat is dripping and he’s now more nervous than his ever been. Was it the water? He thought, he had to find that kid. Standing up and trying to look around for the flat capped boy “Tommo, come in here” a voice called from within the office. 

Blinking slowly, catching his breath, putting on foot in front of the other, carefully. Tommo made it into the office. Wiping his clammy hand on the back on his trousers he put it out to shake Timmy’s. Timmy motioned to the set in front of him and lit a cigar, “Would you like one? These are the best cigars in town” Tommo accepted, even in the fog he currently found himself in he knew you never refused a gift from a boss especially in a one on one. He twirled the cigar in his hands, trying to cut the end off but making a bad show of it. “…and helping with some problems I hear?” Looking up whilst Timmy was mid sentence he realised he’d missed the other half, “yeah uh yeah boss, I’ve been doing my big I guess” Tommo stuttered. “You guess? A man needs to be certain, especially in this line of work. Talkin’ about work, you’ve proven yourself to be dependable and I need that, especially for the work I have lined up. Consider yourself part of the crew, work hard, pay up and one day you could be sitting at a desk like this”. Tommo couldn’t believe it, even in his current state he understood the importance of what was said “Yes boss, thank you boss, I won’t let you down” he let out. The air in the office changed and Timmy’s face shifted “Now leave, and if you ever come into my office high again you won’t be leaving, Understand? That shit is for the customers not us.” Time stood still for a moment until Tommo found himself back in the hallway with the door slamming behind him. 

So now left with an opportunity and an angry boss, there was only one way forward, make as much money as he could in as little time as possible. And more importantly where had that kid gone and why the hell had he spiked him.

...**an empty glass clangs onto the table**...

Hons: "Is this drink spiked?....Eughh. I knew this bar was sleezy but I did not expect them to spike their drinks...drinks."

(Narrated in Hons voice) A lady walks over to my table, I could hear her coming from her high heels knocking against the cold tiled flooring. I look up to see she is very attractive, but clearly only here for business.

Secretary: "Hons, the boss will see you now"

Hons: "I'll be right over"

**actions**
I try to stand and have a sudden rush to my head..

Hons: "What is this?..." 

**actions**
The spiked drink had taken effect and I could feel myself passing out falling to the ground. **THUD**

**actions**
**Gains consciousness and opens eyes slowly**

____

Hons: "Eughh..."

Boss: "Hons, no time for this. You are here on business, you know I would not let you meet with me sober. We have a full load of drugs coming in, Marijuana...tightly wrapped, I hate the smell, don't you?"

**The boss looks over to his secretary**

Boss: "Opium, Morphine, Barbiturates, Heroine and Cocaine, they are a tester only and we will be getting larger amounts once we knew the product is good. Once the delivery comes in I want you to check over and make sure everything is there. Call me on the nearest phone to confirm... then go and deliver it. I will organise you a nice car...something you like eh'."

Hons: "Yeah, sure. Give me the details and I will get items."

Boss: "Good, next time we wont be meeting in this cheap bar, I will take you somewhere nice". 

Hons leaves the bar and sees a bunch of mobsters in discussion. He doesn't pay any attention, I wonder why their boss wanted me to do this job anyway, he has these guys here. Maybe he knows that I can drive...after all not everyone can drive as well as I can. He takes out a cigarette and kneels up on a fence to take a smoke. 

"I'm glad this meeting went well, I know if I can do this job it puts me in a position to be set for life. It's not easy doing something like this, I hope I can make this my regular route."

Hons seemed a little nervous, maybe it was more excitement to successfully complete his first job for the crew boss. He isn't a direct member of theirs, more of an associate. 

"I was lucky the boss took a liking to me as well, if he spikes everyone who meets him then I am will need to be careful."

It was clearly a little frustrating for Hons that his drink was spiked, he shook it off and began to walk away.

____

Boss: "This Hons guy better do what I ask. It's not a difficult job but I cannot trust these dummies. They are heavies, good for the hustle and bustle. I cannot trust them on a job like this."

The secretary walks over to a cheap drinks cabinet which is holding some pretty expensive alcohol. 

Boss: "Pour my two glasses and sit down...I need sit down"

The secretary picks up a well structured document and shows it to the boss, lifting her leg slightly, her skirt rides up her leg almost exposing her lingerie.

Boss: "What is this?...wait... isn't this the information Hons needs?"

He frantically paces back and fourth with alcohol swigging in his glass, splashing onto the floor.

Boss: "Aghhhhhhhhh!!!!, go and tell one of those dummies to find Hons and give him his this information"

The secretary quickly runs downstairs with the information and finds the other mobsters. 

____

**loud whistle**

Mobster: "The boss said you needed this..."

Hons: "Yeah, thanks".

Hons takes the paper and the scene fades with him continuing walking away.

We were on the court’s lunch break for the capital murder trial of Los Angeles vs Meadow.  I was summoned by the courts to testify for the prosecutors.  I couldn’t eat much, I was a bunch of nervous. I couldn’t testify too much for I didn’t know much. My bodyguard Whisper and I decided to sit at the bar and have a shot. We ordered shots of Hennessey and was about to down them when two Feds came by talking shit and I had to calm Whispers.  Whispers was called Whispers because he got shot in the throat and whispered.  The FEDs are always trying to fuck with us he said. I picked up the shot glass threw the Hennessey back, and felt the warmth down my throat and stomach.

As Whisper and I sat there talking he started looking at me strangely.  He started trying to huss me up.  Then he quickly laid a twenty on the bar, stuffed my purse in my arms, grabbed me by the arm, and rushed me out of the restaurant.

He went to the corner pay phone and I could hear him say.  She is talking out of my head. I think they spiked her drink with some kind of truth serum. What am I going to do she is supposed to appear back in court in around 10 minutes.  Fuck how I am supposed to stall them. You better fucking hurry up.

Whisper did all he could to stall but ran out of time. The Judge said Spicy had 5 minutes to appear or she would be held in contempt of court.

Come on Spicy you need to chill.  Just don’t say anything. Help is on the way.

Call your next witness the judge said.

  Spicy walked up to the witness stand and the court clerk told her to raise her right hand, place the left on the Bible, and swear to tell the truth. Spicy with a loud voice told the Judge she was not swearing to a mother fucking thing.  She didn’t do shit, She didn’t hear shit and she didn't know shit.  The Judge went crazy with his gravel.  

Whispers just dropped his head oh shit

Meadow’s lawyers quickly stepped up asked for a recess and were granted one. 

Ironically this was the truth.  The murders happened long before Spicy arrived on the scene.  She honestly didn’t know anything. But Spicy was definitely out of order.

As she walked off the stand she shot the bird at the prosecutors and shouted a few choice words to them.  She stopped to hug Meadow and told her these pussies aren't going to do jack shit to you. 

They rushed Spicy into the ladies' room where a doctor had arrived to give her a quick antidote to reverse the truth serum. It only took a minute or so for Spicy to return to her senses. Of course, she didn't realize or remember what she had said.

When Spicy returned to the witness stand, the Judge asked her if she was ready to proceed in an orderly fashion, she stood, and when asked if she swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth she answered “YES”