Chapter 3: That Night
When night approached the villains emerged. Talent was already waiting at a warehouse in the industrial area. It was what many called the Great Wall of Gotham.
Like New York City, Gotham had so many warehouses along the waterfront that it looked like a wall.
New York City eventually turned a large part of their wall into highways. Gotham, on the other hand, had a fondness for empty and rundown warehouses. The Great Wall was always part of Gotham's landscape.
Any gang with power had their territory among the Great Wall warehouses. Although Shakes was a small-time but ambitious crime boss, he had his territory here.
Talent sat on a crate with his legs crossed and played with his lighter. The Benito brothers showed up along with their friends.
"Hey ya' boys," Talent greeted the rag-tag group of guys. The little gang greeted Talent back like earlier today never happened.
"Hey ya' Talent, me and da' boys are ready fer tonight!" Freddy said.
"Congratulations, you're doin' yer job," Talent said with a mocking smile.
Freddy didn't dare talk back.
"I got a surprise fer you boys, we got some last-minute help thanks to Shakes. You boys are gonna love it," Talent smiled at the others.
"Hey ya Butchi, come say hi to the boys!" A big man with a pile of rolling muscles appeared from the shadows. He looked at the boys and huffed. His suit looked one size too small for his body. Butch always had trouble getting clothes big enough to fit.
"I hear you boys are real eager to do things right tonight," Butch said.
Freddy and his friends were horror-struck.
"Look at those faces, see, I told you they were excited. Alright boys, it's time to work," Talent smiled.
Talent jumped off the crate he sat on. Butch brought a crowbar and popped off the front of the crate. Inside the crate was a catch of weapons. Dynamite, guns, and knives. There were also masks and gloves.
"Shakes came through in a big way," Talent laughed.
"Okay, boys, gear up! We're raiding the Falcone family tonight. They have an artifact that the boss wants, robbing, stealing, and blowin' the warehouse sky high is also on the agenda!"
"Butch, you pass out the toys. I'll take the dynamite, boys, you'll help with the looting. Once Butch gets the item, you'll help him get it to the truck.
"Let's go!" Talent took out a large duffle bag and loaded it with the dynamite. Talent didn't look like it, but he was strong as a bull. He almost beat Butch in an arm wrestling contest once. He didn't even work out, he was physically talented.
Later that night, Talent and his colleagues snuck into the Falcone's territory in the Great Wall. Before they reached their target, Talent stopped everyone.
"Look here boys, all the bigwigs in the Falcone family are at some big gangster dinner. There are guards, but it's not too bad. Shakes wants to send a message. We might be small, but messin' with us is a mistake.
Of course, he also wants the stuff inside. All we can load on the truck. We gotta be fast and quiet. The less noise we make, the more stuff we can get. Our cut is from the other stuff in the warehouse, but the bare minimum is to get the main object. If we don't get that then this will be our last job, ever. Everything else is icing on the cake, get it?"
Everyone, including Butch, nodded.
The small group spread out and were surprised to discover that there were even fewer guards than they expected. Butch looked at Talent who only gave a smile.
"Alright, boys, head out!" Talent whispered to the group. The Benito brothers and their friends eagerly emerged from the shadows and headed for the warehouse. Butch started to move as well, but Talent grabbed his shoulder.
"This isn't our move, let the little guys take the heat," Talent said. Butch gave a puzzled look but didn't argue.
Talent walked to a different warehouse, and he and Butch entered. He opened the garage door and had Butch start the engine of a waiting truck. It was just as Butch started the engine that they heard shots being fired.
The sound of machine guns, pistols, and shotguns firing destroyed the quiet of the night. When Butch looked at Talent, he noticed that he didn't seem surprised. Using his left hand to indicate for them to leave, Butch followed orders. Once they made it to the gate, Butch looked once more to Talent and waited for instructions.
"Go to Manfredi's warehouse. Tommy's waiting for us."
"We ain't goin' to Shakes?" Butch asked as he drove the truck towards Manfredi's.
"Nope, me an' Tommy came to an arrangement. We're throwin' in with the Manfredi's and the Manfredi's are gonna take care of Shakes.
"What's in the truck," Butch asked.
"It's what Shakes wanted. We're givin' it to old man Manfredi instead of Shakes. It's our ticket in." Talent smiled amused by the entire situation.
"How'd we get the goods from the Falcones? We didn't even go in," Butch was puzzled but kept driving.
"I made a deal with the Falcones. You think I'm brainless enough to mess with the Falcones? I'd join the Foreign Legion before I'd do something that stupid. The Manfredi are scary but not that scary."
"Why would the Falcones give us their property?" Butch was puzzled. Talent gave a sharp look to Butch before speaking.
"You sure are askin' a lot of questions tonight, Butch."
"Well, ya sprung this whole ting on me. I'm takin' aback is all. I don't have to know if you don't want me to." Butch shut up, it's a bad idea to ask too many questions even if you are working with one of your closest friends.
"Don't worry, brother, I won't keep things from you. The Falcones want an inside man so they can take down Manfredi. The thing Manfredi wants is a dud, whatever it is, it doesn't even work, so why sit on a useless piece of junk?
Carmine Falcone himself told me that not only did it take courage to come to him, but brains as well. Even Tommy was surprised when I told him," Talent laughed.
Butch looked impressed when he heard his friend, "Leave it to you and Tommy get the biggest gains with the least amount of work. I'm glad we're pals."
Talent laughed, "Me too! I'd hate for you to crush me to death with one of your bear hugs. We got the brains from Tommy, the guts from me, and you're the muscle. We're already taking steps to realize our Crime Syndicate, Butch."
Butch's eyes shone with excitement.
"We finally doin' it?"
"It's our time, it's time to make a move. Play everyone else against each other, like the Brits. It's Tommy's idea," Talent laughed.
"Good Ol' Tommy," Butch laughed.
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