Speakeasy/Gatt Brothers study "Chptr 1"

If Booze was the remedy, they were the Pharmacists. The Gatt brothers, Frank and Leo were raking in the cash this Friday night in their packed club. Girls danced with Guys they had only just met. Smoke rose all around from tables of folks who were drinking to get drunk in a time where the stuff was illegal. Prohibition turned a healthy profit and the Gatt brothers sat at their reserved table watching their wallets get fat. Leaning back in his chair Frank sucked on the butt end of his cigarette, extinguishing it and looking at his watch. “He’s late” Leo’s eyes were fixated on a figure across the room, “No, he’s right on time.” A dark bearded man wearing a chapeau and dark tweed coat carried a medium burlap sack under his arm, surveying the room. The Gatt brother rose in unison. Frank wasted no time and waved the man over. “Dan Lavery, I assume?” Daniel rolled his eyes looking at the burlap sack, “What gave it away?” “Please” Frank motioned to a chair. They all sat together. Daniel placed the burlap sack in the center of the table. “This here is our Poitin. ‘Swat you Americans call Moonshine. Farmer’s whiskey where I’m from, strongest we distill.” Frank turned over three stemmed glasses, Daniel whistles, “Never seen shine served in a stemmed glass before! Is this how your people do it?” Daniel filled the glasses with Poitin. Frank looked over at Leo, “I’ve never seen Liquor served from a burlap sack, is this how your people do it?” Daniel grinned at the return. All raised their glasses. “To the Micks, and their Poitin!” Laughed Leo. “To the Jews and their glasses!” said Daniel. All three heaved back a shot. Leaving both Gatt brothers wheezing. Lavery Poitin was stronger than any American Moonshine and went down hard. “Shit!” Coughed Frank. “That’ll make a pair drop, dear God!” Added Leo. “Want another?” Asked Daniel “Nah. We’ll see how one settles. We’ll know by the end of this song." The lights grew dim. A woman wearing a red dress and a matching headband appeared on stage. Her eyes were smokey and her cheekbones high and angular. Her frame was soft and full against her dress and the lights from the stage reflected boudoir shadows underneath her clothes that drew attention from the men and most of the women in the room. The music started and she began to sing. Her voice was lower than the pretty tones of the women who sang on the radio. There was something slow in her tempo, like taking her time drawing the audience into her body and breath radiating herself against the stillness of the open room. She closed her eyes and sent her voice against the back wall, heaving air into her belly and chest as she let the tassels of her curls fall carelessly out of place around her cheeks, cupping the microphone gently as she breathed into it. By the end of the song Daniel had leaned in toward her, staring. Frank let out a chuckle. Daniel remembered himself, sitting up abruptly. “Her name is Angela” Frank whispered. Daniel exhaled “Nice voice” “Ha-ha. We know.” Leo nods to Frank. Applause roared throughout the audience. Daniels eyes followed Angela as she walked down the stage into the audience up the aisle toward them. "Back to business! It's a good buzz I think Daniel. How much for Jug?”Leo crossed his arms ready to negotiate. “Twenty” Daniel looked at him squarely. “Twenty? Jesus, would you take fifteen?” Pleaded Frank. “It’s worth Twenty!” Daniel watched Angela as she moved closer to them. Thinking of coming to the club often on deliveries he has a sudden change of heart. “Though…I suppose we could work something out.” “Like…” Prompted Leo “…Like, You place a standing order. Every week. The more I come the better deal I give you. I make money in volume; you reap the benefits in profit.” Daniel could feel Angela getting closer, he sensed her move from the corner of his eyes but kept them forward on the Gatt brothers, on business. He was steel and calm with an unwavering countenance. “You got yourself a deal!” Leo thrust his hand toward Daniel. Daniel took his hand and shook it. A moment later, Angela showed up at the table fluttered an unlit cigarette between her red lips. “Leo, Frank….anybody got a light?” Her eyes fix on Daniel as he reaches into his lapel pocket as his eyes met hers.