Bab 20: Chapter 20: Smuggling Business
Hardy collected the guns and bullets from Old Mike. The total cost, including a 30% premium, amounted to over $3,800—no small amount. Hardy signed off on the payment and left.
Back at Bill's house, now their stronghold, everyone was busy handling their new weapons. Hardy observed their preparations and joked, "With all these guns, it'd be a shame not to rob a bank."
Of course, he had no intention of actually robbing a bank. There were plenty of ways to make money without provoking government and police attention.
"Alright, everyone, let's discuss the next job," Hardy announced.
All eyes turned to him. They hadn't come to Los Angeles to retire, and they knew they'd be involved in gang conflicts. Their past battle experiences made them eager for the action.
"I mentioned before that the Jewish gang is currently in conflict with several other gangs in Los Angeles, including the Irish, Spanish, and Mexican gangs, as well as others. We need more detailed information."
"You're all new faces, which is good for investigations. Henry and Matthew will look into the Irish gang, while Neal and Leo will investigate the Spanish gang."
Henry, Matthew, Neal, and Leo nodded in agreement.
"Sean and Ryder will handle daily transactions, and Richard and Kerry will follow the cars, staying alert for potential attacks."
The designated team members acknowledged their tasks.
Hardy then called Great Ivan to focus on the Mexican and Polish gangs and other relevant groups. Ivan agreed to the task and promised to investigate thoroughly.
The next morning, everyone quickly prepared and went out. Hardy, accompanied by Sean and Ryder, went to deliver goods while Richard and Kerry followed in Bill's Ford, ready for any situation. The Ford was loaded with weapons.
A week passed quietly, creating a false sense of peace in Los Angeles.
Then, a significant event occurred.
A loud whistle blared as a massive container ship docked at the Port of Los Angeles. As the ship stabilized, several cars arrived, and dozens of customs and police workers disembarked.
"Inspection!" the customs officers announced.
They boarded the ship and opened a container filled with wooden boxes. After removing the sawdust, they discovered bottles of red wine.
"Supervisor, this is French wine," one officer reported.
The supervisor examined the shipment and nodded. "It seems the informant was accurate. Detain it and conduct a thorough inspection."
The workers moved the wooden boxes to the port warehouse. After a detailed examination, they confirmed the shipment contained high-quality French wines such as Mouton, Latour, Petrus, Margaux, and several second-tier brands—a total of 430 boxes with over 2,500 bottles.
"Supervisor, the French wines are worth over $250,000. The declared contents were toys and fishing gear, which are duty-free. If taxed, this shipment could exceed $450,000," an officer reported.
"What did the freighter's representative say?" the supervisor asked.
"He claimed ignorance," was the reply.
The supervisor scoffed. "Interrogate him thoroughly and detain him. Report this to higher authorities for further action."
Jewish gang boss Fred was enraged when he learned of the wine seizure. It was a significant financial loss.
Determined to find the source of the leak, Fred called his boss, Mr. Siegel. He was anxious about how Siegel would respond.
When the call connected, a low voice answered, "Who is it?"
"Mr. Siegel, it's Fred," he said nervously.
"What's the issue, Fred?"
Fred explained the situation: the smuggled red wine had been seized by customs. An angry voice responded from the other end.
"Fred, you've greatly disappointed me. Your inaction has caused this. I order you to take decisive action and eliminate the threat."
"I'll try to resolve the customs issue, but it will be costly. You know how much it will cost to recover the goods," Fred said.
He was scolded and hung up, his frustration growing. He knew his boss had invested a lot of money and secretly drawn from company funds. Fred had been warned to make every effort, but now he had failed.
He called his second-in-command, Alan Payne.
"Alan, our goods have been seized by customs, and Siegel is furious. We need to address this. What are your thoughts?"
Alan Payne considered the situation. "First, mobilize the action team for retaliatory strikes against the Irish. Second, increase profit commissions to boost performance. Third, encourage subordinates to act; adjust the profit split from 46% to 37% for their motivation."
Fred agreed. "Alright, gather all supervisors and district leaders for a meeting this afternoon to assign tasks."
Fred attended the meeting at the headquarters. Fred sat at the head of the table with Alan Payne beside him. Over twenty bosses, including those in charge of casinos, smuggling, loan sharking, and other operations, were present.
Fred addressed the group, "Recent events have been troubling. The Irish have allied with other gangs and attacked our taverns, nightclubs, casinos, and trucks, causing heavy losses."
"Today, a container of our French red wine was seized. It's clear that another gang must have tipped off the customs, causing us significant damage."
The room was silent, the bosses attentive but cautious. They knew Fred's next steps would be crucial.
"Three points," Fred said, holding up three fingers.
"First, the precise knowledge of the wine container and its details indicates an insider. Williams, I'm assigning someone to work with you to identify the mole."
Williams, the smuggling supervisor, looked troubled but determined. "Yes, boss, I'll find the insider."
Fred added, "This smuggling operation cost us over half a million dollars. I expect you to resolve this issue quickly."
Williams stood up resolutely. "I will handle it, boss. I'll find out who's responsible."
Fred's command was clear: act swiftly and decisively to regain control and address the internal betrayal.
Bab 21: Chapter 21: Crisis and Opportunity
Fred addressed the assembled bosses.
"Firstly, the recent conflicts with other gangs have impacted our regular operations, leading to some areas being understaffed."
He continued, "I've decided to increase the share ratio from 10% to 15%, allowing you to recruit more staff."
The bosses showed visible relief; that 5% increase represented a significant boost in income.
"Secondly," Fred said, holding up his last finger, "we're changing the split between your private operations and the gang from 46-60 to 37."
The reaction was even more positive. The Jewish gang's daily operations involved underground casinos, loan sharking, smuggling, control of bars and nightclubs, and Spanish gang drug trafficking, among other illicit activities.
The increase in profit share was welcomed news.
Fred explained further, "The gangs are in conflict, and we need to bolster our strength. This increase in profit is meant to enable you to recruit more people. Only by becoming stronger can we effectively deal with these crises."
On the way back, Ryder drove while Hardy sat quietly in the back seat, deep in thought. The current gang crisis was, in Hardy's eyes, a chance for growth—a prime opportunity to expand.
Los Angeles in the 1940s was bustling with activity, its streets vibrant and its skyline filled with high-rise buildings. The city was a key hub with its ports, oil industry, population, and Hollywood fame—truly a gem of the West Coast.
For Hardy, Los Angeles was a treasure chest.
Back at Bill's house, Hardy called the team together in the living room.
"Henry, Matthew, Neal, Leo, have you gathered any useful information from your week of investigations?" Hardy asked.
Henry spoke up first. "Matthew and I went into Irish territory. They're very powerful there. The locals fear them. Their operations include drug trafficking, gambling, smuggling, loan sharking, protection rackets, and more. They have over 300 official members and a significant number of peripheral ones."
Hardy noted, "So, the Irish are deeply involved in all sorts of criminal activities."
Henry continued, "We only had time to investigate their bars, nightclubs, and casinos."
Hardy felt a bit exasperated. "Investigating bars and nightclubs? Is that all you did?"
"Not quite," Henry said. "We did gather information about gang conflicts. A few days ago, Spanish Gang boss Dani personally visited the Irish Hoffman Bar to meet with Irish leader Old Sea Mives."
Hardy's interest was piqued. The timing was shortly after he had dealt with Cook, which had intensified the conflict in the Jewish community.
He turned to Neal and Leo. "What about your investigation into the Spanish gang?"
Neal reported, "The Spanish Gang is heavily involved in drug trafficking, cocoa powder, casinos, underground boxing, loan sharking, and more. They are the largest drug sellers in Los Angeles, surpassing even the Irish and Mexicans."
He added, "Dani, the Spanish boss, has been meeting with the Irish and Mexicans. His faction has also contacted the Russians and Poles. I even reached out to the Tang people, but their boss hasn't been active in Los Angeles for over a month."
Hardy deduced that the Spanish gang likely instigated the current conflict among the gangs, a situation that began intensifying after he eliminated Cook. This escalation seemed driven more by profit than by personal revenge.
Determined, Hardy addressed his team. "We're currently short on cash, and we need a big score. Are you in?"
The team responded with enthusiasm. They were eager for a lucrative opportunity.
Matthew asked, "Are we targeting a bank or a cash truck?"
Hardy shook his head. "No bank or cash truck. The bank security is too tight, and cash trucks only carry small amounts. In 1945, they usually carry just a few thousand dollars. It's not worth the risk."
He continued, "Instead, we'll target the Spanish gang. Their casinos and loan shark operations have far more cash on hand than any bank or cash truck. They're less secure and more profitable."
The plan was clear: target the Spanish gang, exploit their weaknesses, and avoid drawing too much attention.
Hardy instructed, "Richard, Henry, Matthew, Neal, Leo, Kerry—since you're new, go find out where the Spanish gang is storing the most cash. Get precise information. Once we have that, we'll plan our move."
"Got it!" the team responded eagerly. For them, the prospect of a heist was not only exciting but a necessary step to secure their future.
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