Southern Justice, Part 49
I’m Fixin’ To present part 49 of Southern Justice:
Judge Hollis Garrett had issued a temporary order allowing the Gentlemen’s Club to remain open and to keep their liquor license. So later in the evening, after his phone conversation with Jackie about her staying at his lake house, B. Wendell Hormel, like a moth to a flame, drove straight to the club. He had heard that Joey Sitka, the owner, had been released from confinement on bail, and he needed to see him because he had a vested interest.
When he pulled up to the front door the valet opened his door and greeted him, “Good evening, Mr. Hormel. Welcome back!”
It was after eleven o’clock and the place was packed and buzzing with the sounds of music and conversations. As he walked down the length of the crowded bar, he feasted his eyes on the beautiful and scantily clad ladies all about him.
B. Wendell took a seat at the far end of the bar. When a lovely bartender approached him he slipped her a twenty and said, “I’m B. Wendell Hormel and I need to see Mister Sitka.”
The bartender motioned to a surly and burly appearing bouncer leaning against a wall nearby. When he arrived at the bar the bartender cupped her hands to his ear and whispered something to him.
Afterward, the bouncer looked B. Wendell over very carefully, turned away, walked toward a door just past where he had been standing and disappeared through it. A few moments later he was back and said in a gravelly voice, “You want to follow me, Mister Hormel?”
Joey Sitka was in his late forties, clean shaven with dark hair combed straight back and slicked down flat and wet, immaculately dressed in a tailored suit to hide his paunch, and with wrists and fingers adorned with gold and diamonds. He was standing when B. Wendell entered his office and greeted him like an old friend. “B. W., old buddy, please come in and have a seat. How are you?:
B. Wendell took the extended handshake and replied, “I’m real good, Joey, but what about you? Are you okay?”
As they settled into their seats Joey answered, “Never better! Only spent a couple of hours in the slammer last night. What can I do for you?”
The news reported that the Feds confiscated a lot of stuff and I was wondering if——”
“Oh,” Joey interrupted, “you’re concerned about our archives of the tapes and pictures which we discretely record of some of our guests when they go for a visit up on the third level. All secure, buddy!”
A wave of relief swept over B. Wendell as he breathlessly inquired, “But-but-but how in the world did you manage to accomplish that?”
“All the Feds got was crap,” Joey assured him. We were tipped two hours before they left their office. All the cash and other sensitive materials are safe and sound at an undisclosed location.”
B. Wendell had his handkerchief out dabbing at the perspiration which had popped out on his forehead as he said. “That’s very good news indeed. I may be in need of a couple of photographs next week.”
“No problem, B. W. All we’ll need is a name, and of course, the usual fee.”
“You know my man Ray McKinley?” B. Wendell asked as he tucked his handkerchief away.
“Yeah, I know Ray,” Joey assured him. “In fact, I think we might even have a photo of him if you ever need one, ha-ha-ha.”
B. Wendell forced himself to smile while he watched Joey laugh. “No, I don’t need anything on Ray, but I’ll probably be sending him around next week with a name.”
That’s all we’ll need, a name and an address to deliver it to, and of course the fee. As usual, we’ll make delivery on the same day as the order is placed.”
“Fine, Joey. It’s always been a pleasure doing business with you. Hey, I noticed on the way in that the publicity doesn’t seem to have hurt your business. It’s pretty crowded out there.”
“Heck no, it hasn’t hurt us, probably helped. You’ll see more publicity tomorrow because the dad gum mayor is taking us back to court. He’s adamant about pulling our liquor license.”
“I’m sure you have taken steps to prevent that?” B. Wendell asked.
“Of course. My lawyer and I already discussed the situation with our old friend Judge Hollis Garrett, and the judge has assured us that he would rule against any motion of that sort brought by the city.”
Slowly rising from his seat B. Wendell said, “Well, Joey, I really appreciate your time, and my man Ray will be in touch soon.”
“Hey, B. W., no need to rush off. Why don’t you go on up to the third level and get yourself a nice massage?”
B. Wendell weighted the pleasurable thought against the chance the cameras would be on him. Then he thought, What the heck, why not, they probably already have pictures of me anyway.