Ritual |{open} FINISHED

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

There was something oddly comforting and private to be in a sea awash with investment bankers, brokers, and Average Joe's. Hector was just man in his navy blue suit among other men in navy blue suits. Usually he liked being the powerful one, he liked making the calls and being the boss. It was who he was, it was who he had always been. Or so it felt like to Hector. In charge all of his life since his parents hadn't been.

That's why he enjoyed standing on the edge of the crowd, staring at the numbers that decided the fate of the world. Hector couldn't remember what his stocks were but he felt a sense of security just by looking at the digital board. It was a good day, pretty much everything was going up. Nothing was dropping. That was good. That meant that there was more money in the world now than there was twenty minutes ago.

Hector untucked his hands from his pockets and pulled out his cigarettes. He was in the middle of lighting up when a stiff, pocket-protector wearing man told him that there was no smoking allowed. For once Hector obeyed without a sneer or pulling rank. His lighter made a quiet click when he released the plunger and his cigarette burnt his fingers just a little as he twisted the smoldering end. Hector stuck his fingers in his mouth while he returned both the lighter and cigarette to where they came from.

So he stood. Hector stood on the sidelines, watching the rush and the adrenaline in others. And for once he was glad that he was just a bystander.

[LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH]

Lady Catherine de Bourgh had never dealt in stocks. She considered the whole business to be just like gambling, and gambling was one of many activities Her Ladyship abhorred. And yet she'd come to Wall Street that day, a hub for stockbrokers, investors and the like.

She wasn't sure why. As already mentioned, she didn't deal in stocks and shares. Maybe she'd come, at a subconscious level, to be immersed in something about which she hadn't a clue, a sort of respite from places in the city with which she was all too familiar; the high end shops, for instance.

Tearing her eyes from the mass of numbers accosting her vision, Lady Catherine looked around at the other people in the building along with her. The majority of them were participating in the hive of activity; running here and there, talking into phones, shouting at one another, gesticulating wildly.

And yet through the throng she glimpsed a man, standing quite near her, who appeared to be in a similar state to herself. In other words, somewhat out of it, not involved in the money making process. A bystander, simply observing.

Her Ladyship wondered momentarily how best to strike up a conversation with the man. After all, staring at numbers had its merits, but Catherine had never had a head for Maths, not now, not ever...staring at numbers would pass the time and it did distract her from thoughts of shopping, but she could only do so for so long before boredom set in.

It was as she thought this that she realized she was still looking at the man and most likely coming off as rude, if not somewhat creepy. Lady Catherine was a very confident person and ordinarily this wouldn't bother her, but there was something in the man's demeanour that told her staring at him was probably not a smart move.

However, it was as she continued to watch the man that recognition dawned. Wasn't this man the owner of that book store in Little Italy? Her Ladyship had ended up there once quite by accident and, although she hadn't bought anything, had recently got into her head the idea of purchasing some books in an attempt to make herself seem more well read and less materialistic.

Attempting to quell her feeling of intimidation at the man (he certainly looked an intimidating type), Lady Catherine drew herself up to her full height and approached him, getting straight to the point having done with the formalities.

"Good morning, sir," (said with a polite incline of the head) "Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I believe you are the owner of the book store which goes by name of 'Scribe'?"

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector hadn't been expecting to be approached by anybody. Generally, his demeanor and the cold and blank look he wore on his face deterred people from approaching him. But this woman...he could tell by looking at her that she was one of those snooty, upper class broads who always got their way and sneered down their nose at most everyone. Hector wouldn't let her sneer at him.

"Good morning, sir," (said with a polite incline of the head) "Lady Catherine de Bourgh. I believe you are the owner of the book store which goes by name of 'Scribe'?"

Hector raised an eyebrow. She had heard of his store? Perhaps she had visited it once but Hector couldn't remember. He didn't remember most of his customers unless they were usuals. Like the DeStafano twins, Isabelle and Luciano who visited him every Tuesday at three.

Lady Catherine de Bourgh...that name was familiar but Hector couldn't place it right off. But, in the time between her introduction and him introducing himself as Hector Tormei, proud owner of Scribe, he figured it out. She was that girl...Anne de Bourgh's mother. He remembered now.

She certainly was a peach.

[LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH]

Her Ladyship was not as impressed by this man as she originally had been. In her not so humble opinion, he was being rather rude in not answering her. The only signal she received from him that he had heard a word she said was his raised eyebrow.

She couldn't decide whether the look on his face was disdainful, or simply one which invited her to continue with her queries. Taking his lack of a reply as a yes, she barrelled on, deciding it was best not to be rude back (for once).

"I'll take that as a 'yes'. I'm looking to purchase a particular series of books which I have been unable to find elsewhere, and I was wondering if you might have them in stock."

Perhaps this would prompt a reply.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Sorry, forgot my manners there. Hector Tormei, owner of Scribe," Hector nodded and had the decency to at least look apologetic even if he wasn't really. From what he heard about the Lady de Bourgh, she wasn't a pleasant woman. Hector didn't like talking to people who weren't at least palatable but this was a matter of business now. Legitimate business that is.

I'm looking to purchase a particular series of books which I have been unable to find elsewhere, and I was wondering if you might have them in stock

"Well, we don't have a particularly large stock being a small shop and all. However, we do carry more unusual titles than the majority of shops. May I ask which series you are looking for? Even if I don't have it in stock, I can order it for you," Hector slipped into his bookstore owner persona, one he only pulled out to keep his cover secured. The owner of the shop, Mr. Tormei, was polite but dry, not too unlike his actual personality. The only real difference was that Hector Tormei mob boss was demanding and cruel at times...Mr. Tormei was just boring.

[LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH]

"Sorry, forgot my manners there. Hector Tormei, owner of Scribe,"

The man looked apologetic, and his tone indicated he was so. Lady Catherine was somewhat appeased and nodded as he had done.

"That's quite alright, sir. A pleasure to meet you."

"Well, we don't have a particularly large stock being a small shop and all. However, we do carry more unusual titles than the majority of shops. May I ask which series you are looking for? Even if I don't have it in stock, I can order it for you,"

Lady Catherine's smile widened at Tormei's words. He was certainly a very cordial and affable man.

"The books I'm looking for are quite rare I believe, which is why I decided to ask you rather than continue fruitlessly searching the more well established chains of book shops. I'm looking for the 'Longman Literature In English Series...English Poetry of the Victorian Period, 1830-1890'."

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"The books I'm looking for are quite rare I believe, which is why I decided to ask you rather than continue fruitlessly searching the more well established chains of book shops. I'm looking for the 'Longman Literature In English Series...English Poetry of the Victorian Period, 1830-1890'."

Hector listened to the woman talk, still a perfect picture of hospitality. He knew what she was talking about because he had the books sitting in a glass case in the back of the shop in the restricted area where only a couple of people were allowed to go. They would fetch a pretty penny once they were sold. They would make even more if he charged her a shipping fee.

"I happen to know a man who owns the very series. He lives in Ireland but I'm sure he'd be more than happy to ship it over. If you're willing to pay extra for the shipping and handling, I can get it in a couple of days,"

Lady Catherine de Bourgh didn't need to know that Hector already had the books and that he was milking the cash from her. From the look of her shoes and bag and clothes...Hector could tell that she had the money for a little extra padding on his end. She probably wouldn't even miss it.

[LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH]

"I happen to know a man who owns the very series. He lives in Ireland but I'm sure he'd be more than happy to ship it over. If you're willing to pay extra for the shipping and handling, I can get it in a couple of days,"

Lady Catherine de Bourgh hadn't the faintest idea that Hector Tormei was attempting to get more money out of her by lying about the exact location of the series in question. The thought never crossed her mind. She was, in fact, so pleased to hear she would be able to have them that she would happily have paid more than they were worth on the outset.

"Well, that's just excellent, Mr. Tormei, really excellent! It's so rare these days to find such affable men of business I must say. I'd be happy to pay the extra costs...more than happy even. How much would it all come to?"

Needless to say, money was no object to Her Ladyship of Rosings Park. If she wanted a series of rare books shipped over from Ireland then good grief she would have those books.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"A conservative estimate...$450, maybe more. I'm not sure how much he's going to want to part with his books. It may even hit $700, it all depends on him," Hector shrugged as if to say 'but what can you do?'. This woman obviously wouldn't have any trouble parting with as much money as possible to obtain the books. "And really, you're getting a deal for these books. When the man, Craig, bought them, they went for over a thousand dollars. If you give me your contact information, I can call you the second I know how much it's going to cost exactly,"

Hector was lying through is teeth but he was so practiced at it now that it was effortless and smooth. He was upping the price dramatically; he had really bought the books for less than three hundred dollars. That's the nice thing about them being "rare" books though, there was no set price.

[LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH]

"A conservative estimate...$450, maybe more. I'm not sure how much he's going to want to part with his books. It may even hit $700, it all depends on him. And really, you're getting a deal for these books. When the man, Craig, bought them, they went for over a thousand dollars. If you give me your contact information, I can call you the second I know how much it's going to cost exactly,"

"Ah," Lady Catherine said, as Hector mentioned the price. "Considering all the time and effort I've put into trying to find the books I wouldn't mind paying seven hundred dollars, to be perfectly honest."

As Hector mentioned contact details, Lady Catherine rummaged in her handbag momentarily before producing a business card, the one she'd obtained as chairperson of one of the charitable organizations she worked for. On it was her e-mail address, her home telephone and mobile numbers.

She handed the card over to Tormei, saying as she did so;

"Thank you very much for your assistance, Mr. Tormei. I trust you won't pass the information on that card onto any third parties, hmm?"

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

"Thank you very much for your assistance, Mr. Tormei. I trust you won't pass the information on that card onto any third parties, hmm?"

Hector took the card and shook his head at the question. "Of course not, ma'am. I take confidentiality very seriously when my customers are concerned," Hector continued to play his part even though the character he was playing was giving him a headache. He hated being so complacent and agreeable; it just wasn't his nature to be so giving. But the bookstore owner was. That's what had kept him off the police's radar for so long. A meek, meager bookstore owner couldn't possibly be a mobster.

There was no way and that's why Hector had been acting for so long. To keep both of his businesses running no matter how much he disliked it. Hector had the business just to spite his father and he would keep the business to make sure his father was yelling and shaking his fist at him from Hell.

[LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH]

"Of course not, ma'am. I take confidentiality very seriously when my customers are concerned,"

Lady Catherine nodded, pleased.

"Excellent. You know, Mr. Tormei, I'm very glad to hear it. There are so many dishonest and untrustworthy people in the city these days, aren't there?"

Her Ladyship adjusted her bag on her shoulder and then returned to the previous topic of conversation. It was strange; she hadn't commented on the man's use of the title 'ma'am' rather than 'Lady'. Maybe she hadn't heard it. Or maybe today was an incredibly rare occasion indeed and she didn't mind as much as she usually would have done.

"I assume you will let me know as soon as you hear from this friend of yours about the price of the books?"

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

Hector nodded and tucked the card away in his suit jacket. "Of course, of course. I'll have a price within a day or two, and then the books a couple days after that," Hector was surprised at how easily he had managed to convince this woman that he was acting with her well being in mind. And he thought it was odd that she didn't correct him when he called her ma'am. Hector thought she would be the type to be a little anal about her title.

Hector wasn't going to mention it though. He didn't need the Lady who Lunches on his case about formalities. It was hard enough to be polite to someone who was obviously a snob in every way. But, somehow, he had managed to placate her unknowingly. Which was fortunate because Hector doubted that he would be able to if he tried. He wasn't in the mood to play nice that way. He could be the character he had to be, but he wasn't about to get on his knees and kiss ass.

[LADY CATHERINE DE BOURGH]

"Of course, of course. I'll have a price within a day or two, and then the books a couple days after that,"

"Excellent," Lady Catherine replied, gracing Hector Tormei with a rare smile. And why should she not? She was pleased, not only to have found such a well meaning and honest man, but one who could supply her with the books she was after.

Ordinarily she wouldn't have cared much about the personalities of people she met as long as they treated her with the respect she believed she deserved. Ordinarily she would have expected to get the books with the minimum amount of fuss anyway.

But today wasn't an ordinary day. She was at Wall Street, after all.

"I hope to hear from you soon, Mister Tormei. It was a pleasure doing business with you."

She extended her hand for a handshake, all formality.

[MAYOR HECTOR "HADES" TORMEI]

The smile that graced Lady Catherine de Bourgh's face didn't seem natural or like it was a normal thing to see. Hector felt uncomfortable being the receiver of the smile. But, he smiled anyway and shook her hand graciously.

"Of course, ma'am. I'll let you know the instant I know, I promise. Well, no, if I find out too late or too early, I won't call until a more appropriate hour. I wouldn't want to interrupt your night," Hector played the "concerned for your well-being" card flawlessly. The woman was practically eating out of his hand and he wanted to keep it that way. "And I'd like to thank you for approaching me about this business and not one of the other small shops in the city. We need all the business we can get in this economy," Hector threw in a little pity as well even though he was more than financially secure.