The '36 Cord 810 rolled in behind a Ford truck with the back flap down. Louis took note of two men unloading some boxes from the back flatbed and onto the sidewalk, making sure to leave enough space. Like a well oiled machine, as one put a box down the other was grabbing for the next. And as the box was dragged off the truck the other delivery man was already back and awaiting the offload. 'There was no I in team', Fats pondered with a smirk, remembering a rather fond memory.

Del Rossi turned off the ignition, then gave himself a moment. The sun was high in the sky, waving down some good vibes. He imagined it to be just for them, in a response to the car they chose to make the casual trip around the city. The slick convertible suited such occasions. And the silver side fins gave the over exaggerated impression it was also built to cut through streets at blistering speeds. For them, it was enough. And after a few laps around town and some carversation, @James-Sullivan suggested they visit a nice spot for a refreshing beverage.

The street was busy at this part of town. They were lucky to find such a good parking spot. Maybe the 'No Parking - Loading Zone' sign next to Fats' door was it. A shiny metal craps stick. Rewarding those that lived life with a bit of chance. And some connections. Because who would dare tell these guys to move it along? Not that they were flaunting their power in any sort of arrogant way. They were simply living life the way the cake was cut for them, with their own two hands.

A nod was given and returned from the two men, who had momentarily stopped their open air production line to see who'd pulled up behind them. If it were an elderly women, or a mother and her kids, or a married couple, they may have looked twice. And even though Fats and Jimmy were simply Wise Guys, that was enough. A shake from being untouchable within the world behind the world, yet in the world on strings, people to them were a wrong look or attitude away from being shaken down. Not that they openly advertised the fact. But it was true in the right lighting.

The rules were deep in tradition and unwritten. Hidden from the masses, through the code they lived, and died by. And some were chalked up on the spot, to cut through bullshit. Like a long walk for a tasty beverage. Such was the life of being a gangster. And in such a life people were coming and going all the time. The going was simple. In a box, or a shallow grave, three feet under. The coming into the life was more complex. Many roads converged here. And for every distinct face there was an equally unique story. One such beginning was about to take place.

First though, that whisky. Louis made getting out of the vehicle look tougher than it should've. His right leg was playing up. Stiff at the knee. It got that way sometimes. After admiring the ride he'd boosted a day prior as he straightened his jacket, he limped up onto the sidewalk and joined James inside the café.

I looked on through the café window as DelRossi arrived, and he did it in style. For a moment I thought a bit to fancy, as I did not want to much attention drawn to us before we even started. None the less after admiring the automobiles, Fats joined me inside.

He sat down across for me and began to look over the menu. I stared at him across the table, while holding my cup of coffee. "Been a few days fats, good to see ya." I sip my coffee while keeping my eyes on him.

"The bike is...taken care of!. There was a minor hiccup, place got hit. Minor damage, nothing that will disrupt business. I'm in the process of selling off the parts for your cut." I take out a smoke and offer on to Fats. I light mine up, quick inhale, slow exhale as the cloud of smoke fills the air.

"I see you brought me some fine wheels to work with, but tell me...have you kept your end of the deal?...the mechanic?."

I had the smoke firmly between the index and middle finger on my right hand, while sipping my coffee with the left. I awaited patiently for a response.  

Louis waved away the gesture of a smoke. His heart wanted to be fed, via his stomach, and his soul dipped in liquid gold.

"Whisky?" The afternoon shift waitress was passing by. Fats tried to catch her before she got out of hearing distance. Noticing, she quickly turned and approached, just as Jimmy finished speaking..

"...the mechanic?"

"No, and no." She looked a liitle peeved.

The two men looked at each other. Louis was a little confused. And thirsty.

"No fuckin' whisky?" The outer corner of the menu was being scrunched between his clenching fist.

"No sir. This aint a whore house." She added as she tucked away a notepad.

"Seriously?!" Fats' head dropped as he sighed and let go of the menu he was roughing up. 

"Why darlin', do I look like I give blow jobs o' somethin'?" Her arms crossed against her chest, she tilted her head up and to the side.

"I aint gon' fix yo' car neither. Aint done that in, well, nev' mind." She looked both men up and down then left in a huff.

Louis raised his hands and rested them against his face. No tasty beverage then. What kind of place was this? A library? Worse. Even they'd serve a little something to wet the whistle. Acquiring Knowledge was a tough chore. Louis made a mental note to find a stiff drink..two stiff drinks..and a news stand.

"No, I aint found a mechanic yet. No New Yorkers seem willing."

With a rub of his face and a quick sharp in and out breath he dropped his hands on the table and eyeballed James.

"Maybe I went about it the wrong way. Hope the wheels make up for it."

Louis awkwardly smirked then quickly looked down and at the menu.

"The big breakfast looks good. And what was with her? What a live wire." He continued eyeing the menu, hoping he did enough to push the conversation into steadier waters.

As Louis eyes the men, I eye him. "Yea I think the waitress likes ya!." You could sense the humor, as I tried to take his mind off the fact that there was no whiskey.

"The cars are great!, here is the issue...I don't want to tear them apart!. and I know you don't either. So once again, not to sound like a broken record...we need a mechanic!. A good one, and one that can keep their lips from flapping."

It was becoming an exhausting process. I mean the money was great but we needed the right people. Luckily I had been in contact with Freddie_Lou, who apparently has more then just floral experience.

I placed my hand over my head, looking down at the table.

"So fats, who do you know who is capable of those requirements?." I looked around the café while awaiting an answer. I caught eyes with the disgruntled waitress. I gave her a smile and a wave, but in sort of a sarcastic way. She just rolled her eyes and walked into the kitchen.

I looked at fats and leaned in a bit, still awaiting an answer, I reply "I wouldn't order any food...she might spit in it."

I had a good laugh about it while Louis looked irritated with the service.

The menu was simple. Three sections. One for before and after midday and the other for beverages. But none of the tasty variety. None to sink into, to swim through and out of into a calm new perspective. Just coffee, water and some other crap. Louis stopped reading. He wasn't going to find what he really wanted here. He pushed the bit of paper into the middle of the table. As he did, she reappeared.

"Found anythin' to quence ya thirst on there?" She was holding a notepad and pen, and a cold stare.

Louis looked at Jimmy before turning his attention to the waitress. He gave him a smirk. As if to say, here we go again. And as if to acknowledge Jimmy's earlier bit of humor about her liking him.

"Maybe not somethin' foun' in a slutty hotel?" She added, keeping up her happy demeanor.

It was odd. Louis couldn't pick it. He had to know. She illuded to it on her first walk-by, but he was getting mixed signals.

"So were you or were you not a lady of the night before working here." He skipped answering her question and hit the nail directly on the head. Maybe a bit too direct.

Before she could answer, and more like blow a fuse as her face looked like she was nearly at boiling point, Louis raised his hand and pointed to the ceiling. Enthusiastically. A little too much given the question he just threw in her face. But he had a eureka moment. One of them light bulbs above the dome flicking on types. And this felt more like it exploded.

"Goddamn. You worked on cars, didn't you." Who needed whisky. He may have just unintentionally found what he was seeking, without actually doing the work.

Like those moments when you'd given up and suddenly things just clicked into place, but after all the effort of trying and failing. And it begged the question if you would've still got to that same place if you didn't put in all that time and exertion. Fats was pumped. He may have just found their mechanic.

He knew something was odd. He noticed she kept looking at the car he drove here in, whenever she got a chance. Between waiting on tables, wiping and resetting them. They'd only been here a few minutes and she'd spent more time eyeballing it than she spent attending to the patrons. That, and her less than dignified personality.

She'd simmered down. Her about to slap his face look had changed to one of pride, which may have looked more like appreciation had she not had so many walls up. He'd picked her. Seen a part of her. And that kept her on the better side of the respect line. For now.

"So what. What's it to ya?" The crossed arms returned. At least she was open to some sort of conversation.

"What car is that out there?"

"What's it matter?"

"If you can tell me that, then I could have a job for you. Something better than this shite. And of the non blow job variety." A smirk and a wink. Hopefully she saw the humor in it.

Suddenly, the same disgrunted customer from earlier was calling out to the waitress..

I watched as Louis humored the waitress, or at least I hoped she seen it that way. I didn't want a pot of coffee thrown at me, but it had seemed that he had calmed her a bit. Then a disgruntled customer called her over. When she did not move fast enough he got a little rowdy, and vulgar with her.

"What kind of a fucking waitress are you?!...your attitude and service is awful. you good for anything?!. Get me your fucking manager now!".

I was going to speak up to the rude prick, but decided that the situation could be used as beneficial. I leaned back in my chair with a slight smirk, taking a puff of my smoke I look to the waitress. "You know all you need to do is answer the question Louis here asked. Or you can stay here and deal with assholes all day."

The pissed customer heard my remark and stood up shouting to me. "FUCK YOU SAY BUDDY!."

Keeping perfectly calm I stay leaned back in my chair while speaking up to the guy. "Sit down asshole, or your really gonna have a bad day."

Before the situation escalated the waitress went and got the manager, as I was approached by another waitress. "Excuse me sir!...a Freddie_Lou is on the phone."

I got up and walked to the phone. After receiving good news I returned to the table. Louis asked if everything was ok. I replied with a smirk "Everything is fine!, turns out a friend of mine found a mechanic for the shop!. However a deal is a deal, so you better win this girls heart."

I sat back and smiled, thinking about the possibilities of two good mechanics. The ball was now in the hands of Louis.