After riding down to the station in the back of the vomit covered police car, Dolph was carted off into the holding cells where he was finally given his one phone call.. The cell was loud and overcrowded, it smelled of urine and sweat, welcome to jail.. he thought to himself. Picking up the phone off the receiver, he punched in the numbers to his boss' office and began waiting as it dialed out.. Someone picked up on the other line, Dolph couldn't make out the words very well with the noise but he began talking into the phone anyways..

"Hello? Billy? It's Adolph.. look man I'm in a bad way right now.. that thing you asked me to do was handled but I got swooped up by the police.. you think you can do something-?"

The phone was producing some static but he could hear someone talking in bits and pieces, he tried again..

"Hello??? Billy_Mastrosimone .. sir?? Can you hear me.."

The line clicked and the voice on the other end was gone.. Dolph slammed the phone down on the receiver and yelled "FUCK" before fuming his way over to a bench, the entire cell cleared the way for him, staring him down as he walked over and sat down..

"The fuck are you all looking at huh?" 

Dolph yelled out loud, the other inmates walked off in different directions and ignored the statement.. That's what I fucking thought.. Dolph thought to himself as he leaned his head back against the cold iron bars of the cell.. how long would he be here??

Billy barely caught his own name in the phone static. "Hello? Hello? Who the hell?..." And then the phone went dead. "Operator, can you please reconnect me with whoever just called my number?"

"One moment please" Came the calm professional tone from the other end. Then...

"New York City Police, twelfth precinct, this is Sergeant Wills speaking who is this?"

"Sergeant, this is Billy Mastrosimone I just got a call from someone down there, is everything alright?"

"Mister Mastrosimone, I don't know why you might have gotten a call from the station, nobody here would have called you sir, unless you might know someone of the criminal element."

Billy nodded. "Alright Sergeant, I'll have my lawyer come on down then and find out what's what."

A shuffle at the other end of the phone followed by a quick. "Sir, there may be a man who used his phone call to speak to you. Don't know his name, I only know he was picked up at the docks, we brought him in for Murder and Arson. You want your lawyer down here for someone like that, that's fine by me, but I don't think you want to..."

Click.

Billy picked the phone back up and dialed his lawyer.

It was some odd amount of hours before a guard finally came walking down the aisle.. the cell grew quiet in anticipation as the rattling of  keys on the guard's waistband grew louder and louder until finally he popped around the corner carrying a clipboard with a sheet attached to it.. He began going scrolling over the names as everyone was on the edge waiting for their name to be called..

"Will Johnson... er uh.. Randy Marx... Jim Richards.." 

The guard paused as he flipped through some more papers on the sheet and called one final name

"Adolph Thornton.. your due for booking lets go"

The guard pulled his clad of keys from his waistband and opened up the cell, gesturing for the four men to step out of the cell.. One inmate decided that he was going to go and was met with a baton to his legs as he tried to run out of the cell.. the other two guards threw him back in as the head guard led the four men down the hallway to the booking area

"Step on over there and strip down.." 

He said pointing to a more secluded area off the the right at the end off the hallway.. the four men did what they were told and undressed, squated, and coughed.. All apart of the procedure to make sure weapons and contraband were not flowing into the jail.. Just when Adolph thought it was going to get worse, a light formed at the end of the tunnel.. A guard came storming down the hall calling his name

"Mr. Thornton, looking for Adolph Thornton.."

The guard keeping watch called out that he was 'here' and within moments another guard stepped into the room...

"There is a man here that claims he is his legal council and demands that he be released on a unjustly arrest.. says this man is just a "dock laborer" and that he works for Mr. Mastrosimone.." the guard said

The two guards looked at each other and shrugged before tossing the clothes back at Adolph

"Looks like this may be your lucky day.. throw your fucking clothes on and follow me to the front.."

The guards began chatting with each other.. Dolph could only make out such few words but heard that his bail had been paid for by "his lawyer" .. thank you Mr. Mastrosimone Dolph thought to himself as he threw his clothes on and made his way to the front to meet his lawyer...

Curtis King stood with his briefcase and hat in hand as he waited for his client to be released. As soon as they pulled mister Thornton out of the back area he nodded.

"Mister Thornton, it's a pleasure to meet you. Billy sent me down here to make sure you were taken care of, we'll be out of here in a matter of minutes I assure you. Soon as the guards return all of your belongings that is."

He turned and looked toward the guard who grumbled and left the room.

"Mister Thornton, mister Mastrosimone sends his thanks, and assures you that you're in good hands." He sat down and crossed his legs as he lit up a cigarette and offered one to Adolph.

"You smoke?"

Dolph smiled, it paid to have friends in 'high places' .. he nodded at the man in front of him and took him up on his offer to sit and have a smoke.. his nerves were a bit rattled and every little phone that rang in the vicinity sent him over the edge a bit..

"I could definitely use a smoke.. shit.. I thought i was a goner homie-" he paused as he looked at the man, he was thrown off by his use of words.. Dolph smiled and corrected himself

"I mean sir, but man... then you showed up and like BOOM.. here we is homie.."

He let it slip again as he took a long drag off his cigarette and let out a sigh of relief with a cloud of smoke..

"Ahh, well.. hope this wasn't too much trouble.. did Billy say anything else to you?? I couldn't get a word in on that damn phone.. its all static in there man"

Dolph said as he continued to puff on the cigarette while waiting for his belongings..

Curtis nodded.

"Head back to Billy's place the second you can and see him. He needs to thank you for your work. As far as the phone, there's not much I can do about that, buy Billy got enough from you to get me down here. And now that I know you work for him..."

He reached into his briefcase and slid a business card across the table.

"I am at your service should you ever get in trouble. Oh, and don't worry about paying. Between you and me, I charge mister Mastrosimone more than enough to cover my fee ten times over. Thing is, I'm worth it."

The guard returned then and wantonly tossed Adolph's belongings onto the table. Curtis looked them over.

"I believe my client also had a firearm."

"Confiscated as evidence in an ongoing investigation."

"Ah, I see. And the cash from his wallet?"

The guard grumbled again and made his way back out of the room, returning just a moment later with a wad of cash that clearly belonged to Mister Thornton and no other prisoners at that particular building.

"Thank you Officer."

With that Curtis watched the cop leave the room and turned back to Adolph.

"Anything for a buck huh?"

He smirked and finished his cigarette.

Dolph began putting his belongings back into his pockets, wallet, keys, money wad.. The last to pick up was the card the gentleman left for him on the table.. He lifted it and squinted as he read the small fine letters on the card.. 'Curtis King, Criminal Defense Lawyer' .. He smiled and stuck it into his front pocket as he put the cigarette out in the provided ashtray..

"Thank you Mr. King.. I will hold onto this card.." he stood up and shook his hand firmly

"Forget about the phones, I'll see you at my next court date.."

Dolph said with a smirk as he released his grip from the handshake and took a step back.. He picked up his evidence slip from he table and took note that he was due to appear in a few weeks.. probably will get dismissed by then with his luck..

"You have a good day Mistah King."

Dolph said happily as he walked out of the police station arrogantly, he told that fucking cop he would get out by the end of the day.. stupid fucking pigs. He flung the front doors open to the station and made his exit.. Off to see the Don..

Billy the the doors open for Adolph as soon as he arrived. He had already put out a call to AddieMoretti- to come to the house.

"Dolph! Come in, come in. Here, sit down in the living room, I'll grab us a couple of drinks while we wait for my cousin to show and you can tell the both of us everything hm?"

He walked over to, and threw open the liquor cabinet then.

"Pick your poison, got everything a man can think of here, so what'll it be?"

Billy nodded solemnly to his cousin as she walked into the living room.

"Addie, please, come in. Sit."

He passed her a drink as she did and then gestured to Adolph_Thornton.

"Addie this is Adolph, he has some good news and some bad news for you. Dolph, this is the woman who was effected by the man you took care of for me. This is my cousin Addie, and her husband, my best friend, Charlie is still in the hospital."

He sipped his whiskey and went quiet then, clearly leaving things for Dolph to explain.

Dolph was running late as usual, there was a few extra cars parked outside of the Don's home, and as Adolph pulled up and parked his car, a short chubby italian man wearing a suit and fedora came quickly over to rush him inside the house.. It seems the Don was expecting his arrival.. He nodded and brushed off his suit, fixing his tie and chains.. This was it, time to deliver the news..

Upon entering the home, he found the Don sitting with a few men, but Adolph didn't recognize them.. It wasn't until a woman came walking down the hallway and they met eyes, she seemed to have been crying recently as her eyes were puffy and red.. The Don quickly rose and introduced the two as she sat down.. Dolph smiled and bowed his head in respect before talking..

"Nice to meet you Miss AddieMoretti- .. I must say, I hope your husband has a speedy recovery.." he paused and cleared his throat

"I found the man you were looking for, the fellow Gerry Gentry.. he was down at the dockyards hiding out in his office.. The homie and I was checking the place out and then the next thing I know.. we was in a shootout with that punk.."

Dolph looked around the room to see the attentive eyes listening to him as he paused once more, he let out a sigh before continuing..

"I'm not sure Mr. Gentry was the man we was lookin fo' .. homie had it in his head that I was being lied too.. said he ain't shoot at nobody.." Dolph looked at Billy and then back at Addie who was still on the edge of her seat

"Don't know if that man was telling da truth.. but.. he won't be around anytime soon to tell it.. I blasted that fool off the dock after he tried to take a shot at me.. I got lucky his gun jammed or it'd be me sleeping with the fishes tonight.."

Dolph said with a huge sigh of relief, he took the cup of whiskey that was poured and offered to him and began sipping on it, letting things sink in for a moment..

Addie looked Adolph_Thornton and asked in a tone void of emotion, "Were you able to recover the body?"

He shook his head no and there followed a long silent moment in which Addie simply stared at Adolph.  It was the kind of silent stare that would send most men scurrying away uncomfortably.  Then she simply said, "Tis a pity.  I had spread the word on the street that I was offering a large sum of money to anyone that could bring me his body.  Without substantial proof, I will have to simply live with the knowledge that he may or may not be dead."

Addie turned her head back to Billy and gave her report as a Capo would her Don, "Charlie is resting comfortably, but he has not regain consciousnesses.  We will not the extend of the potential brain damage until he wakes up.  The crowbar used by by Gentry struck him in the back of the head, cracked open his skull, and forced his right eyeball from its socket.  He will always be blind in that eye, but the doctor believes the other external injury will heal with time."  Though her voice never wavered from its emotionless tone, Billy saw the flicker in her eyes that betrayed the raging emotions within her.

"Was Jim Riley recovered?  I order the dock master to give him chase."

There was still hope that there remained a target in which she could direct her vengeance upon since all others had been denied to her by fate.

"If it is found he was connected at all with the death of my brother or the attack upon my husband, I ask for retribution."  Finally the strain of holding her emotions back broke and her voice wavered, "It is by custom my right to request." 

Billy sighed and shook his head.

"Jim was not brought in, but I know where he's headed if that helps, and I'm happy to send you there with a group of men, maybe Dolph here would like a second job?"

He asked more than told that. It would be up to the two of them if they could work together, he was going to send Addie whether he liked it or not though.

"I can go to the hospital myself to watch over Charlie, you can head down to Philly and catch him in the act. Apparently he's meant to get a shipment to Hollowood and frame me for it. Since the government pays rent, they wouldn't need a search warrant to open the materials delivered to the house and that could really bite us in the ass."

Dolph nodded at the Don @Billy_Mastrosimone and his Caporegime AddieMoretti- as they looked at him in the middle of their conversation..

"I would be more than happy to assist Miss Moretti here if she needs an extra gun.." he said with a smirk

"You say the word and it's done.."

Dolph resumed standing in the background and listening to the conversation..

Adolph nodded to Addie, while he was concerned about Rodney, he knew being here at the moment was much more important.. He took one last gulp of whiskey and set the glass down on a nearby table before walking over to Billy and shaking his hand goodbye..

"I am at your service Ms. Moretti. I've never been to Philadelphia.. I heard they got some good food there.." he said getting sidetracked, he noticed the displeasement in Addie's face and he chuckled

"I'm sorry, business first of course. I'll just leave my car here and we can ride over to the airport together."

He smiled at her and gestured for her to lead the way as he said Ladies first of course....

Addie walked at a fast pace out of the office and towards the car.  Her pace was two-fold.  She really did want to get in the air as soon as possible, but she also wanted to get out of the house before the children knew that she was there.  She did not want to tell them about their father until he woke up and they knew more of what they were dealing with.  Once they knew what the fight would be before them, then they would face it as a family together.  Until there were no answers.  No plans.

Rand and Perrin, her two top security guys, met them in the foyer and walked out of the house with them.  The whole way, Addie rattled off orders to the two men.

"Perrin, call the airport and see that the plane is fueled and ready to depart when we get there.  Then call the dock master in philly to let him know what to expect.  Give him the name of Jim's boat and a description of him.  If he docks before we get there than ask him to stall him.  It is vital that we not let that shipment to make it to Hollowood and it will be a whole lot easier to bottle him up at the docks than to attack him enroute.  After you arrange all that then go to the hospital and see to Charlie's security."

Perrin acknowledged the orders and Addie paused at the open car door before getting into the back of her car.  She quickly gave Rand his orders, "Have one of the cars swing by headquarters and pick up more ammo and guns before meeting us at the there."  Rand acknowledge the orders and went to carry them out as Addie slid into the back seat.  She slid over to make room for Adolph.

Once he too was inside the back of the sedan she asked him, "So Mister Thornton, why don't you tell me a little about yourself.  If we are going to be working together we should probably get to know each other a little better."

Adolph turned his attention to Addie after her question, the scenery outside the car wasn't much to look at anyways as they pulled away from Bily's office. He smiled at her as he replied..

"Ah yes of course Miss, you already know my name for starters.. But I do carry a nickname.. "Young Dolph" was my streets name.. I'm sort of an aspiring musician.. but this music industry aint accepting my talents yet!" he said at the end with a snicker

"Was born in Chicago, raised in Memphis.. Street hustler since I was 12.. Parents was addicted to crack.. My childhood was all fucked up, pardon my language-" 

He turned his head back to the passing scenery and continued talking

"But then I met Mr. Mastrosimone.. and things been on the ups for me.. New York is my new home"

He chuckled and turned his head back to her with another smile

"How about you Miss? Whats your story?"

"As the don stated I am his cousin.  However, it is a bit more complicated than that.  His Nona took my twin brother and me under her roof when our parents died.  For several years I grew up in the same house as the don so I think of him more as a brother than anything.  The don brought me to the US from Sicily a few decades ago.  Since then I spent time in several cities within this country; including, Las Vegas, Detroit, Chicago, Philly, Columbus, and now New York.  My husband, Charlie, is the don's best friend.  I met him when my cousin brought me to Las Vegas.  He was the don's top security man at the time."

Addie pause a moment and looked out the car window.  More quietly she added, "Strange, that all of this can be traced back to Las Vegas in one regard or another."

She looked back to Adolph_Thornton and saw the question on his face.

"This attack upon Don Mastrosimone by Don Mattaranzi stems back to when my cousin was a Don out in Las Vegas.  Don Mattaranzi had a daughter, Lia, who ran away to America to follow the love of her life.  Silvo and Lia were married and both were a part of our crew.  When Las Vegas fell, Silvo and Lia were killed.  Don Mattaranzi holds our don responsible for not protecting his daughter."

Addie noticed that the airport was coming into view now and that their plane was out of the hanger with the fuel truck starting to pull away.  It would be ready to take off as soon as the rest of the men arrived from headquarters.

"Jim Riley is Don Mattaranzi's chief smuggler into the US.  That is why the don is sending us to Philly.  I have a more personal agenda in mind, however.  It is my hope that this man, or his boss Casto, has information on who specifically killed my twin brother Giovanni."

Dolph listened attentively, he had taken note she was the Don's cousin.. but things were more clear as to how she ended up into the life... He nodded and smiled as she continued on, filling him in on a bit of the backstory he was not around for..

"Seems this goes deeper than the surface. I am glad to be of use in anyways I can when we land in Philly.. I don't got any connects out there but I will follow your lead on things and stay vigilant.."

The car stopped as they arrived at the airport.. Dolph quickly opened the door and stepped out, holding it open for AddieMoretti- to step out..

"Seems were riding in style huh? Aint eva been on a private plane befoe.. Is this yours??"

He said excitedly as he closed the door behind her and began admiring the plane thinking to himself, I want one of these.. He walked quickly behind Addie to board the plane..