Cocktails

Tijuana, Mexico

I was able to take a Friday off when I went to my new boss and told him that my aunt died and I had to be with my family. 

I'll be honest: he did not like it one bit, but what he has in me is his top earner and the person teaching the new people how to play the game.  

The new boss has layers of people above him who would "Gut Punch" him if the numbers got much lower.  

Anatoly is a long way from home, and he needs a friend like me, Troy Manolo. 

I'll fix everything for Anatoly but I needed a Friday off.

Last week, I explained to two new managers that Americans are greedy and need money to motivate them. 

I explained how people with little or no training were relegated to jobs that paid more than The Organization's pay. 

I told them the truth. Nikolai Agapov, the deceased founder, was a genius at building solid work groups and controlling them with better daily pay. His employees worked hard and stayed on the job, and they got better with experience, but they came to work each day to get paid, not for a love of the job or a patriotic devotion to Mother Russia.

A couple of hard Russian heads softened a bit after a few tequila shots and multiple lap dances by a woman named "Maria" in the strip club two doors down from our workspace.

I sold them on raising the pay not to the Agapov levels but to something better than the initial New Management Salvo rate. 

The two bosses did not have to reach for their pistols as they figured out I could help them.  

Next, I found quality applicants for our current openings.

Most waiters, waitresses, and bartenders stay in their jobs because they get paid in cash daily. 

Finding the right candidates with sales skills, solid verbal abilities, and a love for having a few cocktails before heading home after work was easy.

Our jobs in Tijuana are perfect for that sort and they offered weekends off.

With things moving in a positive direction, Anatoly reversed his immediate "Nyet" and allowed me to take a day off.

Chelsea, Massachusetts - FBI Regional Headquarters

Wallace Q. Hughes FBI was moving to protect his asset in California/ Tijuana. He had not expected things to move as fast as they did. Tom Allston was amazing.

His first call was to the FBI regional director in San Diego, who was up to her ass in alligators with overwhelming international border crossers who had to be identified as good or bad, and a large-scale Chinese action toward anything Navy in San Diego. Her job was a hard one.

Wallace had her on the blower, "Jake, I need to shore up the background of an active asset I have in San Diego, TJ."

Jake, short for Jacqueline, fired back at Wallace, "Wally, I know you must have back-channeled my office about your asset being on my patch, right?"  Wallace laughed. "I'm doing that now; I didn't expect things to move as fast as they are moving."

Jake laughed, "what's the deal?"

Wally hesitated a second, but he knew Jake was a real pro.  "Immersed contractor in the Agapov Organization in TJ"

Jake howled, "Holy Shit, Wally, those are some nasty motherfuckers". "How can I help?"

"I need a prior con background for scamming people out of money for roofing or paving, a three—or four-year stretch in the local clubhouse. I need to get him a Glock with active permits. Can I send you the details?" "Oh, and I need this as soon as possible."

Jaqueline laughed, saying, "Send me what you have, and I'll get on it." 

"You do know that you are going to owe me big time for this short notice shit."

"Wally laughed and said, "Thank you for your duty to the country." Jake started laughing.

"Martinis Wally!, Martinis!" "Lots of dirty Martinis with the Queen Annes, not that low-level supermarket olive crap."

Wallace laughed hard. "I'll see you next month in D.C." and "Thank You."

The Cardinal And The Jack, Cambridge, Massachusetts  - Friday Morning

Tango heard his voice saying Hi to Eve from the back office. He ran to the front out by the counter and jumped on Allston, whining and crying at the same time. Both were very happy to see each other. 

When the customers saw a happy reunion taking place, they started aiming their smartphones in the direction of Allston and Tango.

Eve saw this as she maneuvered between Allston and where the customers were. She blocked their shot making it not that interesting.

Allston gripped Tango's collar and they all headed for the back office.

"Thank's Evie; good thinking."

They kissed behind a closed door, and he told her, I'm home until Sunday afternoon; let's make the most of it.