Tara picked up the phone in her office and rubbed her face. The last couple weeks had been hell, but things were finally starting to settle. She dialed one of the numbers she knew by heart, hoping but not entirely confident that she wouldn't wake Louis Mezzo with an early morning phone call. 

"Louis? It's Tara. Can you head down to my office whenever you can?"

Louis sat staring at his early morning coffee as if it was about to do some magic trick while his brain slowly started to process the important information of the day; underwear...present and correct, eyelids...open, coffee...too hot just now.  When the phone rang it disrupted Louis' routine of reflection.

Checking his clothes weren't on back to front, Louis took the short walk to Tara's office, knocked on the door and poked his head round the corner.

"Everything ok boss?"

"Yes and no. Things are fine, but there were a few things in the chaos surrounding Christmas that I wouldn't forgive myself for just ignoring."

Tara grinned at Louis.

"What's this I hear about you wanting a railroad company?"

Louis grinned and sighed

"Well...when I was seven I asked for a toy train set for Christmas.  I don't recall getting one at the time.  Now I'm a bit older I suppose it was the same wish just on a bigger scale."

Tara matched the younger man's grin.

"Can I make a recommendation for you? The Philadelphia, Washington, and Baltimore line has run into some financial troubles. It runs around the city and its suburbs, but it also pushes south to Baltimore and DC. I'd you'd like, I could start acquiring stock in the company to see if we can take control that way. We can also speak to the current majority owner, James Alcott. His office is on Broad Street, and he lives in a nice house outside the city. We could try to see if we could blackmail him, bribe, or just plain threaten him."

She nodded at Louis; the young man had grown up so fast. He'd been forced to.

"I'll let you take point on this, Louis, although I'm happy to assist you however I can. We can also try to learn more about Alcott before making a move, if you'd like."

Tara drummed her fingers on her desk as Louis recognized her getting the idea.

"... and the PWB line circles the city... if you're serious about running your crew out of a railroad, we could go all the way with that idea if you'd like. Instead of sticking you in an office somewhere, we could set your crew up in a train that circles the city. You could have an office car, a residential car, and a handful of dining cars... anything you can think of, really. If we can get the company."

Louis thought about it for a second.

"Why don’t we do both?  Acquire stock on one hand and put the squeeze on them with the other?  We’ve got the low level muscle and union guys who can cause internal problems…late trains, problems with signals, poor quality coal.  That’ll help put the squeeze on Alcott without threatening violence just yet.  That can wait for if he starts making bigger issues of things I suppose."

He thought through a list of guys who could help.  Tracey Soloman was always badgering him about getting his mining company involved more and Frank Talbot from the rail union owed him a favour or two.

"If they’re in financial difficulties, what about loaning money for infrastructure improvements?  Use the companies we control to get the money back in house and skim stuff off the top or is that too transparent?  If we do take it over we’ll need it running smoothly to avoid any attention…maybe that’s how to get all the public services running well.  Get us to do it.  Mind you, any real difference between us and politicians?"

Tara smiled as she heard Louis' ideas; she didn't want to tell him how to run his business, but it was exactly what she was preparing on proposing.

"Why don't you take the lead on creating the internal problems... the low level muscle and unions... I'll focus on some boardroom deals here; I have a few shell companies that I can funnel money through and start acquiring stock. And I like the idea of doing so by investing in the company itself... ultimately, we do want a strong, profitable business- both for ease of management and to give us more options when it comes to hiding money."

She grinned and chuckled.

"And Louis, you know the difference between us and the politicians... it's style."

Louis smiled as he walked out of Tara’s office.  Style was definitely the dividing line and the click of his heels as he headed out onto the sidewalk came from shoes that would definitely look out of place on one of the ageing, chubby guys he would see in the papers.

As he walked round to the small café that he liked to watch the world go by while having a coffee and a think, Louis picked up a newspaper from one of the corner vendors.  On the front was the headline:

South Philly: Cautious Optimism Returns

The story focussed on the renovations being carried out as well as the recently rebuilt railway station.  The railway station that the PWB ran out of, the same one that Louis’ people had a back office in.  He walked in to the café, sat down with a coffee and turned to Kalinic who had dealt with some of the union guys before.

“Could you get Archie Abraham to come to the office.  I’ll be there in half an hour.  What do you think of having the guys go on strike down at the railway yard?  We want rumours of cuts to a four day week and changes to wages.  Rumours of supply of workers exceeding the demand so Alcott can pay less.”

Louis was already getting paid for a couple of no-shows down at the yard but Archie Abraham was the union guy who had got himself into trouble with Louis in the past about moving contraband for some other goons so really owed him a favour.  Kalinic stood up.

“I think you’re going to get some trouble boss.  Guys are going to want pay checks after Christmas and Alcott can and probably will look to sack anyone who goes on strike.”

“Yeah, I see that.  I don’t think Alcott is going to be a problem.  We’ll get him to guarantee all the jobs when we get to the end of what we’re doing.”

Kalinic nodded and walked out the door leaving Louis to finish his coffee in peace.

Once he’d paid for his coffee and chatted to the waitress Louis walked quickly back to the office.  Archie was already waiting, he was a giant of a man.  Louis could see why the yard guys looked up to him…he smiled…heck he didn’t think he’d find anyone tall enough to look down on him.  Louis shook his hand.

“Thanks Archie, glad you could pop over.  Listen, I’ve been hearing stories about a $10 cut in wages coming our guy’s way.  Alcott is using this depression to pull a fast one.  What’s the impact of you guys going on strike?”

“What are you on about Louis?  Alcott said just before Christmas that the railway was turning the corner.”

“Why do you think that is Archie?  How many guys you got? 1500?  That’s $15,000 a week he can save by cutting wages.  There’s more than enough people out there he’ll want to take on.”

“Is he thinking any Joe Schmoe can come off the streets and do this?”

“Listen Archie, I’m just hearing what is coming out of the general meeting.”

“That bastard.  Ok, if we shut down he struggles to get the coal on board, his trains will either be cancelled or late leaving.  I can get the guards there in sympathy I reckon.  He can’t run a train without a guard and he can’t get a guard without using one of those guys.”

“Ok.  Listen Archie, I might be wrong about it.  If I am, we’ll cover the wages of the guys if Alcott tries anything stupid.”

“Thanks Louis.”

Abraham stood up and almost crushing Louis’ hand again he walked out.

At 7 am the next morning, Louis got woken up by Kalinic knocking at the door.

“The yard guys have gone on strike boss.  Abraham has got them all stoked up for sure.”

“And Alcott?”

“He’s not in yet although I’m sure he will be on his way.”

“Ok, get thirty or forty of our guys and start agitating at the yard as well.  When Alcott appears, make sure they aren’t at the front but have them shouting about low wages…oh and an Alcott out wouldn’t go amiss.”

Kalinic left to round up some people and Louis sat with his early morning coffee.  He would have to go down there but maybe leave it an hour or so.  Let his guys foment a bit more hostility towards Alcott.

When Louis got there at just after 10, there was a lot of anger.  Alcott despite his best efforts was struggling to get through to the men and women in the crowd.  Every time he shouted to get some peace to explain, voices in the crowd continued to shout about poor conditions and pay.  Abraham stood near the front of the crowd and Louis caught his eye before standing up beside Alcott.  He raised his hands in an attempt to get the crowd to calm down.  Slowly the shouting subsided to a murmur.

“Folks, could you let Mr Alcott speak.  I am Louis Mezzo. My organisation is more than happy to either supplement your wages if Mr Alcott insists on his wage cut or I have vacancies if you are made redundant as a result of this.”  Louis stood back.

“Mr Mezzo, please there is no need to get involved in this.  People please, yes the railway has been struggling in this harsh environment.  Rest assured that there are no plans to make unnecessary changes but as it stands we are having to review the terms…”

The noise from the crowd started to increase again.

“…the terms of business including wages to all staff.  Myself included.”

Louis heard a couple of voices at the back shouting “Alcott out” and it started spreading throughout the crowd.  James Alcott threw a furious look at Louis who shrugged his shoulders and walked away to his office but not before leaning in to speak to Alcott.

“If there’s any way we can be of assistance to get your trains running don’t hesitate to ask.”

The door to the office swung open with a crash.  Jack Alcott’s furious face stood atop his angry and tense body like a bright red lollipop.  Louis glanced up from his copy of the day’s newspaper.

“Says here Mr Alcott that the stock price for PWB took a little rise yesterday.  That must be a relief to you.  People spotting some potential in your company.  I wouldn’t want the news of disgruntled employees to be getting round too much would you?  Your new stockholders might get a little nervous about the current management would they not?”

“I don’t know what you’re playing at Mezzo but I don’t appreciate your involvement in this.”

“Mr Alcott, please calm down.  I am here as a concerned user of the local railway companies who really just wants to make sure his goods are transported in a timely manner.  As I said if I can be of some assistance then I will do what I can.  The railway is as vital now as it was forty, fifty years ago.  Air travel may work for longer distances but we all know the railway is the lifeblood of this country.”

“Mezzo; I want you, your men and your operation away from here!”

“Mr Alcott once again, please, calm down.  I don’t think you should be too hasty.  I know the new owner of your stock and I’m pretty sure she wouldn’t want to have her investment ruined by the current management turning away business.  These are not the thoughts of senior management thinking rationally are they?”

The red face of Alcott turned a distinct shade of puce.  He looked like one of his engine boilers about to explode.

“Sit down Mr Alcott before you fall down.  I’ll get you a glass of water and we can discuss this more calmly in a few minutes.”

Louis left the office to get a glass of water.

When he came back in with the water, Louis placed one glass in front of Jack Alcott and sat opposite him.

“Look, how much have you made from this railway? A good couple of million?  And how much is it losing now?”

Alcott sighed.

“About a hundred grand a month.”

“How long until it properly goes under if nothing changes?  I mean, assuming you can get your guys back to work.”

“Five, maybe six months.  Where’s this crap come about lowering wages?  You?”

“Look, Jack.  Do you mind if I call you jack?  I take that sort of allegation seriously.  I’d be tempted to take you to court if you said that out of these walls but since it’s just you and I then perhaps I won’t go down that route.  I doubt you have the stomach for a legal fight on top of all of this.”

Louis drank his water and watched Alcott play with his glass.

“There’s maybe one thing we can do to stop this hitting you financially but I’d need to talk to someone about this.  We could take over the running of the PWB.  You’d be gone before you got a stroke.  Think about the time you could spend with the grandkids.”

“Not a fucking chance Mezzo.  I built this to where it is now.  I’ve spent forty years here from when it was just a collection of trucks we buckled up.  I built it.  It’s been my vision.”

Louis swung his arm around.

“Humble beginnings too Jack.  But quite frankly, I could start up my own thing and eat away at your business.  The strike outside, wouldn’t happen to me.  I’d tear you down brick by brick and make sure you lost all your cash at the same time.  This way; you keep your money, the lifestyle, the house and you lose the stress.  Your way, I’m predicting an early grave.”

Alcott stood up angrily.  Louis laughed.

“I’m not threatening you.  I mean from the stress and strain I’ll put you under.  Listen I’ll tell you what.  I’ll go and speak to Abraham outside and see if we can’t sort this little thing out.  You sit here, have a think and I’ll give Tara a call.  See if we can’t thrash something out that works for everyone.”

While Louis had been working his angle, Tara had been working hers. She'd already established about a dozen companies in various fields that could filter money from Race St. Properties Inc. And a few of them became very interested in acquiring stock in the PWB; this was done both through direct and indirect purchases scattered throughout a couple days. After buying up as much as she could publicly without drawing attention, she started tracking down private stockholders and "encouraging" them to sell. Most of them saw the writing on the wall and took the generous pay out. One was stubborn. Was.

Strolling into the office, suspected she owned more than 60% of the company, but her team of number crunchers were still adding it all together. 

Tara walked into the office and took the seat across from the desk without asking. Alcott stared at her, and she could smell... something on his breath. A liquid breakfast to steady his nerves?

"Mr. Alcott. Tara Byrne- Race St. Properties. I'm here to talk about a transferal of ownership..."

An hour and a half later, they both walked out of the room with a signed contract. Alcott would stay the figurehead of the railroad and keep his fancy office; he'd also help run some of the day to day business... although the handpicked advisers from Tara could veto and all of his ideas. The workers would get a small raise, but enough to make them happy with the new owners, and PWB would officially be part of Race St. Properties- albeit it under the name of The Race St. Railroad Company.

Walking over to Louis, she winked at him.

"Well, Jack can't accuse me of not taking care of you... we just bought you a railroad, Louis."

Her grin was contagious.

Louis stood with Abraham and watched as the workers huddled around fires lit in braziers now that the chillier winds cut through the wide open railroad yards.  The intermittent stamping of feet could be heard as the men and women chatted with occasional cries of “Alcott Out” pealed across the yards.

“Alcott’s got a good deal in there Archie.  Just got to see what Tara gets him to agree to.”

“You got a girl in there fighting your battles Louis? ” Archie said with a wink.

Louis laughed. “Teamwork Archie.  I’ve done my bit with the parts I can.  Tara and Gavin have done the money bits with their skills and influence.”

“You sure you’ll get what you want?”

“Yeah.  Tara can be brilliantly persuasive especially when she’s properly prepared.”

Abraham shouted for the workers to gather round.  By this point all of Louis’ men and Kalinic had gone back to their day jobs.

“Get ready to go back to work shortly guys and gals.  Tara and Louis have got this in hand.”

Behind them, Tara and Alcott emerged from the offices.  Tara winked at Louis with a grin.

“Told you Archie.”

Louis shook Alcott’s hand, albeit Alcott did seem to do so somewhat grudgingly.

“See Jack.  All’s well that ends well.”

He turned to Tara.

“Thanks boss.  We’ll get our discrete mobile meeting rooms set up shortly.”

Louis winked back at Tara.

Within a few days, Tara had sent a letter out to any interested business parties.

Looking to move some product up and down the East Coast? Or around the city of Philadelphia?

Looking for a place to talk in Philly with a guarantee that the feds aren't listening in?

The Race St. Railroad Company is your solution. Contact LouisMezzo- or flag him down the next time you see the private Race St. engine pull into the station. 

Grinning, Tara leaned back in her chair. She'd promised Jack that she'd look after Louis... and hey, the kid had always wanted a toy train, right?