Tad chuckled as Zipline inquired about his liquor acquisitions and networking. It was too funny to have two patrons inquiring about the same thing just a couple of feet from each other. Although, it was a bar so the topic was probably not all that rare. His chuckling definitely confused Zipline a bit as his question was not one of humor.

"Sorry, my laughter is due to the man just to your right asking similar questions. We were actually deep into a conversation about the liquor I've been acquiring for the bar. You can feel free to join us if you'd like. I was in the middle of a story about how I came to have a connection to the Russian vodka business." He said as he motioned over to the other gentlemen. 

"You can also feel free to just enjoy the bar as you'd like." He said as he stepped back in front of Gaspare.

"Now where was I...." He said as he sipped his whiskey and rubbed his chin.

Finally it came back to him, "Oh, yes. The Russians and their interesting use of liquor."

Gimpanzee took a sip of the whiskey and his mind started to wander

"Apologies TadKnackered!  I believe you asked me something but I slipped into a slight daze having just had a taste of the good stuff!"

"It probably isn't wise for me to drink, but you know me.. I'm a law unto myself!  Probably why I can often be found using this banana as a straw"

Gimpanzee noticed TadKnackered, Gaspare & Zipline were in the middle of discussing what looked like business so he left them to 
it - Which also reminded him, he was supposed to gather some men for raiding this nearby Trucking Depot he'd had his eyes on for a while

"If you don't hear back from me then I've either been clipped or I've succumb to some sweet goodness and I'm drowning in syrup at Pancakes Only!"

Tad listened closely to the retelling of Gaspare's interactions with Russians. He smirked to hear that it was just as friendly as his experience. Perhaps that was just the way they were when it came to interacting with people in America. The Vodka was mostly worth it though for him and his bar. Definitely would have preferred to gotten it from a business meeting rather than post-interrogation. 

"That's a proper scar though. Comes with a good story and it didn't heal up too bad. Most people just sit there and go 'hey look at where I got shot' or make up some story to hide the fact that they fell down some stairs while intoxicated. Your story is believable and entertaining." He said as Gaspare's hand went from his forehead back to his glass.

Gimpanzee said his farewells and warned of his most likely destination of Only Pancakes...

"I'd ask for you to bring me some back at the HQ, but I don't think they would be too good after a few hours of sitting around. I'll have to make my way over there next chance I get. We'll see how I feel in the morning after all this whiskey." He chuckled as Gimpanzee departed with a wave and a few chimply shrieks.

"Back to those Russians though. I wouldn't be surprised if they pulled some slight of hand and swapped their vodka for water. I've known some people to pull that trick on the unsuspecting. Not a bad racket if you can get people to gamble on it." He smiled as he thought about possibly setting up such a racket within his own bar.

As Zip listened to TadKnackered crack some of his characteristic bad jokes he looked slightly annoyed. 

He was not planning to dabble with importing liquor, i mean anything going into Chicago that wasn't behind locked vault doors always ended up in the clutches of the Raccoon Overlord in the north. How he managed to constantly steal stuff under 100 pair of guard eyes was still an unsolved mystery that many had tried to solve but failed

Well mr Tad, i honestly only inquired for your shipping lines because ... Zip lowered his voice so only Tad and Gaspare could hear, for he liked the look of the 2nd man I am running some foundation that could sometimes use the cover of some diplomatic pouches and undisturbed cargo boxes if you know what i mean. If all goes well potentially some less than innocent items shall be need to moved over to the west coast and on towards the islands in the pacific.

Hmm those Russians, we don't see them much up in the windy city, but the ones that do arrive. Oh boy they are a handful, any more tips on those stone hard asses mr Gaspare?

Tad leaned in as Zipline lowered his voice....

The conversation took a turn and he finally understood why he inquired about the liquor. It made much more sense after hearing of the man's efforts in Chicago. It could definitely be something his organization could get involved in to lend a hand. He scratched his head and took another sip of his drink.  

"I hear what you're saying now. Which I think is definitely something that peaks my interest. We could definitely find some time to discuss this further whether you want to take the time now....or elsewhere in the city or the streets. Depending on how much privacy we'd need for such a conversation. Can't have the wrong ears around for those talks." He glanced past the two men at the crowded bar behind them.

He wasn't ever sure how many people in that bar were truly civilians or cops in disguise. Hell, sometimes you might just have an off duty cop who stumbles upon the wrong bar filled with mobsters. The possibilities were endless on what occurred in crowded bars in the evening...

Zip nodded at Tad, for sure this was not a subject to be broached in clear daylight or in the vicinity of civilians or undercover narcs!!!

So any chance you can maybe show me your own collection of whiskeys in the back room mr Tadknackered, i assume you have plenty of choice as you mentioned before and i am sort of a fan of reading all labels and imagine what journeys those bottles have made to get here

What do you say, would you be willing to give me a tour?

Tad's face could briefly be seen to smirk, but quickly changed it to a more serious look in response to Zipline's request. He put the top back on the bottle of whiskey they were drinking from and then placed it back upon the shelf behind him. A quick motion to the bartender to notify him that Tad would be busy conducting business and he was ready to get the ball rolling...

"I'm happy to oblige the request Zipline. Feel free to come for the walk Gaspare if you want. Might be good for you to be around for some 'whiskey' talk. You can also go take your shot with that girl you've had your eye on as well. I'd completely understand." He chuckled and winked.

"If you come with us, you can feel free to carry that bottle of whiskey I gave ya or hide it back under the counter till we're done. I'm confident nobody will be taking it. So, if you want gentlemen.....follow me this way into the back where we have a couple of offices and of course our extra stock." He said as he motioned for the door at the end of the bar.

As he made his way through the door most of the back rooms came into view quickly. It wasn't a maze in any sense of the word since it was only a few rooms. To the right was his office, to the left an office for Gimpanzee to use when necessary, a break room just past that, and around the corner was the stock room where all the extra liquor was stored.

As he showed them around a bit he also remembered to share something else, "Hidden past a door in my own office there is the delivery room where trucks come in and park to be unloaded. That is where many shipments end their journey. Although we do have some trucks that either avoid this location entirely or have partial deliveries elsewhere."

Zip was impressed by the tight operations run by TadKnackered, he could see that the man knew his stuff. the offices were messy, but he was sure if one would comb it through it would only be boring accounting and order bills for a mediocre bar. As Zip heard the man speak about his operations having multiple locations he got very curious

So you are saying that you manage to ship things across this country, yet deliver officially only here but drop off a few items not on the bill on non-disclosed locations? 

Zip whistled, wuuuweee this man could be a grand asset to the cause

So tell me sir do you feel any affinity for the wildlife of this planet? Are you also annoyed as hell by the big corporate guys claiming to be 'proper business men' but have even more sticky fingers than the honorable gangster among ourselves?

Do you feel that minorities in this country are just the modern day slaves?

If yes, i would have a business proposition for you, how about I will be able to get my hands on some local hawaiian liquors not sold anywhere else in the world? What would you say to that?

Tad was leaning on a box of whiskey as he listened to what Zipline had to say. His words were chosen wisely and clearly there was passion behind them. The man believed in his causes and what he wanted to achieve. Not many mobsters could say they had such convictions if he polled the criminal underworld. Sure, a lot of them would lie and say that they did.....but Tad knew the truth. Most mobsters let cash decide exactly what they 'wanted' to do or accomplish.

"You ask what I'd say to that...." He muttered as he walked slowly around the box he had been leaning on.

His fingers tapped slowly from the pointer to the pinky as he made his way around it. The light finger on wood sound could be heard down the hallway as it sliced through the silence. Tad always enjoyed a bit of the theatrics in any good business meeting.

"I'd have to say that those sound like causes and business dealings that I couldn't possibly say no to." He said as he extended his hand.

Zip waited patiently as he saw his (hopefully) partner-in-business-to-be taking his sweet time deciding. He was unsure if the finger tapping was actually annoying or rather hypnotizing him. Yet he knew if he wanted this man to be fully onboard he'd have to be patient for his response.

Before he could really think of what to say in case of a negative response, the man's face gave a smug, smirky grin and he extended his hand while saying he would be all on board, Zip felt his heart jump for joy a few beats in a row.

Oh excellent!! That sounds like we should celebrate it with something special. Luckily I am an optimistic man and have brought you a little taster

Zip dug his left hand in his Jacket pocket and retrieved a small, cast iron flask. As he opened it he gestured to Tad to come smell it, which the man did

It has this very tingy aroma, it is actually fermented Pineapple rum. Mixed with some local herbs and coconut flakes. It is massively popular in the upscale cocktail bars in Honolulu. The ones where extravagance beats common sense if you know what i mean.

It is often served as a special ingredient to a house style pina colada, but any person on the mainland trying to recreate that cocktail with simple Rum will just look like an amateur. I bet this liquor could help you bring in some good extra cash per month if marketed well in the right places

I will look forward to your support, also I know you have good shipping lines, but if those items can be procured form Seattle, I rather have you ship them covertly to my local operations there

Zip slipped TadKnackered a small business card with simply an address, no name, no incorporation identifier, just a simple address.

The flask that was held out by Zipline was filled with an aroma that clearly begged to escape and invade the nostrils of any human that stood in range. He was quite impressed with the liquor all around and Zipline wasnt a bad salesmen himself when it came to the product. The smirk on his face couldn't help but grown to a wide grin thinking of all the possibilities of this business venture...

"You have a masterfully made and skillfully applied liquor here. I feel like I've just won the lottery." He chuckled.

Then Zipline placed a business card in his pocket....

"I'll make sure to hold up my end and help you however I can with shipments. Just keep that drink flowing on down stream to me and I'll make good use of it. Not sure I'll do more than serve it here and drink a little myself.....but perhaps I could look to expanding my businesses as well. With business being so good and this new partnership, it is definitely a viable option." He smiled as he took another taste of his newest product.
 

Zip smiled, visibly happy with the big thirst that suddenly seemed to grope TadKnackered. But as he knew this liquor had such effect on men, he was satisfied. The stuff wasn't cheap to come by, but if his plans to over take the Dole Company he'll have no problem upping his production of the stuff. He knew Tad and others would pay him a very good price for it and help him fund the foundation he was running

Well my best man, i'll have 1 more bottle shipped to you for some of your personal usage, potentially you can maybe mix up some recipes for your VIP clients, surely you'll get them drunk enough to dig a little deeper into their pockets!!

Yeah, the shipment, sounds like we have a good understanding of one another. Perhaps you could help me with some cargo that will need to go from Seattle to Hilo on the big island. I promise you a few crates of the liquor and the best macadamia nuts will be worth your while shipping it back!! The nuts grown on the western side of the Mauna Loa are the best there are, trust me! 

Tad chuckled at how similar their thought processes seemed to be when it came to business and alcohol. It was a great day to have met this man from the Chicago underworld. Networking was not always possible and sometimes it was just a shit show, but every so often you find a diamond in the rough to call business partner or even friend. 

"Yeah, I'll definitely enjoy that bottle and make good use of it if I can. Although this is some good stuff, I won't be able to pass up any chances to use it to my advantage. Even if it means somebody else gets to have a few tastes." He smiled at the thought of it. 

He paused as Zipline inquired about a shipment that was waiting in Seattle to be moved to Hilo. The reward was more than enough to get him in on the deal.

"Hey, for more liquor I'd find a way to get just about any business dealings done. The macadamia nuts will just be the cherry on top of the cake. I can put them out on the bar on nights that we promote the liquor you're giving me. A nice combination to bring in new customers and possibly a surprise business partner." He motioned towards the door to head back to his office.

"We'll figure out the best way to fit it all into our plans and how to best hide it from any eyes that could end up looking over these documents. Never know when a place of business will get raided by the feds. I have some of the best pencil pushers in Detroit working for me to keep things hidden, but understandable for those who need to know."

Pencil is staying in Detroit a few days while on a business trip with Gimpanzee and TadKnackered . This place was recommended to her and of course being quite bias as it belonged to a good friend, she made her way to the bar. 

"Red wine for me this evening, please. Ill have the bottle and a glass if you dont mind. I am going to take the seat just over there." Pencil points and then placed some cash on the counter. 

Pencil takes a seat at a well dressed table with a little candle and flower awaiting the arrival of an old pal. 

Tad had been running a bit late the whole day whether it was getting to his office for his first appointment, back to headquarters to make sure Gimpanzee didn't get into the safe where the paddle was, and now....to his own bar where his old friend Pencil was most likely waiting for him. The one thing going for him was that his friend knew how lost in his own business and thoughts he could get causing him to be late somewhat often. Now just one block away....he quickened his pace and fixed his tie. The man at the door saw Tad at a distance and was prepared to open it for him as he approached....

"Thank you!" He shouted as he went by and made his way to the bar.

As Tad made his way in he spotted Pencil sitting alone with a bottle and a glass already in use. He could feel his pace quicken even more as he finally got behind the bar. There was no time to let his bartender do the work for him...

"I got it, I got it..." He motioned for the bartender to keep serving the other patrons.

With a glass and a bottle of his favorite whiskey he made his way over to the table where she sat and joined her. She could see he was already prepared to apologize for his tardiness and she laughed at him.

"Sorry. But I'm sure you aren't surprised that I didn't get to my own bar before you." He poured himself two fingers of whiskey and closed the bottle, "How are you doing? Detroit treating you well so far?"

Pencil chuckled as she saw TadKnackered swoop into the building, whiz around the bar and then plonk himself down infront of her with a  bottle of whiskey. 

"You never change,  do you? Same funny guy who will be late to his own funeral one day." Pencil laughed hard. Usually this would be an awkward joke but thankfully Tad knows her humour and has had to put up with it for many years. "Well, Detroit is marvellous.  Good old Gimpanzee has been great letting me stay at his in the spare room for a few nights. What a great host he is. I prefer the company you see. Staying in those hotel rooms alone can be quiet and eerie. Although, it's really so I don't have to travel far for his famous poker nights." Pencil smiled as she finished off her glass and started pouring another. 

"How are you? How's this place? Is it managing well? It is evidently booming with business." Pencil looks around as she can see how well he is doing for himself. She holds a proud look on her face. 

After having a taste of his whiskey he placed the glass down and spun it around on the table with a smirk upon his face. It was far too long since he had chatted with his good friend and just listening to her talk and inquire about his life and bar was enough to make him relax. Stress was too common for him these days....

"I'm confident I'll be late for my funeral as well." He chuckled, "Poker games?? Oh, yeah....he usually has a job for me to do those nights. He thinks I'll psychoanalyze everyone to help me gain some sort of advantage at the table."

He picked up his glass and took another swig from it. The condensation had begun to leave a mark on the table below and he placed a napkin down before placing the glass back down on the table.

"I'm doing alright. My work in the field of psychology has been a bit stressful. Which was expected when trying to work with the minds of other mobsters. The bar though....this place is doing quite well and it is my fortress of solitude, believe it or not. I just come here....get a drink....and I can rummage through my thoughts for the day peacefully no matter how packed it is or how loud it gets." He leaned back and smiled.

Pencil nodded and listened carefully with an interested facial expression. Her eyes fixed on him as he spoke. She was very intrigued about this psychology stuff. "So, I don't suppose you've tried any of this on old Gimpy have you? I'm sure its crossed my mind over the years that he may need the help of a shrink." Pencil laughed and took a sip of her drink. "All jokes aside, well done mate. I am really proud of you. You've done very well for yourself and I am really happy to see you in a good place." Pencil licked the wine from her lip. " One question though.... isn't it taboo for a mobster to deal with Phycologists? Or is it just the medication? Serious question.. " Pencil glared at TadKnackered with a side smile. She wondered if this psychology was all done in secret. She was really into this business and genuinely wanted to know.

"I'm thinking about opening a bar back in Philly. I'm not quite the social butterfly that Schedar is. Maybe I can put up the capital to fix the place up and he can run it. Hopefully not into the ground. Pencil laughed again. She was having so much fun that she polished off the rest of the wine. "Just hold up here one second, I'm going to need another bottle.  I may go for a spicy rum this time." Pencil flagged down a waitress that happened to be walking by.