Indianapolis.  Had there ever been such a filthy horrible little city in the United States?  @Dovahkinn 's Nightingales' had been working on this heist idea since New York and now the time had finally come to put things into action.  

Frankie had learned from a contact at Yale Safes, that the race commission for the Indianapolis 500, had a rather large purse for it's winner this year.  So large, in fact, that they had requisitioned a top of the line safe for storing the winnings in because no local bank would insure them for the full amount.  With that kind of cold hard cash just laying around it would be a shame not to make an effort to liberate it.

While most of the team had come from her own crew - they needed a getaway driver who was particularly savvy and who knew the city of Indianapolis like the back of their hand.  As luck would have it, Frankie knew someone who had both in spades and she was a former Nightingale, Marie Costa.  Marie was born and raised in the mid-west and was a bootlegger all over this area working out of Chicago.  

Tony-Dicaprio as the team's muscle was a given.  He was strong, a good shot, and above all her most trusted guy.  She couldn't imagine doing any job without him at her back.  That, and she suspected he'd worry about her all damn night if she hadn't invited him along to help keep an eye on her.  While he knew she was capable of handling her own, who knew what ways a plan might make a left turn in the middle of a job.  With him here, watching over her, he'd feel a lot more comfortable (and in truth, so did she.)

SullivanBlack was the husband of her cousin Jackie.  The man was a bit creepy, she had to admit that, but he was handy to have around if one needed to dispose of a body and (as luck would also have it) he actually knew how to pick a lock and crack a safe.  If he could get them into the safe, she'd over look any of his creepy habits forever.  This was going to be a GREAT score.

Then there was Jazmine who was a sweet gal who she had met within the Nightingale's operation.  She had a way about her that put Frankie at ease and gave her to know that she could really trust this woman to have her back and protect her friends.  She was glad that Jaz had agreed to come along as their look out.

The team met up the airport Best Western and waited for MarieCosta to arrive.  She'd be bringing their car for the job right after dark and taking them downtown to the race offices.  The offices were located inside city limits and so police response time would be an issue.  She hoped Marie was ready for whatever had to be done.  And, considering there were armed nightwatchmen said to be at the office - she made a point to say silent prayers that the Lord protect and keep all those working under her tonight.

This was Frankie's first time at leading a team that wasn't her immediate family and friends.  It would likely set the tone for how other Mafioso viewed her and her work.  For that reason, she was more than a little nervous as they waited for Marie to come knocking.

Frankie had mentioned this heist once before to Tony when they first reconnected, each time she talked about this he saw large dollar signs.  He was willing to do whatever it took to make this successful.  This could be a cash cow to get his operations up and running.  He didn't have the plans or the layout but he did see the map of the area and know what routes they needed to look at prior to the heist. 

Tony knew that this was going to be important to Frankie as she was going after not only cash but to show the Don she has what it takes to be a major player in the organization.  Frankie was going to plan this and Tony was going to take a back seat and watch her roll the dice.  Frankie has many talents her grandfather was a Don in his own rights and Tony knows he taught her  many things such as planning forward and backwards.  To not overlook the slightest of things that could happen.  To make the best choices possible and then stick and move with them.

Tony sat in the bedroom looking at the paper as he thought on other things while Frankie was out with Jazmine.  He looked at the cash that the racetrack with take in from the ticket sales, food stands and the gift shops.   The prize money for the races and the money from the parking and payroll for the temp hires that they pay on the spot.  Tony estimated that they could get 1 to 1.5 million if they are lucky.  He also was hoping that Frankie had a clear head before this heist goes into effect.  She had so many thing going on that she barely gets sleep.

He started reading the evening papers looking to see if any of his horses won or at least showed. He lost all eight races and he was hungry.  He didn't want room service he wanted to go out an eat.  He had another Hour before Frankie would get home from meeting with the Don.  He moved from the bed to the kitchenette and made a grilled cheese sandwich and pour a bit of white wine in a glass.  He sat and ate wishing his brother Vito was there wishing Frank was there.  He looked a crossed the room at the picture he had sitting on the desk in the sitting room it was of Him Frank Vito Carlo and Joseph five cousins that were as close as brothers.  He laughed when he realized that it was Frank ie that tok that picture.   

Marie walked down the hall reading each of the room numbers until she arrived at the room number given to her by Frankie.  It would be good to see some of her old crew.  She had not seen any of them since she relocated to Chicago.  Also it would be good to be a part of this heist they had planned.  Being a Right Hand Man was not all that it seemed.  She spent most of her time doing paperwork and other administrative duties.  This would allow her to stretch her legs again.

Knocking on the door she looked around.  You could call it an old habit, but being aware of her surroundings was grained into her.  It had saved her ass on a number of occasions as a bootlegger.  When the door opened she smiled up at Tony.  After a greeting, Tony stepped aside and allowed her in before checking the hallway and closing the door.

Once inside everyone exchanges greetings before Frankie ran through the plan one final time.  Once everyone was on the same page, they left the room and Marie leads the group out into the parking lot where she showed them the "get away" car.  

"He will go zero to sixty in 8 seconds!" she said as she petted the car's flare.  Grinning she spun around and hopped into the car.  Once everyone was inside she put the car into gear and pulled out of the parking lot.  Glancing at the mirror to see the group behind her in the backseat she thinks about each of them. 

Frankie was the mobster she knew the best.  The two of them had spent many a nights in various bars in New York when she was making runs for her uncle.  They were friends with a loose family connection through Marie's aunt Gemma.  Tony was someone she had read about in Charlie's journals.  He was Lucy's bodyguard and hitman for a time.  Jasmine and Sullivan were mere acquaintances, but know that she was a RHM she needed to build on that.  One never knew when connections like that would come in handy.

Soon she had the whole group a few blocks down from the race offices.

"As soon as I see you exit the offices I will high tail it down the road to pick you up.  Good luck to you all!"

Tony was happy to see MarieCosta once again.  She was someone that he respected not because of her position but because of her friendship and character.  She commanded respect because she was a woman of honor.  In the old country she would have the respect of Mafioso and civilians.  Tony wasn't a hundred percent clear on all the details so he turned to Frankie and told her that he wanted to cover her plan once more. 

Tony came from a family that plans to the very smallest details and he believed in knowing the entrance and exit points to every heist.  Knowing the middle was easy that goes but ear as things change from location to people and with people it never goes by plan.  Tony wasn't worried that Frankie didn't plan it all the way out but id a drive is hurt then the escape is jeopardized and prison is immanent.  If they are short on muscle he would have to improvise.  Plans can be precise and something can change in a split second. 

Tony wanted to review the floor plans to the raceway.  He wanted to review the routes and routines of the guards and local police.  Tony shook his head because he didn't want to overthink this either he knew that overthinking also leads to prison.  The deal is to know and create on the spot adjustments as needed.  No one want make a wrong turn and have people pinched because he lead them into a brick wall. 

These people are high profile and the crew Frankie selected were also high profile and the low man on the totem pole was him and going for a ride is not something that Tony would accept with ease.      

Grinning, as I walk with these guys I will be working with on this job. Some are in my crew , some not..but I am looking foward to knowing all of them much better. I decide to be the look out to take a smaller role this time and see how I do with that first. 

I watch as Sully is working on the front door looking to my left and right for that night watchman. I am almost shaking in my boots with excitement, but I gotta keep a low profile so I can do my job right. Then my eyes are wanting to jump out of my face...I see the stupid night watchman mosying over in our direction. Tony most definitely needed to know about the trouble. I get his attention...

" Psstttt, Tony, I say.. the stupid night watchman is heading our way!"

Whistling as he walked, Randle gave a half-hearted glance to the nooks and crannies surrounding him on his route. Let us be clear, he did not give one fuck about the safety of whatever it was he had been employed to guard, but cash was cash, and getting free tickets to the Indy 500 was a sweetener he just couldn't turn down. His employers in Detroit were good to him, but he still had a long way to work up the ranks, and bills to pay. Twirling his nightstick with flare, he recalled the days races in his head to relieve himself of some of the boredom.

"Five goddamn hours of this bullshit...", he hissed under his breath.

The uniform was crisp, but it didn't quite fit. Not just the cut, but Randle simply wasn't the type of person to suit a uniform of any kind. His air of disdain for authority just could not be hidden with a shiny tin badge. The glistening symbol of oppression stung as he'd pinned it to his uniform, he believed this to be ideological conflicts within his subconscious manifesting itself into physical pain, until realising he'd simply stabbed himself in the nipple with the pin.

Shadows blanketed the whole area, with only his torchlight to guide him through the darkness. From the distance he heard hushed voices, and shuffling in the direction of the office.

"Hey, assholes, you're about as quiet as a herd of buffalo. Do yourself a favour, get the fuck outta here."

He gritted his teeth, and clenched his nightstick that little bit harder, showing the white of his knuckles. This wasn't part of the plan for tonight, but an Irishman never backs down from a fight.

Tony nodded in agreement as Jazmine whispered that night watchmen was coming toward them.   Turning his back on the man he whispers to Jazmine.

Look use your feminine wiles to distract him and I will turn my pistol on him and we can stick him in the janitors closet. 

Jazmine smiled and then unbutton her top two buttons to display her assets that men love to glance at.  She walked over to him smiling as Tony took a step to the side and watched her in motion as he continued watching the hallway and the exit doors. 

I fluffed my hair to get ready for a real show.. with a sway of my hips, I sashayed towards this night watchman. With my left hand, I stroke his right arm, giving the prettiest smile I can.. making him think I might be intrested in something. I wanted to make him blush like a tomato, and also distract him, which seemed would be easy. My assets were pretty obvious for view, laughing as I knew this would be a piece of cake, and so much fun too! I only had to do enough so that Tony could do what he needed to on his end.

So, I slid my hands up his arms, bent over and pretended I dropped things.. even smiled innocently...anything at all I could do to keep him talkng and distracted. Of course he soaked it up like a sponge, and the longer I kept at it, the more he wanted more of it, so I kept going. I was trying to think also of a way to get away when the time was right too. I had forggotten how fun this was being such a tease.

Sullivan wasted no time as the group approached the office doors. It was Jazmine and Tony's jobs to keep the Night-watch at bay. Hopefully they could do what was necessary...

He knelt and sat his roll of tools on the ground next to him, unraveling the leather that held them. Tugging his torsion wrench and rake out, he went to work on the door quietly, pressing on tumblers and feeling around inside the lock. 

One tumbler clicked into place and he raked along the door, feeling three more. He huffed and furrowed his brow, setting in to work the remaining tumblers as quickly and quietly as possible. His left hand held the torsion wrench steady as his right hand bumped each spring loaded mechanism softly. A bead of sweat ran down his forehead as he focused, trailing down to the tip of his nose. Sullivan wrinkled his nose a few times, trying to make the tickling salt water fall free to the ground.

Two tumblers were now clicked into place and held by the wrench...

He continued trying to get the sweat to fall off his nose before whispering to Frankie, "Hey, I know it's awkward, but wipe my face off. If I move my hands I'll loose the tumblers and have to start over..."

Frankie smirked and leaned over him, pulling the kerchief from his own breast pocket and wiping his face. "All better." She leaned close and whispered harshly, "Now -hurry-!"

He chuckled softly, making sure to not loose his hand placement. "Thank you my dear, but you should know that you don't rush perfection..." He winked at Frankie-Messina before bumping the next tumbler into place...

Three in place, leaving one to go...

What they all feared, came to fruition next. Jazmine alerted Tony-Dicaprio to an approaching Nightwatchman... Sully looked over his shoulder as the man yelled out.

"Hey, assholes, you're about as quiet as a herd of buffalo. Do yourself a favour, get the fuck outta here."

"Fuck!" Tony and Jazmine discussed their plan as Sully turned back to the door and moved a bit quicker. "Maybe you -can- rush it..." he muttered under his breath. With a swift jab, Sully jammed the rake into the lock, snapping the tumbler inside and breaking the lock. It didn't matter anymore that it -wasn't- perfect. Their presence was known. He threw his tools in the leather kit and rolled it quickly, snatching it in his hand as he stood.

A quick look behind him let him know they had to go NOW. Jaz popped her top buttons exposing her chest a bit more and Sully smirked. That would probably help. He looked at the door and pushed it open, grabbing his cousin Frankie's arm and rushing inside the office; leaving Tony and Jazmine to deal with the Nightwatchman their selves.

"Wait Tony!" Frankie complained as she was drug through the door. Sully stopped and turned to her, actually towering over her shorter frame in the moment. He gripped her shoulders. "Frankie, this is what he does. Trust him. Did you not pick him for this job -because- of his skills? TRUST him... Tony will be fine." He gave her cheek a pat before turning. "Now where the fuck is the safe again?"

Frankie looked at him momentarily, probably wanting to sock his fucking face, but she knew he was right. She had to trust Tony and Jazmine, just as much as Sully had to...

The two tore through the office, both looking for the safe until Frankie yelled at Sully. "OW FUCK! Oh hey! OVER HERE!" He rushed over to Frankie and she pointed to a lovely carpet that she'd pulled back. Underneath was a floor safe. "I noticed a small rise in the carpet...With my foot." She seemed sour about stubbing her toes on the tumbler, but happy about finding the safe.

"Ha! That's perfect!" Sully proclaimed happily. "It's an easy tumbler for this one... Only one tool necessary." He looked to his cousin and smiled, "But you gotta be really quiet while I work. If I miss the tick then it will re-lock."

He knelt by the safe door and dropped the tool set again, rolling it out and grabbing a stethoscope; putting them on quickly. He pressed the bell against the safe near the tumbler and turned it slowly at first, listening for anything... It took him a few minutes of twisting and tugging on the handles of the safe before grumbling a bit and nodding.

"Okay, I think I've got it now..." He looked up to Frankie who was staring at the door. It was quiet outside, and that bothered her. Her hand rested on her gun but Sully shrugged it off, returning to his work. "Their fine, I promise."

He closed his eyes and inhaled, holding his breath while he twisted the tumbler again; quickly at first before slowing to a halt. He let forth a soft sigh and inhaled again, repeating the process but spinning the tumbler the opposite direction. Halt. Another breath and a spin back in the original direction. Halt. He gripped the handles one last time, looking at Frankie.

"Here's to nothing..." He twisted the handle and a sliding sound filled their ears as the bolts slid out of the safe's carriage. The smile that spread across his was large, but before he lifted the safe door open the office door swung wide.

Quickly Sully stood and his gun was trained on the door, as was Frankie's... Tony and Jazmine froze, hands up, quietly announcing it was them and not to shoot... Frankie and Sully looked at each other and chuckled, lowering their guns and waving the two over.

"Only right that we're all here to open it," Sullivan said, before looking to Frankie. "You do the honors, cousin. It's your heist, after all."

The other three stepped back and allowed their "boss" to do the honors.

Frankie Messina, the mastermind behind the heist, lifted the safe door exposing stacks of bills. The four hooped quietly in a mini celebration before stuffing the cash in the bags Frankie had brought. Once all of the money was emptied, Sully took a single bill from a stack and dropped it into the safe. The other three looked at him oddly and he shrugged. "I never take -everything-... It's a principle. Always leave enough for the ferry man, just in case." He shut the safe door and spun the tumbler before packing up his tools and placing the carpet back in it's original position.

"We should get the fuck out of here. Yesterday." He smirked, the four of them grabbing their score and rushing out the door. He didn't bother shutting it behind them since it had a broken lock. They ran, Sully's long legs carrying him just fast enough to keep up with his very athletic cousin. They had to get to Marie for the getaway, and there was no telling how long whatever Tony and Jazmine did would last on the Nightwatchman that had almost spoiled their night!

Frankie had NEVER done anything this exciting before.  She'd killed men, attempted pick pocketing (what a nightmare that was) but NEVER a high speed cop chase with two million laying in her lap.  She threw her arms around Tony's neck and kissed him shamelessly.  Then she hugged and shook hands with her fellow criminals.  Leaning into the front seat she even put a kiss on Marie's cheek.

"DAMN fine driving, Doll!"  She cheered and passed around a flask of the worst whiskey ever - something she'd gotten from Brennan's Cellars before leaving for this run.  She didn't care though!  This was worth celebrating it was the biggest take she'd ever gotten the pleasure of snagging!

Marie finally pulled off the main roads and took them down to the abandoned farmhouse she'd told Frankie about.  Marie had said it would be the perfect place to split up the money and spend the evening celebrating - close enough to town that they could get there in a hurry, a barn to hide the car in, and a big ol' house to spend the night at if they wanted.  She'd been stashing and crashing there while doing runs of hooch between Chicago and St. Louis and Indy.

Sure enough as the car parked in the old barn, far off the road, Frankie realized she was right.  This was an amazing hideout!  The group of them went into the modestly furnished home.  A thin layer of dust covered most everything but other than being a bit chill and having a few spiders here and there... the place was charming.

Frankie went to the table with the loot, opened the bag and asked her gang, "So... can I interest anyone in some cold, hard, cash?"  She laughing.  Opening up the bag and pulled out the stacks of cash, counting it up in front of everyone and then splitting it equally among the participants.  She then took an extra 10% from her own and gave it to Marie, "Bonus for the best damn driving anyone could have hoped to see."

She turned to Sullivan and gave him an extra 10% from her cut, "Safe cracking under pressure... I couldn't have wanted for a better guy.  My cousin is a real lucky broad."

Turning to Jazmine she gave her a 10% bonus from her own cut, "Hazard pay... I seriously hope he didn't get too handsy before you guys put him in the closet."

Turning to Tony she smirked at him, "You'll get your bonus later."

Pulling her left over cash into a bag she said, "I couldn't have asked for anything more than this guys.  Thanks for making my first time leading a breeze.  You're all good men and women - it was my honor to work with you."

Sully plopped down in a dusty, old chair, looking like he belonged exactly where he sat with cobwebs around. A huge smile was spread across his face.

"That was quite the haul. Great driving, Madam Costa." He nodded to her as Frankie handed out the money, giving bonuses. Reaching for his cut, he grinned even wider. "I'll let her know." He winked, "She sometimes forgets..." He laughed before leaning back and counting his share along with the extra percentage. Jackie would be happy with this score, but he'd probably just give it back to the Messina family anyway.

He looked at everyone in the room. "Damn fine job by everyone, and Frankie? I don't think you could have planned any better than you did." He looked at everyone, "Drinks are on my at Brennan's later. I'll even play a song or two. Maybe Jackie will get an itch and join me for some duets with her violin."

He was all smiles thinking about his dame and their music... Now all he wanted to do was get home safely to Vegas. That felt weird to think, Vegas. It was still awkward but it was the new home.

As my heart still pounds with excitement.. and of course laughing on the inside....I smile at Frankie, and say " No problem, this guy wasn't anything but fun...even though he would have had liked for you think otherwise, he was rather easy, but yet fun." I also acknowledge the work of everyone.."This went well, cause all of the players did a great job!, and thank you for inviting me to be part of this!"

He sat back in his chair, the smirk on his face was painful from his cut lip, but still Randle smiled. Feminine wiles certainly greased the wheels, but in the end it was the promise of a cut for looking the other way that won him over. After all, he cared not one single fuck about the company he worked for, or the goods he protected.

"Make it look convincing, just not too convincing!", he'd said before the punch.

He'd taken worse beatings, and walked away with nothing at the end of them. Conscience and ego were satisfied by the large holdall of cash in the trunk of his car. Best of all, he walked away completely scott-free. He'd signed up with a false name anyway, for tax purposes of course, so there would be no trace of him on this at all.

"Maybe I've found myself a new calling...", he mused to himself. This had indeed been a lucrative night's work, and a professional inside man was always beneficial to any heist. Perhaps now he could start bringing in real money for his tribute, rather than the pittance he could earn on the streets. Perhaps soon he would start to be noticed.