Sal had been working hard trying to help rebuild the rackets after the big war that took out most of the Chicago families.  One of his Guys Charlie told him that there was a bootlegger looking for some protection as the traveled through Chicago and was willing to pay well for it. This was not unheard of. The recent fighting between the different families, Although dying down, was not completely over and then there still was the problem of the Durdens running ramped through the streets. 

Sal had built up a large group of protection that followed him and helped him secure areas of Chicago. He had clear paths in North and South sides as well as recently making inroads into the Loop. So he was approached all the time by different families and their associates about providing the protection in and around Chicago. 

What was different about this one was this person was not connected. She was not connected to any family which at this time was a dangerous position to be in. After doing his homework he found out that she was a very large Bootlegger and sold to all the families. Sal thought to himself that this would be a good chance to make a good connection for his family and for himself in the future. 

"Yes, I see the problem they face. Chicago is a dangerous place right now. I will set it up." Sal said to Charlie 

"Let her know the price is fine and we can meet in the just outside the Northside and we will taker through Chicago. She has my personal guarantee of her safety and the safety of her product," he tells the man before lighting a cigarette and signaling for Charlie to leave. 

Salvatore poured himself a drink and sat at his desk, as Charlie went and made the call. He never gave his personal guarantee it was something that was really dangerous to do. While he saw no issue with getting through Chicago, for the most part, it was quiet now. But there were many unknowns and he would have to use all his contacts to make sure the trip was as safe as he could make it. 

Sal picked up his phone and contacted the rest of his men and put them to work on the streets finding out what the Durdens were up to and where they were at. He wanted no surprises he told them before hanging the phone and heading to the meeting place. 

Running was not for the weak of heart.  By definition you were always running, and most times you were running away from something instead of to something.  You were running from the coppers because most of your cargo was usually illegal; running from the competition because there was a buck to be made; and running from the local mobs because you were in their space.  The latter issue was usually fixed with a bit of cash.  You couldn't afford to do it every time, but right now in Chicago things were in a mess.  The landscape changed daily.  It was hard for someone like herself to keep up with it all.  So you hired a guide and a protector and it made the local mob leadership more willing to look the other way when you were paying the family.

Also with Charlie gone, she was needing to re-establish some connections in this city.  Uncle Enrico had tried to get her to move out to New York, but after a time it was clear she was not an east coast kind of gal.  Her home was the midwest.  Here was were she wanted to be.  Even if it was the wild west as far as the mafioso was concern she planned to establish herself here.

As she leaned against her car near the docks, she pulled her coat tighter about herself and wrapped her arms around her.  She hope the escort did not take to long to meet up with her.  It was freezing and this load needed to make its way down to Las Vegas in two nights time.

Sal had rounded up his men and a few cops to lead the way. He decided to bring if police connections in to make sure they didn't have to stop for anything. Things where a mess in Chicago at the moment cause Tylers men had shown up and had started raising hell around town. He pulled into the docks with a few cars of his men and two cop cars one at leading the way and one following in the rear. 

As Sal pulled in and stopped his men got out and secured the area. Charlie got out and opened Sal's door. He got out and put his Fedora on his head and walked over Marie.

"Hello Marie, I am Salvatore," he said extending his hand to her. 

"Me and my men will get you safely through Chicago," he told her. 

Sal turns and signals one Charlie. The tall man walks up to them.

"This is Charlie he drive one of your trucks and you will ride with me," he tells her. 

Marie's eyes got slightly larger at the mention that his man was going to drive her truck.  There were no hard and fast rules on how this sort of run went down, but typically Marie would not choose to hand over control of her goods to a complete stranger like this.  She wasn't so concerned about theft or anything of the likes.  She was paying good for this protection.  This Salvatore's reputation was on the line.  No her concern was on this Charlie's ability to drive.  Most guys thought they knew how to drive, and they thought they were pretty good at it.  However, experience had taught Marie that was not usually the case.  She always hand picked her drivers and she only chose the best.

Unfortunately she needed this man's help and it was obvious this was part of the price.  She nodded her agreement.

Pointing to the man in the driver's seat of the truck she motioned for him to move over and indicated that Charlie would be driving.  A woman got of our Marie's car carrying a brief case which she gave to Marie before getting behind the wheel of Marie's car, a black Chrysler Imperial LeBaron Roadster.  Marie took the briefcase over to Salvatore and gave it to him.  "As agreed, half now and half when we reach the city limits on the south side of town."  

Looking to study the car she would be riding in she made note that it was a standard issued Hudson Terraplane.  A sturdy vehicle for certain if a bit common place.  It would serve their purpose this night.  When Salvatore indicated that he was ready, Marie accompanied him to his car.

Sal guided Marie over to the car and opened the door for her, once she was in he closed it and walked around to the other side and got in. Once everyone was in the vehicles he signaled for his driver to take off. Before turning to Marie. 

"I am glad you didn't fight me for having my man drive. I know letting your product go with someone you don't know can be a little unnerving," he said to her. 

"I guarantee your safety and the products. So I have set it up where if something happens we split up temporarily. Making it harder for someone to get what they are after. I assure Charlie will give his life to make sure that shipment gets to its destination." He tells her with a serious look on his face. 

"Normally I do not go on these jobs. I assign my men to handle it, But this time I made an exception. I wanted to meet you and to hopefully help my family build a connection as well." He said to her. 

The convoy raced along blowing stop signs and red lights. Every street had cops blocking the traffic and allowing them through. They raced through the war-torn streets blown up buildings could be seen as well as a lot of bullet holes in the brick of many, now closed down, businesses. 

"Have you been to Chicago before? Maybe before the recent fighting?" He asked her.  

"I have often visited as I have family in the area.  In fact this shipment of product belongs to my Uncle Enrico Costa.  He produces Racing Ricky gin.  You might have heard of him as he is the largest bootlegging operation in Illinois.  He also is the father of a former RHM of this city, MasqCharlie."

Marie turned to look out the back window to check on the progress of the convoy.  As she did she made sure to study his reaction when she mentioned Charlie's name.  Her contacts in the city informed her that he had some connection with the Ligambi family who was a close ally with Don Capazzo and Charlie's.  That intel could be wrong though.  

Satisfied that everything was going smoothly, she turned back around and looked out the front windshield.  

"Your ability to muster coppers to help out in this matter is impressive.  I will have to let my colleagues know of your resource capabilities."

"I remember MasqCharlie, she was a friend of my father. My Father had become Don Capazzo's LHM just before the war," he said remembering back to that unfortunate fight. 

"After the war, the cops realized that they really could do nothing about the mob families. That is when I approached the Police chief. I made him a deal. We would help retake the city and once that happened to our best to keep our activities quiet. In return his men would help us and ignore what they saw." he told her. 

"We kick some cash to them to help them rebuild as well. So jobs like this help them as well as keep us from fighting with them." he continued. 

"Do you have any plans to move your base of operations to Chicago?" he asked her

Sal looked around checking that things were going smoothly. Using it as an opportunity to distract himself from the talk of his fathers former family. 

Sal was too young to be a member of that family at that time. He had done some minor stuff for them but mostly just grew up with those guys. MasqCharlie was a good friend to his father and he had seen her a lot. 

It was a night that Marie tried to forget.  Such a young couple shot down in the middle of their wedding.  So many others had lost there lives that night too.  Most likely Salvatore's father had been killed that night too.  That was just what happened when you were a hand to a Don that was going down.  

"I am sorry for your loss.  To lose a father is tough even though we all know most of us live shorter lives because of our chosen life style."

Charlie wanted to change the subject.

"My uncle sent me to New York to expand his operations there, but the truth of the matter was that he was afraid I would settle here in Chicago and he was afraid of the fall out from the wars.  Kin are sometimes hunted down for the least of slights just in case they may have a bug about vengeance.  Now that Don Cletus is dead there is less chance of that happening so I am seriously considering coming back to Illinois."

Sal realized that Marie was wanted to move away from the topic of the war. It had cost a lot and a lot of people felt the damage. 

"I agree I don't think that there will be any retaliation. Things are finally calming down and Chicago is working on rebuilding, further fighting would not be worth it and in the end, it seems that those involved in it were killed as well," he said

"Well, Chicago would be happy to have someone with your abilities and connections. I know I would really enjoy having you around to work within the future. We need people that are strong and hardworking to help get this city back to the prosperous place it once was." he said to her. 

The cars pulled made a turn for the last leg of the journey. Some shot rang out ahead of them and as they pulled through an intersection there was a car that was full of holes. 

"well seems like the Durdens took a shot and failed. We will have you safely to the border of Chicago soon," he tells her

"I truly hope you will come live in Chicago if you ever need anything don't hesitate to ask."

Marie smiled and looked at Salvatore. It seemed she greatly relaxed now that there had been an attempt on her cargo and it had fail.

“I will keep that in mind. It would be nice to land somewhere I felt at home. Maybe make some real friends.” She looked out the side window and added softly, almost wishfully, “Make some real roots for a change.”

Marie chuckled softly and looked forward again, “Please forgive me. Most people think what I do is exciting, but the reality of it is that you get a few moments of adrenaline rush followed by long droughts of sheer boredom and loneliness.”

"I can see that. I bet the truth is the best time is the boredom. Excitement is not always good for business if you know what I mean." Sal said to her. 

<font color="#D7D7D7">Salvatore liked Marie and had hopes for her to come to Chicago. He could tell she wanted a place to call home, life on the road was tough, hard and without family could be deadly. He did not want to be pushy or make it seem like an "or else" situation because that was not the case at all. He would protect her anytime in she was in Chicago. </font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">"Well you can contact me anytime if you need anything," he tells her </font>

<font color="#D7D7D7">The convoy pulls to Chicago line and stops. Charlie gets out of the truck and walks back and stands outside the car on Marie's side waiting to open the door for her. </font>

"You are here safe and so is your cargo. Next time you are in Chicago maybe we can get a drink." he offers her. 

Sal hands her the briefcase she had given him. 

"This is yours. This one is on me I have a feeling this meeting is worth way more than the cost of this trip," he tells her. 

Marie took the money.  She had no quarrels with accepting a refused payment.   

"I believe I will actually take you up on that drink the next time I am in town," she smiled at him.  "It has been a real privilege to get to know you.  I have a feeling we will be work together more in the future."  She knocked on the window to indicate she was ready to exit the vehicle.  "I really do hate that I have to rush off like this, but 48 hours is not much time to make a seventeen hundred mile run.  Be sure to take care of yourself... and this city."

She gave him a nod and exited the vehicle.  She handed the briefcase to the driver of her car and strolled towards the truck.  It was obvious she was driving the first leg of the journey herself as she climbed in behind the wheel.  With marked efficiency and skill the the truck was thrown into gear and away the convey set out on its long journey to Las Vegas.

happyNewYear listens to the LAST war duly noted by words and the listed obits and sends out condolences to the fallen and their family.

You see Maddy, this here was a war.