King of the Bootleggers Read online

"They're just running a couple for now and stacking the crates until we get more orders," Besha said.

  Angelo pointed to the men working around the nearest copper still, "We took a few guys from the other distillery and brought in more men from the neighborhood to train. That's what we're doing now. I'm telling you, Rocco, those guys are happy to have jobs here."

  "I think they all wanted to kiss me, they were so happy," Besha said.

  "As long as they don't want to do more than that," Rocco said, winking at her.

  Besha's eyes twinkled, "There are a few young studs we brought in that I wouldn't mind...."

  Rocco shook his head and changed the subject, "I see Cuba is getting the wharf in shape."

  "Yeah. He's moved all his boats over here and set up house in one of the offices like I suggested," Besha said.

  "Give me a minute, will you?" Angelo asked. He indicated one of the men back at the malt mill was signaling for him to come and talk to him.

  "Yeah, go ahead," Besha said, "I'll take Rocco outside to see the wharf."

  It was long walk to the back and through the large doors to the wharf outside. The sounds of squawking seagulls along with a constant hammering and sawing filled the air as they walked. The smells of diesel and fish were carried on the light breeze from the harbor.

  "You have something on your mind?" Rocco asked her.

  Besha crossed her arms and a smile creased her face, "You know me well."

  Rocco waited until she was willing to talk.

  "I know you don't like Victor Cipriano–"

  "I don't trust Cipriano," Rocco interjected. "I still think he sent that Irish mick after me."

  Besha nodded, "I know. But business is business. We have a dock and I think Cuba could be delivering whiskey from here on his boats. Victor Cipriano is getting his stuff from Québec, right?"

  "Yeah."

  "So why don't we try and make him a deal?" Besha asked. She pointed out over the harbor, "He's just across the water over there. It would be a simple drop-off somewhere along the shore over there. We undercut that asshole from Québec, take the business...."

  Rocco slipped a hand into a pocket and pulled out a pack of Players' Navy Cut cigarettes. He popped one out.

  "When did you start smoking those?"

  Rocco lit the cigarette, extinguished the match and tossed it away, "Picked it up last night on the way back." He took a deep drag on the cigarette and blew the smoke out, "What you're saying makes sense."

  "But...?"

  "Maybe I should just find someone who wants to cut into his business. That way I get to shove it up his ass."

  A knowing smile crossed Besha's face. No one crossed her Rocco and lived to tell about it. She threaded her arm through his and held on with both hands, "Just think about it. Eliminating the man only makes sense if we can't make money from his operation."

  Rocco flicked the small bit of ash from the cigarette, "Maybe I should just eliminate him and we take over his whole operation."

  Besha looked out over the harbor, "One of the things Mr. Starkman taught me was that a business could expand too quickly. That happened to one of our customers near the end of the war. The wheat exports were booming and old man Coolidge kept on selling more and more. The sales were great but he wasn't getting the money owed him quickly enough. Starkman told me the extra expenses, like the additional employees he needed, ate up his capital."

  "So I'll just do it little by little. A finger here, a foot there, an arm...."

  Chapter 56

  Cootes Paradise

  ROCCO AND TONY CLIMBED the stairs to the wide veranda around the Paradise Club. Not much looked different from when Russo owned it, except for the fact there were no guards standing on the veranda.

  "They're not keeping anyone on watch?" Rocco asked.

  "Not outside, no," Tony said.

  "That doesn't make any sense."

  Tony gesture up to the second-floor area, "I had them put bars on those small windows at the back on the second floor, in case coppers or someone tries to get in that way. But this is what I like," he added as he knocked on the door, the dull sound of clanking metal quite evident.

  "A metal door?"

  "Yeah. I'd like to see Farrin Dowd and his federal buddies try to knock this door down in a raid. Same with the bars on the windows. I figured if we're going to sell booze here too, we might as well be prepared." Tony knocked harder on the metal door, "I also got speedboats tied up on the beach, just beyond the veranda in the back."

  Rocco laughed, "For a water get-away?"

  Tony shrugged, "Andrea wanted it. Thought it would be better for any of us who might be here when a raid comes down."

  "I would still feel better if we checked for weapons before we opened this door," Rocco said.

  "Okay, we can do that," Tony agreed as he pounded on the door again.

  "And why don't we put a ladies' entrance around the side," Rocco suggested. "We can have several of the girls check out them for weapons as well, just in case."

  "That is an even better idea," Tony agreed, "although we haven't had many ladies out here yet."

  A small portal in the upper part of the metal door slid open and eyes looked out.

  "It's about time," Tony growled, "where the hell you been?"

  The door was unbolted from inside and swung open, the loud noise of conversation and music spilling out. Enzo Scotto, one of the men from the neighborhood stood inside, "Sorry, but I had to break up a fight."

  "You can't keep customers waiting out there. Especially if it's cold. They might not come back."

  "I know, I know," Scotto grumbled. "I told Gianni we need more men. The customers can get real crazy when they're drunk."

  Tony nodded his understanding, "I'll talk to Gianni about it."

  Rocco was standing there through the conversation, amazed at what he saw.

  Tony swept a hand out, "Crazy, eh?"

  The place was crowded. Cigarette and cigar smoke still hung heavy in the air, but everything looked brighter and more colorful. And the setup for the blackjack, craps and roulette tables was different from his first visit, offering a better flow of traffic through the gambling den. The tables that Russo had off to the left for the card games were gone. Rocco looked around, "Where's the poker and stuff?"

  "Over on the far right. You can't see it from here. Gianni told me they put some high stake games inside the rooms over there, for more privacy–" Tony went speechless, his mouth hanging open.

  Rocco understood why as he spotted the hostesses. But these weren't the girls Russo had around the place.

  The young women who were moving through the crowds and taking orders for drinks now...were beautiful...and nude. Nude except for high heeled shoes and a black collar around their neck.

  "Rocco! Tony!"

  Gianni and Andrea Reppucci were moving through the crowds towards them. Andrea gave Rocco a big hug.

  "How do you like the place?" Gianni asked as Andrea gave Tony a hug.

  "It looks great," Rocco said.

  "Yeah, especially the ladies," Tony said as he watched a blonde and a redhead walk by, both totally nude.

  "That was totally Andrea's idea," Gianni said as he turned to watch them walk away.

  Andrea hit him on the arm playfully, "Hey mister, eyes front."

  Gianni didn't turn, "My eyes are on their front."

  Andrea leaned a little closer to Rocco, "They're actually working girls. I'm just afraid he'll want to take his work home."

  Gianni laughed.

  "You've improved the place a lot, especially in the hostess department," Tony remarked as he watched an auburn-haired beauty walk by, heading for the bar on the far side.

  "They're more than hostesses," Andrea said. "Customers can take them to the rooms upstairs. We don't pay them anything because they're making a lot of tips. And a lot more upstairs."

  "Really? What kind of a cut are you taking?" Rocco asked as he watched a dark-haired beauty walk by with a tray of e
mpty drinks.

  "Nothing," Andrea answered.

  That surprised Rocco. "Nothing?" He looked at Tony, "Does that make sense? The gambling and the liquor are one thing. But working girls can bring a lot of heat on us. And if we're not making money on it...."

  "That was another one of Andrea's ideas," Gianni said.

  Andrea looked Rocco squarely in the eyes, "Take a look at them, Rocco. They're all knockouts. Every one of them. The word has gone out fast and I'm able to pick out the best ones."

  "I'm looking, I'm looking. So we have high-class hookers–"

  "Don't just call them hookers," Andrea said. "They're much, much more than that. Right, Tony?"

  Rocco looked at Tony, confusion written across his face.

  Tony grinned, "Like I told you, Rocco, this place was a gold mine for Russo. And it's becoming a bigger gold mine for us. Andrea and me got to talking about the customers these girls are attracting. Russo was getting some big hitters out here, but word of these gorgeous dames has attracted a lot more in a hurry. So we put our heads together and came up with an idea." He looked at Andrea, smiling, "I just didn't expect them to be advertising that way."

  Andrea winked at him as she stepped over beside Rocco and looked around. She leaned her head closer to Rocco and pointed through the crowd, "See that fat fellow over there. The one with the two blondes?"

  Rocco saw a large, well-dressed man who was laughing as he looked closely at the bare, voluptuous breasts of the blonde standing on his left.

  "That's Mr. Julius Work, a Senior Judge of the Family Court. He's a member of the Judicial Executive of the Superior Court of Justice and touted to be the next Chief Justice. In a very short time, he's become infatuated with Penelope and her charms. She's already passed along some very interesting tidbits of information."

  Gianni sidled closer to Rocco as well, "And she's agreed to use a room upstairs where we set up a small, one-way mirror. We'll be able to take some very interesting pictures."

  Rocco's face registered surprise and delight at the idea as he looked across at the judge, "So...she screws him now...we screw him later."

  Andrea giggled, "You're bad. And just so you know, we're setting up passwords, so we can be sure we know who's coming through the front door." She batted her eyes, "Girl can't be too careful."

  Rocco laughed.

  "Now c'mon upstairs," Andrea said. "There's more."

  Rocco and Tony followed the Reppucci pair upstairs. As they climbed, both were amazed at the overall view of the packed gambling den. At the top of the stairs, they saw one of the naked girls stepping out a room off to the right. She was adjusting the black collar around her neck like it mattered to be dressed properly. An older man stepped out behind her, leaving the door open, his shirt still out as he pulled his suit coat on. His face was flushed and happy.

  Andrea gestured discreetly in their direction, "That's Isaac Bain, Member of Provincial Parliament and representing Hamilton East for The United Farmers of Ontario. And that's the picture room he was in with Carmen...."

  Tony winked at Rocco and whispered, "Goldmine."

  Rocco had to grudgingly admit Tony had been right as he watched Bain scramble passed down the stairs after the girl like a puppy.

  "And that's what we're going to do that in all the rooms up here," Tony added. "That's why the girls are getting all the money they make up here."

  "Right. C'mon," Andrea said as she led them left along the balcony overlooking the action below and opened a door to a large room on the right. Several women, some older and some younger, were sitting at a number of tables, counting cash and stuffing it in envelopes, writing the amount on the outside. "These ladies are the wives, mothers or sisters of men working in the distilleries. Thought we'd keep it in the family," Andrea said.

  "You can't believe how much money this place is taking in already," Gianni said.

  "We've been talking to Besha and we're trying to figure out how to report each night's take to her, so we can keep track," Andrea added. "You know, run it like a real business but without actually calling it gambling money."

  Rocco nodded as he stepped over to the wide viewing window set in the wall, "I'm sure she'll figure it out." He found himself looking out over the action below.

  Andrea stepped up beside Rocco and Tony and Gianni stepped up beside her.

  "Another one-way mirror," said Gianni. He picked up a set of British military binoculars from a chair and passed them over to Rocco, "This allows us to watch for anyone trying to rip us off down there."

  Rocco took the binoculars and scanned the action going on below.

  "We're getting the same thing set up for the card games, so we can watch for cheats," Andrea added.

  "Yeah, but if I know, Rocco," Tony said, "right now, he's looking at that blonde's tits."

  "Just the left one," Rocco said, "I'm just concerned because it looks bigger than the right one."

  Andrea slapped him playfully on the shoulder, "Wait till I tell Besha."

  "Rocco, pass me the binoculars," Tony said.

  "Hold on, hold on," Rocco said, "you'll get your turn."

  "No, no. I'm serious, Rocco. I need the binoculars."

  Rocco glanced at Tony who was holding his hand out while looking anxiously at the crowd below. "What's the rush–"

  Tony just grabbed the binoculars and looked down at the crowd, moving the focal wheel back and forth.

  "Hey," Rocco grumbled.

  Tony lowered the binoculars and pointed to someone below, "Andrea, do you know who that guy is?"

  Andrea moved closer to Tony and looked down, "Which one...?"

  Tony moved his head closer to Andrea's and pointed, "The serious looking guy in the dark jacket by the roulette table."

  "Oh. He came in with Isaac Bain and his two friends. Bain's the guy we just saw come out of the picture-taking room–"

  "Did you get this guy's name?" Tony asked her.

  Rocco took the binoculars and took a closer look at who they were talking about.

  Andrea shook her head no to Tony's question, "Bain just said he was his new bodyguard or driver or something. Why?"

  "Rocco, we need to talk," Tony said as he headed for the door.

  Rocco handed the binoculars over to Andrea.

  Andrea looked at Rocco as he passed, "What's all that about?"

  "I have no idea," he said as he followed Tony, wondering what was up as well.

  Tony left the counting room and walked over to the top of the stairs, making sure he stayed well back as he looked for the man below again.

  Rocco joined him, "What's the problem, Tony? You look a little rattled."

  "The problem is...I saw that guy not long ago, Rocco," Tony said as he stretched his neck to look below.

  "Where?"

  Tony looked Rocco in the eyes, "At the station."

  "What station? The copper's station?"

  "Yeah."

  Rocco turned to look below as well, "So who is he?"

  "He was in to see Inspector Crawley."

  "And? C'mon, Tony–"

  "The guys were talking about it when I went in to start my shift...he's a detective with the Pinkerton Detective Agency."

  Chapter 57

  ROCCO CLIMBED THE STAIRS of the limestone-faced Monarch & Block building in the Gore Park area. The edifice was very old and well-maintained, but the stairs squeaked and the hallway at the top of the stairs was dimly lit. Four doors down, Rocco found the office of Isaac Bain, Member of Provincial Parliament for Hamilton East. Stepping inside, he found a small reception area with an older woman sitting behind a small desk. She wore thick, black glasses and an 1890s Victorian hairstyle.

  She looked up without smiling, "Yes sir, how may I help you?"

  "My name is Smith and I'd like to see Isaac Bain."

  The woman looked indignant, "Mr. Bain is a very important individual in the community. I'm afraid you'll have to make an appointment, like everyone else."

  Rocco casually reached i
nto his dungarees pockets, pulled out cash and peeled off a bill, setting it on the desk. Then he peeled off another one, then another and another, setting them on top of the others.

  The woman's eyes registered surprise.

  Rocco peeled off another bill, slowly setting it on the stack of bills, "I'm sure you could find a very brief opening in his schedule...."

  The woman looked a little uncertain as she eyed the cash, "Mr. Smith. I could–"

  "Right now?" Rocco set the rest of the bills on top of the others on the desk and looked at the woman.

  She quickly reached out, grabbed the bills in her fist and stuffed them down her blouse. Rising from her chair she stepped over to the door, "Follow me, Mr....?" She looked back at Rocco, her hand on the door knob.

  "Smith."

  "Of course, Mr. Smith." She knocked and led Rocco into the room. "Mr. Smith is here to see you, Mr. Bain." With that said, she retreated quickly, closing the door behind her.

  Rocco found himself in a room with a few expensive looking pieces of furniture, walnut-stained wood-paneling, a few old paintings, a wall filled with books and a large desk straight ahead. The room smelled of a burley-based pipe tobacco.

  And behind the desk was a startled looking Bain. The politician rose slowly, a puzzled look on his face, "I'm sorry, I don't recall an appointment, Mr. Smith–"

  "I didn't have one. And the name is really Rocco DeLuca." He caught the hint of surprise in Bain's eyes but the man tried to cover it.

  Bain shook his head slowly, "I'm afraid I don't...."

  Rocco gave the man a sardonic smile, "I was sure you'd recognize the name since you've been out at my place." He unzipped his leather jacket, pulled out a photograph and laid it on the desk in front of Bain. Then he sat casually in one of the chairs on his side of the desk, watching the man's reaction.

  Bain was still standing, now bent over, an expression of utter shock on his face. He was looking down at a photograph of himself, naked and kneeling between the open legs of the beautiful young woman at the Paradise Club.

  "I don't think that's your wife is it?"

  Bain sat down with a thud.

  "But you do seem to be enjoying yourself."