"Where did you learn to play?" Said a man to a young girl sitting outside of a flower shop playing the fiddle. The man was dressed in a nice suit assuming he was buying flowers for his lady.

"I came to love the sound and picked it up on my own." The young girl smiled to the man, a smile that could not be mistaken over the joy she had from holding the instrument. "Play me a song dear girl." The man stood watching the girl place her fiddle on her shoulder and run the bow across the strings. Playing a gentle tune for the days gentle breeze. She got into it, smiling as the man listened, passerby's stopped as she played. When the tune was done she was given a applause, the man smiled and handed her a few bucks. 

"You will get far kid, use the money when the time comes to get a new fiddle there." The man smiled and placed a hand on her head. Her blue eyes lit up as she looked at him, "Are you sure sure? I only wish to entertain." The girl stared at him, her blue eyes surprised, but she had a passion for the tunes she played.

The streets of Chicago

The streets of Chicago she had ended up on during her travels, wearing a light blue sundress, white shoes she brushed back her hair, smiling as she set up on the corner she was none to move around the day but she opened the case to her fiddle, leaving it open as she tuned and even started to play. Dancing on the corner in circles as she played a range from soothing lullaby, sweetheart tunes, energetic and relaxing she would draw the attention to anyone passing by.

Most found this of a entertainment and gave applause, spare change was placed in her case as she played her fiddle, come high noon she would pack and move to a different street, stopped once during her packing "What do you think you can do with the fiddle?" Asked a women to the girl she smiled and spoke softly. "I plan to fill the streets with the sound of the fiddle."

Kimi made her way to the loop Chicago, not fare from the business district she set back up, playing softly as she always did to start. Playing the soft melody feeling eyes were on her she really did not mind thinking it was normal but these eyes held more of a greed. 

Dancing to the tune of the fiddle she turned and stopped playing as she had bumped into someone who came into the space she had. Looking up at the gruff man he he let out a laugh taking the fiddle from her hand, "What is this shit?" He dropped the fiddle to the ground cracking the neck and the little spools for tuning. "Its not safe for a girl to be out here dancing alone." 

"Look at this, man, she got a small load going on over here." The man kicked the case over to the one in front of the girl. "My... looks like someone did not know of the fee to play here. 99% goes to us girl. But since you decided to continue here we get 100%. Grab the case." The man turned her back on the girl who held the bow to her instrument flipping it over she smacked him across the back breaking the wood in half before she got his attention and collar of her dress gripped he wasn't careful when he pushed her against the brick wall, most of the people had left some stayed but refused to get in the middle of a lowlife gang. "Leave me be..." She spoke out against him pushing him with one of her feet trying to get him to let go.

Tommy tapped Frank on the shoulder and pointed at the ruckus in the alley way across the street.  Frank stood up so did Gus and little Augie.  Frank held his hand up to stop everyone from going across the street as he watched the little frail girl wack the hulking man with what looked like a twig of a stick.   

Frank nodded his head as she kicked the man he turned to the men with him and laughed he told them his money is on the girl.  He like her spunk she was to small to deal damage but the fight in her heart was what made her the right caliber.  Frank gave a head movement letting the boys know to follow him.

Frank was a up and comer and the streets of Chicago knew him as a solid guy but when you screw the pooch you paid the piper and Frank was the piper, the law and jury on his turf.  They made their way across the busy enter section Tommy stopping traffic on one side of Frank and Augie on the other side.  

Gus was always next to Frank ready to deal with whatever.  Frank looked at the two men that was accosting the young lady and they turned to look at Frank.  Not knowing who Frank was asked who the hell was he and what the fuck was he looking at.  Gus swung hitting the man in the face as Tommy kicked him in the sack.  The man fell like a sack of potatoes then Gus and Tommy started stumping and kicking the fallen man.

Augie walked other to the made holding the young girl giving the brute a look as if he was holding his sister the wrong way.  He the jerk lowered the girl back to her feet.  Meanwhile Frank just lit a cigarette and looked back at the crowd gathering.  With a simple head motion they got the hint and started walking away.  Frank yell enough and Tommy and Gus stopped with the beating they were issuing out.  

Frank stooped down looking into the bloody face of the beaten man and replied.

"Yeah you're not from around here.  I'm Frank mother Fucken Cali and this in my neighborhood.  All action goes through me and I didn't give you permission to operate across the street from me.  Now if I'm mistaken please by all means correct me."

The Man whispered that he was sorry he didn't know.  Augie had his gun in the side of the other thief yet he wasn't going to shot without Franks go ahead.  Frank stood up and saw that they had thirty dollars the money the girl made.  He took the money then looked at the young lady again.  Then said to the both of them.

"This little cub would have killed you both if she was a little older.  I just saved your freakin lives not get the fuck outta here. " 

The man struggled to his feet and his partner came over and assisted him and they moved as quick as they could.  Frank walked over to the kid. He looked at her and then gave her a very soft jab across her jaw and handed her the stolen cash back.  Then he reached into his pocket and gave her twice the amount she had.

"You got spunk kid, what was a cute little cub like you doing on this side of Town?  Come with me I'll buy you lunch I want to talk with you.  Oh that's not a request so come on."  

The men were getting a laugh out of her struggle to kick him back from her. But there was a sudden drop of a body, she kept her leg locked on the man as she could not keep from glaring at the man who kept her against the wall. She heard the sound of feet to body, in a punishment to the man who was messing with her case.

Kimi gripped the mans wrist as he had his attention on her,  only she caught the name of a man speaking she wasnt sure which man it was who said their name but she would be sure to thank them after this. Kimi stared eyes widened as her feet were lowered to the ground. The man backing up. She fixed her dress quickly still holding the broken bow for her fiddle. 

She caught the mans eyes but her deep blue eyes drifted away to the side to avoid contact. She did not wish to speak yet seeing as how he mentioned it was his turf. 

Hearing the two shuffle away on their feet she felt the man jab her gently  across the jaw making her look back at him. She carefully took the money, but when he tried to give her twice the amount she shook her head. "Ah, sir do not do that, I do not deserve it." She looked back at the busted fiddle on the ground before being called back to attention by his words.

"I... I am a traveling entertainer..." She responded softly but he then mentioned about buying lunch and how it was not a request she was in shock, most nights she would be on a train of flight to the next city to try and make ends meet. She gave a soft look at the man before speaking, "Let me gather my things." She moved over picking up the pieces of the broken fiddle and the bow she had broke on the back of the man putting it in the case carefully and closing it she picked it up and moved back over. On edge by the other men that was with Frank-Cali, but she held the case against her chest knowing she should not be so worried as they had given her a hand.

Frank smiled as she didn't want his cash and how she was hugging her case.  They walked across the street again with Augie and Tommy flanking Frank and the young lady stopping traffic.   They entered the restaurant and went to Franks booth.  He sat down first and then the men sat at a table near by.  

Frank saw her fiddle was broken when she picked up her case. He felt for her but what he had planned she wouldn't need that anyway.  He grin as he called over the waitress.  She quickly came as Frank looked at the waitress and nodded his head towards the girl.  The waitress handed her a menu.

"You got spunk kid, you tried to fight off both those guys.  I like that, go ahead order any thing and every thing you want to try on that there menu.  Its on the house.  I own the joint."  

Looking at her he was surprised she had baby blues just like him.  He could tell she was nervous.  Yet she slowly looked at the menu.

"That there string instrument that they broke they broke it in my neighborhood so you take this here money consider it insurance payment from me to you.  My blocks are supposed to protect the people walking in them and since that didn't happen and your stuff got broken its fair payment."  

Frank could see she was hesitant buy he pushed it over to her anyway.

"Come on your in my town take the money please.  Its an insult if you don't.  Besides that's not even the pocket money you could be making kid if you worked with me.  nah not that kind of work get your mind out the gutter kid.  Look at me you think I want that on these blocks?"

The waitress came back to take her order. 

Kimi kept her eyes on the men until they reached the restaurant joining Frank in the booth she sat setting the case down by her feet so it would not go missing. She looked around admiring the place for a minute before the waitress handed her the menu. She looked at it, here eyes slowly going over the words, she felt guilty of him paying her meal but she guessed he was not going to let her slide without ordering something.

She looked at him often as he spoke, a small smile formed as she tried to be polite to the man. "Thank you.. But I couldn't..." Before she could finish he pushed the money once again to her where she looked at it nervously. Complying with his offer she picked it up, not wanting to count it or be rude she leaned over and slipped it into the case by her feet. Sitting straight once more after.

"It is nice to know that there are others who do not hesitate to help." She let it out as a whisper, "thank you." She did not wish to insult the man so she shook the thought off of her mind about how she had not earned the money he gave.

"Worked with you?" She inquired, wondering what he was talking about, but the waitress was back and waiting for her so she looked back at the menu for a quick glance before giving a smile to the her and ordering a simple thing off the menu, "Just some spaghetti please, and a glass of water." She handed back the menu so it could be used for other customers before looking back at Frank-Cali. "No?" She tried to answer his last question.

Frank chuckled as she ordered a plate of Spaghetti she he spoke to the waitress in Italian.  

"Gina prega di portarle un po' di pane all'aglio leggermente imburrato e aggiungere le palle di carne a quell'ordine.  Poi portarle una fetta di torta di mele caldo con gelato in cima.  E poi portale un soda pop con quell'acqua.  Grazie bambola."

                                                                             Translated 

"Gina please bring her some garlic bread lightly buttered and add meat balls to that order.  Then bring her a slice of hot apple pie with ice cream on top.  Plus bring her a soda pop with that water.  Thanks doll." 

The waitress smiled at Frank and quickly walked to the kitchen.   The young Lady said "no" but Frank was taken back.

"Kid what's your name?  Do you even know what your saying no too?  You pan handle, I'm trying to give you a break here.  A tough smart kid like your self you want ever play for pennies again.  You can afford to go where you want pay for what you want.  Send money back home.  You can play that thing because you want to not cause you need to".  

"You getting this"

She could not understand a word of what he was saying to the waitress, and watching her head back she moved her eyes to him, noticing he was taken back by saying no. Her face went white before she could try and correct herself she listened to his words.

Being asked what her name was she spoke quietly, "K...Kimi Voelkel, sir." She realized she had either miss-heard the question, or he heard no for the wrong one. She would shake her head no again as he continued talking, trying to clear her head.

"I meant no about the two guys outside..." She spoke trying to make some sense before she heard him mention home. Her heart sunk, she looked at him with a smile forcing back what could be seen as discomfort from what he mentioned. 

"I understand."

Kimi looked back down at the table, the silence except for the sound of the dishes in the room was enough to tell she was still awake at least. She looked back up at him after the silence, "Hey... sir? What is it you do?" She kept her hands in her lap, clasped shut as she watched him.

Frank could see she was trying to get her words out but he was talking to fast.  He decided to slow down and listen to her.

"Kimi Voelkel whats that Russian, German.   I'ma call you Kimi V  yeah I like that; Kimi V.  You wanna know what you will be doing?  You will start off in the protection racket and maybe do some collections for me.  You gotta start counting money though.  You didn't even count what I gave you."    "Kimi V yeah I like that."

Frank turned toward the men that was with him. 

"Fella's meet Kimi V the tough cookie from?  Where's you's from again?"

The waitress returns with the spaghetti with meat balls, Italian gravy, lightly buttered garlic bread and a soda pop with her glass of water.  

Yeah the meal kid sorry Kimi V you's gotta eat you's gonna be with us you's gotta eat like us.  Food is good for ya.  

Kimi listened to him speak of what she would be doing, but she smiled small seeing as how he had to shorten her last name. "I just did not wish to be rude." She had always been told at a young age not to count money at the table but she watched him turn to the two men who sat not far off. When he introduced her she pipped up.

"I am from Germany." She sat straight and tried to think, she was from a separated family. Her drunk of a father from Germany, and her mother from France, she leaned towards where her dad was from but she just disliked talking about the situation. 

She looked as the waitress returned, she looked at Frank, "I suppose that is what you told her?" She looked at the food but grabbed the water taking a drink. "Thank you again."

It was not long before she started to eat the meal she was given, starting the the pasta, she enjoyed it and took her time eating.

It took her about thirty minutes to finish the pasta and the bread before she drank the soda she was given. The color had returned to her face after some time of relaxing, the silence some how soothing at the booth.

Frank smiled as she said she was from Germany then he told the guys.

"Guys meet Kimi V from Germany from now on treat her like she's one of us.  Kimi that big mean looking guy that's Gus.  The young skinny kid that's Little Augie and that smiling jerk that's Tommy Boi.  Watch him he's ladies man."

Frank watched her look at the food then he smiled as she smiled he could tell that she was worried about if she would be able to finish all that.

"Kimi V whatever you don't finish don't worry they can toss it or you can take it with you.   Now back to business you ain't gotta do nothing you don't want to.  But the protect racket means that protect the trucks and what's in them.  I'll supply you with everything you need. you supply that toughness and them smarts of your kid and we'll make great money.  I aint rich because I sat on my lorrells. "

Frank waited for her reaction. 

Frank watched Kimi V finish her meal and then sip on her soda-pop and then the waitress handed Kimi a hot slice of Apple pie with two scoops of Vanilla ice cream on top.  Frank smiled hoping Kimi would like it.  It was at that point that Tommy walked over to Frank and whispered into his ear.  Frank looked at Gus who gave a nod then Augie who also nodded Frank looked at Tommy and gave his approval nod.    Kimi asked about protecting the product and the streets as Frank turned back towards her.   

"Well there's a change to that kid.  The fella's think that you would be better running our finance and entertainment departments.  You would lean money at a low interest rate then send Augie to collect.  On Friday nights you would manage our high steaks card game and collect out ten percent gratuity and protect the plays from robbery and police raids.  The paid is the same but it would be better that way at the card game you can play that there instrument you got in that case".  

Frank could see that Kimi was a little surprised but he wasn't sure if it was a good or bad surprise. 

"Plus Augie will show you the instrument we want you to learn.  Tommy will teach you how to use smaller tools and Gus will teach you a bit of hands on skills.   You ever used a Chicago typewriter?" 

Frank smiled as she tore into the Ice cream and pie.  She never heard of a Chicago type writer that wasn't a surprise she was a good kid.  Frank like the idea of her running the Shylock business and the card game it wouldn't change her to much and the typewriter, handguns an knife Frank thought every good woman should know that stuff.  Gus teaching her hand to hand that's for her safety so any man that touches her if she didn't want that she can brake the jerks fingers off.

" You will love the typewriter after Augie shows you how to use it you will be typing your name all over town.  The stuff Tommy shows you; you will be getting out of tough spots easily.  The stuff Gus shows you is the stuff dreams are made of.   Know the loan operations people will come to your office and ask you for money you will give it to them and then when they fail to pay on time you will whisper their name to Augie and he will go collect."  Augie will explain to them that an additional fee is accessed to the nut causing the vig to go up."

Frank waited for a minute to let her grasp that part of the job before explaining the card game.

"The card game is easy you make sure the players have food and drinks you will have two men to follow your orders and two men out side to protect their car's and the building.  You make have two or three tables going.  The they put up the cash to get the chips then you tax twenty percent.  Five percent was for the privilege of playing and eating and drinking the other fifteen is to the house for our expenses.  They all know this and they know if they don't pay they don't play.  So what do you think kid?"

Frank laughed as she called him Mr. Frank.

"Mr. Frank is my dad everyone calls me Frank and you started about an hour ago when you fought those two men.  When your done eating We going to take you to your apartment.  Let you get rested up and tomorrow your going shopping for clothes and groceries.   Think of all that as a small advance from your pay.  Augie will start teaching you the Chicago typewriter and I will show you the operations and exactly how I want it done."

Frank saw that she still had a look of concern.

"Me nor none of my men will ever touch you unless you want them too.  They know how I feel about such stuff.  What we give you in advance is that an advance nothing more.  I will deduct it from your pay of course. So welcome to the family Kimi V."

The Family owns a few apartment buildings that members get to live in.  So we will get you hooked up with a key to your own place.  It has a bed and you can buy furniture.  Augie show her the typewriter.  

Augie pulled out a musical instrument case from the under the table he was sitting at.  Then he opened it and revealed a Thompson Meachine gun

See your going to learn that.  

Tommy pulled out two pistols a 32 revolver and a 45 then he pulled out a knife.

Tommy is going to teach you the tools of the trade to ensure you can protect your business.  Gus is a world war one vet that will teach you how to use your hands.

When Kimi asked about not having these types of tools all four men started laughing.  Then Gus said it comes with the job we supply you the tools you buy the extras.  Then they all left with Kimi and took her to the hotel.   She carried her case close to her chest as they went to Frank's car.  They were a little bunched up but it was a short drive. 

They got to the apartment building, it was a clean well lit place with a doormen to open the door and two security men.  Frank went to the hotel manager and spoke with him.  Gus also went then there was a loud thud sound and then Frank and Gus came out of the managers office.  Gus was wiping blood off his hand and the manager was holding his nose up with a blood stain tissue.   Frank smiled as he handed her the key. 

"Your in room 410 go check it out an let us know what you think. Well wait down here for you if you don't like it we'll go to another join.