Two Roads

Beverly Collins was a privileged child. She was lucky enough to be born to a wealthy family, was sent to the best boarding school in the country, and was betrothed to an equally wealthy son of an oil tycoon. Yes, Beverly had it all, but despite her superior upbringing she was humble. Admittedly she didn’t go out of her way to help those less fortunate than her but she was aware of her advantages. She was on track to being in the limelight as ‘New York’s Newest It Girl’, the engagement to Grantham Rigg was generating a big buzz. Thinking back on it Beverly should have noticed the signs that trouble was brewing but she was quite naïve. Her father ran a law firm and while she never knew exactly what kind of clients he dealt with she knew that privacy was a staple to her father’s business. There were many a nights during her childhood where she was ushered out of her father’s study so he could discuss business with his newest client. They were frightening characters, usually clad in pinstripe suits with canes and a glowering expression. Most didn’t give her so much as a glance as her governess tugged her past, though some would offer a sneer that revealed their crooked teeth. When she would ask her father he would either brush her off or change the subject. The first time she read about who he father defended in court she just about had a heart attack. Nicholas ‘Cole’ Collins was the go-to-guy for New York’s most ruthless mobsters. He graduated top of his class from Yale and immediately went to work for his grand father’s lawfirm, Collins & Co. Throughout school he had been close friends with Sal Malone, who was the star football player for the school team, and their friendship continued after graduation. But while Cole went about rising in the ranks at Collins & Co, Sal took a less ambitious route picking up on the rising power of the mafia. Both excelled in their own field but once Sal reached a level in his mob ring that caught the attention of rivals he ran into some legal trouble. A well planned set up and a high profile murder landed Sal on the wrong side of a two-way mirror. When Cole got the call from his college pal he nearly fell out of his chair. Cole had never defended a murder suspect, hell he hadn’t even defended a ‘violent’ offender. Not one to bail on his friends and confidant that Sal was indeed innocent Cole offered his services. When the verdict of not guilty was announced there was an immediate shift in power among New York City’s underworld. The Italian Mob was now at the front of the pack, while Sal was indeed innocent it appeared to the other families and mafia rings that he had bumped off the leader of the head family in the rival gang. And now with Cole at his side Sal, the new Don of the Italian Mafioso, was untouchable. The pair rode the high tide for a few years until the Prohibition law was passed. The seedy underground of New York turning into a hot spot, the business of smuggling and selling illegal booze had taken off. Every family wanted a piece of the action. The two most prominent cardholders were the Italian and Russian mob. They had the biggest pieces of the trade and wanted to expand further. The tension between the two clans was reaching a breaking point, both bosses in a battle of wills wondering which would make the first move. Thanks to a couple of trigger happy underlings, Sal and his cutthroats carried out a hit on the boss of the Russian mafia. While Sal wasn’t happy with the way it was handled he was glad that his biggest rivals in the hooch trade were dealt with. He was in negotiations to take over the Russian mob’s suppliers when he got wind of some rather disturbing information. It seemed as if bleeding heart Cole was offering his legal services to the widow of the Russian Don (who was up for her husband’s murder). The conversation Sal had with Cole about his betrayal was akin to a yelling match ending with Cole severing all ties with Sal and his crew. The crushing blow left Sal craving revenge and he reacted the only way he knew how. He hired some of his lackeys to take out his former friend and partner in crime. Too little too late did he realize that his plan would have devastating consequences. Sal tried his hardest to keep tabs on Cole’s wife and daughter but after Patricia Collins fell into a deep depression and landed herself in an asylum Beverly went off the grid. It wasn’t until a few years later when he was visiting his nephew at his place of work when he spied a stunning clouded leopard dancing on stage. Enamored he inquired about the leopard and the response he got nearly knocked him off his feet. If Cole was alive to see what his daughter had become he’d have a heart attack. He pulled his nephew closer and told him to keep a eye out for Beverly, who now went by the moniker ‘Jezebel’. Now that Sal had found Cole’s daughter he’d do his damnedest to make sure she stayed safe, or as safe as once could be when a burlesque dancer at a speakeasy. Though Beverly didn’t know it, she had a very powerful ally on her side. ----------------------------------------- Finally pinned down exactly what happened to Mr. Collins. Also gave Bev some leverage in the mafia world, she's more involved than she thinks. X3 And in case you haven't figured it out yet, Ike is Sal's nephew (Ike's mother is Sal's sister).