Part II - Chapter 15: THE LATE NIGHT DINNER

Chapter 15

The Late Night Dinner
(Ó 2009)

10:05 PM That Evening

The Siberia Restaurant

Northwest Suburbs of Chicago

In the Private Booth of Pieter Chekov

“Let us all now start this new business partnership with a toast shall we?” Said Pieter Chekov cheerfully in his heavy Russian accent. He opened a fresh bottle of Stolichnaya Vodka and then began to pour it carefully into the first of four tall shot glasses that were in front of him. The four people sat in the private booth at his restaurant. It was a half circular booth, single sofa seat of burgundy colored leather with gold trim. It also had a matching velvet privacy curtain of the same colors that was drawn to separate them now from the final customers of the evening. The seating arrangements had Pieter and Dee Dee Stillwater in the inner part of the seat, with Jorge and Julian Chekov on the outer edges. Dee Dee was placed between Pieter and Jorge.

Dee Dee turned to Jorge and whispered in bewilderment, “Business partnership?” She was answered by Jorge tapping the side of her leg with his foot under the table.

Pieter then set one shot glass in front of each person, Taking the last one in his hand and raising it, “The best for us, Na zdrovyeh!” He then held his glass out for the others to touch with theirs. As Dee Dee touched her glass she looked at the face of Julian Chekov, he smiled at her, and she nervously smiled back. 

“Na zdrovyeh!” Julian said aloud with his Russian accent, and then he, as well as the others drank down their vodka in one toss. Dee Dee hoped that the vodka would get into her system quickly, for there was something about actually being in the presence of Julian Chekov that made her feel quite uneasy.

Julian Chekov, the oldest of Pieter’s two sons, and the heir apparent to everything that was of Pieter’s. Julian was said to be like both the sons of the fictional character, Vito Corleone, from Mario Puzo’s novel, “The Godfather”. He had the ferocity of Santino “Sonny” Corleone, but the finesse, patience and intelligence of Michael Corleone. These two traits also gave him the nickname of “The Russian Pit Bull”. For even a pit bull can be docile most of the time, yet still feared; and when they are provoked into anger, they will tear you apart. Julian was always respectful of his father and very protective of his family. What made Pieter most proud of his son is that he let his father run the businesses. He was not ever impatient or greedy, he let his father lead, and Julian was there to let everyone know who was the boss. Julian would always sit next to his father and let him do all the speaking. He would never question how his father led, or with the decisions that he made. He never showed any disrespect to his father, especially when guests were present, or when a meeting was being held. He also would only give his opinion when it was asked for by Pieter.

Everyone set their glasses in the middle of the table and Pieter filled them again and then set the vodka in front of each of them. “Well Jorge, let us get this business part done quickly so that we can enjoy the rest of this evening.” Pieter said to start the topic of main discussion. “Besides, I have a fantastic dinner planed for all of us for this celebration.”

“I’m really looking forward to that Mr. Chekov, sure let’s get the business part out in the open and then out of the way.” Jorge Garcia said cheerfully.

Dee Dee then said, “Yes Pieter, I need to discuss some arrangements for this deal.”

The smile then plunged from Pieter Chekov’s face. Jorge and Julian saw this and remained silent. Jorge even dropped his head a little. Pieter then placed his elbows and the table, interlocked the fingers of his hands and then rested his chin on the tips of his thumbs, “First of all … who told you that you may call me by my first name?” Dee Dee Stillwater froze in her seat and she felt the blood empty from her head. Pieter then spoke coldly, “What the fuck is this? You are here for only ten minutes and you show me this disrespect? I bring you here as a guest, and this is how you treat me? You? You … are going to discuss any arrangements … with me? I bring you here to clear up your predicaments, your fuck ups, and you are going to tell me how to arrange anything?” Dee Dee just sat there frozen and tongue tied with trepidation. Pieter then said, “You? You are to address me as Mister Chekov. Do you understand that … nigger?”

In the past Dee Dee Stillwater would have never allowed anybody to use that vile word towards her, especially to her face. However, all she could do was to timidly answer while wide eyed, “Yes.”

“Yes what … nigger?” Pieter asked coldly.

“Yes … yes Mr. Chekov.”

Julian then spoke up, “Papa, may I speak please?”

Pieter looked to and acknowledged his son with a silent nod of “yes.”

“Papa please,” Julian said, “Miss Stillwater here is our guest and she may be ignorant of our ways. So Miss Stillwater let me educate you so that you will have this understanding. My father makes all business decisions, you do not discuss or even debate these decisions, and you just live with them and carry them out. Most of the time my father has already made the decisions and has already carried them out, is that not right Jorge?”

“Yes, that is right Julian.” Garcia agreed smiling.

“If you notice, Jorge addresses my father as ‘Mr. Chekov’. He calls me Julian now, but when the time comes when this business is turned over to me, what do you think Jorge will call me? Tell her Jorge.”

Jorge Garcia answered with pleasure, “Why then Julian, I will address you then as Mr. Chekov, of course.”

“You see there Miss Stillwater, that is understanding. So let me help you with this understanding, because we really want this all to be an enjoyable evening. Always address my father as Mister Chekov; do you understand that … nigger?”

Dee Dee was filled from head to foot with fear and she even began to quiver in her seat, “Yes, yes I understand.”

“Do you have anything then that you feel that you must say to my father … nigger?”

Dee Dee fought to compose herself, her body was now completely stiff and she had to force herself to look at Pieter Chekov, and then she nervously began to speak, “Please … please accept my apology Mr. Chekov … I was rude … and my ignorance of this is no excuse … I am truly sorry … it will never happen again.”

Pieter Chekov then began to smile clapped his hands once together and said, “Apology accepted, I should have realized that you may not know how everything is done concerning my business, but now we all understand.”

Julian then picked up his shot glass of vodka and raised it, “You see there, let’s drink to that. To understanding! Na zdrovyeh!”

“Na zdrovyeh!” Pieter repeated and held up his glass.

“Yes, na zdrovyeh.” Jorge added, also raising his glass. 

All eyes then went to Dee Dee, where she picked up her glass and timidly said, and “Na zdrovyeh.” With that everyone then again drank there vodka with one swallow. Dee Dee was begging inside her head to herself for the alcohol to hit her system fast. She looked over to Pieter where he held the vodka bottle once again and looked back at her to see if she would like some more. Dee Dee placed her glass down and let him fill it once again.

Pieter then said, “I am so glad that we cleared that all up Miss Stillwater, because it really would have spoiled the surprises we have for you.”

Dee Dee then looked puzzled, “Surprises Mr. Chekov? What surprises would that be?”

“Why that I have already solved your problems for you Miss Stillwater.” Pieter answered.

“Solved my problems?”

“Yes, Jorge here told me of your predicament with your bank,” Pieter said cheerfully, “so, to show you how sincere I am with my commitments, I took the opportunity to replace the deficits that you have created there. I replaced your money, so you now have no worries with any audits that the government may want to perform.”

“You’ve already replaced the money?” she asked nervously.

“Yes, I did that for you. This very afternoon as a matter of fact.”

Julian then said, “I delivered it myself, late this afternoon.”

“All of it?” She asked Julian.

“Yes, all of it.” Julian then leaned towards her, “All three million of it … in cash.” He then leaned back into his seat, “You should of seen the face of your bank president there, he looked as if he were about to shit.”

“Julian please,” Pieter said with as if he were slightly scolding him, “do not use such language to a lady.”

“I’m sorry Papa.” Julian said, “Excuse me Miss Stillwater.”

Dee Dee looked a little perturbed; however Jorge saw this and then signaled her to not say a word by pressing his leg against hers under the table. She understood what Jorge was trying to get across. She then just said, “Why thank you, thank you very much Mr. Chekov, that is … that is quite a pleasant surprise. I feel somewhat greatly relieved now.”

Julian then spoke, “We are also going to help you even further with this other little mess that you are involved with.”

“Other little mess?” She asked somewhat confused.

“Yes, this mess you have with this FBI agent that has been bothering you.”

“How do you know about him?”

Jorge interceded, “I took the liberty of telling Mr. Chekov and Julian about Agent Boldini and his, let’s say, his requests for your assistance in his political ambitions.”

She looked hard at Jorge, “You told them about Boldini?”

Pieter raised his hand, “Please Miss Stillwater, don’t be angry with Jorge, he is only looking out for your well being. Besides, the funds that were returned to your bank, that will now not cause any questions coming from anybody. But, if you now begin drawing cash for this man’s donations, well then, what is the use of returning anything.”

Julian then said, “Yes, you must understand that in our business here, we must avoid all prying eyes. So, I myself am going to Missouri this weekend and meet with this Agent Boldini myself, on behalf of not only you but of my father of course.”

“Yes,” Pieter spoke, “Julian is going to meet with this man, and we shall give him the donations that he wants on your behalf. I admire men who are willing to run for public office, and besides, it is always good to have influential friends. Is that not right Jorge?”

Jorge gave a short laugh, “Yes, yes indeed it is Mr. Chekov. Because it works for both parties involved.” All three men then began to laugh, however Dee Dee wasn’t joining in. She just gave a hard stare at Jorge, who just kept on laughing along with his hosts.

“Why so speechless Miss Stillwater?” Julian asked. “All your problems are soon going to be gone. Come now, it is time to get happy. I know, let us have another drink.” He then gathered the shot glasses again and took the bottle of vodka then filled each one again. He then placed each glass in front of all, then raised his glass up and said, “To happy times, na zdrovyeh!”  

“Na zdrovyeh!” The other men said. Dee Dee just raised her glass, saying nothing but quickly consumed the vodka. She finally began to feel some of the effects on her body and mind from the first two shots that she had before. She physically began to relax and the alcohol dulled her feelings of fear.

Suddenly a waiter open the curtain slightly and asked, “May we begin to serve Mr. Chekov?”

“Yes, yes Rudy, let us start.” Pieter said, he then looked at everyone else and then the chef inside of Pieter Chekov began to show, “I’m starting us off with a nice plain schchi, it is a sauerkraut and meat soup. You both are really going to enjoy this.” The waiter then came in with large soup bowls filled with a thick green soup that resembled split pea soup. The waiter carefully placed each bowl in front of every guest making sure the Dee Dee was served first. After each person was served, the waiter then quickly departed and insured that the curtain was drawn securely.

Pieter then said, “Go ahead Miss Stillwater, try my soup.”

Dee Dee picked up her soupspoon, dipped it into the soup and tasted it. She was amazed on how delicious it was, so delicious in fact that for a few seconds she forgot just who it was that was her host for dinner. She smiled at the first taste and nodded in approval to Pieter. He smiled back and pointed at the other men and they too began to indulge in the soup. In a few moments though the calm in which Dee Dee began to feel was broken when Pieter said, “Now Miss Stillwater tell me about this man, this man who calls himself, what is it he calls himself Julian?”

“The General Papa,” Julian answered, “he calls himself the General.”

Dee Dee dropped her spoon on the tablecloth leaving a large thick green blotch on it. “Oh I’m so sorry, it must be the vodka.”

“Don’t worry over that,” Pieter said, “the service we have is the best in Chicago that will be nothing for them. Yes, this man, this General, what can you tell me about him?”

Dee Dee once again shot a hard glance to Jorge Garcia, she then looked to Pieter, “He a mystery really Mr. Chekov, nobody knows his real name or even where he came from. He runs a gang known as the Eight Ball Thugs. He’s ruthless and diabolical and as any gang leader that rules with an iron fist. His group and mine did not exactly see eye to eye on many things. We were always involved turf disputes. He’s responsible for the deaths of some good friends of mine.”

Julian then said, “And I am sure that your friends caused the deaths of a few of theirs in return.”

“Yes, things like that happened, they have to happen.” She answered.

Pieter then said, “These crazy people with their crazy nicknames, and their gangs have even crazier names. As if these names make them feared. Where I come from, they go by the names of their family’s, and they took pride in that, you are stronger when you use your real identities, not these crazy sounding things.”

“Does somebody sit and think up these crazy names for themselves?” Julian laughed. “Like this one you are in Miss Stillwater, this, what is it Jorge?”

Jorge smiled to Julian and answered, “The South Side Stone Soldiers.”

“Yes, that is it!” Julian said jovially, The South Side Stone Soldiers. What is that? I can understand the South Side part, but what is this Stone Soldier thing? A soldier made of stone? It sounds like a statue or something like that. What is the stone?”

Dee Dee now feeling somewhat comfortable because of the alcohol answered, “The stone means cold and hard and strong. Nothing can penetrate it. And the soldiers are the fighters and the warriors.”

Pieter then interjected, “But stones have been shown that they can be crushed, and solders have shown that they can be killed, right Miss Stillwater?”

Dee Dee saw the cold look coming from Pieter Chekov’s eyes and she knew what he meant. She was now, at the hands of Pieter Chekov being crushed herself, and if she did not accept all that has been done, she would be dead. “Yes, yes that is true Mr. Chekov; you have a good point there.”

Pieter looked to Jorge, “Like this group you are involved with Jorge, what is there name that they call themselves?”

“Los Aztecas Monarcas.” Jorge answered with his never ending smile.

Pieter spoke the name back one syllable at a time, “Yes, Los Az … Te … cas Mon … ar … cas. And what is it that the name is in English?”

“The Aztec Monarchs.”

“Yes that is correct, these Aztec Monarchs.” Pieter said, “Look at this name, the Aztecs, they no longer exist, and far as monarchy’s why we use the example of Czar Nicholas himself along with his family.” Pieter and Julian then began to laugh, followed by Jorge. Dee Dee just smiled. When the laughter subsided Pieter then said in a serious tone, “You see Jorge, Miss Stillwater that is why we use our family’s names. It is a much more stronger thing to fight for your family name than that of something that is false and counterfeit. Your gang members can leave, run away, and even betray you in the name of an imitation title. But with your family, that you can be proud of, and you can never betray your family and you can never run away from your own blood. Family, that is the ultimate in loyalty, the ultimate in dedication.” He turned to Julian, “Is that not right my son?”

“That is so right Papa.” Julian then took the glasses and poured another round of vodka shots and then placed them in front of each person. He then raised his glass and made a toast, “To family, to loyalty and to friends, Na zdrovyeh!”

All touched glasses again and said, “Na zdrovyeh!” then down the vodka in one unison shot. Dee Dee now was thankful to have more of the vodka.

Julian then said, “Now let us hope that we do not have to worry about this General and what do they call themselves?”

Jorge answered, “The Eight Ball Thugs.”

“Yes, these Eight Ball Thugs,” Julian said, “the eight ball, what is it? It is the ball that must be hit last and you must be careful to drop it in the pockets before the others, or you lose the game. And can you stand behind an eight ball, no you can not, because it is a saying used for when you’re in a difficult time. And Thug? Thug is just another word for a punk, and a punk will always get knocked down and stomped into the ground with those who have heavier boots.”

Pieter then looked to Jorge and asked, “Are you absolutely sure that I can not help you with what you lost Jorge? I could very easily you know”

Jorge Garcia smiled back to his host, “No, no thank you Mr. Chekov, I appreciate the offer, but, I decided that I’m just going to let this one go, as what I shall refer to as the cost of doing business. I’m just going to write this one of as a business risk that did not go well. I’ve done it before and I bounced back, however thank you anyway for your kind offer.”

Dee Dee Looked to Jorge and asked, “What are you writing off Jorge?”

Pieter answered for him, “The good alderman here lost his own two million dollars in this event with his Aztec Monarch friends. He and you have something in common Miss Stillwater; you both have had a large amount of money taken from you.”

Jorge then said, “The only difference though Mr. Chekov is that the money I lost was like kept in a little tin box that nobody knows about.”

“I know of what you speak of Jorge,” Julian said, “my grandmother still hide’s money in her mattress.”

Pieter smiled then placed his index finger in front of his lips, “ Shh Julian, she would be so angry with you know, telling everyone here of her secret hiding place. Yes, God bless her she still does this, but she comes from the old country, you have to understand that.”

“I do understand that sir; my grandmother did the same thing, except she hid it in a statue of the Blessed Virgin.” Jorge said and that drew a laugh from the other two men. Dee Dee just smiled with acknowledgement.

Pieter then spoke, “So that brings us then to the real problem that we have then. That is the man who has taken the money of the both of you. This man, who is he? Do your police have any idea? I mean, it must make you both angry to know that he is probably out there somewhere right now, maybe even having a nice dinner like this, only he is paying for it with your money.”

Jorge said, “It makes me very angry Mr. Chekov that this man took has my money, however what can I do? Besides, I have made it so that this money was taken could not hurt me if it were lost. It was money that I can afford to lose; because there is no way that it could be traced to me. Better to lose some green paper than spend time inside grey walls. You win some, you lose some. But, if you’re going to lose, make sure you don’t lost it all.”

Pieter looked to Dee Dee, “And what about you Miss Stillwater, this man not only took your money, he has made it so that some crazy FBI agent approaches you and tries to blackmail you. Their should be more anger from you I would think.”

Dee Dee Stillwater was spellbound as to just how sinister both Pieter and Julian Chekov are. They knew everything about her, and now, without her even being able to object, in all but twenty minutes time, in their menacing and ominous way, they had shown her how quickly they just had taken complete control of her. And there was absolutely nothing she could do. “Oh yes, Mr. Chekov, I’m very angry with this man,” and then she shot a quick glance to Jorge, “as well as some others.” She straightened herself up in her seat, feeling the warm numbing provided by the vodka. “The thought of him living large off of my cash has yes, makes me very angry; and those two cops not being able to find him even pisses me off more.”

“You should not have any anger towards these policemen; this is a very dangerous man they are looking for.” Pieter said, “This man, he does what he does for a reason, there is something that drives him. Whatever that is, I don’t know. Every man has it in him to be angry like this. But this man; no this man is different. Not only has he this anger, he is a man that is skilled; and these skills combined with this type of anger, that makes him a very dangerous man indeed.”

Julian then added, “A man like this, who can’t be found or seen, this means that not only is he skilled, be he is very smart. He has planned out all he has done. This man, he also can never be drawn out. He is too careful.”

The voice of Rudy the waiter then came from the other side of the curtain, “Mr. Chekov, may I clear the soup bowls and serve the salad?”

“Yes Rudy,” Pieter said, then Rudy open the curtain and began to clear the soup bowls, “I have a Russian apple salad coming next, it is a combinations of apples, green peas and some greens. I make mine with a couple more sweet spices, you will enjoy it.” Rudy then replaced a small bowl that contained the apple salad in front of each person. He then closed the curtain and left. “Go ahead Miss Stillwater, try my salad.” Dee Dee complied and her expression was one of delight. Pieter smiled and then said, “Go ahead gentlemen.” They then began to eat and enjoy the salad, Pieter then said, “I believe that we have covered all that we came here to discuss, don’t you think so Jorge?”

“Yes Mr. Chekov, I feel all has been discussed, and we all have come to an understanding.”

Dee Dee didn’t respond, however Julian then asked her, “And how about you Miss Stillwater? Have we all now an understanding with each other?”

Dee Dee Stillwater looked at the face of Julian Chekov. She saw the malevolent expression as he waited for her answer. His face cold and emotionless. She swallowed hard and answered, “Yes, yes Julian, may I call you Julian?”

“Yes, yes you may.” he answered, never changing his expression.

Dee Dee then finished, “Yes Julian, we all have an understanding.”