Don Capazzo had been in LA for a few days now. There was some business to tend to. LA was always a nice place to visit, a lot of money to be made. The mafia didn't have a strong hold there so it was a wide open city and Capazzo liked to go and put his fingers in it every now and then. He visited some establishments around the area, got a bite to eat and scanned to see where money could be made. On his last day before leaving he stopped off at a well known casino in town.  

The particular casino he went to was one of the casinos without mob ties to it. It was on the up and up and ran pretty legit. Capazzo just preferred it this way. The car pulled up in front of the casino and then he exited. The casino looked amazing, there were people dressed up in evening gowns and suits and the decor was clearly very pricey. Capazzo fit in perfectly as he was wearing his pinstriped suit with a baby blue shirt and matching handkerchief hanging out his jacket pocket. He looked around taking in all the site had to offer. Then he looked at the double doors leading into the casino and made his way in. Once he was inside he noticed Craps, Poker and many other games to play. There was music and chatter ringing through out the entire building. Everything looked interesting but Capazzo was only interested playing one game. On this day there was only one choice. 

He slowly walked the aisle of the Blackjack tables. There happened to be a table with no players on it and the dealer was very welcoming. Capazzo looked on for a moment then in the corner of his eyes he noticed The Capazzo Crime Syndicate Capo Roadrunner815. Roadrunner gave Capazzo a quick nod and looked over to the empty table. Capazzo quickly winked at him and walked over to the table and took a seat.

He stared into the dealers eyes and gave him a quick but very mean look. The dealer nodded and took a gulp. After a quick moment to compose himself the dealer spoke.

“Hello sir, welcome to Blackjack! Good luck to you!”

The boss looked at the dealer and didn't say a word. He tapped the table to begin.

Capazzo suddenly changed his entire mood. He was smiling and his usual self. He introduced himself to the dealer and began to make chit chat as the hands were being played. For the first few minutes it was pretty even, Capazzo won some and lost some. He was waiting for the right moment to pounce all over this table....

Roadrunner was in LA on some business but had other plans as well. He had earned a Capo position in the family because he was ambitious and hard working. And he planned to put that to work here. On this night he sat in one of the Casinos in the city that was both pricey and legit which was what he wanted. He noticed the boss, Don Capazzo, enter looking immaculate as always and fitting in perfectly. Roadrunner himself was dressed nicely but was not quite used to such lavish extremes. As the Don looked his way Roadrunner nodded and then nodded to one of the blackjack tables that happened to be empty.

Roadrunner smiled to himself as the Don went to the table and began to play. He thought back to one week earlier when he had been in here before for different reasons. On that trip he had been scouting the casinos in town looking for the right one. After finding it he then needed the right person, either man or woman, it just had to be one who could do the work that needed doing. He had watched most of the dealers and workers while not losing any real money. Then he spotted the perfect one. A blackjack dealer with the name Rick on his jacket.

Waiting until the end of Rick's shift, he sat patiently in his rented Ford and watched. He watched as Rick left the casino's back door, the one marked "Staff Only". Roadrunner followed, not too close, but kept the man in sight. As the man approached a nice quiet home in an isolated area Roadrunner knew he had the perfect guy for the job.

Roadrunner waited for dark. It was around 8 pm when he walked up to the house and knocked on the front door. He stood there waiting calmly until the man opened the door. Hi. Are you Rick? he asked. The man nodded, a little unsure of who he was talking to. At that moment Roadrunner shoved the man hard back into the house and followed him in, shutting the door behind them. The man looked terrified and started to speak, or scream. Holding up his hand, Roadrunner looked at the man with a cold hard look and shook his head. I am going to talk you are going to listen. That is the only way you do not get hurt. Nod if you understand. The man nodded, looking even more afraid. Here is what is going to happen. You are going to rig your table to pay out a very large amount. I know it can be done. We do it at other casinos all the time. He stepped closer to the man and very quietly told him that if he does not do this he will die very painfully and his body will never be found. He stepped back and watched the man. After a moment the man said he will need some time to set it up without getting caught; a week tops. Turning to leave Roadrunner turned back to the man. If this does not go as we have discussed you will still find that early retirement we talked about. However if it goes as we ask you will find 10,000 dollars delivered to your door step and will never hear from us again. He then turned and left the house just as if he lived there himself.

Roadrunner then flew home to tell the boss what the plan was and when it would all take place.

Capazzo looked as the light reflected off the name tag 'Rick'.

The Don continued his minimal talk with the dealer. Up until this point he has been sure to be very concise with his bets being very cautious not to lose a bunch. He wanted to wait for the right moment and for "lady luck to strike". After a few more bets he felt like it was the right time. He yelled out...

"Well Rick, looks like I am going to lose so much money you'll be going into early retirement."

But Rick read between the lines. Don Capazzo was saying it was time to do his job or he'd have to pay the ultimate price. Rick was always a great employee but no company or job was worth dying over and on top of that he was getting a cool $10,000 for his troubles.
The dealer looked at Capazzo and nervously nodded. At that point Capazzo decided to stop playing in small increments and make it interesting. Capazzo was cool and Rick was about to deal his most important games of his life during these next 30 odd minutes.

"$1200!”

Capazzo said confidently and smiling. Rick dealt the cards and the with each turn of a carr Capazzo's grin turned wider and wider.  

“Blackjack!” Rick yelled out.

Capazzo jumped up acting surprised. He then told Rick he wanted to bet all of his cash on the table. Capazzo further explained he was superstitious and this could be a sign that his luck is about to change. He pushed all his chips forward. After a few seconds it was the same outcome. For the next 10 minutes Capazzo went on a amazing 'winning streak'. During this time the table became filled with spectators who wanted to watch the events unfold. It was unlike anything they'd ever seen, but...the truth was...this game was bought from the beginning and there were only 3 people who knew that, Capazzo, Roadrunner and good ole Rick the Blackjack Dealer.

Capazzo looked down at his chips $134,000. At this point Capazzo was satisfied. He saw his main bodyguard Adz a few steps away from him and looked in his direction. Once the two made eye contact Capazzo slyly scratched his cheek. Adz nodded and got the message, the scratch on the cheek meant Adz was to come over now and tell Capazzo they had to go.

“Mr. Capazzo you are needed back at Headquarters.”

“Does it have to be now Adz, I am in the middle of damn hot streak here!”

“Yes sir, it has to be now.”

Capazzo nodded and stood up. He took his winnings and collected his cash. Roadrunner and Capazzo had carved this casino up like a Thanksgiving day turkey. They just left the scraps and walked out with all the stuffing. As Capazzo exited the door he turned to his head bodyguard Adz and Roadrunner.

"I am a man of my word. Make sure that fool gets his $10,000."

He then grabs Roadrunner by the neck and pulls him in for a hug.

"Not bad for a visit to LA huh?"

Capazzo smiled then laughed as they headed out to their next venture.

Roadrunner and his Don make their way out of the casino and to their cars. Roadrunner heads to a now familiar house and waits until he sees Rick the Blackjack Dealer heading up his steps. He gets out of his car very quietly and moves up behind the man. Gently he touches the man on the shoulder. The man jumps and turns, turning ghost white when he sees who is standing there. Roadrunner reaches behind his back and slowly pulls out a thick envelope and hands it to Rick. We always pay our debts either way. Remember not to say anything to anyone.

Roadrunner turns and heads back to his car and to the airport, back to the windy city.