Walking around, strutting like a champ, Kerosene lights up a cigarette. He'd been a bit of a loner lately, spending most of his time planning various crimes. Work had taken an effect on his health so he strutted into the local spa and decided to sweat out the stress in the steamroom.

Inside, StripheGotti, Mavrik and Country- were already sweating it out, wrapped in thick towels.

"Hey, gentlemen," said Kerosene. "What's the latest news on the street?"

"No smoking in here," said Striphe and Kerosene quickly tossed the cigarette out of the steam room. A newcomer walked into the room and they all turned their heads to see who it was....

Nobody knew who the steamy dame was that brazenly strolled into the men's steam room. Her hair was wrapped in a towel and she wore a white bathrobe.

"Boys," she said, puffing smoke from a cigarette holder. "I seem to have taken a wrong turn somewhere. But you don't mind, do you?" She batted her eyelashes and sat on a tiled bench.

The guys looked at each other and shrugged. "What's your name, doll?" one of them asked.

"Names are boring," she replied, puffing away. "I'm looking for gossip."

"Your being here is gossip," said Kerosene. "You just waltzed into some guys that don't mess around here, if you catch my drift. StripheGotti, what's your take on this salty dame being in our steam room?"

His eyes went wide as he scanned the body of this lady as he moved his hand away from his gun and relaxed a bit

I think this turning into a co-ed steam room is a great idea! I love some eye candy at my age and also someone needs to clean this place 

He laughed evilly and loud for a second and then cleared his throat

Kidding doll sit back and relax and let me tell you a story about the weekend we had! So to celebrate my buddy Kerosene getting promoted to Consigliere in our family we took a trip out to Las Vegas to visit the fights and to see an old friend FitzChivalry who promised to show us a good time. Well a good time we had, between the strippers, hookers, 1 billion dollars gambled and the massive hangover and maybe even an STD or ten. Then Kerosene ends up married and Don Karen ends up getting lost and I find her at an all you can eat buffet eating chicken wings!

There is some gossip for you!

He took a drink of orange juice from a crystal glass as he deeply inhaled the warm steam 

Kerosene laughs. "Striphe. You forgot about losing millions on gambling, conning that poor schlub and that awesome line of appetizers we had at that place we can't say the name of." He tightened his towel to make sure it wouldn't fall off when he scooted over to make room for the lady, who was now welcomed by Striphe's invitation.

"But what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas," said Kerosene. "Except for the fact that I heard one thing that happened in Vegas was recently spotted in Idaho."

He waited for someone to laugh, or at least continue the conversation.

Not being much of a talker, Mavrik decides it is about time to say a few words.

Now gentleman and lady, “Firstly,” Mavrik leans over to talk to Striphe and Kerosene. “Next time you two decide to head to Vegas and live it up like the world is ending, how about an invite?”

"Now for the “damsel of gossip”. Mavrik still keeping his hand on his gun asks. “I find it odd that you just happen to walk into a private room with some very dangerous men, looking for gossip!”

Mavrik begins to get agitated and says. “The men in this room live by a different code then most.” “Do you know what that means?”

The lady begins to get nervous and takes a step or two back as if she is scared that something is about to happen.

Mavrik begins to think to himself if he is being to hard on this, so far, innocent women, but is anyone really innocent? She reaches into her pocket of the robe she is wearing and pulls out a piece of paper and leaves it on the small table next to the door. She says nothing and walks out.

Mavrik looks at Striphe, Striphe looks at Kerosene, all wondering what the paper has on it. Who will get up to see what’s on the paper?

"I'm surprised at you Mavrik," Kerosene says, chuckling. "You don't even remember the whole time you were in Vegas?" He sits back triumphantly. "What happens in Vegas does stay in Vegas, even Mavrik's memory."

The others share a good laugh then turn to the piece of paper the lady left in the steam room.

"Pick it up," says StripheGotti. Kerosene complies and hands it to Mavrik.

"What's it say?" Kerosene asks.

Mavrik looks down and squints. "I don't have my glasses," he says, handing the note back to Kerosene, who shrugs and takes the note.

Kerosene reads through the letter several times then nods with wisdom.

"Well don't keep us waiting," says Striphe.

"The thing it," replies Kerosene, "It's a note to you, Striphe. I'm not sure if you want me to..."

"Belt it out," Striphe orders.

"It looks like somehow, we made either a major enemy or a major ally in Vegas."

Everyone looks at Kerosene. "Which one is it? They ask in near unison."

"I can't tell," Kerosene replies. "The ink is running in all this steam..."

"Well," said Kerosene. "We're left with this mystery." The other guys grunted in agreement.

"But one thing I'm sure of," Kerosene continued, "Is that no other woman will have the balls to walk into our steam room."

Everyone laughed and they started a new conversation. Then they all shut up as a different woman walked in.

Kate walked into the steam room with a wicked grin on her face. She had a towel firmly wrapped around her, covering her chest and torso but revealing her long barefooted legs. Her short blond hair was damply hanging against her face and neck as she looked around with confusion.

"Uh... I was supposed to meet... this girl here? Thought this place would be empty, and she told me to meet... Did she already come by? Seen anyone like that? Dark hair? Pretty hot?"

As she continued to scan the room of unfamiliar men, her eyes suddenly landed on StripheGotti .

"Hey, Mr. Gotti! How are ya, sir? Thanks for helping me out a few months ago when I was in that jam."

Kerosene looks at KateLogan quizzically. "So what about this then?" he says, handing her the note that has become even less legible as the steam causes the ink to run. "What does this say? Something about making either a friend or an enemy in Vegas."

He looks at the note. "It doesn't say much anymore. The steam... the ink..." he hands the note to KateLogan.

"What can you make of this?" After a pause he continues. "And who was that lady you were supposed to meet here?"

Striphe smiled when he saw KateLogan enter as he recognized her immediately as they had met a few weeks ago for a short time

Kate was a interesting place to see you again and I am also pleased to see you doing so well out there in Detroit. Moving up quickly in the world it seems. 

Leans his head back against the wall and relaxes while taking a drink of orange juice

If the note isnt about money, power or a wild night with a beautiful woman for myself then pssssh!

Striphe laughed as he folded up a $100 bill into an airplane and threw it at Kerosene while day dreaming about their next Las Vegas trip

 "I figured I'd catch up to you sooner or later, Mr. Gotti. Just didn't expect it to be here. And ya know, I'm trying to keep busy."

Kate looks puzzled as Kerosene hands her a note.

"I... well hell, I haven't been in Vegas in a long while. I was hoping to get that lady alone for a bit and... talk, ya know? Although now I'm thinking I may have been at least slightly manipulated here. Not really sure who she was- just met her in the lobby and started chatting her up. How do you guys know her?"
 

"Truth be told, KateLogan," Kerosene admits, "we don't know her. We were hoping you did. Or at least some other hot broad of influence would." He chuckles and the good old boys in the steam room follow suit.

"So it seems we have a common question we need to work out. She gave us this note and wanted to meet you here. Yet none of us know who she is."

Kerosene leans back and spreads his arms after making sure his towel is well secured. "We have something in common to figure out. So where would you say we go from here?"

Kate sat down gently on the bench, smirking and crossing her ankles.

"I don't intend to go anywhere for a little while, at least. Looks like you fellows might have a hunt on your hands, though she's probably long gone by now. You boys might be looking at another round in Vegas to figure this out... "

Winking, she leaned back, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

Kerosene did the best to avert his eyes...and did a much better job than some of the other men in the steam room. It was highly unusual, unspeakable in fact, to have not just one woman but two waltz in on a high powered group of men as though the women owned the place.

"Vegas," he said, glad that the steam made the atmosphere difficult to peer through. "You know mikkelk. I could seriously use another trip to Vegas. We should go as a crew. Shake some things up, but not step on the wrong toes. There's got to be answers there."

"What do you think, Striphe? Maybe we should grab some of the top guys and make a business trip. Write off the expenses."

Kerosene glanced at Ms. Logan. "And it seems you have a part in this as well. Are you up for a trip to Vegas with some rather interesting gentlemen?"

"My guess is that I was just sent in here to unwittingly stall or distract you guys- but I'll actually be headed there myself on business soon. Why don't you guys get going and I'll meet you there? For now, I think I need to enjoy some well earned relaxation time."