"You can do this," Avard said to himself. "You're ready." 

He certainly didn't feel ready and although this little pep talk couldn't hurt, it was doing nothing to settle the nerves which had been bubbling up inside him so much, his guts felt like shaken pop. Avard shook his head, cursed to himself and reached for the flask inside his jacket. If real courage wasn't available, every coward knew to pack something strong for emergencies. He took a long pull, counted to 5 and stepped out into the afternoon.

It was a typical busy day on the streets of Bricktown, Detroit. Nothing out of the ordinary, just people going about their business, living their lives completely unaware of the mobster mastery about to unfold around them. A man with a briefcase, unaware, a mother with a pram, oblivious, an elderly couple changing dinner plans, all without a clue. Avard saw all of it and tried to still his hammering heart with a few deep breaths.

He was convinced that he had been impressing the bosses back in Philly for awhile now and he just needed to pull off something a little special to convince them now was the right time to open the books for him. When his boss had mistakenly called him 'Andy' at the last family movie night, he had seen that subtle clue about his notoriety within the crew for what it was; a fat opportunity to move up. He resolved himself to make an impression and that very night was when he had hatched this brilliant little scheme; a perfect opportunity to demonstrate he was a man who could be trusted and bring in the big bucks.

His shaking hand was reaching again for the liquor in his flask and he had to consciously stop himself. He needed his wits about him for a job like this and he hadn't spent all that time mapping out the route, making his escape plan and establishing a fence he could offload the stolen goods to, just to throw it away at the last hurdle.

"You can do this," Avard said to himself again, this time more firmly. "You're ready." The booze had helped.

While his nerve held, he made his move and started to weave through the crowds. He passed a fruit stand, ignored the patter from the newspaper vendor and didn't even make eye contact with the shoe-shine kid, although his dirty mutt shoes would definitely have seen the benefit.

He had his target in his sights and he quickened his pace. He stepped around a busy looking man, frantically clutching a nice hat to a windswept head. The old couple were behind him with a few more steps, still arguing about the time of their show as they faded into the throng. He made his move, reached out and...

Success! You grabbed yourself $268.

He snatched the purse and dashed hard to his left. He heard the lady yelling something in his wake, but he was too smart to listen and too fast to care. He glanced down to look at what else was inside besides the fat wad of cash as his feet carved their way through the pavement. The make up looked cheap, the brush wouldn't be much use but....hello...what was this? A bobby pin. A fucking bobby pin! 

Avard smiled as he ran, the key to his button clutched tightly in his hand. Just wait until the old boys back home heard about this huge score; it was going to be steak and caviar for the newest Made Man from here on out.

Avard's jaw still stung from knee he had taken to it from the pursuit of ICU. Whenever he tried to open his mouth he got a dull ache that made him wonder if he had done some lasting damage; he hoped not. He didn't have to take to get a doctor to look at it and he certainly didn't want to lose any more face after he had only winged that bodyguard, so he did his best not to think about it. 

"In here."

"Here?" Avard asked looking dubiously at the warehouse that was being indicated to him by Frankie's goon, who's name Avard couldn't quite recall. It didn't look like much, a portal frame shed that was cladded with profile sheeting, set beneath a pitched roof which looked like it had seen better days. 

"Here." Goon answered with a nod. Further chit chat would have to wait.  

Avard set his doubts aside and stepped through the doorway. The unit had been segregated into a reception area, which was manned by an attractive woman in her late 30s or early 40s, blonde hair and heavily made up in a way that suggested her best days may be behind her. Despite that she was still striking and had a demeanor that screamed 'not to be trifled with'. Looking past her, Avard could see a long hallway with numerous rooms off both sides of the corridor. The furnishing was sparse but comfortable, a nice tiled floor and elegantly papered walls betrayed the callousness of the exterior.

"Can I help you, hon?" The woman asked, eyieng Avard with a close scrutiny he felt a little unsettled by.

"I'm a friend of Frankie's. He told me to check this place out," Avard said casting a glance about the reception, which with the exception of the two of them, was clearly unoccupied.

"Oh!" The woman said, fixing a rather forced but still endearing smile to her face. "You must be Avard! I'm Miss P," she said holding out a manicured hand for him to shake.

"That's me," Avard said awkwardly giving her dainty hand a shake. "Is Frankie here?"

"Oh no hon, he just said to let you peek around." She peered past him as a couple of figures stepped through the doorway. "You ok on your own? Business, you know?" She said patting him lightly on the arm and moving away to greet the new arrivals.

"Er yeah...sure" Avard said to her retreating back. 

He headed around the reception and entered the hallway. He heard Miss P animatedly telling the guests about all the fun they were definitely in for, with a flirtatious giggle that was entirely affected and entirely successful. Avard grinned as he headed to the first door, conveniently marked 1. He gave a light knock and upon not hearing a response, entered inside.

"Hey sugar," a scantily clad brunette said, leaning on her elbows on what Avard assumed, was her bed. She flashed him a mischievous grin that reminded Avard rather of a lion about to feast upon a unsuspecting gazelle.

"Er...hey..."  He said, not exactly looking at her but now understanding exactly what this place was for. "I was looking for Frankie..." he trailed off as she playfully tussled her hair.

"He's not here," She said, "but if you want to relax for a minute first, then..." 

"No, no." Avard said much too hastily, beating a path towards the door as the girl laughed aloud. "I should probably wait...outside..wait for Frankie, yeah".

"Whatever you say. Don't be a stranger" She added with a cackle. 

Avard closed the door behind him with a heavy sigh of relief. He was massively out of his depth and this was clearly a big step up from snatching purses. He walked into the reception as Miss P was finishing sending the latest marks off to their rooms, one of whom was heading right towards the room Avard had just exited. He slipped around the eager gent and set himself in one of the armchairs on hand.

"Avard," Called a familiar voice to his right and looking over he saw Frankie in the entrance doorway talking to his goon from earlier. "You been seeing the girls or working?" 

"Working, boss. Working," He squeaked in a very undignified manner.  

"Yeah, right" His goon muttered, drawing a glare from Avard and a smirk from Frankie.

"Heh. Whatever you say, kid"

"I'm serious, it was work," Avard protested, but it fell on deaf ears.

Frankie smiled, "sure, sure. We don't judge here, right Cheech?" he said with a nudge to the goon's ribs, who spluttered with laughter. "Anyway, listen, I think you're ready for a bit more responsibility and I want you to take care of this little bit of business for the family. You think you're up to it?"

Avard was stunned. "Really?"

"Really?" Asked Cheech, earning another chuckle from Frankie.

"Really." Frankie said with a finality that suggested it was already decided. "I want you to keep an eye on this ring, make sure the girls are ok, muscle is on hand to straighten out any johns getting out of line and collect the take for the family. Can you do that?"

"You're damn right I can do that, boss. I got this," Avard said, beaming with pride at being entrusted with a felony for the family. 

"Good man, here," Frankie said holding out an envelope to Avard, who took it and began rifling inside.

Success!
You earned a total of $328

"Your first take from the prostitution ring, kid," He added when Avard finally looked up. "Make sure the family get their cut, you hear?"