The driving rain and lake effect snow  beats down on the sparsely populated sidewalks and road, as if to clean them of all that they have seen. This City lives by the simple mantra of, It's not personal kid, just business and even mother nature goes about her business with a certain style and class. A stiff wind is blowing off the lake now, adding the familar bite to the whole affair. This is Chicago, and for all that she is tough on those that belong to her, she offers great rewards to those people that can learn to survive here...

I stepped out of the doorway of the apartment build and hailed a cab from across the street. I read the address off the matchbox outloud, and the cabbie pulled from the curb in an instant, barely enough time to see two men walking into the apartment building I just left. I let my mind linger only for a moment on the lovely Alex, but she was street smart alright, so I quickly turned my attentions to the meeting at hand. We only made a few turns, but something told me this cabbie was taking me for a joyride. Before I could press this matter with him, we pulled to the curb and the driver placed his arm across the front seat, as he turned to look at me directly. "It's none of my business Mack, as his face showed that he was searching for the right words, "but Mel's burned a few years back. If I was, erm, looking for the regulars, I would suggest the little pizza joint across the way."  Then he mentioned that we had arrived, his face showing his eagerness to conclude our business dealings. I slipped him a little something extra with the fare, and closed the door on my old life.

I made no delay toward the door of the establishment, as the rain showed no signs of letting up anytime soon. Upon stepping across the threshhold, my senses were overwhelmed by the aroma of baking dough and fresh herbs. Flashing my best smile toward the man behind the counter, I made my way to a coat rack in one corner of the shop. "Looks like she plans on blowing all night," I remarked as I hung up the soaked topcoat. I turned around and started toward the counter to order, all the while taking note of the decor and lack of patrons in the joint. "I hear you make a mean pie Mack, how's about one with the works, large." The man took the order without much interest, his face showing little in the way of actually caring about what I requested. "Will this be for here, or do you plan to take it with?" " I was planning on taking it back to my apartment, but this storm has me reconsidering that, if you had a table without a view, and maybe a glass without a bottom, I might just eat here and save us both some trouble."

If this odd request caught him off guard, his features never revealed it. He just nodded and showed me to a table in the corner of the shop, and made his way back to the order counter. His large hand slammed down on a metal bell, as he positioned the paper on an order wheel and spun it back toward the kitchen. I could feel his eyes on me, but I pretended to be taking in the surroundings of the establishment. Clanks and the sound of chopping soon filled the empty shop, and I let my mind drift back to her again....

Drew pushed through the door and coughed.  He pulled his hat off his head and hung it up.  Then he unbuttoned hs coat and did the same, hanging it right below his fedora.  He cleared his throat.

"mmm, excuse me"

He wasn't talking to anybody in particular...yet.  Just trying to clear the rain that had blown through his teeth.  It was cold and wet.  But a meeting was a meeting.  And it was an important one at that. But that didn't mean Drew wasn't hungry.  He found the counter where patrons ordered, walked over, and detailed what he wanted to the man in the standard pizza place attire.

"a plain pie.  Large.  That'll feed a few people, right?"

When the man acknowledged that it would feed Drew's group, he was satisfied.  He ordered some beer and some soda pop too, and then began his search. He looked down at the matchbook that had been delivered to him, then back up and scanned the crowd.  He didn't know what he was looking for, but kept looking anyway, hoping somebody would spot him.  He shrugged, found a table near the back and sat alone.  And waited.  He looked at his watch, then at nothing in particular.

"Okay, where are they?"

The atmosphere in the small shop seemed to alter in some intangible way as the stranger entered. His sharp attire marked him as someone that had standing. The man behind the counter seemed a bit more attentive and I noted he personally carried the paper around the corner to the kitchen. The noise of cars and the increase in people passing in front of the window could only mean that the storm was subsiding, though the gentleman's coat still was damp and dripping quietly on the rack beside my own.

I took out a cigarette and tapped it idly on the table in front of me, as I looked around for an ashtray on the table. Seems the staff managed to forget the ashtray, but I spied one on the table of the gentleman that had just entered. Never being accused of being shy, I stood up and slowly made my way over to the table, stopping a few paces away, "Hey Buddy, you plan on using that ash holder, names Sterling." I waited a few moments for a reply, knowing he was sizing me up in his mind, as I did likewise. Our contrasts were stark and obvious to me, all in all, I summed him up loosely as a playboy type from old money. Nothing wrong with that I suppose, but coming up hard had made me more than a little aware of how my appearance compared to my surrondings.

"Feel free guy," his voice denoted someone used to giving instructions, "I never aquired the habit myself." His eyes, something about them made me wonder about my first take on him. They were a bit too steady for my liking, so I looked to the ashtray and took it without making further eye contact. "Thanks, guess I'll see you around sometime," was all I offered as I made my way back to the table and put fire to another coffin nail. Man, really wish I had brought a paper to get the latest word on the street.....

Shayne had not thought over her plans well enough to account for the storm that froze her from head to toe. Her leather jacket was at least keeping the wet away from her skin. As she walked down the street she had no choice but to pull open a random door and walk in as her eyes were shut tight from the cold blowing snow. As she felt the heat of the establishment, she sighed with relief and slowly open her eyes. The aroma of pizza filled her nostrils, also the smell of cigarettes. As slowly as her eyes opened, her heart quickly sank. A man sitting roughly in the middle of the pizza place. Her stared at her intently and scanned her subtly. She felt this overwhelming feeling that she was at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Scanning arounf the place, she saw another man sitting in the corner. Shayne gave a slight smile as she moved away from the front door to sit down at one of the empty chairs. Placing her hand on her pistol, she just wanted to be safe. Keeping her eyes out the window, she pulled out her cigarettes. The pack was damp, but the cigarettes themselves safe and dry. Let's just act normal...

As I was crushing out the last of my chesterfield, a cold blast from the door marked the arrival of another customer. I delayed turning my attention to the door, not knowing if it was the contact that I had been instructed to meet. I could see that the rain of earlier had turned into the years first snowfall. I remarked silently that this was going to be a long winter, not sure if I meant the weather or because of my present course. Being ill dressed for the shift in the weather, it was all I could do to keep from smiling at how she reminded me of what the days fresh catch at the piers must feel like. I welcomed the distraction of a pretty face though, so I decided that I would keep that piece of imagery for my own amusement. Her forced smile spoke volumes about her unease, and the subtle move to feel the security of her heater made my choice to not share my humor a good one.

I noticed that she was fighting the chills effects as she reached for her pack of luckies, giving me the perfect reason to investigate this new player. With a couple of measured strides I was at her side. "The first snow always seems to catch me unprepared" I offered with my lighter in hand, "may I offer you a light?"

Shayne had the cigarette in her mouth when she saw the figure of a man out of the corner of her eye. She looked up as the man kindly offered, "may I offer you a light?" She smiled, took the smoke from her mouth and replied, "Thank-you very much sir." He lit the lighter and she leaned forward, lighting the cigarette. Breathing in the white smoke into her lungs, she sighed with relief as she let it out. She kind of forgot that the man was still there and smiled at him.

"The weather is always unpredictable to me. I should just stay inside sometimes." Shayne chuckled a little and moved her hand to the empty chair on the other side of the table. "Care to join me sir, the name is Shayne."

“Shayne!” Silk yelled as soon as she walked in the crowded pizzeria. Although she recognized a few other people she didn’t stop to talk to them. She rushed straight towards the table where her young friend was sitting.

“I thought you stood me up tonight.” Silk said and hoped she wasn’t right about her assumption. “We were suppose to meet at the pizzeria on 4th Avenue. Not here.” Before Shayne had a chance to respond Silk turned towards the man standing next to the table and said, “Sorry, pal. She’s busy tonight.”   

She heard a familiar voice boom as the door swung open. Shayne felt herself sink in her seat a little as the cold wind filled the pizzeria. Shayne turned her head to see Silk.

"I can explain..." but before Shayne could mutter a word, Silk had already responded by talking to the man in front of her. Silk walked back to the front of the shop and stood at the door and Shayne gave a faint smile to her. Turning to the man, she placed a hand on his shoulder, "I am very sorry, but I have to be going right now. Maybe another time if we meet again. Have a good day."

Producing a silver cigarette case from inside my coat, I watch the scene unfold in front of me without speaking. After pulling a fresh chesterfield out, I slowly close the case and return it to the pocket from which it came. Only after lighting it, and pulling a heavy draw did I respond with, " I don't remember anyone asking her plans, I simply offered a light." And without awaiting a response, I turned on my heel and made my way back to the table to wait.

I never will forget how the sound of gunfire seemed to bring our little section of the City to a standstill. The normal sound of motorist was instantly covered in a silent blanket of fear thick enough to touch. A few people ducked into the joint for cover, and outside only a muffled scream and the sound of a single car speeding away were heard. In the middle of all the confusion, I still remember the sound of my heart racing, and how crisp and clear everything around me appeared....

I looked over to the table where the gentleman had sat, it was overturned and he had a weapon in hand. His eyes, those steady eyes were already searching for anyone that might be a target. The girls were huddled together, I noted that neither of them had drawn arms, and that is when I noticed my own weapon was in hand as if it had placed itself there by magic. I couldn't tell you to this day when I had pulled it, but the gathering crowd outside told me that I would no longer need it. I quickly tucked it back into it's holster and made my way to the coat rack. I enchanged glances with the gentleman, who was already wearing his coat and securing the first buttons.

I made my way into the street, making sure to not crowd the crime scene. From experience I knew to blend into the mob, while keeping my ears open. After a few moments I learned that the man laying dead in the street was part of a local crew, and the rumors of a war were already starting to surface. It didn't matter who he was, or even why he died, all I cared about was finding a place to hold up, if indeed war had come to the City. My mind quickly settled on the empty apartment that I had recently left, and I wasted no time getting a cab.

The ride was a tense one, and for a small surcharge I was able to convince the driver to ignore some of the more questionable redlights along the route. In short order, I was back standing in front of the rundown brick building. I made my way over to the phone booth and made that long distance call that Alex had been concerned about a few hours earlier. The rings numbered five before Luc Deveax answered his phone. "Luc, it's Sterling and I don't have time to chew the fat. Get to the Windy on the next flight, and don't pack for a social call." My senses were on high alert, and I wasn't in the mood for long stories. I had known Luc since we used to steal lunchboxes in grade school, and I felt better knowing that a trusted pair of eyes would be here in the morning. Now to talk to the landlord about the rent.....