Almonette's heart lifted as the young gangster hugged her.  My God, she forgives me.  But why? I don't deserve it. She thought, but didn't question for too long and hugged Silk right back. As Silk stepped back the mobster raised her hand towards womans face where she had slapped her, She was about to appologize again when the puppy barked.  When the Cali girl told Almonette she was naming the puppy Angel, she just said, "Angel's a good name."

The older mafioso sat on the couch sipping her drink listening to how Silk unravelled who the trigger man wan.  Almonette was impressed with the young gangster's determination and intelligence. When Silk sat down next to her, she wrapped her arm around the back of the couch and listened intently to Silk's explination of the triggerman, and what she plans to do about him.

When her mother walked in Almonette stood up with the young ganster and decided she should give them some time to speak alone.  She stood between Silk and her mom for a moment and said "Hey, I'm going to give you and your mom some time alone."  She kissed Silks cheek and continued "I'm not going anywhere, I will be right outside the door if you need me, for anything."  The mobster started to walk away and added, "Yeah, when you get back from Philly, where ever you want to go, what ever you want to do.  It's my treat."

Almonette stepped outside the door, and shut it, but it didn't latch and popped open slightly.  She stood outside the door, leaning against the wall with her foot propped up against it and cleaned under her nails with her knife.

The only thing Silk could do when Almonette stood up to leave was nod to acknowledge her. The young mobster was still stunned to see her mother standing there in the office of her hotel that was a front for a brothel. Years ago Silk’s parents disowned her after she was arrested for being in possession of a small amount of marijuana. She couldn’t imagine what they would think about her owning a brothel and other criminal activities she was involved in.

“What are you doing here?” The young mobster finally managed to say to her mother. “Where’s Dad?”

“We’re in Detroit for a few days.” Vivian Martin answered. “Your father travels here once a month for meetings with clients. I came with him this time because I heard you moved here.” She pointed at the couch and asked, “May I sit down?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Silk answered and sat next to her mother on the couch.

“Your father doesn’t know you live here.”  The mobster’s mother said and looked down at her hands on her lap. “He wouldn’t approve of me seeing you. Silk, you know I always do as he asks, but I can’t live with myself if I turned my back on you forever. You‘re my…” The older woman stopped and sniffled.

“Don’t cry.” Silk said and put her hand on her mother’s hand to comfort her. “You’re here now.”

“It’s so good to see you.” Vivian Martin said and smiled as she looked at her daughter. “How are you? You look liked you’ve lost weight. Are you eating enough? Do you like Detroit? Do you have a special fella?” She stopped and laughed at herself. “I’m sorry. Your father always says I ask too many questions.”

“It’s okay.” Silk replied and smiled. After years apart it felt surreal to be sitting there having a conversation with her mother. Answering the questions she said, “I’m good, Mom. I’ve been eating right, I live near a nice supermarket and I love this city. The people are great.”

“Are you involved with anyone special?” Vivian Martin asked.

“Ah, I’m not sure…. ”  Silk said with uncertainty. Although her and Almonette made up from their drama the night before Silk didn’t know what to expect next and if she would ever measure up compared to her cousin. Choosing her words carefully she said, “I’m interested in someone special, but the person recently lost someone close. It’s hard to compete with someone who passed away.”

“Aww, sweetheart… ” This time it was the mother’s turn to comfort the daughter with by taking her hand. “I’ll tell you something you don’t know about your father.”

Expecting to hear her mother confess about her father’s secret Silk didn’t know how it fit into their current conversation.

“Before we met your father was married and had two children.”  Vivian Martin said.

Surprised by what she heard Silk remained quiet and listened.

“Your father loved his first wife with all his heart.” The older woman continued. “I worried I wouldn’t be good enough. I’m sure he still thinks about her from time to time, but your father has never treated me second best.”

“Wait a minute.” Silk said and shook her head in dismay. “I have older siblings?”

“No, I’m sorry. I should’ve started out by saying his first wife and children were killed in a car accident.” Vivian Martin answered.

“Dad is a liar.” Silk said and looked across the room because she didn’t want to see her mother’s reaction to the blunt statement she said about her father. A wife and kids who died in a car accident? Silk couldn’t believe that story. It was the same lie he told about his mother. “Did he tell you he had a sister?” Silk asked and stood up to get a drink.

“Yes, she died in a car accident too.” The mobster’s mother answered. “Why did you call him a liar?”

“Mom, don’t you think it’s a strange coincidence he claims his mother, sister, wife and children died in car accidents?” Silk asked from across the room.

“I… ” Vivian Martin was speechless for a moment. “I never thought about it that way.”

“Ask Dad about it.” The young mobster suggested. She didn’t want to be the one to tell her mother her father’s secrets. “If he hesitates before he answers he’s a liar.”

“I’ll…” The older woman was still stunned by her daughter’s accusation. “I’ll talk to him about it.”

After her mother left Silk refilled her glass and returned to the couch. The California girl finished her drink with one swallow and sulked until Angel and Killer joined her. A moment later Almonette walked into the office. Silk looked up at her and smiled. “Hey you, let’s go dancing.”

Almonette leaned against the wall, trying to not listen to what was being said between Silk and her mother but with the door cracked she couldn't help but hear what was being said. The mobster couldn't even imagine what was going through the young women's mind speaking with her mother after all this time. Her mind wandered on what she would say to her mom if she had a chance to talk to her again. Her mother died, and their last conversation was a fight about hanging up keys. Of all stupid things to fight over, but she had her mothers short temper and stubborness.

She snapped out of thoughts about her mother when she heard Vivian ask Silk if she had anyone special in her life. Almonette's curiousity peaked, she had no idea what Silk really thought, and she could only hope. She smiled as much as she could when she heard the young mobsters response. She had no idea where things were going, but she was ready for the ride. "But competeing with someone who's passed away? How do you make her see there is no competing, its all her?" The mobster thought.

The conversation continued, but Almonette's thoughts went back and forth between her mother and Silk, and what her mother would have thought of Silk. After a few moments she noticed Vivian leave, and the mobster walked into the office. The young woman was sitting on the couch, but looked up at Almonette and smiled saying "Hey you, lets go dancing." The mobster laughed and grabbed Silk's hand and spun her into her. "If dancing is what you want, than dancing it shall be. First we need to make a withdrawl, nah a legal one. There's been enough drama lately, but lets see what your car can do." Almonette drops the keys in Silk's hand with as big of a smile as she can manage, then the women were on their way.

Almonette sat in the passenger seat and rolled a joint. "Ha, not nearly as pretty as the ones you make, but they all smoke the same, no?" And the woman lit up taking a huge hit and passed it off to Silk who was flooring it down the empty streets of Detroit. "This car would be perfect if it was a convertible!" The mobster said to her young companion, but the woman made due by rolling down the window and sliding out the window laughing as the wind blew across her face. After a few minutes Almonette climbed back inside, taking the joint from Silk and taking another hit. She looked in the mirror and said, "Oh look, I've messied up my hair." Laughing like it was the funniest thing in the world. "OH hey! Theres that all night whatever bank place." Almonette walked in and out with no problems.

The women hit the town, stopped by ever bar and stip club within driving distance. Before they knew it the sun was beginning to rise. "Oh shit, Silky! Don't you have a plane to catch?" The women laughed, made it to the airport in record time then commented to eachother, "This car is fucking awesome!"

At the airport Silk parked in the huge parking garage and went to give Almonette the keys, as they walked in the airport lobby. "Nah, keep 'em. I'll take a cab, and this way you are sure to have an easy ride when you get back with this Billy the Kid." Almonette looked at Silk and joked "If I hug you, you won't fuck me up? will you" and the young woman laughed. "God that smile," The older mobster said before hugging Silk. "Now make Detroit proud, I know you will."

Almonette turned to walk away, but stopped because she remmbered something, "Oh and here's these. You know, if you feel like coming... home, after your trip." Then tossed the studio's keys at Silk, before heading outside to hail a cab. "Take me to HotIce Family Suits, yeah right above Tri-R-Guns. Good man."

When Silk returned to Detroit after a long day in Philadelphia she went to Hotel California. Walking into the brothel with the mobster was Billy, the trigger man responsible for killing the mayor’s daughter during a bank robbery. The young man’s eyes were immediately filled with lust as he looked around at the beautiful prostitutes.

“How much for all of them, Miss Silk?” He asked.

“Billy, I told you before you don’t have to call me Miss.” Silk said and sighed. “I’m only a few years older than you.” The hotel owner pointed to the list of maid services on the wall. “Pick what you want and tell the bartender.” As the young man read the list Silk asked, “You’re not going to leave, right?”

“No, like I said before, if you and your friends protect me I’ll work with you.” Billy answered sincerely.

“Good, I’ll call my friends. When they get here you can tell them what you told me about the hit put on the mayor’s daughter.” The mobster said then walked over to the bar. “Hi Shiva, where’s my mom?”

“In the kitchen.” The topless bartender answered. “The johns love her cookies.”

“You put your mom to work in your brothel?” Billy asked as he sat down on a bar stool.

“No!” Silk answered quickly. “She just likes to cook.”

“Gimme a room and maid services…” Billy said to Shiva and glanced back at the list. “Mistress Intrigue's Hot Seat, The Five Year Grudge Fuck and The Wackgasm.” The cocky young man winked at the topless bartender and added, “After all that I might order more.”

“He’s old enough.” Silk told Shiva when she noticed the skeptical look on the bartender’s face. Turning to the young trigger man she said, “Have fun, Billy.”

In the brothel’s kitchen Silk found her mother as she remembered her years ago, humming quietly and cooking.

“Hi Mom.” Silk said and started to smile, but stopped when she saw her mother’s black eye. Hearing about it earlier the young mobster didn’t expect to be so surprised by it.

“Hi Sweetheart.” Vivian Martin greeted her daughter. “How was your trip?”

“Fine.” The mobster answered and walked closer to her mother. “What happened with Dad?”

“You were right, he’s a liar.” Vivian answered with a disappointed tone. “He hesitated to answer when I asked him about his mother and sister. When I told him I didn’t believe him he hit me.” The mobster’s mother took a tray of cookies out of the oven and continued, “I gave that man the best years of my life. I’m not giving him anymore. I’m leaving him.”

“Okay, you’re welcome to stay here as long as you want.” Silk offered although she was sure her mother would be more comfortable in a hotel that wasn’t a brothel.

“Thank you.” Vivian replied and put two cookies on a plate. She handed the plate to her daughter and said, “I’m going to need to job to support myself. I can do anything in a kitchen. Will you hire me?”

“No way, Mom!” Silk blurted out and choked on the cookie in her mouth. “You’re not working in a place like this. I’ll give you money or help you find a job if that's what you want. Almonette might need help in her suit shop.”

“It didn’t occur to me to ask her when she was here earlier.” The mobster’s mother commented and sat down at the table with a cup of coffee. “She stopped by to get your cat and puppy to take to your apartment. We chatted for awhile. She’s a lovely young lady.” Vivian took a drink of her coffee and laughed. “I told her about when you were 4 and….”

Silk sat down and groaned with embarrassment.

~ The Legend of Billy The Kid ~

After sampling every maid service in Hotel California eighteen year old trigger man, William Fray opened the window in his room and looked outside. Two blocks away the sign for The Corktown Supermarket was shining bright. In the distance the young man could see tall buildings downtown. Not far away was the district of Black Bottom. The city of Detroit was always one of Billy's favorite stops. He always wanted to put down roots in a big city, but Billy The Kid was always on the run because he was a wanted man.

Like most legends the wildest stories about Billy The Kid are told by the rumor mill...

Benton, Mississippi

Rumor Mill: Billy was the youngest of fourteen children. When his Mama had him she was old and wore out from all them younguns. She only lived long enough to hear little Billy's first cry then died peacefully. Billy The Kid is so bad he tells folks his Mama was his first kill.

Truth: Billy is an only child. After a recent bank robbery Billy bought his mother a new Cadillac her favorite color, baby blue.

Rumor Mill: Billy's father was the nicest church going man in the trailer park. He was the kinda fella who would give ya the shirt off his back. One day he vanished. The Police call it a Missing Persons case, but we know better. Billy killed his daddy and cut him up into little pieces.

Truth: Billy's father was a bastard. He left Mississippi with a whore from the trailer park.

Trenton, Georgia

Rumor Mill: Late one night Billy The Kid stormed into town with his gang of hellions. They murdered over three hundred innocent people, stole candy from babies, burned down a church and robbed a hospital. After Billy The Kid and his hellions left town all the dead people roamed the streets as zombies.

Truth: Billy robbed a gas station in Trenton, Georgia. The pay out was twenty bucks, two cartons of cigarettes and a box of Twinkies.

Rumor Mill: Billy The Kid was arrested by a deputy outside the city limits of Trenton, Georgia. When the deputy attempted to hand cuff Billy the young ruthless killer head butted the law man, stabbed him in the gut, took the deputy's gun, shot his face eighty seven times and stole his boots.

Truth: Billy The Kid has never been arrested.

Los Angeles, California

Rumor Mill: Billy The Kid murdered seven hundred innocent people, burned down three bakeries, stole a cat, didn't return library books, sold drugs to a preacher's daughter, took her innocence and used God's name in vain twice during a four day crime spree in Los Angeles. God was so angry he shut the city down.

Truth: Billy The Kid has never been west of The Mississippi.

Rumor Mill: Billy The Kid is the evil bastard spawn of the last Godfather of Los Angeles.

Truth: If you heard it from the rumor mill it must be true.

Corktown, Detroit

Rumor Mill: Billy The Kill killed the mayor's daughter for no reason during a bank robbery.

Truth: There was a hit on the mayor's daughter.

Rumor Mill: After doing all the prostitutes in Silk's brothel Billy did Silk's Mom.

Truth: After doing all the prostitutes in Silk's brothel Billy baked cookies with Silk's Mom.

When Silk and Almonette arrived back in Corktown after going to the youth shelter Silk was anxious to get her mother out of the brothel and into a real hotel.

"Let's pick up my Mom and go out to dinner." The young mobster suggested. "We'll go to an Italian restaurant Giovanni told me about. You can tell Mom about the shelter then afterwords I'll check her into The Hilton downtown."

When Silk stopped her hot rod in front of Hotel California she left the motor running and said, "Be right back." Before Almonette could respond Silk quickly got out of the car. The young mobster didn't want her friend mingling with the prostitutes.

As soon as Silk walked into the hotel Billy rushed up to her. "Zero found out who put a hit on the mayor's daughter." The young trigger man gave her a piece of paper and said, "Let's go get the son of a bitch!"

The mobster looked at the name on the paper and decided to check out the person before she picked him up and delivered him to the mayor. "Hold your horses, Billy. We can't go after him gun blazing without knowing what we're getting into. I'll make some calls tonight then we'll go get him tomorrow. You can take him to the mayor's mansion with me."

Ten minutes later Silk walked out of the hotel with her mother. Standing next to her car Mary Jane was smoking a cigarette and chatting with Almonette. Silk rolled her eyes and thought, Good grief! I guess I'll have to tell Almon I don't want her anywhere near this place.

"Checking out, Mrs. Martin?" Mary Jane said to Vivian Martin.

"She wasn't a real guest." Silk said to the prostitute and opened the car door for her mother to get in.

As soon as Silk got in the car she gave Almonette the piece of paper from Billy and said, "That's who hired The Kid. I'm going to get him tomorrow."

Silk had jumped out of the car and rushed into Hotel California before Almonette had a chance to remind her to tell Mary Jane about James stopping by after school tomorrow.  The mobster looked at the fact her young friend had left the car running and was desparately tempted to move the car on Silk as a joke, but decided not to freak her out while her mom was around.

As Almonette sat in the car and waited, laughing at the thought of how Silk would have reacted to her car being moved, Mary Jane walked up to the car window, and said "Why hello Almonettte sugar."

"Mary Jane!  Well hello.  Gotta say, I am still surprised at you bothering to remember my name.  Oh, in case Silky forgets.  You're going to have a boy coming here in the afternoon tomorrow, after school hours.   His name is James,  he's got black hair and very intense blue eyes.  You'll know.  Silk hired him as an errand boy, to shine shoes, wash cars, whatever small things the customers might need.  He's very quiet, but a good kid.  Be nice to him okay."  Almonette said to the hotel's manager.

Mary Jane looked at the mobster with confusion and replied. "A kid? What was she... oh who cares, whatever the boss says.  I'll keep him out of trouble."  The prostitute looked in the window, smiled  then said, "Hey baby, ya know, those scratches are pretty much gone now, how about we go get me some more?"

Almonette laughed and said, "That is not going to be happening, sugar.  Not since I got..."  She let her words trail off and the mobster just smiled as Silk and her mom walked up to the car.

As Mary Jane spoke to Vivian Martin, Almonette got out of the car to properly great her friend's mother.  "Good evening Miss Vivian, you are looking lovely today." The mobster said with a smile offering her hand, while Mary Jane pouted as she walked away.  Almonette quickly grabbed the car door and opened it for Vivian, remembering all the manners and common courtesies her mother taught her growing up.

When the mobster got in the car Silk handed her the piece of paper she got from Billy, and it had a name written on it.  Almonette knew the name, all too well.  Now wasn't the time, she would wait until the two of them were back at the shop or Silk's apartment before discussing the name.

Silk walked into Hotel California with Billy next to her. As they walked towards the staircase that lead upstairs to the office Silk heard a familiar voice.

"HEY CALIFORNIA GIRL!" Steven Russell yelled from the bar. The retired jail guard stood up and met the young mobster halfway across the room where they shook hands. Silk was surprised to see the man she asked to give her background reports on her father and other relatives.

"Good to see you, Mr. Russell." Silk greeted and continued, "I thought you were coming to Detroit next week."

"Change of plans." The retired guard replied and didn't elaborate. "I got lucky finding the information you want." He held out a leather briefcase for the mobster. "It's all in here."

"Thank you." Silk said quietly and slowly took the briefcase. After waiting so long to know more about her father's past and why he hid who he was she was suddenly nervous about what she would find out. "Get a room and enjoy the maid service, Mr. Russell. I have a few things to do in my office. I'll be back down later and we'll catch up. You can tell me all the gossip from around Mafia Land."

Upstairs in her office Silk put the briefcase on the desk then walked to the bar in the office for a drink. "Billy, will you look for Mary Jane and the new errand boy, James? Bring them in here in about fifteen minutes. I'm going to call Zero and let him know about today."

When Billy left the office Silk picked up the phone on the desk and called Zero_McHannon. After a little small talk Silk said, "Everything went smooth picking up Sullivan and delivering him to the mayor's mansion. Apparently Sullivan and Detroit's Mayor Gordon are political rivals. They were going to run against each other." Silk paused as she sat down behind the desk then continued, "Politicians are cold son of a bitches. They don't have the unwritten rule we do about not fucking with someone's spouse and children. Anyway, Mayor Gordon is grateful I delivered Sullivan to him and said anything we want just tell him. I didn't want to give him our Christmas list right away so I made arrangements for us to meet him for dinner next week."

The mobsters went on to discuss other business then ended the call. Silk lit a cigarette and stared across the empty office at nothing. The argument she had with Almonette that morning played over and over in her head. The last thing Silk said to her friend was, "We shouldn't be together until you're over my cousin." Although it was the probably the only rational thing she said Silk was tempted to call Almonette and tell her forget it and if the older mafioso wanted to pine for Martina it was okay. Silk shook her head and knew that would be stupid to say. It would never be okay with her if Almonette still had feelings for another person, even if the person was gone.

There was a knock on the office door. A moment later Billy walked in followed by Mary Jane and James, the twelve year old boy from a youth shelter Almonette financed. Silk knew the moment she met the boy he was a kindred spirit. Looking at him she couldn't help but wonder what kind of man he would grow up to be and more importantly what kind of mobster he would grow up to be.

"Hello Sir." Silk greeted James and put her hand out. Unlike the first time they met James didn't hesitate to shake the mobster's hand. "Have a seat." She pointed to the couch and added, "You too, Billy."

"What's going on, boss?" Mary Jane asked.

"A few changes." Silk answered and returned to the desk. The mobster sat down and looked across the room at the prostitute with cold contempt in her eyes. "You're fired."

"Ah.. I.. Wha.. " The prostitute stuttered and felt like she was facing the heartless bitch, MartinaGiorgio again. "I.. Ah.. I don't understand. What did I do?"

Although Silk wanted to respond, "You tried to take what was mine." she didn't let her emotions show. Instead she remained professional. "You services are no longer wanted here. Thank you for your time at Hotel California."

Definitely not Martina, Mary Jane thought as she turned around and left the office. The former brothel owner would've yelled at her and sent her out in a body bag.

"Next change," Silk began and looked at her two young associates on the couch. "Billy, I want you to run the hotel. James, your job title is errand boy until you get a little older. What you'll actually be is my eyes and ears. If you hear anyone in the hotel planning a job like torching a rival business or raiding a truck depot come and tell me about it. I want a piece of all the action."

The mobster stood up and went to the bar to refill her glass.

"Most of the hotel's customers are tough guys and dangerous women who are friends of mine. Treat them with respect and they'll treat you with respect. Occasionally disagreements and arguments happen among them. As long as you stay out of it they won't bother you because I spread the word, you're both friends of mine. That lets them know you work for me and you're under my protection."

Silk went to the comfortable chair near the couch and sat down.

"You both have the potential to make a lot of money other than what I'll pay you. When you make money doing other jobs kick up some to me then it goes up the chain of command, to my boss then to The Godfather."

On the couch Billy and James paid attention to every word the mobster said. They reminded Silk of herself not too long ago.

"Another thing I expect you both to do is never talk to the police or outsiders about our business. Understand?"

The young associates nodded.

Over the next hour Silk taught them more and answered their questions. Although James was quiet he wasn't shy about asking questions and appeared to be as eager to learn as Billy. When they left the office Silk returned to the desk and picked up the phone to make sure it worked in case Almonette called. After hearing the dial tone she hung up the phone and sat down. On the desk was the briefcase full of information from Steven Russell. Silk stared and it and wondered if it would answer her all her questions about a famous California girl's two children.

Hours later the briefcase was still closed. Sitting behind the desk Silk continued to drink and stare at the briefcase as if it was Pandora's Box. When the phone rang The California girl was startled out of her drunken daze. It surprised her to hear Almonette.

"Siiiiiiiilky, baby.  You missed the funniest fucking thing." Almonette laughed between every sentence she was saying. "See when you left, I was mad. I don't remember why, but I was soooo mad I threw my knife in the door and it got stuck.  When I went to pull it out, I fell flat on my ass! It was the funniest thing."

Silk stood up quickly and the all alcohol she drank hit her like a ton of bricks. The phone slipped out of her hand and broke when it landed on the floor.

"FUCK!" The mobster cursed and swayed for a moment until the room stopped spinning. She looked at the broken phone and remembered the sound of Almonette's sweet slurred voice. "She must be drunk or stoned as fuck!" Silk laughed and cheered, "That's my girl!"

Somehow Silk managed to make it downstairs without falling. "HEY BILLY!" The drunk mobster yelled. "My woman just called.... take me to HotIce Family Suits."

God this is a fine establishment all the women i need! 

I am ready for a drunken night and a good time , get me a GoodFellas swag and make it quick!

My father is dead...

Silk couldn't get the thought out of her head. It was still hard to believe. Although Alex Decima disowned his daughter years ago death was more final. It was the end. There would be no reconciliation. No more talks or arguments. No more questions answered. The California girl would never see her father again.

The day after she returned to Detroit from her trip to Los Angeles to confront her father Silk was still upset over what she learned about him, their argument and his death. She could still hear the harsh words they yelled at each other.

"This is your fault, Silk!" Alex Decima lashed out at his daughter.

"No Dad, it's YOUR fault." She spewed back at him.

The argument echoed in Silk's head mixed with memories of when her father taught her how to ride a bike, praised her for doing well in school and measured her height every year on her birthday. The pencil marks were still on the wall in the house where Silk grew up. It was hard for her to imagine ever thinking about the house again as anything other than the place where her father died.

Sitting in her office in Hotel California the mobster's thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Silk realized she lost track of time when Almonette walked into the office. They had plans to go to dinner and a movie. Although Silk wasn't in the mood to go out she didn't want to disappoint her friend. As she stood up Almonette seemed to read her mind and suggested they reschedule their date for another night.

"Okay." Silk agreed and looked down at her desk as she remembered the last words her father said to her. Words she thought she didn't deserve to hear. Looking across the office at Almonette the young mobster said, "I... ah, I want to talk to you about what happened in LA."

A few minutes later when the mobsters walked out of Hotel California Silk was glad Almonette suggested they go for a walk. It was a bright beautiful spring day in Detroit. The sunshine and warm weather improved Silk's mood somewhat.

"My father is dead." The California girl quietly said the words that were floating around in her head for the past twenty four hours. Hearing herself say it was difficult, but she continued, "I don't know where to start. I guess the beginning is the best place."

"My grandmother was originally from New York. Before she moved to LA she adopted two children, Brandy and Alex, my aunt and father. She had all the records of the adoption destroyed because as far as she was concerned the children were hers. In LA she was a powerful mobster and loving mother. People say she took the kids almost everywhere with her. When I read that part in the reports from Mr. Russell it didn't occur to me the things the kids must've seen. My father told me about it, but I'll get to that part later."

"When my grandmother died during a war her children were teenagers. Some say they were spoiled rich kids and lived off their inheritance. Others say my grandmother only left them a little money. I believe the latter because eventually the siblings started running heists, drug runs and various other big money making crimes. I'm sure you can imagine my surprise when I learned my father was a criminal like the rest of us in the family. When he disowned me I thought it was because he hated what his mother was, but that couldn’t be it, he followed in her footsteps with his sister.”

“The old saying, ‘thick as thieves’ was in the reports a lot from people who knew Brandy and Alex when they were young criminals. They were very close then one day my father vanished. Brandy looked for him everywhere, called in old favors owed to her mother and accused some powerful people of killing him. They say she was never the same after he disappeared. I think losing her mother then her brother just a few years later pushed her over the edge.”

“My father vanished because...” Silk stopped as she realized she skipped other details she read in the reports about her relatives. She glanced at Almonette next to her as they walked Main Street in Corktown.  “Sorry, I almost forgot something you might want to know about Martina. Her obsession with money was from her mother, Brandy. It goes back to when Brandy was a kid. Like I said before, her and my dad spent a lot of time with my grandmother and people in her organized crime syndicate. My grandmother’s Right Hand was a miracle worker with money. Brandy idolized her and wanted to make the kind of money she did. I don’t think Brandy was as cold as Martina about earning. It sounds like my cousin took it to a level where she didn’t care about anything except money.”

“Oh, about Brandy naming her daughter, Martina, it seems to be only a coincidence the name is similar to Martin, the last name my father used. Everyone Mr. Russell spoke to who knew Brandy said she never found Alex before she died, therefore she couldn’t have known he changed his last name. My father said the same thing, but it was hard for me to believe anything he said. I guess I’ll never know if the siblings ever saw each other again.”

The California girl was quiet for a moment. She looked down the street and was glad to see they were close to her apartment next to HotIce Family Suits.

“Now, about why my father vanished....”

~ Hotel California ~

Business As Usual

It was another warm sunny spring day in Corktown, Detroit. In the parking lot outside Hotel California Silk checked the oil in her hot rod then cleaned the clutter out of the inside of the car. The mobster was trying to stay busy to keep her mind off the recent death of her father. As she carried a fast food bag to a dumpster in the alley she saw James, the 12 year old orphan who worked for her. He was carrying a bag of garbage out of the hotel.

"Hey James, how are you?" Silk asked and tossed the fast food bag in the dumpster.

"Fine." The boy answered. "Need your car washed?"

"No, just washed it yesterday." Silk answered and walked with him back into the hotel. "But thanks for asking. You're doing a good job here."

"Is there anything else I can do?" James asked the mobster. "I asked Billy and Shiva. They told me to ask you."

Silk wondered if the errand boy was looking for jobs to do for a reason. "Do you need money for something, James?"

"Next week is Mrs. Martin's birthday." The boy answered. "I want to buy her a present."

"Mrs. Martin... my mother?" Silk questioned, but knew the answer already as James nodded. "Thanks for reminding me." Silk told him. "We'll go shopping together for her later, okay?"

"I don't want you to buy a present for me to give her." James insisted. "I want to buy it with money I earn."

"Okay..." Silk said reluctantly. "There is something you can do for me. Follow me."

Upstairs in her office Silk opened the safe, took a stack of money out and put it in an envelope. "Go to The Fish Market and give this to a man name Joe Melizzano. I'll call him and let him know you're delivering it. He'll give you an envelope to give to me. When you come back I'll pay you."

After James left Silk called the FBN agent Joe Melizzano then closed the safe and walked downstairs to the bar. When she sat down the bartender Shiva put a drink in front of her and said, "Business is slooooooooow."

"Not according to the books." Silk replied and added, "Unless Billy is doing them wrong?"

"Nah, not the hotel business." Shiva said and sadly explained, "My business of converting straight girls."

Silk laughed and shook her head. "Maybe they need more drinks or new lines. Next time my friend Gio is here ask him for swag tips."

"HEY BOSS!" Billy yelled as he ran into the hotel. "We got a problem outside."

The mobster quickly got up and ran outside with her associate. In front of the hotel James was punching a man who was on the ground. The boy's fists were pounding the man repeatedly.

"James!" Silk said sternly as she approached him. "Stop!"

The boy stepped back away from the man on the ground and said, "He tried to steal your money from me."

Silk looked at the man on the ground and didn't recognize him. She didn't know if he was associated with friends of hers and at that moment she didn't care. "Good job, James." The mobster said then knelt down and grabbed the man by his hair. She forced his head up so he could look at James. "You see this boy? He works for me. He's a friend of mine and Zero's. I suggest you don't fuck with him again or you'll be fish food."

"Silk." Billy said and pointed at the parking lot. "A pig is looking at your car again."

"Jeez, they should make Wanted posters for my hot rod." The mobster commented as she stood up. Looking down at the man on the ground she said, "Get the fuck out of here. I don't want to see you on this block until you have respect for me and mine."

"What are you going to do about the pig?" Billy asked.

"Nothing unless he has the balls to tell me why's he's looking at it." Silk answered and turned around to talk to James, but the boy was already halfway down the block walking towards The Fish Market. "I'm going back inside to finish my drink." Silk told Billy. "If the pig bothers you let me know. Maybe we'll ask James to kick his ass."

~ Hotel California ~
Corktown, Detroit

Another Day In Paradise

After having breakfast with her sweetheart Silk left her apartment next to HotIce Family Suits and drove to Hotel California. When the young mobster got out of her car she saw a taxi stop in front of the hotel and her mother get out of it. Silk greeted her mother with a smile and wave.

"Good morning, dear." Vivian Martin said. "How are you? How's Almonette?"

"We're fine." Silk answered and noticed her mother's eyes were red and puffy. "What's wrong, Mom? Have you been crying? Has someone been bothering you?" The overprotective mobster was immediately ready to hunt down and kill whoever made her mother cry.

"The lawyers in LA." Vivian answered and quickly added, "I don't want you flying off the handle about it. They're just doing their jobs."

"Come inside and tell me about it." Silk said and lead her mother into the hotel. Instead of going upstairs to the office they went into the kitchen where Silk made tea for her mother.

"I don't understand all the legal double talk." The older woman said as she sat down at the table. "Everything your father owned has the last name Martin on it, the deed to our house, the car and our bank accounts. He never legally changed his name to Martin. Now I'll lose everything."

Damn him, Silk thought and sat down. It was hard enough telling her mother everything about her father's past after he died. Once again his actions hurt her and it made Silk resent him more.

"I don't know what I'm going to do." Vivian said quietly and looked down at the cup of tea in her hands.

"Mom, I know that stuff means a lot to you, but it can be replaced." Silk said. "I'll buy you a new house, car and put money in the bank for you to use for anything you want."

"I can't let you support me." Vivian protested and shook her head. "I already feel guilty for letting Almonette pay me for working at the shelter. It's not really a job. I love spending time with the kids." She paused to take a drink of her tea and said, "I have an idea I came here to talk to you about. I want to open my own restaurant, nothing fancy like Vincent's. Just a simple little sandwich and coffee shop."

"That's a great idea, Mom." Silk and smiled. "You make the best sandwiches."

"Will you loan me the start up money?" The older woman asked.

"Of course!" Silk quickly answered. "Anything you need just let me know."

After her mother left Silk went upstairs to her office and slammed the door closed behind her. "Damn it, Dad." She cursed and picked up the ringing phone on her desk. The caller was FBN agent Joe Melizzano.

"I got a problem." The crooked agent said. "My wife kicked me out because she found out I have a sweet little side dish. Who can blame me? With all the hot dames in Detroit you have more than one, right Silk?"

"No." The mobster answered and shook her head at the man's stupidity. "There's only been one for me since I moved to Detroit." Silk sat down behind her desk and lit a cigarette. "Let me ask you a question, Joe. There's something I've always been curious about. How do you find time for it? I mean, carrying on with a sweet little side dish, as you call her. You're married, you have kids, a job AND a mistress. There's only so many hours in a day, Joe. It seems to me someone or something is bound to get neglected along the way. Which one gets short changed? The wife, kids, job or mistress?"

"I, ah, I..." The FBN agent fumbled for an answer. "I guess my girl on the side, but she understands family first and I have to work to put food on the table." Before the mobster could ask another nosy question Joe blurted out, "I need money, Silk. An advance on next week's bribe. I'm going to check into The Hilton downtown for a few days to give the wife time to cool down."

"Okay, Joe. I'll send James to The Fish Market in one hour." Silk said and hung up the phone. The call put her in a bad mood, but not because of the crooked agent's personal life. The mobster didn't like him shaking her down for money. The greedy FBN agents always wanted more. They thought they could whine or demand it anytime because of what they knew about the mafia. When they got too greedy accidents happened. Unfortunately Joe Melizzano was one of the agents that couldn't be wacked because he was on the payroll of a lot of mobsters in the city.

"If I can't kill him I'll make him enjoy life a little less." Silk mumbled and picked up the phone. After a few rings she heard a familiar voice answer the call. "Hey Mike, remember the favor you owe me? Find out who Joe Melizzano's mistress is and move her out of town." The mobster paused as the man asked her a question. "No, I don't want her wacked. Just move her out of Detroit. I don't care where. After that keep tabs on Joe. When he moves on to the next girl get photos and deliver them to his wife. She might forgive him once, but she doesn't sound like the kind of woman to put up with it again."

Later that afternoon Silk left the hotel to make a drug run. As she walked to her car she noticed a truck in the alley and her associate, Billy yelling at the driver. "NEXT TIME YOU'RE LATE YOU'RE FIRED!" The truck driver said something Silk didn't hear. Probably an apology and excuse why he was late, Silk thought then got in her hot rod and sped away from her business.  

After getting things sorted with the shipment of whiskey Billy was still pissed off the driver was late. The young trigger man stomped back into the hotel and went to the bar. The bartender Shiva was busy making drinks for customers. When she noticed Billy was mad she quickly poured him a shot and put it on the bar in front of him.

"Calm down or you're going to have a heart attack before you're twenty." Shiva said and refilled the shot glass after Billy emptied it. The bartender pointed at the hotel lobby and suggested, "Let's make fun of the tourists."

In the lobby of Hotel California man and woman took off their coats and looked around. The first thing that caught their attention was a sign they saw was near the door. 

Hotel California
Corktown, Detroit

Rates:
Rooms $5 per night or $1 per hour.
$5 for clean sheets.
$200 for maid service.

"The woman is thinking the room rates are reasonable." Shiva said to Billy and closely watched the couple in the lobby. "Now she's wondering why maid service is so expensive."

"The man knows what the maid service is." Billy commented and smiled. He liked people watching with Shiva. "He's too chicken shit to tell her."

"Damn right he'll keep his mouth shut if he knows what's good for him. If not she'll nag him demanding to know how he knows what it is." Shiva replied and got an excited look on her face as the couple walked towards the big sign in the lobby. "Look Billy! She's about to find out what maid service is." The bartender quietly laughed, "And the fella will pretend to be shocked. Let's see if he can pull it off as good as the last one."

Welcome To Hotel California
Formally The Corktown Cathouse

No freebies. No refunds.
Order your maid service by name.

~

~ California Love ~

The GoodFellas Swag
30 Bitches In The Kitchen

"I couldn't stop swooning." - Satisfied Customer

The Dirty D
Hold on and enjoy the ride!

"Detroit Rocks!" - Satisfied Customer

The Cocktown Special
VinceNoir's Favorite Position

"Good choice by The Prince of Cocktown." - Satisfied Customer

Mistress Intrigue's Hot Seat
A spanking for your pleasure

"Thank you, Mistress. May I have another?" - Very Satisfied Customer

A Warped Night
Pretty Asian ladies served with whipped cream.

"One dip isn't enough." - Satisfied Customer

The Five Year Grudge Fuck
By the time it's over you won't know what started it.

"FUCK YOU!" - Very Satisfied Customer

Most Popular Maid Services

The Wackgasm Success!
Race your friends to a fine piece of meat.

The Wargasm Success!
Big orgy with everyone from every city.

~

~ Cathouse Classics ~

The Raoul_Silva Date
Gimp suit, handcuffs and high powered vibrators. Oh my!

The Jace_Herondale Double Date
Two hot and spicy red heads for the price of one.

The Captious3 Three Way
Hot cougars unleashed from the local coffee shop.

EAforAA's Mom
MILF with over 50 years of experience.

The SpikeSpiegel All Nighter
All tongue :P

The Good Old Days Circle Jerk
A good screw, but not as good as you'll reminisce about in five years.

The Cory_Chase Bromance
A bromantic trip to Brokeback Mountain.

The Bi Girl Experience
Your choice of any straight girl. Just add alcohol.

"Vegeta Meow!"
When you're too drunk to say, "Vagina Now!"

The Whitey Special
A Hand Job

The Godfather S&M Duel
Safe words are for pussies.

~ Hotel California ~
Corktown, Detroit

A Day In The Life

When Silk left Hotel California to do a drug run she was in a bad mood from several things - her sweetheart's ex boyfriend showing up the day before at HotIce Family Suits, her mother being broke because her father was a lowlife rat who spent most of his life hiding his real identity, a crooked FBN agent shaking her down for money and a late whiskey shipment. Other than making 22k selling heroin it was not a good day for the California girl.

After making a junkie in Black Bottom very happy with a fix Silk drove around the district looking for a phone booth in a somewhat private area. The mobster wanted to call the HQ and check in with her boss without civilians, whores and bums on the street hearing the conversation. The moment Silk noticed a phone booth near a park she heard a siren. Looking in the rear view mirror she saw a police car. Silk rolled her eyes, pulled her car over and waited patiently for the police man. In the time it took for him to get out of his car and walk to her car Silk figured she could've raced away and been safely home in Corktown.

"Good afternoon, Officer." The mobster greeted the police man when was finally next to her car. "What seems to be the problem, Sir?"

"I have a warrant for the arrest of the owner of this car." The police man answered with a gesture to the hot rod.

Behind the wheel of the car Silk wondered if she was spotted selling heroin or if the junkie ratted on her to the police. Instead of asking what the warrant was for the mobster silently waited for more information and prepared herself to look surprised and deny whatever the charges were.

"Are you a friend or relative of....." The police man paused and opened the small note book in his hand. "... the owner of this vehicle, Jeff Montoya?"

FOR FUCK SAKE! Silk thought and bit her tongue to stop herself from yelling at the police man. She took a deep breath to calm down and wondered if she should ditch the hot rod. Although she liked the car lately it was more trouble than it was worth. Too much attention from the police was never a good thing in her business.

"Sir..." The mobster forced herself to be respectful to the law man. "Jeff Montoya was the previous owner of this car and he is deceased."

"Not surprised to hear that." The police man commented and closed his note book. "He was a mean son of a bitch. Nothing but trouble."

"So I've heard." Silk replied and pointed at the note book in the police man's hand. "Do you mind writing down Mr. Montoya is dead and passing the information along to the rest of Detroit's finest?"

After telling the police man how to do his job Silk gave him a friendly wave as he drove away. The mobster sat in her car for a few minutes, enough time to make sure the police man was far away or preoccupied at the local donut shop.

Black Bottom Freedom Park wasn't crowded like it usually was on weekends and holidays. Only a few mothers were in the playground area with their toddlers and one jogger was running laps around the park. Silk got out of her car and walked to the phone booth near the park entrance. After a few rings she heard her friend Giovanni answer the phone in their HQ.

"Hey Gio! How's things? How's business?" Silk asked and listened to her friend talk. "All good here too, bro. Just made 22k in 5 minutes it took me to drive from Corktown to Black Bottom. Easy money. I'm going to take it all home tonight and make it rain for my woman." The mobsters chatted for a few more minutes about business then Silk asked, "Is the boss there?"

A minute later Zero_McHannon was on the phone, but only long enough to tell Silk about a job that needed to be done ASAP. There was a rat in Detroit, a young gangster talking his way out of long jail sentences by giving the police information about other mobsters in The Motor City.

"I'll take care of it." Silk told her boss. "He'll be taking a dirt nap tonight. I hate fucking rats."

Back in her hot rod Silk decided to get a different car right away. She didn't want any trouble from the police in the middle of doing a job that involved murder. The mobster drove her car a few blocks and parked it a back alley then went to a car dealership and paid cash for a new car. She didn't like it as much as her hot rod, but it was good enough to track down the rat in Detroit.

Five minutes later Silk was Downtown. The mobster's first stop was the popular Italian restaurant, Vincent's. The owner's nephew was a ex con with barbiturate habit that made a lot of mobsters rich. Most people considered him a useless waste of space mooching off his uncle. Silk considered him a good source of information. After she gave him enough cash to buy a snazzy new suit or his next batch of barbs he told her where the rat gangster usually hung out every night.

The next stop for Silk was Baker's Pool Hall in Corktown. On her own turf she didn't hesitate to walk into the pool hall with her gun drawn. The owner, Marty Baker didn't look twice at the mobster with a gun in her hand. Nothing new. Business as usual as far as he was concerned. As long money flowed and there was no blood stains left on the floor and walls Marty didn't care what people did in his establishment.

In the back of the pool hall Silk found the rat gangster, Antonio. When he noticed Silk approaching him with her gun at her side he had a worried expression on his face for a split second then quickly covered it up with a big smile. "HEY CALIFORNIA GIRL!" He shouted and looked around at the other patrons in the pool hall. "HEY EVERYONE, LOOK WHO'S HERE!"

Silk glanced around and nodded at a few familiar faces. None of them would say a word if she blew Antonio's brains out right then and there, but the mobster didn't want to make a scene.

"Hi Tony, good to see you." Silk greeted the young gangster. "I need your help with something in the alley. I just shot and wounded a bodyguard. You can finish him off." The story was easy enough to believe. Bodyguards seemed to be super human lately and hard to wack for those without super cannons. Antonio didn't have a cannon, but his ego thought he did.

"Sure, Silky. No fucking problem." Antonio said and picked up his leather jacket off the back of a chair.

In the alley behind Baker's Pool Hall the young gangster took out his gun and looked around for the wounded bodyguard. "Where the fuck is he?" He asked then turned around. Silk had her gun aimed at his face. "Goodbye, rat." She said and pulled the trigger.

Back inside the pool hall Silk called the HQ to tell her boss the job was done. After she was finished on the phone Marty put a beer on the bar for the mobster and asked, "How's the brothel business? I heard you fired my favorite girl."

"Business is good." Silk answered and put a dollar on the bar for the beer. "Your favorite girl flirted too much with my favorite girl. I laid down the law for both of them." The mobster took a drink of her beer and joked, "But it only worked with Mary Jane. My woman is too stubborn is listen."

Over the next hour Silk chatted with the pool hall owner and a few friends. When she noticed the time she left the pool hall and drove back to Black Bottom to get her hot rod. Unfortunately when she got to to the back alley where she left the car it wasn't there. "DAMN IT!" The mobster cursed and hit the steering wheel in her new car. "Who in the hell had the nerve to steal my hot rod?"

The California girl drove to Mudkip's HQ in Black Bottom and told him about her stolen car. "Don't tell Almonette. She'll go nuts because gave me the car." Silk told the leader of The Water Gun Syndicate. "You know how crazy she is." She paused to light a cigarette then added, "I'll tell her after a few drinks and joints tonight."

As Silk walked out of Mudkip's HQ she frowned as she looked at her new car. She disliked it more since her hot rod was stolen. "Oh well, at least this one wasn't owned by a jackass get away driver." The mobster mumbled and got in the car.

Finally back in Corktown Silk parked her new car in front of Hotel California. As soon as she got out she noticed the last person she wanted to see, Almonette's ex boyfriend, Johnny Montoya. He was walking out of the hotel with a man Silk didn't recognize. Despite not trusting him and wanting to kick his ass Silk didn't approach him. Instead she watched Johnny and the man get in a black car and drive away.

"Hey boss." Billy greeted when Silk walked into the hotel. "You know Johnny Montoya?"

"Unfortunately yes." Silk answered and gestured for Billy to follow her upstairs. When they got to the office Silk sat down behind the desk and asked, "Did you overhear Johnny talking about anything?"

"Yes." Billy nodded and grimly added, "Your woman." 

~ Hotel California ~
Corktown, Detroit

Another Day, Another Drama.

With a cup of coffee from her favorite coffee shop and a newspaper Silk walked into Hotel California. Behind the bar the bartender Shiva was smoking a cigarette and reading a book. "Good morning." Silk said said and checked her watch. "You're here early."

"I'm hiding." The bartender replied and put down her book.

"From who?" Silk asked and sat down at the bar. She took a drink of her coffee and added, "You should've told me. You know if anyone is bothering you I'll have a word with them."

"It's personal." Shiva said and waved off the mobster's concern. "Not a big problem."

"Personal?" Silk questioned and laughed. "Don't give me that crap. Spill it."

"Okay." Shiva sighed then frowned. "I got involved with the wrong kind of woman, the kind that won't take no for an answer."

"Ah, the most dangerous kind of woman." Silk commented. "What is it you're saying no to exactly?"

The bartender had a horrified expression on her face as she answered, "She wants to move in with me."

"You told her no?" Silk asked.

Shiva nodded and explained, "She asked me while we were shopping at Raoul's Sex Shop. I told her no and she made a big scene... threw vibrators and other toys at me. I thought Raoul was going to kick us out, but he seemed to be amused by us fighting. Maybe a little turned on." Shiva shrugged and went on. "I don't know. He's an odd fella. When we left he gave us a bag full of free goodies so we went to my apartment and used everything in the bag. That was two days ago. She hasn't left my apartment since then. She's been cleaning, cooking and doing the laundry." With a sigh Shiva added, "It's horrible, Silk!"

"Yeah, sounds like tough living conditions." Silk replied sarcastically and shook her head. "I'd run back to California if my woman did all that horrible stuff for me."

"Don't make fun of me." Shiva said and frowned again. "I don't want a fucking maid. She snoops around, looking at all my things. She even read my diary. I have no fucking privacy in my own home!"

"Then tell her to leave." Silk said and took a drink of coffee.

"I DID!" Shiva blurted out. "When I went home last night I told her to get the fuck out of my apartment and my life. She went ballistic and started throwing stuff. She threw a fucking glass ashtray at me and yelled so loud the neighbors called the police. When the pigs got there she told them I hit her. God knows I wanted to smack the crazy bitch, but I didn't. The pigs believed her. They arrested ME and consoled HER like she was an innocent fucking victim. Luckily I didn't spend too long in the slammer. Your friend Intrigue was there. She got me out with a few other friends of yours. I think one of them was SpaceCowboy's Right Hand Man, ThomasAnderson. Your friends offered to take me home. I asked them to bring me here instead. I'm not going back to my apartment until that crazy bitch is gone."

"I'll get rid of her for you." Silk said and stood up.

"NO!" Shiva yelled to stop the mobster. "I don't want her sleeping with the fishes or swimming, whatever you and your friends call it."

"I'm not going to wack her." Silk said and picked up her cup of coffee to take with her. "Be back later."

~ Hotel California ~
Corktown, Detroit

Livin' La Vida Loca

It was another crazy day for the California girl. As soon as she got back to Hotel California she waved at Shiva to follow her upstairs. In the office Billy was behind the desk working on the books. Silk went to the bar in the office and poured herself a drink.

"The police might show up here to question me." The mobster said as she turned around and looked at her employees. "Bodies are piling up and I haven't even used my gun yet today."

"Sit down, Shiva." Silk said to the bartender and pointed to the couch. "I have some bad news, the woman who's been living in your apartment is dead."

Shiva was shocked and speechless for several seconds. "But... " She looked at her boss and mumbled, "How? I... I don't understand. You said... "

"I didn't wack her." Silk quickly said and went to the bar to refill her glass. "She was dead when I got there. It looked like a professional hit. Did you tell any of my friends about your problem with her?"

"No." The bartender answered and shook her head. "What do you mean by a professional hit?"

The mobster wanted to spare her employee any more grief with details of the murder so she simply answered, "I've been in the business long enough to recognize the work of a hit man."

"Who was she?" Billy asked from behind the desk.

"The police chief's wife." Shiva quietly answered.

"WHAT?" Silk yelled with surprise and sat down on a chair near the couch. "You were with Chief Winthrop's wife? She's the crazy one you told me about this morning?"

"Yes." Shiva sighed and looked down. "I tried to break up with her when she told me who her husband was, but like I said before, she isn't... I mean, wasn't the kind of woman who would take no for an answer."

"Maybe The Chief put a hit on her for foolin' around." Billy suggested.

Silk nodded to agree with him. "His ego probably couldn't handle his wife leaving him for a woman. The cops who arrested Shiva last night might've recognized Mrs. Winthrop and told The Chief where she was."

"You said bodies before." Billy reminded the mobster. "Where else did you find one?"

"Oh yeah, in my hot rod." Silk answered and finished her drink. "One of Mudkip's goons found the car next to a warehouse in Black Bottom. I was having lunch at Toby's Restaurant and got a call about it from EA. I went to Mudkip's HQ to pick it up. There was a body in the trunk and they all assumed I put it there. You should've seen the look I got from WHATWOULDWHEREWASIDO about the body. I know he was thinking I'm a noob. SadPanda even thought I did it. He patted me on the back and said, nice shot. I told them it wasn't my kill, but I don't think they believed me."

"You recognize the dead guy?" Billy asked.

"Yeah, do you remember the schmuck Johnny Montoya who was here yesterday?" Silk asked. Billy nodded and the mobster continued, "It was the guy who was here with him. I didn't know who he was when I saw him yesterday, but after I saw him today I went to The Assassain's Den and made a few calls about him. His name was Simon Dylan, another lowlife like the Montoya brothers. They all grew up together around here." 

Silk paused to light a cigarette then continued talking to her employees.

"There's always one thing you can count on with the lowlifes who aren't connected to the kind of people I work for, they never cover their tracks when they pull off a job. I found out Johnny hired a kid in Black Bottom to steal my hot rod. The only smart thing he did was be here as an alibi. After Johhny and Simon left here they got my car from the kid and went bar hopping all over Detroit. One of their stops was Baker's Pool Hall. Johnny was drunk and running his mouth. He went into the men's bathroom at the pool hall and bragged to a couple of guys he was going to frame a California girl for murder. One of the people he bragged to is a goomba who works for VinceNoir. The goomba told Vince about it and Vince called my boss."

The mobster stood up and went to the bar to refill her glass.

"It doesn't take a genius to figure out Johnny popped his friend Simon and put him in the trunk of my car to frame me. Almonette has some unfinished business to handle with the prick, Johnny. When she's done with him I'm going to put a fucking bullet in his head."

~ Hotel California ~
Corktown, Detroit

Taking Care of Business

In the office Silk was still chatting with her young associate and bartender. The mobster continued to drink to give them the impression the alcohol was making her talk. At the desk Billy listened to every word, surprised by some of the things his boss was revealing about business in front of the bartender.

"Zero_McHannon has looked out for me since day one." The California girl rambled on. "A few weeks before he became the leader of Sector 7 he asked me to be his Right Hand. I was so shocked.... "

One of the things Silk taught Billy was to never talk about the organized crime family's structure with outsiders. If The FBI knew who was at the top they would work harder to investigate and arrest those people to weaken the families.

"I need another drink, bartender." Silk said and held her empty glass up to Shiva who was sitting on the couch. The bartender quickly got up and took the glass. As she walked towards the bar in the office Silk stood up and took out her gun. She aimed it at the back of Shiva's head and pulled the trigger.

"Nice shot." Billy said without surprise.

"Thank you." Silk replied. "Another rat. They seem to grow on trees lately."

"How did you figure it out?" The mobster's young associate asked.

"She let some information slip this morning." Silk answered and went to the bar. "She mentioned ThomasAnderson as SpaceCowboy's Right Hand Man. I thought it was odd she knew that. When I got to her apartment I found notes she had about us and the people we work for."

Silk stood over the bartender's body with a drink in her hand and shook her head with disgust.

"She was an informant for The FBI." The mobster explained to her associate. "After I found her notes I went to the HQ and talked to Zero about it. He called in a few favors to find out more about her. A few years ago when she was working in Vegas she involved in bootlegging. She was one of the hundreds of people The Feds arrested when they cracked down on crime in Vegas. Instead of keeping her mouth shut and doing her time like a smart criminal she told The Feds everything she knew about people she did business with. The Feds decided to keep her on their payroll as an informant. Bartenders overhear a lot of information from mobsters who drink too much."

The California girl held up her glass to Billy and continued, "That's why I was drinking and running my mouth, to give her the impression I was just another drunk mobster talking too much." Silk finished her drink and looked down at Shiva's lifeless body again. "It's a shame people can't deal with the consequences of their actions, get caught doing a crime and do the time."

"Let's clean up this mess." Silk said and put her empty glass down. "We'll have to put her in the trunk of your car. That Simon fella is still in mine."

"You were right about the bodies piling up today." Billy commented as he stood up. "Guess I'll hire a new bartender later."

"Do that as soon as possible, Billy." Silk replied and opened the office door for her associate to carry the body out. "If my mother finds out about the job she'll want it." 

Almonette whipped into one of the parking spaces of Hotel California, absolutely livid about the conversation she just had with the people that were now raising her daughter. 'Who the fuck do they think they are?!'  she yelled in her own head as she was stormed into the hotel.  Not caring if Shiva was there or not, the mobster walked up to the bar and pulled out several shot glasses and poured herself a shot of Gin, Vodka, Whiskey, Absinthe.  "I wonder who was hiding you." She said as she poured the shot of Absinthe.  

After downing all four shots, the mobster yelled, "HEY SILKY!"  She waited a few seconds and after not hearing anything, she yelled out a second time, "HEY SILKY, GET YOUR SEXY ASS OUT HERE!"  Silk came out not looking very happy at her woman, and Almonette just smiled. "What baby, I said your ass was sexy?"  The older woman said leaning around to get a look.

"Sooo."  Almonette started to speak seeing Silk wasn't too amused by her slightly drunken antics. "I just got back from seeing the Grays, the people who 'adopted' Aisha.  I thought it would only be fair to let them know that Johnny was looking for her, and warn them about what a dangerous man he can be. And you know what they told me?!"  Almonette was so irate she didn't even realize she slammed the shot glass back down on the bar after the shot of whiskey she took.  "They TOLD me, they have a NIGHT WATCH, and everything will be oooookay.  You THINK they would listen to someone in THIS line of business, but noooooooo... they live in some swanky-posh neighborhood with some 'night watch' that's going to save them from someone as sick in the head as Johnny."  Frustrated the angry mobster hit the wall, "If they let that asshole touch a single fucking hair on Aisha's head, I will fucking kill them myself.  She is not going to go through what I did, you hear me Silky, she's NOT."

Again, the older woman started lightly crying.  "I saw her Silky.  She had come home from school and greeted her parents, even me.  My god, looking at her is like looking in a mirror to the past.  She looks just like me; the auburn hair, eyes like green tinted sapphires, she even has my quirky smile.  There is no way anyone can believe those two people had her.  Her parents shoo'ed her upstairs after she asked me my name.  I think she knows too, that those people aren't her parents.  She stared at me the whole time she walked up the stairs"  Almonette took yet another shot,  still crying.  "God damn it, I thought I was doing the right thing by her.  Was I wrong?"

Almonette took out a cigarette, lit it and tilted her head back blowing the smoke out, she said. "We need to do something."

~ Hotel California ~
Corktown, Detroit

Saturday Night Live with The Detroit Drama Queens

After getting rid of the bodies Silk returned to Hotel California with her associate, Billy. In the office the California girl wondered what Almonette was doing. She picked up the phone on her desk and called HotIce Family Suits. There was no answer. Over the next hour Silk called her woman's number fifty six more times because that's what crazy people do.

"Hey boss, Joe Melizzano is here." Billy said as he walked into the office. "He wants to talk to you."

"Joe Fucking Melizzano." Silk said and rolled her eyes. "He doesn't want to talk. He wants to whine and shake me down for more money. You deal with him, Billy. Take him to The Fish Market and point out the fattest fishes. Tell that bastard Melizzano I fed them all. He knows our lingo. If he doesn't get the hint I'll threaten him next time he has the nerve to ask me for money."

"Okay, boss." Billy left the office and walked back in less than a minute later. "Sounds like your woman is downstairs yelling for you and your ummm sexy ass?"

The California girl went downstairs where Almonette was behind the bar pouring drinks like she owned the place. Silk was glad to see her sweetheart, but irritated by the looks the prostitutes and customers were giving the hot older woman. When the California girl glared at them they walked away from the bar.

Silk listened as Almonette told her about visiting the couple who was raising her daughter. When Almonette hit the wall Silk moved the liquor bottles out of her reach so she wouldn't throw them.

"No you weren't wrong by trying to give your kid a normal life." Silk said and noticed a not so straight girl checking out Almonette. "DON'T LOOK AT MY WOMAN!" The California girl yelled at the woman then took Almonette's hand. "And, yes you're right, we NEED to do SOMETHING."

Six hours later...

The office was a mess. Silk looked around for her pack of cigarettes for several minutes. She finally found them on the floor among everything that was pushed off the desk earlier. The young mobster returned to the couch and gave a cigarette to her thoroughly wore out and very satisfied woman.

"Thanks for rocking my world, babe." Silk commented and winked. "I needed it after the shitty day I had. That motherfucker Johnny stole my car and left a body in the trunk to set me up. Other than that I found out Shiva was an informant for the Feds." Silk noticed the worried look from Almonette. "Don't worry. She's swimmin' with the fishes."