Well, Mr. Lombardi was definitely not having a good night. After getting the news about losing their big shipment tonight he pounded his fist on the table, then he got up and began pacing around. Mr. Spence then spoke up and told Lombardi to sit down, he was making everyone nervous pacing around like that. So Lombardi sat down again.

“I just don’t see how it could have happened,” said Lombardi, “each of the men I picked were new men, that way I knew it could not be any of the group that infiltrated my organization. But they were men recommended by Raven, they came from his organization.” “Great, and Raven is dead,” said Carvell, “someone had this thing planned out very well.”

Another man then came into the room and told the others that the gang who grabbed the shipment rode motorcycles, but they had no identifying names or anything on their clothes. “It must be those Black Wolves!” shouted Lombardi, “Vincent, go check on those men, find out if they left their hotel tonight.”

Vincent left and a short time later he called Lombardi who once again slammed his phone on the table! Amazing it still works after those two blows, I mean, he really slammed that phone down! Oh well, not my problem. “Those Black Wolves checked out of the hotel 5 hours ago,” yelled Lombardi, “but how could they possibly know that early?

I didn’t even have the drivers picked at that time.” “You know, I had a lot of money tied up in that shipment and it’s all gone, all of it!” exclaimed Mr. Spence, “and what do you plan on doing about that?” “What do you expect me to do?” asked Lombardi, “We all lost on that shipment, not just you!” “That shipment was 75% mine,” Spence reminded him, “and you guaranteed delivery on time. Nothing could go wrong is what you told us, nothing! What are you doing about those Black Wolves?”

“Eddy, get in touch with Vincent and tell him to go after those Black Wolves and get out merchandise back,” said Lombardi, “my phone isn’t working, piece of garbage!” Eddy disappeared very quickly and I got in touch with Sky to stop Eddy and have a little chat with him about his health insurance. She giggled. As Eddy drove away from the marina, Sky made herself visible as she sat in the front seat.

“Hi Eddy,” she said very nicely. Poor Eddy nearly drove into the front of a store. “Hey, careful there big guy,” said Sky, “you trying to kill yourself?” “H, how did you get in here?” he asked nervously. “Why don’t you drive over there and park so we can talk a bit.” she said. He backed up onto the street again and then parked up ahead where Sky told him to park.

“Now Eddy,” she began, “what do you think Lombardi would do to you if he found out you told me where that cop’s family was hidden?” “What?” he asked, “I, I never told you nothing about that.” “I know that, and you know that,” she said, “but Lombardi doesn’t know that. And when he finds out about that $50,000 in your bank account that was deposited today, what do you think he will do to you?”

“If he saw that, I would be swimming with the fishes,” said Eddy, “and I don’t swim so good. Why are you picking on me?” “Because I know you are a trusted man in Lombardi’s organization,” she said, “and he told you where that family is hidden. Now, Raven would like to know where that family is, because he wants them. It seems that this cop, Rossana, hit his organization kind of hard a while back and he wants revenge, which is why he wants her family.”

“Hey now, I’m not stupid,” said Eddy smugly, “I happen to know that Raven was killed earlier tonight by a hitman, along with two of his top men.” “Did you know that Raven has a brother that looks very much like him?” asked Sky, “Raven uses him as a decoy sometimes if he thinks there is some danger nearby, and it paid off this time.

But Raven is still very much alive and he is not in a happy mood either. It’s like this, if you help Raven right now, then you get to keep that $50,000 and I will give you another $50,000 in cash so that you can go live somewhere safer. I will even help you get to wherever you want to go, any country. But if you say no, then I take you to Raven and he takes you apart, piece by piece.

I’m sure you have heard how he does things.” “Great choices lady,” he said, “if I don’t help Raven, he kills me slow like, if I do help Raven, then Lombardi kills me slow like.” “But will Lombardi give you all this money,” she said, “and give you a safe trip to whatever country you would like?” “You are taking a chance,” said Eddy, “my phone has been on the whole time and Lombardi has heard every word.

Soon his men will be here and you will not like what will happen then.” “Lombardi broke his phone smashing in on the table twice when he found out he lost his whole shipment of goods at dock 10,” said Sky, smiling, “so I guess that means no one is coming to rescue you.” “How did you know all of that?” asked a very surprised Eddy.

“Raven is always prepared Eddy,” said Sky, “he even made it look like those Black Wolves took Lombardi’s shipment when it was actually Raven and his men. Oh, and do you remember a disappearing woman in that meeting room Eddy? That was my sister. You see Eddy, we’re ghosts.” “Ha! I don’t believe in ghosts!” he laughed.

“Then try to move Eddy,” said Sky, still smiling. Poor Eddy, he was unable to move. “And how do you explain my sister disappearing like she did?” said Sky, “Or me disappearing?” Suddenly she was gone and was standing outside his door smiling, then she was back on the seat beside him. “My twin sister in the back seat is a ghost too,” said Sky.

“Hi Eddy,” said Angel. Eddy was able to move okay now and looked in the back seat to see Angel. Sky then opened her window and asked Eddy to look at a certain tree. She then threw a lightning ball at the tree hitting it about 5 feet off the ground, cutting it right off at that point and the tree fell over with a loud crash. Eddy was terrified now and couldn’t even talk. But soon…

“Hey boss,” said Eddy, “I found out some info for you.” “You are supposed to be with Vincent going after those Black Wolves,” said Lombardi. “This is better boss,” he said, “I caught one of Raven’s gals and he isn’t dead. It was Raven’s brother that was killed and it was Raven that took our shipment tonight too and made it look like it was those Black Wolves by using motorcycles. Now he plans to go after that cop’s family and he knows where we have them too, that gal told me the exact spot.”

“What??!!” exploded Lombardi, “That makes more sense than those Black Dogs, or whatever they are! Raven is the only one that could plan that so perfectly! Well, he’s going to wish he had died earlier when I get my hands on him! Good work Eddy, get back here right away, from now on you have Vincent’s job.” “Hey, thanks boss!” said Eddy happily…

To Be Continued.

©2025 Steve McLeod.