Chapter 4
Ralph glanced over when he heard Larry announce, “Last round!” The Cubs Boys were about the only folks left in the bar; it was an away game, so most patrons left right after the game highlights.
Connie, Bucky, Cookie, and Ralph were all discussing the game and how much they missed Vinnie’s commentary.
Bucky threw his arm around Connie. “Won’t be the same without my brother from another mother. ”
Connie started to tear up. “It’s not real for me; I can’t let it be real.” She started to cry, and Bucky held her close but noticed the rest of the boys were staring toward the door, their mouths agape.
Bucky turned to see what they were looking at. “It can’t be.” Connie was still sobbing into his Cubs jersey. “Connie, I think you have company,” he said, patting her on her back and pointing toward the front of the bar.
Connie looked up at him, black mascara lines streaming from her eyes. Then she looked over and froze.
Bill Murray, wearing worn jeans, a 2016 Cubs World Series baseball cap, and sneakers, walked up to Ralph and said, “I just heard. I’m so sorry.” All the Cubs Boys were staring at him and let out a collective gasp.
“Bill, wow. I can’t believe you came by. Vinnie is smiling on us from heaven right now,” Ralph said.
“Larry called me, I had to. Vinnie was the only guy who knew all the Cubs stats by heart. We’d wait for you knuckleheads to leave the bar and then we’d sit and talk for hours about each player—and the coaches, of course. We called ourselves the tenth-inning scouts.”
Ralph had met Bill several times through Vinnie, even got a picture taken with him. He paused and then looked over toward Connie. “Please forgive me, Bill; this is Connie Paloni, Vinnie’s little sister.”
Bill, removing his Cubs hat, turned backward as usual, offered her his hand. “So sorry for your loss, our loss, the Cubs’ loss. They broke the die-hard fan mold when Vinnie was born.”
Ralph watched as Connie wiped her eyes, which only made the black lines smear more and made it look like a Bears football player getting ready for a sunny day at Soldier Field.
“It is truly my honor; I didn’t know you knew our Vinnie. I’m sure he was afraid we’d swarm you, which we would have, so probably a good thing we didn’t know.” Connie couldn’t stop staring.
“It was an honor to have known your brother. I will truly miss him. Well, I’ll leave you all to it.
If there’s anything you need, let Larry know.
If I can help, I will. Oh, and please give his wife, Angie, my condolences; he told me she was the love of his life.
” Bill nodded, replacing his Cubs hat. As quickly as he had come in, he was gone.
“Bill Murray? Vinnie knew Bill Murray?” Connie gasped.
Ralph nodded his head. “Yes, he knew Bill Murray, all right. You could find those two hidden in a corner after any game once the crowd thinned.”
Connie dabbed her eyes and looked down at the napkin with black all over it. “I must look a mess. I’m going to run to the ladies’ room.”
“We’re going to head out, Connie. Take care of Angie and please let me know how she’s doing. I know she depended on him for everything,” Ralph said as he handed her his business card.
“I’ll keep you posted, Ralph, thanks.” Ralph watched as Connie swayed toward the bathroom.
Ralph and the Cubs Boys all staggered toward the door. “I can’t believe how much fun I had; Vinnie was always begging me to come watch the game with you guys. I couldn’t ever make it, my loss for sure.”
As they walked outside, they were met with the omnipresent walls of Wrigley looming large, with a statue of Ernie Banks on the corner. What a grand ballpark, the mothership of all that was baseball in Chicago, in the world, Ralph thought.
“What are you going to do without Vinnie? He ran that Department of Buildings like a pro; no one will be able to fill his shoes.” Cookie shimmied up next to him and threw her arm around him.
Ralph looked down at her. “Probably work with Mario or whoever is the next in command, no one like Vinnie, though.”
Bucky leaned against the light pole outside the bar. “Didn’t you and Vinnie make some deals together?” He let out a loud burp.
“We sure did, Buck.” The cab pulled up, and Ralph said, “Gotta go.”
“Can you drop me on your way?” Cookie stuck her head inside the car window.
“Absolutely, where do you live?” Ralph extended his hand and helped her slide in the back seat next to him.
“I live in Old Town next to Second City.” Cookie slid as close as she could to Ralph.
“What do you say we stop for a nightcap at Gibsons before we part ways?” Cookie slurred. Ralph glanced over as she pushed up her breasts and unbuttoned another button on her already low-cut silk blouse. Not a bad set, he thought.
“Perfect. My friend is playing the piano tonight. It’s where Vinnie and I would go after we closed our deals—best steaks in town.”
Ralph tapped the cab driver. “Gibsons in the Gold Coast.”
“Over dinner I’d love to hear about your life, how long you knew Vinnie. You must have some great stories to tell.”
The cab stopped outside Gibsons where there was a line of people waiting. The doorman gave a familiar nod to Ralph as he walked inside, and Cookie followed.
“How’s my favorite singer tonight?” Ralph leaned over the counter and kissed the plump cheek of the full-figured woman who had been the hostess forever.
“Give Mama some sugar, you handsome bundle of love,” her rich voice announced. Peaches waddled from behind the counter and gave Ralph a full-body hug. She was as wide as she was tall, swaying in her loose dress, wearing full makeup with large, sparkly earrings accenting her pretty face.
Ralph looked over at Cookie. “You haven’t been hugged until you’ve been hugged by Peaches, and she has the voice of Eartha Kitt.” Peaches flashed her engaging smile and walked back around the glass counter.
“We’re going to eat in the bar, sweetheart,” Ralph said.
“Good thing, honey, because we are packed with that dermatology convention. But you know I would always find a place for you anyway, handsome,” she said, winking.
Piano music found its way above the clatter of hungry diners waiting for their name to be called.
Waiters dressed in waist-level, starched white coats with Gibson tie bars securing their neckties were rushing toward the main dining room.
One-handed, they elegantly held huge trays carrying plates of steaks, baked potatoes, and sides above their shoulders.
Ralph walked to the right, where the bar was located, and saw his friend Dennis playing the piano and singing “Luck Be a Lady Tonight,” a large crystal goblet full of cash sitting on top of the grand piano. Patrons were sitting around the piano, singing along and swaying to the music.
Ralph parted his way through the dense crowd with head nods of acknowledgment to some and a few handshakes until they got to a tall table that a young couple was just vacating.
“What will it be, Miss Cookie?” Ralph asked.
“You can just call me Cookie. I’ll have a vodka martini with three olives; I need to eat something.” She giggled.
Ralph motioned for one of the waitresses to come over, and she made her way through the maze of humans. The mirrored bar covered the entire wall, crystal martini glasses etched with the Gibsons’ name hanging at the ready.
As soon as the waitress arrived, Cookie glanced at her. “I need some food sooner than later. Could you also bring me some bread and butter?”
“You got it.” The waitress looked over at Ralph.
“Vodka martini, extra olives, for this lovely lady; dry with a twist of lemon for me. Can you bring us a menu too?” The waitress nodded and left.
Ralph looked at Cookie, who was staring into his eyes. “Your smile is delicious, and those dimples are about to drive me wild. I may just come over there and give you a big, fat kiss,” she slurred.
“I’m flattered, but I think we should keep things aboveboard. You know how much work I do with the city.”
Cookie grinned back and nodded. “You have no idea what secrets I know.” The busboy brought the bread and butter, and Cookie immediately devoured a few pieces.
After the waitress brought their drinks and menus, they lifted their glasses. “Here’s to Vinnie, one of the best guys I ever knew. Never met anyone like him and probably never will again.” Ralph toasted with Cookie.
After a sip of her drink, Cookie looked over at Ralph. “You don’t seem to be the type of guy who would have a friend who worked at the Chicago Department of Buildings all his life.”
“What makes you say that?”
“You seem like such a highbrow, fancy gentleman. We don’t usually see your type visiting his shop; the mayor’s office, yes, but it’s usually construction workers walking in and out of Vinnie’s office.”
“I never really cared about what he did, or where he worked. I judged him by his character, and Vinnie was a stand-up guy. We went to high school together and then lost touch. Of course, I ran into him at Murphy’s after one of the playoff games, one of those years they almost got to the World Series; I think it was 1985. ”
“When they lost to the Padres,” Cookie said.
“You sure know your baseball.” Ralph lifted his glass and toasted her.
“Nothing like watching those fit players rounding the bases. I love men in uniform, and they have some of the tightest assess I’ve seen.
And I know more than baseball.” She fluttered her long eyelashes at him.
“I’ve seen your name on most of Vinnie’s projects, and I had to vet your company, which was squeaky clean.
Otherwise, the city would never have done as much business with you as they did. ”
“What would you like to order? It’s on me.” Ralph motioned the waitress over.
“Yes, Ralph, what can I get for you?”
Ralph watched as Cookie’s blue eyes gazed up over the menu and over to the waitress. “Well, if he’s buying and this is social and not business, I’ll take a rib eye, medium rare, baked potato with all the trimmings, and bring extra horseradish sauce.”
“The lady knows what she wants,” Ralph said. “I’ll have my usual.”
“You got it,” the waitress said.
A stout man wearing a black T-shirt and business jacket approached the table. “Hi, Ralph, you’re just the guy I want to see. Do you have a minute? I need to discuss an important matter.”
Ralph immediately stood up. “Excuse us, Cookie, I’ll be right back.” He had had a few encounters with this disreputable character and didn’t want to be seen with him if he could avoid it.
“No problem.” She took another sip of her martini.
Ralph followed the man through the front doors and out into the street.
Standing away from the long line of patrons waiting to get in, the man looked both ways to be sure no one was in earshot.
“Look, I would have preferred to talk to you during business hours, but since I ran into you, why not take care of things now? We have a small problem that could turn into a big problem, and I know you don’t want that.
” The Italian was twisting his diamond pinkie ring around his finger.
“What’s the problem?”
“Your friend Vinnie, who you referred to us, hasn’t paid us back a nickel yet, and the interest is mounting up. I’ve been calling him for over a month and no response. We may have to escalate the situation, if you know what I mean.”
“Bad news on that end. Vinnie died. His funeral was today. How much was he in for with you?” Ralph asked.
“A million and half with the interest. Gambled on the Cubs again. Not a smart guy, rest his soul. We’re going to go after his wife then; she must have something she can sell.”
“Hold on there now, how about you and I talk tomorrow.” Ralph handed the Italian his business card. “In the meantime, please don’t call his wife. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to my dinner companion.”
“Okay, but just know that someone will be paying that debt sooner than later—you, his family, someone.” The Italian put Ralph’s card in his pocket and both men headed back into the bar. The waitress was serving their meal when Ralph arrived at the table.
“Sorry about that. Everything looks delicious.”
Cookie glanced at Ralph. “I’m starving, I realized I forgot to eat today with all that was going on.
I thought I could fill up on the food at the funeral, but it was horrible.
How embarrassing for Angie; hopefully she didn’t notice.
” Cookie cut a piece of her rib eye and topped it with horseradish, salt, and pepper, and took a bite. “Mmm.”
Ralph started to eat his jumbo lump crab cakes. “This place never disappoints. No wonder they’ve been in business since 1989.”
Cookie took a sip of her martini. “I met my first two husbands in this bar.”
Ralph smiled. “How many husbands have you had, Cookie?”
“After my third divorce, I decided marriage wasn’t for me, so I just date when I feel like it. I shop here, over at the Four Seasons, and Murphy’s. I must say that I never saw you at any of those places, or I would have remembered.”
Ralph smiled. “I don’t have much time to dine out, but when I do I prefer Gibsons for business luncheons.”
“How many wives have you had?”
“Just one, love of my life; we were high school sweethearts. I lost her to cancer about two years ago.” Ralph changed the subject quickly. “So, Cookie, how do you like working for the city?”
“I love it. A cast of characters I’d never meet anywhere else, and the benefits are great.
As the executive secretary to the HR director, there’s always some kind of crazy show going on.
I have private detectives showing up asking about different employees.
Of course, I can’t share any information with them, but they can be really pushy, offering me money under the table.
I’ve never been bored, that’s for sure.” Cookie kept eating.
“Anyone in particular you’re talking about?” Ralph asked. When Cookie raised her eyebrows, he added, “Okay, I’m wondering about Vinnie specifically.”
“I’m not at liberty to say; all that stuff is confidential. Let’s just say he worked for the city for a long time, I know he saw and heard all kinds of shenanigans,” Cookie remarked.
They both finished their meals and Cookie asked for a to-go bag. Ralph paid the bill and walked Cookie out. He pointed across the street from Gibsons. “I live right down the street, so I’m going to head home. It was lovely to have dinner with you, Cookie. Take care.” Ralph shook her hand.
“You’re quite the gentleman, living in the Gold Coast, lifestyle of the rich and famous. Thank you for dinner. You should come to my office next time you’re at City Hall. Maybe we could go for a cup of coffee.”
“I’ll be sure to do that,” Ralph said. “Can I get you a cab home?”
“No thanks. I think I’ll head over to the Four Seasons for a nightcap.”
They walked to the corner, and Ralph turned down his street where his bathroom date from the funeral parlor would be visiting soon.