Smooth... A Ruben Kane novel. (Meet Ruben Kane Book 5)

by Eddie Martin

Is that worth the money RK?

  It is he told Raymond and that he'll be getting back with him soon.

  Now, should he or shouldn't he inform Det. Jeffries, after all he sees no way he's going to make anything out of this deal and the detective or Lieut., what I should be calling him now, since he's not going to give me a damn thing. Maybe I could tell him and he’d owe me but I’m already into him for a couple of favors now, I think I'd better think on this one. After all this is only Thursday and the showing isn’t until Saturday, I got time.

  Smooth was at the train station doing his usual thing and that is keeping track of his girls when he spotted Ira, one of the guys that was part of the cities robbery gang. He didn't know him personally but he has at one time or another used the services of his girls. He wondered what he was doing at the station because he never goes out of town and he sure wasn’t in the same business as smooth. He decided to watch him and see what he was up to. He was standing by the inbound tracks for trains coming from the south. The Southern Limited pulled in on track 224.

  While the people started unloading Ira was looking as though he was expecting someone. He spotted two men that were both wearing southern style plantation hats and he went over to them, they spoke and all three departed the stationed.

  Smooth was streetwise and he hadn't been on the street as long as he has without knowing when something was fishy and sticking his nose in it, whether right or wrong. Something was going on he felt or was about to. New people coming from out of town, Ira, picking them up. Knowing Ira work for Macomb and Macomb is a big time Heist man. So smooth decided to follow them.

  Smooth followed the three to the east side of Cleveland to the Royal hotel, one of the better black hotels in Cleveland. Smooth knew the building well, his girls even made a few ‘house calls” there. The manager was an acquaintance of his, when paid. Once the three checked in and went upstairs to their room, smooth walked in and approach Bernie (the manager) he asked him what room were they assign. What's cool about Bernie is he asked no questions, especially if you put a $50 bill in his hand. He checked the men into room number 325. A two bedroom with bath, living room radio and bar. Is the room next door to them vacant, smooth asked? Bernie said it was and smooth said he wanted it. He walked back out to his 1939 Nash and waited. One hour later they all came out and got into Ira's Buick and left. Going to eat, smooth guessed. He went inside and informed Bernie that he was going up to his room, if the three

  came back give him a call.

  For smooth breaking into the room was like when he used to break into the girls locker room when he was in school, took less than a minute. First the bags, two medium-size, Held cloths and very few, telling smooth that it was going to be a very short trip. Toilet products etc. nothing that he didn't expect to find except, the 45 automatic and sawed off shotgun. Just a guess but he figured they had two more weapons on them, these were just backups. But he remembered seeing three bags, two midsize and one small Satchel. Where was the Satchel! He looked in all the usual places, under the bed and in the closet, under the bar and couch and behind the blinds. When they went out to the car they carried no bags with them, then he remembered, the hotel had a hidden safe. Behind the picture in the living room, and that's where smooth looked. The safe was something he had never dealt with before but how hard could it be. He set down for a minute and thought, when he was bringing the girls here what they told him about these safes. Each apt. had a safe, some in the front rooms behind pictures and others in the bedrooms and closets. How did they come up with the combinations? When these safes came from the factories they had to change them, now what did they change them to? He thought and thought some more and then he heard his phone rang from next-door. He checked his watch and realize that he'd been in the room for over an hour. Then it came to him he should have gotten it right away, it's always the obvious. It's the room’s number plus-0. 3 – 2 – 5 – 0, the room number plus 0. No time to check it now so he put things back the way they were and went to his room. He heard the men go into their room and listen through the wall to hear what he could. Very little he could understand, but enough. Men being late coming in, something being put off, and something about taking a girl back to Louisiana. Someone coming over to speak to them about "it". 20 minutes later Ira departed and 10 minutes after that smooth left.

  CHAPTER 3

  Macomb, Ira and Jesse were in the house they use as a stash house on the north east side of Cleveland. Well that’s fucked up Macomb was saying, the inside person had just informed him that one of the diamond merchants was going to be late so the heist had to be put off for at least 24 hours. The Louisiana people were in town so now they would have to be involved with them. So since we were going to hit them tonight it'll be tomorrow, we’ll be told what time. As far as I know Macomb said the hotel and room is still the same. If they're talking about having the exchange in the morning then it'll have to be a daylight hit. I don't guess it'll make any difference except I for one like the dark.

  This inside man you keep talking about how is he getting paid, Jesse asked? $10,000 flat fee and has already been paid. And who says it's a man, we don't discriminate when it comes to information. Everything else will stay the same, the hit, morning not night, meet the Louisiana people at their hotel, make the exchange and come back here to the house. Here we can split the loot and get ready to make the move to Detroit where I already have the next job planed. Is it anything I've missed Macomb asked?

  Well, this doesn't pertain to the heist but the Louisiana guys, Ira said. They informed me that they were looking for a girl just up from there that they had to take back, and could we help locate her.

  Did they say what they want with this girl Macomb asked?

  Just that she backed out of her contract.

  Well, I guess we could do that Macomb said. Just locate her right, nothing else?

  Right, Ira said.

  Since you know what they want Ira why don't you take care of that, Macomb said.

  Smooth had gotten word from Bernie the manager of the Royal hotel that the people in room 325 were looking for some action, of the female persuasion. The first one he thought of was

  Smooth. The men were thinking about a night out on the town, dinner, dancing and back to the hotel. Can you handle that Bernie asked?

  Damn right I can handle it, what time? Smooth thought to himself, what luck, I must be living right.

  Smooth picked Anna and Della, two of his finest girls. One white, platinum blonde and a black bombshell both aim to please and love their work. They were instructed to take the two across town to the Roosevelt club. A place that once you get there you don’t want to leave. Dinner, dancing, the Roosevelt club had two bands, one R and B and one Jazz. Thursday night was one of the biggest nights of the week for the club, whatever you wanted they had it. Grass, heroin, cocaine and hash. The club had their own little private rooms for just that. When Thibodaux and Seth Enter the club at 11 PM they thought they were in heaven, they never imagine they'd find this kind of happening this far up north. This place could almost compete with New Orleans.

  3 – 2 – 5 – 0, click up, and smooth was in. The satchel was the only item in the safe, he took it out open it and his eyes got double their size. He wanted to jump up and do a dance, but he was cool. He did a quick count and found it had over $100,000. He took the money out of the satchel and placed it in a large bag he had. He close the satchel placed it back in the safe, close and lock it and departed room 325.

  Friday morning 10 AM in the Commodore hotel, one of Cleveland's best. Three Jewish men were in room number 576 waiting for their breakfast. Each had a satchel they were going through, the diamond showing was the next day and they wanted to synchronize their wares. Their contact (Miss Dickens) had set everything up so as when they go to the show they would have security before doing and after. When the knock came at the door they knew it was either room service or their security. One of the merchants went to the door and looked through the pep hole. He
saw an ID card saying security and a voice saying MissDickens sent us. The door was open and the merchants said, we wasn't expecting you for another hour. Once Macomb and Jesse were in they pull their weapons. The merchants were all tied and gagged and placed in the closets, the satchels were all emptied into two other cases, each man took a case and departed the hotel separately, and met at the car. An hour later they were at the stash house and congratulated themselves and put all the jewelry out on the table.

  Friday 3 PM

  Thibodaux, this is Malcolm, we’ll be over your place at about 9 tonight.

  Did you take care of that job? Thibodaux asked.

  We took care of it this morning, now all we have to do is take care of our business with you and you can be on your way back home. By the way how was your date last night?

  Couldn't have asked for anything better didn't get to sleep until 5 this morning. The club, the dinner and the girls were fabulous. We'll have to come back when we have more time. Look there’s one other thing, did you locate our girl? Thibodaux said.

  Sure did, Macomb said. Seems like she's working in a dry cleaners and live not too far from there, when we come over tonight we’ll give you all the info.

  You guys do good work, no wonder were working together Thibodaux said. 9 PM will give us plenty of time to recoup from this hangover. Okay Macomb said, See you then.

  Friday 7 PM

  Ruben, look like your boys hit the diamond merchants this morning and took everything they had.

  Damn, I didn't think they would hit that fast. Raymond said.

  I didn’t neither Raymond, I thought it would be at the gallery tomorrow night. They didn't give them time to take their drawls off.

  Raymond, do we know who made the hit?

  Sure do Ruben, Macomb and his people, of course very few know this. You know Macomb is not above knocking somebody off that get into his business.

  Well we know for sure now he's not going after the paintings, he still has to get rid of the diamonds. I'm still betting he won't use anyone in the city, which means he's using someone from out of town. Ruben said. He'll get rid of it sooner than later. Raymond, has Macomb got a place he hang out, you know something like a stash house?

  I don't know Ruben, but these old boys keepsome kind of place like that, let me ask around. And Ruben, that money that you owe me, just double.

  CHAPTER 4

  Friday 7:30 PM

  Hey Lieut., Ruben Kane here. I figured you'd still be at the office. I hear you had a heist this morning, anyone get hurt?

  Ruben, how you know this stuff so quick. We just let those people go a little while ago. And I assume you're talking about the diamond heist?

  I am Lieut., what you got? Ruben said.

  Three diamond merchants got relieved of their merchandise at the Commodore Hotel,they were tied up at approximately 10 AM this morning and the perks got away with everything they had. The show will go on but only for the art part of it. There are no suspects at this time. Now, Lieut. Jeffries said. You know what I know.

  Well I'll tell you Lieut. this one really got passed me. I had a feeling they were going to get hit but I was betting it would be during the show, they really threw me a curve.

  Do you have anything Kane? I've got nothing here, I need something. Lieut. Jeffries said.

  I'm looking into something Lieut., I'll lay it on you as soon as I can.

  Okay Kane, you know my number.

  How’d the night go smooth asked his girls?

  Couldn't have went better one said. The other said, just another night out at the office. We scored $1000 apiece for you.

  Well ladies, good news, I'm giving you the weekend off.

  The girls looked astonished and said, well what's come over you?

  We all need a day off and you ladies went above and beyond last night and one other thing, you can keep half of what you earned.

  Now that is a surprise Della said. But smooth said, I want you back on the job, Monday night.

  9 PM Friday night

  Macomb and Jesse knocked on door 325 and Seth open it. They gave their greetings and Macomb walked to the bedroom opened the bag, and empty it on the bed. Diamonds and other jewelry fell out. Thibodaux said, looks good, and commence to go through the merchandise.

  Say, what did you do with Ira, he didn't come? Seth Said. He's out celebrating Jesse said. He took an advanced on his pay and told us we could handle things. He's on his way to getting lit up about now.

  Okay Thibodaux said, let's see what we got. He took out his glass and Scope and started to work. You guys want a drink this is going to take a little while.

  No thanks, Macomb said, maybe later. Jesse, Malcolm and Seth set in a chair around the bed where Thibodaux was checking the diamonds and making small talk. 45 minutes later Thibodaux stood up stretched and said that's it. Basically it's all good shit, a few bad pieces but that's to be expected. I wouldn't toss it out. So how much we talking about, Macomb asked? $235,000, a little over a quarter million total. We’ll offer you $100,000 Thibodaux said.

  That won't do Macomb said, we’ll need more than that.

  Thibodaux thought for a few seconds and said how does 110,000 sound to you?

  One hundred and 50,000 sound better Macomb said.

  I'll tell you what Thibodaux said. Let's cut to the chase. The offer is 135,000. Macomb thought about that for about 10 seconds and said, I'll go with that, one hundred and 40,000.

  Seth, go to the safe and get the money. Thibodaux started putting the diamonds back in the bag when Seth pulled the case out of the safe. Seth knew right away something was wrong, because of the weight of the case and he said, what the hell. He put the case on the bed beside the diamonds, open the case and found it empty. Both he and Thibodaux stared in the case, eyes and mouth wide open. First thing they did was to look at Macomb. Just what the hell are you trying to pull Macomb?

  What are you talking about Thibodaux?

  Look, and Thibodaux toss the bag at him so he could see. Just what in the fuck are you up to? Empty, the damn case is empty. The only one that knew we were carrying that kind of cash was you. Somehow you got in here and into the safe and got my money.

  That's a damn lie Macomb said. There is a number of people could have taken that money, what about the girls you were with last night?

  No way, Thibodaux said. They didn't get out of our site, they were too busy on their backs. No! Thibodaux said. You got my money and either I get the money back or I'm taking the diamonds.

  That's bullshit, if I don't get no money then they'll be no diamonds for you.

  At that moment Thibodaux looked toward the window and saw Ira and alerted Seth. Seth pulled the shotgun from underneath the pillow that they had stashed earlier,shot Ira through the window taking off most of his head. The shot was so powerful it lifted him up and over the fire escape and down to the alley below. Before he could turn the weapon on the others Jesse had his out and shot Seth 3 times, once in the chest, head and shoulder. Thibodaux in turn had pulled his 45 out and shot Jesse and Macomb. By the time Thibodaux had shot Macomb, Macomb had shot him in the arm and before Jesse had went down had shot Thibodaux again in the chest. But not before Macomb was shot once between his eyes by Thibodaux, Jesse was shot inhis neck and once through his left eye. Ira head was just about blown off and the fall didn't help. Blood was covering the floor and the only reason there wasn't more was because of the carpet. Bullet casings were everywhere. Forty-five minutes later there were cops wall to wall. The whole 3rd floor was blocked off. Lieut. Jeffries was one of the officers on the scene early on. He and other officers were trying to determine what happened and it wasn't hard. The diamonds were there partly on the bed and the floor, there was one case empty, and two midsize suitcases and a canvas bag, probably what the diamonds were in. It was obvious they were fighting over the loot. It looked like it was all there they won’t know until they check with the merchants, I'll bet this is the quickest loot has ever been recovered, Less than 24 hou
rs. 5 men dead; Macomb, Jesse and Ira were homegrown and the other two from out of town. It will take us a few days to find out for sure. This case wrapped up quick, the merchants gonna love this, they can still go on with their show.

  Wednesday, New Iberia, LA.

  The room held four men, Searcy, Ray be, Simpson and Baggy. These men were called “the group” of the southern region of Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama. They control what goes on in prostitution, drugs and smuggling. If there was a king of the hills these men were it. The agenda today was what went down in Cleveland Ohio.

  The word they got and from the newspaper is that there was a shootout and 5 men ended up dead. Two of those men were theirs. It's believed that they got to fighting over the diamonds. Now, we know the Cleveland people made the hit on the diamond merchants because the paper tells us that, and that's what they were supposed to do. They went to the hotel to make the exchange with our people and all hell broke out, five people dead. But I have a question, what happened to the money? Someone answer me that? Hundred and $50,000 just didn't go up in smoke and the dead damn sure didn't take it. There is no mention of any money being found, they found the bodies, and they found the diamonds but no money. If they found the money they would have said so. Questions:

  Raybe, out of the Mississippi region said; we’ve lost two of our best man on this caper plus $150,000, I’d say we take our losses and run.

  Bogey, out of Georgia region said; I feel as though the Cleveland people ripped us off, we can't have that. But then again if we try to make something of it more than it is we may have a war on our hands. The very least we won't be able to work together again.

  Simpson, out of the Alabama region Said; has anybody thought that maybe the cops took the money? There not above that sort of thing you know. And look are we forgetting that Thibodaux and Seth were sent there for other than the diamonds, they went to bring the girl back.