The Last Ruble - A Story is Born

Chapter 5 - Le Den Devils

It was only 9:30 p.m. and I was bored, but starting at 11, they would party until the sun came up. I'm glad I had a little nap and something to eat. I took a different exit from the Ritz, this time stopping at the Hemingway bar, small, but very nice and very Hemingway. There were three or four other people in the bar. I sat away from everyone and ordered a glass of Bordeaux.
The bartender set down the Bordeaux. "Welcome to the Hemingway bar, sir.”
"Thank you. And what bar is that one across the hall there?"
"That is a private bar, unless you're staying at the Ritz, if you show your room key, you may enter. It is a very private and upscale place."
"Thank you. I'll keep that in mind. I'm headed to a party at The Devils Den. Have you been there?"
"They have very exclusive parties."
"I have never been there."
"Then you must know someone, sir."
"Do you know, Swiss?"
"Swiss, she is a very charming lady."
"So you know her?"
"We have met. She is a very serious business lady. She owns part of quite a few bars in Paris."
Finishing my glass of Bordeaux, I ordered a small taste of the appetizers, one more glass of wine, and then was ready to go. I took it very slowly. I knew I was in for a long night. At 10:45 or so, I settled up with the bartender and began my walk to The Devils Den. I arrived at the top of the steps right at 11 p.m. Perhaps they called it the den because I was going to have to go down into the basement of a large building. At the top of the steps were two security guards. They were very large men dressed in matching black suits. There were about 30 people in line. I was not about to stand in line. I walked around everyone, straight to the bouncers. "My name is Jack Rivers and Swiss told me I did not have to stand in line." Not exactly the truth, but she did say she would leave my name at the door.
With this the large man looked at his list," Mr. Rivers?"
"Yes."
He turned to the side, turning to the left and pointing down the steps, “Enjoy yourself. Be careful of the steps."
I extended my hand to shake his," Thank you very much.” When he extended his hand to return the handshake, I slipped him a $20 bill and headed down the steps without waiting for a reply. At the bottom of the steps things begin to look up as far as class, there was a hat check girl in a small room to the right. Then standing to the left was another large man in the same matching suit. I passed the hat checked room, I approached two large double doors, perhaps 18 feet tall, and they were huge. The doorman opened the door for me, "Welcome and have a good time." I just looked at him, smiled and gave a little nod.
When I walked in, I was quite overwhelmed by the size of this place. The level I was on was a balcony level circling the entire room with private tables set back and about 20 feet apart, offering some privacy. I looked up, seeing a private room with one way glass, one of the sliding windows was open, where I saw Swiss standing with her back to me. It had to be her. I have seen her from the back at the café. Then, in front of me, was a double wide staircase leading down into the main bar area. When I got about halfway down, I could see all around the room. Quickly, I counted four bars and there had to be 1000 people in this place. It was a French discotheque. I looked for the path of least resistance to the closest bar, thinking I would let my host find me. I had a feeling this night would be long and full of surprises.
I found room at the bar, ordered a Jack Daniels and Coke with lime. The service was fairly quick by a charming, well dressed bartender who was quite cute. I was sipping my drink, perhaps for 10 minutes or so when there was a light tap on my back; it was Swiss, "Mr. Rivers, welcome."
I turned, looking over my left shoulder, I responded," Jack, please."
"Well Jack, if you follow me, I would like to introduce you to someone."
We moved off to the left, got to the curve in the bar and I could see there was another private room with the same one way glass. The doors were slid open and there looked to be about 20 or 30 people inside. There was another large man in the same matching suit, and then up four or five red velvet steps.
Once in the room, one could tell these were the privileged group or at least thought they were this evening. The room had several areas, distinction created by different lighting. The front of the room, overlooking the dance floor, was the darkest and offered a long black leather bench seat. To my right, just inside the door was a bar lighted by gold color lighting. This was the brightest area in this room. In the middle of the room was a small dance floor with flashing spot lights gleaming down. In the far corner of the room, which was hard to see, the lighting was a dark blue. I could make out several tables and chairs full of people, but no faces could be seen. I assumed Katie would be here since I had not spotted her in any of the other areas.
Swiss took me by the hand in a playful manner, “Come on Jack, I have great parties.” She more or less danced us straight through the middle of the room, across the dance floor and into the dark blue lighted area. I joined in, following gracefully. Swiss even took the time in the middle of the dance floor to slow our pace. She danced a few circles around me. I could see she was showing Katie I had arrived. I saw Katie sitting and looking at me, I let go of Swiss’s hand, walking directly over to Katie. I was just about to get within speaking range when Hans stepped in between Katie and me. He had to be 6 foot 5 inches and a good 250 pounds. Just as I was beginning to look up at him, one of the dancers from behind me bumped into me, pushing me hard enough into Hans that I had to put my hands up to slow my movement. My left hand went to the middle of his chest and my right hand went to his left side. I felt a gun. He pushed me back hard. This situation was about to escalate when Katie appeared from behind Hans. She just looked up and Hans, without a word, moved to the back of the dark blue room. He did give me one last glance. Again, I remembering thinking, this guy would eat you.
Katie, with a smile on her face, put her hand out to shake, which I accepted, “I am Katherine.” I was about to respond, she continued, “I know who you are Jack Rivers and who you work for in Memphis. But, neither I nor my company can figure out why you.”
“Perhaps, you should ask.”
“We have, but have not been given a response.”
“Perhaps you are asking the wrong person.”
“Perhaps that is the problem. Please sit down, we are drinking champagne.”
As soon as I sat down, a glass of cold champagne was in front of me, I took a sip, sliding my chair a little closer to Katherine, “Should I call you Katie or Katherine?”
She smiled, “When I am working, it is Katherine.”
“Are you working now?”
“I am always working in some form or another, but tonight, please call me Katie.”
“Ok Katie, who do you work for that would bring so much attention my way.”
“You must know, we are in the same sort of line of work.”
“Perhaps, but enlighten me, please.”
“Do not try to play me Jack.”
“I am not afraid of you or Hans,” I looked over at Hans who was several chairs away; he could not hear us and I lifted my glass to him, offering a toast. Hans did not move but just kept staring at me.
“I work for D.W.C. and H. I have a PhD in business from Harvard. You on the other hand went to college for two years, yet you seem to be taking business from our firm.”
“Oh the billion dollar trade I just completed.”
“Yes Jack, that one. May I ask how?”
“Does hard work matter to you? You know I did not go to college so are you assuming I cannot read? The library is full of books.”
“Is that how you taught yourself?”
“Yes.”
“If that is true, then that is quite amazing.”
“Well, I am self taught about finance. Any book you wish to read can be found at the library”
“Perhaps, you should come to work for us.”
“Why? What do you have to offer?” With this I stood, “Please excuse me, I have to go to the bathroom.”
She just smiled, taking a sip of her champagne, looking at me as I stood. I was about to walk away when there was a familiar tap on my shoulder. It was Swiss.
“Where are you off to Jack?”
“To the restroom, I will be back.”
“Oh please do Jack, you owe me a dance.”
“Ok that is a deal. Now where is the restroom?”
“There is a private one out the door over there and to the left, and then the other is back by the bar and to the left where I found you, your choice.”
“Thanks,” I moved out the door and decided to get away from this crowd for a moment, choosing to head for the bathroom by the entrance.
Rounding the corner, I saw another flight of steps down to the restroom area. The stairwell was lined with men and women who were definitely doing more than drinking champagne; there was the smell of pot. They were fried. I just took my time moving around them, even stepping over a few, perhaps on one, based upon the sounds I heard in the dark stairwell. I reach the restroom area and remember thinking; this must not be the glamorous area of the night club. There was a door to the left for women and one to the right for the men. Actually they were just doorways, with really no privacy. Inside the men’s area, there were three or four stalls with what looked like old saloon doors. I picked one. I had to go to the bathroom. I was just finishing my standing up business when the old wooden doors slammed into my back. “I will be out in a minute.” It happened again. I finished and as I turned to walk out, the door slammed into me again. I pushed back as hard as I could, when I heard a reply.
“Oh, my nose, I think he broke my nose.”
I walked out, “Do that again and I will break more than your nose.” Then at that moment, I felt a sharp pain in my left kidney and dropped to one knee. I had been punched hard.
I heard a second voice from behind me, “We do the breaking around here, American.”
I tried to get up, but a fist hit me in the middle of my back, and then the voice of the man hitting me, “You stay down, American. This is our club.”
“Who are you guys and why are you doing this? I am just here to party a little.” This time I did not try to move, but looked back under my body to see where the second guy was standing; the floor was nasty and slippery. Looking up, the first guy was still holding his nose.
“We are your worst nightmare, American.”
I had this guy’s location. I could see both of his feet, just to the back left of me. He was standing close. I used my right hand, which would give me the most leverage, taking hold of his left pants leg. I pulled fast and as hard as I could back toward the right and up under me, crossing his legs up, then I kicked straight back as hard as I could with my left leg into his right leg, taking all his balance away from him. With the floor being so slippery, he lost his balance, hitting the floor hard. By this time, I had my senses back from the two cheap shots he had given me from behind and came up fast. The first man was not paying much attention, thinking his buddy had me under control; he was looking at his swollen nose in the cracked mirror. By the time he realized I was standing, it was too late for him to react. I hit him hard on his red nose. I quickly glanced over my left shoulder to check on the second man, who was sitting up on the floor rubbing the back of his head. These guys were not muggers or even fighters; someone put them up to this act. I turned my attention back to the red nose man. He was back looking in the mirror.
I put my right hand on the back of his neck, pushing his face up against the mirror, “If you do not tell me who put you up to this, I will use this mirror to cut your nose off. Who do you work for?”
“I cannot tell you. He will kill us.”
“Was it Hans?”
“Yes, yes, it is Hans.”
I just let him go, pushing him away, so I could use the broken mirror to clean up a little. Over all I was fine. My side still felt the punch and my knee was a little wet from the floor. I started to leave, but turned and walked over to the second man still on the floor rubbing his head. When I walked over, he lowered his head, covering it with both hands. Now I knew for sure these men were not fighters. I just left.
I stopped back at the bar where Swiss had found me, ordering a drink to get my composure; I was not done with this group. After finishing my drink, I returned to the private room. As I approached the table, I could see Hans watching me, I did not let on I could see him. There was a man sitting in my chair next to Katie. I tapped him on the shoulder, while leaning over and said, “Please excuse me for a moment, I really need to speak with Katie.”
He looked at me, and then at Katie, who gave him a smile so he stood and moved away and I sat down.
Katie spoke, “Good to see you back Jack.”
“I thought it might be, we did not finishing talking.”
“There is always time to talk.”
“Yes and then there is time when action is better than talking.”
“What do you mean Jack?” I thought maybe she did not know what Hans was up to with his guys in the bathroom. I picked up my glass of champagne, turning my head toward Hans, while sipping down a drink. Hans was looking right at me, but this time he was only one chair over from me so I knew he would be able to hear me.
“Hans. You should learn to be man enough to do your own dirty work.”
With this Hans lost control, coming up out of his seat after me. This was my plan. I knew Hans would not go over Katie, making him hesitate with his movement toward me. This gave me time to get hold of his tie. I pulled his neck hard to the table, and then reached into the side of his coat. It was a pistol. I knew the doormen would be on us fast. Quickly I removed the clip from his gun, then as the doormen separated us, I put the clip in my pocket and sat down like nothing had happened, just waiting to see the reaction of Katie or perhaps more so, Swiss.
Katie was the first to speak, “Jack I am sorry. I do not know why Hans acted that way, are you ok?”
“Is this how you scare off the competition?”
“I swear Jack. I do not know what you are talking about.”
“Time will tell.”
Swiss was the next to say something. She was standing, so as she begin to speak, I stood, “What is happening Jack.”
“Not sure, but it seems Hans does not like me.”
“He is an animal. I am sorry Jack.”