Billy had waited patiently for the few days Don Patangeli had suggested before calling the number he was given. He hadn't lied to the man, he wanted to visit Philadelphia and see the place for once without having to worry about getting something done, or enacting revenge. So when he asked around, someone mentioned that Patangeli had a daughter. What better way to get close to the Don than to be friends with his daughter? Billy couldn't think of anything. Plus, according to Patangeli, she had gone to school in Detroit, or was supposed to and didn't make it through. Either way, she was bound to know someone that Billy knew.

He picked up the receiver and dialed, it rang, twice, thr...

"Hello, yes I'm looking for the young miss Valencia. I apologize if I've called at an inopportune time, but is she available?"

Vale was lounging on the couch in so called living room. It was one of the three rooms that had a couch in it, why her father decided to have three living rooms stumped her but hey there was always a place to just lounge. The second living room was her favorite, was just something about the couch. It was comfy, it was oversized and it had pillows bigger then her. It was the perfect place to lay down and catch a quick cat nap.

All sprawled out, Vale glanced upwards towards the ceiling. The texture in the paint caught her eye, for a moment she felt like she was laying outside on a beautiful spring day. Looking up at the clouds trying to figure out which each one looked like. It was something she hadn't done in a while, hell she couldn't even remember the last time she took a moment to just stare aimlessly.

The textures on the ceiling were flowing like a wave, the ripples could be seen as if they were coming into the shore line. Her mind was working wonders but her eyes were getting heavy, with each passing moment they got heavier and heavier until they were completely shut. That's when it happened, something always happens when you're about to enjoy a nice nap.

This time it was the phone across the room, it began ringing. Then it rang again, she laid there expecting someone to answer it but no one did. She knew Joe and Vito were around, but didn't know why they didn't hear it ringing.

"The phone is ringing! Hello!"

She waited a moment, there was no response. With a sigh Vale sat up, the phone rang one more time before she got up. Making her way to the desk it was sitting on Vale picked it up just as the fourth ring was about to take place. Without saying a word a voice spoke up on the other end, it caught her a bit by surprise when the voice on the other end asked for her specifically. She didn't realize anyone knew she was about, how did this person know she was there?

"Uh.... this is her. Who is this?"

"Oh, Miss Valencia. We've never spoken before, my name is Billy Mastrosimone. I'm from Detroit. I was making some inquiries the other day into Philadelphia and a friend of mine mentioned your name and how you might be the person to talk to about finding my way around town and avoiding any trouble. I was hoping I could convince you to accompany me on my next trip out there in exchange for a free meal or two, perhaps some shopping, and drinks or dancing, whichever you prefer."

Billy was planning on going back east for a bit for a much needed vacation, and as much as he loved New York, there was never naywhere to relax in that damned place. Always people bustling and busy. Philadelphia though? You could always find pockets of quiet there. He waited quietly and patiently on the other end of the phone for the woman to answer. She certainly sounded young, he didn't want her to get the wrong idea. It might have been too late for that.

Vale sat there silent on the other end as the man spoke. Was this some kind of joke? Was someone trying to set her up? Was this.... well she had the slightest idea what was going on. She was quite baffled at how someone got a hold of a number that she herself didn't even know yet. While listening she cupped her hand over the receiver on the phone, looked over her right shoulder then whipped her head around to the left. There was no one there. She pressed her hand harder on the phone so nothing on her end could be heard.

"Joe?... Vito?... Dad???...."

No one answered. 

"Anyone here?"

The apartment was dead silent, the only thing she could hear other then the occasional rumble coming from the radiator. She finished listening to him speak before removing her hand. She still didn't know what was going on or how this man got a hold of her but she was damn sure going to find out. 

"Billy, right?"

On the other end Billy muttered a subtle "Mhmm". 

"As fantastic as that all sounds, cause hell I've basically been stuck in this place the last couple days. Some fresh air and some time out would be nice. I'm just a bit confused right now. So I'm hoping that you could explain a bit more. First and most importantly, who told you I was in Philadelphia?"

It was a genuine question, that she needed to know the answer to. If she was going to go met someone, someone she had never even met. She was going to make sure she wasn't setting herself up for a potential bad situation. Consider this crossing her t's and dotting her i's.

Billy was never good at coming up with this kind of stuff. He was good at not telling someone everything. Right up until they started asking the right questions. He sighed.

"You see Miss Valencia, I'm a friend of Mrs Byrne. I was talking to her the other day, and she mentioned something about you. I was curios. I had never heard of you before and I've been around for a while. So I asked around and everyone said you were gone away off to college, but that you were a real nice girl. So now there was a mystery. I just had to know who you were. So I asked around some more and come to find out college, is in Detroit. Well that's easy, now I just gotta find out what college, you're in my city, and bam, mystery solved right?"

He took a breath and grabbed a glass of water off the stand next to the phone.

"Problem is, I found out who your dad is real quick after that. I couldn't just show up to meet you then. So I grabbed some cigars, and made my way to Philly to ask for an introduction all proper like. I think he got the wrong idea and thinks I want to ask you on a date or somethin. I'm not like that Miss Valencia. I just want to know what all the hub bub is about. He said you don't like it when dad gets involved. I'm not sure what he meant by that honestly."

He took another long pull of water and then finished his explination.

"Also, I really do want to just relax away from Detroit for a few days and lay low. Do some shopping, maybe buy a new suit. I'd really appreciate you showing me around, and I really do intend to buy you lunch and or dinner, do some shopping on your own, and drinks or dancing. It's all on me for a few days if you'll just help me get out of my head and relax a little."

He finished the explanation and the water shortly after. Thankfully the phone cord was long so he made his way toward the kitchen.

Vale had tried to put the pieces together in her head, she had only been around a mere week or so, how did so many people know she was about? Maybe it wasn't actually a lot of people that knew, perhaps it was just the right people that knew. Her father was in fact one of the big bosses in South Philly, at least this is what she had gathered over the past week. The chat she had with drunken Vito, who was one of her fathers bodyguards who kind of pointed to him in that direction.

Then you had Mrs. Bella Byrne, it was a name that her father dropped to her shortly after arriving. A predominant figure in South Philly, whom Vale was told to go see for a job. A suggestion made directly from her fathers lips. So if this guy on the other end knew Mrs. Bryne and was able to converse with her without issue, then he must have been ok. 

He did say he talked to her father but yet it was something that he had not mentioned to her. Perhaps he was avoiding it and just hoped he didn't call or maybe he was just super busy and it slipped his mind. Either or, it was still her first time hearing of it, she was still in a bit of shock.

Billy finished speaking and the line went silent, clearly it was her time to speak up but she was in her own mind. Still trying to piece everything together. The silence lasted a few more seconds until Billy spoke up "Miss Valencia? You still there?" She could hear him taking another sip from whatever he was drinking and then the sounds of shuffling papers or what seemed to be papers in the background.

"Yeah, I'm still here. I'm just still a bit confused on how you knew I was about. Not many people knew I was here, unless it was word of mouth. It's really the only thing that I can think of."

She took a deep breath and continued talking, she was about to go on a bit of a tangent. Hopefully Billy like listening.

"So, the way I think of it. There were only a handful of people that knew I was here. There was obviously my father, whom seemed quite happy to see me. That was after he finally opened the door to let me in, I guess he wasn't expecting me... Actually I know he wasn't. It was a good surprise. Vale chuckled to herself. Anyways, then there were his couple of guys that were with him. Joe and Vito, personal friends of his. Now I know my father said to go see Mrs. Byrne and that she would set me up with a job. Then you have Joe and Vito who could have told... well who knows who they could have told."

She paused again to think on it some more.

"Wait, did you say Detroit?"

She had totally missed that in his initial words, it wasn't until she replayed it in her head that Detroit stuck out.

"You're from Detroit?"

Billy nodded. He had never gotten used to the idea that the person on the phone couldn't see him.

"Yeah, I'm from Corktown actually. My dad was from New York, but he worked in Chicago. I was born in New York too, but I visited Mrs Byrne for some info about my dad, and well, she dropped me off in Detroit and I never looked back."

Billy finished up in the kitchen and made his way back into the den of the apartments. The place was bigger than his last place was. He was still gettting used to it.

"So I'm pretty sure your dad told me you were gonna be back in a few days, and then I just waited. I figured I would call once a day until I got a message to you, but hey, today is my lucky day cause I got you right away. I should hit the tables or something soon eh?"

He took a seat in his wing-backed chair and put the phone on the table next to him, continuing to hold the receiver.

"Why are you so hung up on how I knew anyway? Are you mad? I mean, it's not that big a deal right? Unless you think someone is going to kidnap you and extort your father or something, but from what I know, anyone who tries is an idiot."

He was in the process now of taking his shoes off to relax at home a bit before having to go back out, or worse, have folks over to his place.

Vale smiled to herself, she knew that he couldn't see her facial expressions but it didn't matter. It was the kidnapping comment that made her smile, which was a bit odd if you think about it. Who in their right mind would smile at the thought of being kidnapped, not anyone normal that is for sure. Though Vale wasn't normal, actually she was quite far from normal.

"I'm not really hung up on it per say, it's more of a curiosity thing. I didn't realize I was that special or that well known. Like I said I've only been in Philly like a week now. Haven't ventured out much at all."

Vale went silent once more, giving thought to the few times she had been out of her fathers apartment.

"Yeah I mean I can only think of maybe a handful of times I've left here since arriving. Well besides my trip to Las Vegas but that is a completely other story. I guess being the spawn of a man such as Luis, almost immediately makes you the talk of the town."

Vale switched the phone to her other ear and ran her hand through her hair. Resting her head onto it.

"The whole kidnapping thing hadn't ever crossed my mind, not until you said it at least. I highly doubt at this point you'd do the whole kidnapping thing, usually those type of people don't mention it before hand."

Vale laughed into the receiver.

"Anyways, you said you're in Phlly now? Or are you just planning a trip out here?"

Billy laughed at Valencia's comment. It was true, kidnappers normally did not announce their intentions.

"I'm still in Detroit for the night, but I can get a plane out there first thing in the morning if that works for you. I've settled my affairs here, and I deserve a bit of a break."

He put his feet up on his ottoman and realized he never got himself a drink. He gazed longingly at the liquor cabinet.

Other side of the room, too far.

"Of course, if you have to ready plans, or delay for any reason, that's perfectly acceptable as well. I can always find another time to come out there."

Billy would go on vacation one way or another, he just might not get to see the young woman he'd been anxious to see just yet, that was all.

In the mean time, he would have to make another phone call and send Valencia some flowers or something, as a token of good will.

"So really, it's up to you, I'll be summoned at your command."

He smiled again, then looked around. Here he was of a night, alone in a vast apartment, again. He sighed and made to put his shoes back on. Everyone always wondered why he was always at the HQ, why he seemed to never sleep. Billy knew though. The HQ was the only place that wasn't lonely.

Vale looked over at the grandfather clock sitting in the corner of the living room, it was late afternoon now. Where the day actually went beat the hell out of her, perhaps her nap was more then just a couple of blinks or maybe this conversation had been going on longer then would seem. Standing up from her chair, phone still attached to her ear Vale straightened her back, giving it a nice stretch. She then walked into the middle of the room, as far as the cord to the phone would let her.

"I'll be around tomorrow, Saturday night I don't have any plans. At least nothing that I can think of at the moment. I'll tell you what, Billy from Corktown."

She paused for a moment, she was going to say something but the thought of Corktown ran through her head. Quickly the topic went off into another direction.

"That's right, you said Corktown. I had only been through Corktown a couple times during my time in Detroit. Mainly spent a majority of my time in the Downtown area. You know where the Wayne State University campus is?"

Billy nodded.

"Course I do. Why did you leave something at school? I would be happy to pick it up for you and bring it out to you when I come."

He had finished putting his shoes on and was making his way back into the foyer to put the phone down and to grab his jacket. It was going to be another long night, but at least now he might have something to do.

Vale promptly replied, she knew she had taken everything with her when she left. Plus it had been quite some time now that she had actually been in school, if she had left anything it would have been long gone now. 

“No, I didn’t. Well at least I don’t think I did. Even if so and I did leave something it wasn’t important enough for me to take with. I was really just seeing if you knew where the campus was. Though not like it’s hard to miss, anyone in Detroit probably knows where it’s at.” 

Vale made her way back to desk where the phone was sitting and took a seat once more.

”I had a tiny apartment just about a mile from campus down on Cass Avenue, it wasn’t anything special but it was my place. I made it feel like home. It was a nice city, Detroit that is. I enjoyed it while I was there, though I always knew it was just a stopping point in my life. You know what I mean?”

"I do, I've had a few places in my time. I lived in Detroit, then Las Vegas, then Detroit again. Bounced around for a bit, but always tried to make wherever I was my own. It gets hard to leave sometimes."

He paused a moment thinking of the places he had been, and how lucky he was to have made it this far.

"Did you say had? If you ever make your way back out to Detroit again, I'm sure we could buy the place back for you. Think of it as a thank you gift for showing me around Philly. You just give me the address and the number of the apartment and I'll make sure it's always waiting for ya. Unless you just want to stay in my spare apartment. I keep one for guests. It's nothing fancy, just one bedroom, kitchen, and living room. But I used to live there myself and it's very cozy."

He had his jacket on at that point and was ready to head out the door. But the woman on the other end of the line could easily have rooted him to the ground where he stood. Billy had a penchant for giving things away. He tended to give his heart along with them more often than not. lately he hand't been giving much away at all. Everything had to be spent on his newest venture. It would be nice to do something for someone else for a change.

Vale had never really given it much thought, the whole returning to Detroit thing. That’s was until Billy mentioned something about coming back there. The thought made her chuckle, there was no way her father would let her leave. Not after being apart for the last ten years. Just imagine how that conversation would go, she could already see the utter disappointment his eyes would show. It would be heartbreaking, something she couldn’t do. 

Though visiting, visiting is another story. That shouldn’t be a problem, at least not one that she could think of.

”Yeah, I said had. When I decided I was coming to Philadelphia I gave the place up. It wasn’t that big of a deal, I wasn’t overly attached to it. Was just a place, just a roof to have over my head. Though it was the first place I had on my own, so I guess it was a bit of a crowning achievement.”

Vale sat back and opened the top drawer of the desk, sitting inside was a pad of paper and a pen. She pulled them out and placed them on the desk in front of her. Picking up the pen she pressed it to the paper and began doodling. 

“I don’t think a place in Detroit would be practical, it would sit empty more times then not. Though that extra apartment of yours, now that sounds a bit more ideal. That is if you do in fact don’t turn out to be the kodnapping type.” 

Vale laughed, she was hoping he’d sense the humor.

Billy smiled.

"It's all yours then. It's just sitting empty all of the time as it is, so any less than that and it will be worth it."

He sat back down, he had a feeling he was going to be here for a bit based on how Valencia was talking.

"As long as you don't tell anyone about the ski masks I keep in the closet."

Oh how Billy suddenly hoped the young woman had a sense of humor.

"For now though, when shall we make plans? I can make my way out there any time that's convenient for you, just let me know what days work for you. I'm sure you're very in demand at the moment."

“Ski masks, huh? Are you a collector of sorts or are you more of the fashion statement type of guy?”

Vale let out tiny chuckle, just loud enough for Billy to faintly hear. The actual thought of him having ski masks and telling her about them in his closest made her think momentarily. Ski masks were in fact one of the tools of a kidnapper, well it wasn’t an actual tool but more of a way to keep hidden. Then again they had many uses, perhaps he was an avid skier. Perhaps he enjoyed the fresh powder on a mountain side? Skiing was something Vale had never done, she didn’t know the thrill behind it but hey there always was a first time for everything. 

She didn’t give him much time to respond before she moved spoke again. 

“Well you did say you were planning on flying into Philadelphia tomorrow. Let me check my schedule.”

Vale ruffled the papers on the pad in front of her loud enough to make it seem like she was flipped through a planner of some sort.

”Hmm... well let’s see.” She flipped over another blank page. “Ah, ok... Well seems I have an opening tomorrow afternoon. I could pencil you in. Oh wait, seems I have all tomorrow available.” She smirked into the phone like he could see her facial expressions. 

Billy nodded.

"Tomorrow, in the late morning I should be able to meet you anywhere you're like. Just tell me the name of the place and I'll be there."

Billy took his shoes back off. If he was going to be in Philly in the morning, he would need to think about getting some rest right now.

"Oh, and I'm more of a collector by the way. I'm glad you were able to open up your schedule for me though, I certainly owe you for that."

He would make sure he made that phone call for flowers now, it was not going to be something he let himself forget.

Vale picked up the pen once more and began doodling on the blank piece of paper she had just flipped to. She wasn't doodling anything specific more so just lines and shapes, it was about the most her artistic abilities were able to muster up. With a hmm Vale gave some thought to a location. She really still didn't know the area that well, had yet to venture out, even though she knew she needed to get out. Any more time in this apartment and she'd go stir crazy. That's when she had the brilliant idea, Billy seemed to be good at tracking things down. Hell he some how tracked Vale down.

"How about this! I will be out tomorrow late afternoon, some where on Race Street. Where exactly I do not know but I can promise you this, I will be out. You seem to have a way of finding stuff, consider this a bit of a challenge. I'll have a drink waiting for you."

She was sure he'd be up for the challenge, he had already put this much effort into things what was a bit more?

Billy pulled the phone away from his ear and started at it for a second. He brought it back to his head with a renewed vigor.

"Alright. I'll find you there then, and if I manage to pull it off, I'll let you have a drink with me before we run off together."

He was feeling cheeky then. She decided to put him up to a test and oh boy was he gonna pass it.

"Till tomorrow Miss Valencia." He waited for her polite reply and hung up the phone. He nearly jumped out of the seat he was in and ran out of his apartment. This was about to be a lot more fun of a trip than he originally anticipated.