The System - A Detroit Story - (2 page)

"Turn around and put your hands on the trunk," said Chris.

The guard complied.

"This lot on your patrol?" said Chris.

"No," said the guard.

"Then what the fuck are you doing?" said Chris.

"Checking you out."

Chris looked at the guard, big and boyish. Common cop look. Some were ex-military types, tough and chiseled. Others were piglet looking farm boys with brush cuts. 

"Ex cop, right?" asked Chris.

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"Riverview."

Chris pulled some bills from his pocket, three hundred dollars total.  "Here," said Chris, putting the bills on the trunk of the car in view of the guard. "Take this. You didn't see or hear anything, right?"

The guard said nothing. 

"Right?" repeated Chris. "Say it."

"Alright, alright," said the guard. "I didn't see anything."

Chris saw the guard looking at the money. "Got a family?"

"Yes."

"Take the cash and split. Buy them something nice." He pressed the Glock in the guard's back, closed in and said, "You say anything, and I'll find you and kill you. And where will that leave them? Got it?"

"Got it," said the guard.

"Early Christmas. Go." Chris motioned to the gate with the Glock. The guard picked up the roll of bills, put them in his jacket pocket and got in the little car. He backed out of the yard and drove away.

Chris pocketed the Glock, and in less than forty seconds started the Escalade and drove away, leaving the hauler empty and running in the rain.

Chapter 2

Elena Gets an Offer

Elena Krizi pulled the freshly washed canvass overalls from the wicker basket and attached them to the clothesline with two bottle shaped wooden pins. The sun on her tanned face felt warm and good. Elena knew this final gasp of warmth would not last much longer. The Albanian hills could turn viciously cold in a matter of hours.

Her daughter Sanja played with an old doll named Trina in the leaves and grass near Elena's bare feet. 

Sanja whispered something to Trina then put the doll's head to her ear. She smiled and made the doll dance and spin.

"What's Trina doing?" said Elena.

"Dancing," said Sanja. "She wants to be a dancer." Sanja sang a little song as the doll danced. "Just like me."

Trina was Elena's doll when she was young and she felt deep satisfaction that Sanja loved it as she did. The doll was battered and worn, but still beautiful and delicate. Elena's father Milos bought the doll for her when she was six, a year older than Sanja. Milos said it looked like her. It was one of the possessions that persisted from Elena's childhood and would now be etched in Sanja's.

Sanja got up and kicked through some dry leaves. She danced with Trina, holding the doll above her head. 

Elena looked at her little dancer and felt an innate urge to protect Sanja and shield her from the world. Was it possible? Maybe, with enough money and a plan. There was no money in laundry, barely enough to contribute to the family. And she was not getting any younger, even at twenty three. Elena reached and picked up another pair of overalls and two more clothespins. The wind picked up and the fresh laundry swayed in the breeze.

Milos hobbled up behind them, carrying a bucket of blueberries. 

"Be careful around the clothes. Those will stain," said Elena.

"Don't worry," said Milos. He looked at Sanja. "Sanja. Come, let's wash the berries." Milos started to cough.

"Maybe you should go inside and lie down," said Elena. "Leave the berries here. I'll take care of them."

Milos, stood, trying to catch his breath. 

She looked at him and patted his back. He had difficulty breathing, occasionally coughing up blood. The arthritis in his hip was eating him away. Winters were hard on him, and so was Rada, who married him after Elena's mother died, attaching herself like a tapeworm.

"Please. Go inside and lie down."

Milos smiled and nodded his head, then walked toward the cottage. She watched him slowly climb the porch.

Elena heard a motor in the distance. She cocked her head, listened, and then saw a dirty black Mercedes sedan rising on the road, gravel popping under the heavy car's tires.

Sami Neves stepped on the accelerator, his big Mercedes riding as smooth as on polished granite over the rough gravel road. He saw the small cottage through the trees and was surprised Rada was not outside waiting for him. He swung around the curve and saw Elena. She stood motionless looking at him, holding an article of clothing in her hand. What a striking young woman, even from this distance.

Elena watched the big car wind up the gravel road, her step-uncle at the wheel. "Come here," she said. She walked over to Sanja and picked her up. She looked directly at Sami, seeing his smiling face and felt uneasy and repelled, like accidentally encountering a snake.

Sami pulled in front of the square, flat roof cottage and stepped out of the Mercedes. He carried four colorful, neatly wrapped packages. Presents. He always brought presents, always Black Market.

Elena exhaled and inhaled, holding her breath and exhaling again to try and get control of her uneasiness.    

She looked away from Sami. Always the same manner of dress- a gangster's uniform. Black pants, black turtleneck, black sports coat contrasting with his reddish-gray hair and beard. His dress was as dark as his eyes. Sami stared and smiled at her.

Milos stood at the front door. A wide hipped woman burst past him and rushed down the dirt walkway like a large hen. Her long braided hair swished from side to side. "Rada!" said Sami waving and smiling. Rada rushed up and hugged him.

"Sami, how wonderful to see you," she said and turned to Elena, motioning for her to come down. "Elena, hurry. Look who's here!" she said.

Elena held Sanja close to her and stood motionless, watching her step-mother and step-uncle, smiling like swamp crocodiles. So much alike, especially in the eyes, small and black. Elena walked toward them carrying Sanja and forced a smile.

"Elena," said Sami, slowly. "And little Sanja." He reached out and pinched Sanja's cheek. "You have grown so much." Sanja's face crumpled and she started to cry.

"Sanja, no need to cry," said Rada, smiling at Sami. "Look, look, Uncle Sami brought you a gift." Sanja reached out for the brightly wrapped package but Rada snatched it away. "You must wait," she said.

Sami looked straight at Elena.

"You're more beautiful every time I see you," he said.

Elena looked away and put her arms around Sanja.

"Come," said Rada. "Let's go inside."

*  *

Milos sat in his worn red velour chair in front of the stone fireplace. Elena and Sanja sat on a couch and Sami sat with Rada on a floral love seat. Sami swirled raki in the small glass he held. The gifts sat at his feet.

"You still make the best," said Sami, raising the glass and sipping the white grape liquid, clear as moonshine.

"This batch turned out okay, but maybe not the best," said Milos. He doubled over, held his hand up and coughed like something was caught in his throat. After a moment Milos sat upright.

Sami sat back and looked around the damp, dark paneled room. Faded floral wallpaper, a tall wooden ledge ringing the room, festooned with plates, teacups, trinkets and black and white photographs of extended family members, some dead from the war and ancient blood feuds.

Sanja kept her eyes on the presents.

"Little Sanja," said Sami. "You would like to open your gift, no?"

Sanja smiled and nodded her head. Sami picked up Sanja's gift and handed it to her. "Here you go."

Sanja grabbed the gift and tore open the wrapping paper. Before Elena could say anything Rada said     

"Sanja, what do you say to Uncle Sami?"

"Thank you," said Sanja, focusing on the wrapping paper.

Rada looked at Sami. "She gets so little."

Elena felt her temperature rise.

After ripping through the paper Sanja opened a thin white cardboard box revealing a shiny new blond doll.

"A doll," squealed Sanja. She pulled the doll from the box and hugged it.

Elena felt a rush of disappointment, hoping Sanja's instant infatuation with the doll wouldn't displace her love for Trina.

"What a beautiful dolly," said Rada.

"She could be Trina's sister," said Elena.

"Only prettier," said Rada.

Sami handed a present to Rada. She untied the bow and deftly unwrapped the colorful paper, revealing an expensive woolen cable sweater.

"For the winter," said Sami.

He handed a gift in the shape of a large coffee can to Milos. Milos thanked him and opened it.

"My favorite," said Milos, holding a can of specialty pipe tobacco.

Elena blinked. This was the very last thing that her father needed. Sami knew of Milos's health problems. His coughing. 

"Now for you, Elena," said Sami. He picked up the last small package and handed it to her.

"Thank you," said Elena. She unwrapped the paper, opened a small box and took out a small jade necklace and two jade earrings.

"Oh, how beautiful," said Rada.

"Thank you very much," said Elena. They were very nice, but what would she do with them? Hang laundry in them? She held the earrings to her ears and smiled. Sami stared at her, wondering how Elena would look wearing the earrings and necklace, and nothing else.

"So how is life for you, Elena?" said Sami.

"I have no complaints."

"How are you earning your money?"

Rada put her hands on Sami's shoulder, leaning into him. "All that is available is laundry," she said. "And that is scarce."

Sami looked straight at Elena. "And what of little Sanja?" he said. "You could do much better for her."

"Anything would be an improvement," said Rada.

"Rada, please," said Elena, her face flushed. Rada glared at her with her black, pellet-like eyes. She hated it when Elena called her by her first name. She wanted Elena to call her Mother, or Nana, or any form of maternal acknowledgement. Elena settled that when she was fifteen years old, after her real mother's death.

Sami ignored Rada's comment. "I have an opportunity for you," he said to Elena.

"How exciting," said Rada.

Elena felt another flash of resentment.

"And what would that be?" said Elena.

Sami finished the raki, leaned forward and said, "One of my associates owns a very successful restaurant. In Tirana. The Blue Goose. Perhaps you have heard of it?" Elena shook her head no.

"And?" said Rada.

I have a job for you as a server," said Sami. "You could make a lot more money. More in a month there than you would make in a year here." Sami sat back in his seat and lit a small cigar. "I had to pull many strings."

Elena pondered the novelty of having money.

"When would this happen?" she said.

"The job is waiting for you, right now," said Sami. "You can come back with me tonight."

"Tonight? That's impossible," said Elena, stunned.

"Yes, tonight," said Sami.

"What about Sanja?" said Elena.

"Sanja will stay here with us," said Rada.

Elena looked around the room, speechless. She felt the impulse to rush and take Sanja from here as far and fast as she could. Milos stood and softly said, "It's a good opportunity for you. You can bring in money, for your future. And Sanja's."

Elena stared dumbfounded at Milos. "You knew about this?" she said.

"How can we go on like this," Rada screeched. "Papa and I will not last forever. What is your future here?    

Laundry the rest of your life? We can barely support ourselves, let alone you and Sanja."

Sami intensified. "You will make good money to send home. For Sanja. To build a life for yourself."

Elena stood ambushed and defeated. Where would she go if she did grab Sanja and run? In the woods?    

Out in the fields, facing the land mines that were everywhere, left over from the war?

"I will have to think," she said.

"It is decided," said Rada.

Elena sprang to her feet. "You decide my life?" 

Milos raised his hand and said, "Elena, I hate it as much as you but it is the only way."

"And what are your prospects here?" said Rada. "Who will have you?"

Elena rushed from the room.

Chapter 3

Chop Shop

Chris was the last one to pull into the big yard. A small white and red sign on the barbed wire chain link fence read ACE Salvage. If there was a market for bootleg barbed wire, Chris thought, Detroit was a gold mine. Zippy manned the gate and Chris drove through with the lights off and stopped. Zippy closed the sliding gate, locked it with a padlock then got in the front seat of the black Escalade alongside Chris.

"Nice ride, man," he said. "Bling machine."

"Not bad," said Chris. "I'm not much of a bling guy."

"No bling, no personality, no pussy," said Zippy. "You got to get you some. All three."

They drove past derelict car bodies, some totaled, looking almost new in the rear but with entire front ends torn apart or missing. The windshields had opaque spider web cracks where the unlucky passengers slammed their heads. Chris spotted two cars that had been wrapped around trees. Good for some parts, but there were always scraps of hair, skin, blood and bone fragments in the interiors. Always.

They pulled in front of the gray corrugated steel building and before hopping out Zippy said, "Know what you need? Big booty Hispanic ho. Do you like nobody else. I'll hook you up."

Zippy laughed and walked to the large metal door and pressed the green UP button on the side. The chain drive contactor snapped and the door rumbled upward. As soon as it cleared the roof of the Escalade Chris pulled in.

*  *

Chris got tight with Zippy back in Juvie, winding up there via an incident skipping school with one of his friends. Chris was done with school and wanted to drop out, but Michigan law required parental permission and no one knew where his father was.