Chicago’s At It Again: Book 3

By Shirley J. Miller

Not wanting to be pulled back into Chicago’s Mafia disasters, Danielle Reynolds sent Michael Cardoni back to Chicago to handle the FBI investigation of the assassination of her friend, Senator Kendricks – breaking off their engagement plans. It takes over a year for the FBI to conclude their quest, so during that time, Danielle finally gets her career in advertising back on track.

Michael finally returns to California claiming to Danielle that he has turned over the Chicago family business to his second, Vinny. He neglected do tell her his man in LA, Mickey is still active and running his LA organization.
He continues the Financial Investment Group he had started before he had left – having asked Danielle to watch over it the year he was gone. As a gesture of good faith, Michael then opens a Private Investigation Agency in an attempt to show Danielle he has actually gone legit.

Unfortunately, Chicago keeps calling him back. This time to stop competitor Don Carlisi’s drug business. The Colombian and Mexican Cartels come together to stop Carlisi and concentrate all drug trafficking among the Cartels. All with the help of Michael, Vinny and Mickey.

Danielle has been left out of the Mafia loop so as not to risk Michael’s relationship with her. They plan to get married again in spite of the lies Michael has had to keep from Danielle. Will Chicago ever let him go?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Shirley J. Miller
• Release date: Jun 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463618202

Shirley J. Miller

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~About Shirley J MillerAs a child, aptitude tests always suggested that Shirley Miller should go into writing. In actuality, she spent her career years in advertising and marketing for Fortune 500 companies, where most of her writing revolved around describing product attributes and persuading sales.She always dreamed of writing fiction books but never had the time. Upon early retirement, she decided to follow her dreams. You will love her simple and direct style while maintaining the mystique and action among characters from start to finish.Her work is mostly fiction, so be sure you check out The Chicago Series and the Maxine Hart Series. Ring of Deception is a book Shirley and her sister Betty dreamed up - while hiking, no less - follow-ups being considered.Shirley has also written how-to books on some of her favorite hobbies. Be sure to check out Beginning Golf for Ladies, Golf Tips Up & Over - For Intermediate Players, Freelance Writing, Owning a Silky Terrier which resulted from her love for the breed. Having owned eight Silky Terriers over her lifetime, she even hired a special dog trainer to come to her home twice a week to teach her how to train the dogs.Though she never wrote about it, she wants to Thank You for reading her books and following her writing adventures. Without you, none of this would be possible, So Thank You very much. And keep on reading. Find some of her other books on Amazon or Smashwords by checking the links below.Any reviews will certainly be appreciated. It always helps to understand more of what readers want to see, so she can speak more directly to you. To follow Shirley Miller, and be the first to learn of new releases, please check the ‘Follow Me’ Button on Amazon. For a full list of all her current works, check out these links:https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LastFlightOut1

Book preview

It was another bright and sunny day in Los Angeles. Spring time in Southern California could not be beat as far as Danielle Reynolds was concerned. The spring flowers were starting to bloom and while it may be true that something was always blooming year round in this climate, spring was an especially favorite time for Danielle. Winters were not bad here either, as far as the temperatures went. But she grew tired of the overcast skies and the rainy season that winter brought with it. She had always hated the winter months, especially when she had lived in Chicago so many years back. But she had to admit, the rain beat snow any day!

Danielle had moved – or should she say escaped – Chicago sometime ago. Leaving behind a double life that had managed to entangle her advertising career with some unsavory characters and an evening side job she had not planned for. She actually loved the City of Chicago itself. It was perfect for a young woman who wanted to make it on her own in the advertising business. The large city obviously had more opportunities than the small town she’d moved from. Everything was going great until her career become inter-weaved with unwanted sex and a dangerous criminal element. She couldn’t say it wasn’t exciting, because in a way, it was. But eventually the criminal activity made it too dangerous for her to stay.

When she arrived in LA after a narrow escape from the Chicago Mafia families, she started her life all over again and continued to build her advertising career. She spent several years with a major 4A’s Advertising Agency, first as the Media Director and was later promoted to a Vice President and made a member of the West Coast Board of Directors.

She was on top of the world, or so she thought. But just six years later, Agency management changed. The new CEO in charge felt a ’male’ Media Director would be more appropriate for their Japanese clients. So Danielle was wrongly terminated – just one more brush with sexual discrimination. Ah – the 60’s and 70’s.

However, the new management hadn’t really thought things through as the Japanese were actually quite happy with her work. As a matter of fact, when they found out she had left the Ad Agency, both clients offered her a position. She accepted the offer from a major electronics company as their Director of Marketing Communications for one of their Orange County Headquarter Divisions. Which meant she was moving from Beverly Hills down to Orange County.

Danielle had managed to stay away from the Chicago Mafia crowd for about ten years, then Michael Cardoni dropped into her life once again. This time he wanted her to work with him on a new LA Stock Investment scheme. He wouldn’t take no for an answer. He had wanted her to attend financial meetings to work with his own investment clients – more to sell them on investing with his Investment Company. But Danielle, being as stubborn as she’d always been, was able to change his angle on things and managed to stay put with her beloved advertising job in Orange County. Instead, she merely agreed to manage an escort agency that was formed purely for the purpose of sending financially market savvy women to interact as event dates and influence the investors. It seemed innocent enough at first, but naturally the escorts somehow managed to get sex involved and things got nasty for a while.

After Senator Kendricks’ assassination, Michael was forced to go back to Chicago until the FBI investigations were finished. That took some pressure off Danielle, but he had left her in charge of the Financial Group in LA. So while she had not talked to him in quite some time, Michael, as always, had managed to keep her on the hook.

With Michael out of the picture, Danielle Reynolds put even more time into her advertising career. That, and handling Michael Cardoni’s LA Investment Group kept her busy enough that she didn’t miss or even want another relationship.

Months passed after the assassination of Senator Ted Kendricks. Danielle had not heard from Michael nor had she expected to. The FBI was still investigating the murder even though they had actually caught the killer in the act. However, when it comes to politics, the authorities like to explore every possible little angle – from competitive politicians down to implied international implications. Because Senator Kendricks had asked Michael to provide body guard services, he was afraid the government would somehow try to loop him into the killing. There was actually only one FBI agent assigned at the scene for protection, so Danielle couldn’t blame Ted for wanting extra security. After all, attacks on his life had occurred in the past as well, so he wasn’t feeling all that secure with the one assigned agent. Thus he hired his own private body guards.

She thought back over the times she had spent with the Senator after they had managed to become good friends in spite of the illicit way they had originally met in Chicago. When she had first met Ted, she did not know that he knew Michael. She was a little disappointed to learn of the connection because she really liked Ted and hated to see him caught in Michael’s little web. But, she soon learned, Michael’s reach was not only far but very wide.

As bad as Michael had used and abused her in Chicago, they had ended up in a somewhat half-ass type of relationship. But the bad outweighed the good, as far as Danielle was concerned, and she finally made a run for it. Straight to Los Angeles. It would be years before Michael Cardoni made his way back to her in LA with the Investment Organization. When they connected again in LA, Michael made no sexual demands. It was all about the Financial business only. But it was obvious that he still cared for her and wanted to keep her protected.

They eventually fell back in love and he had proposed marriage. To her own surprise, she had said yes! But as usual, something always came up to drag him back to Chicago. That last time had been the assassination of her friend and his colleague, Senator Ted Kendricks. Because Danielle did not want to be around the FBI during the investigations, she had called off the engagement with Michael and sent him back to Chicago to ride things out on his own. It turned out he was gone for over a year.

In the mean time, Danielle had spent her time working at her Orange County, CA advertising career. Today it would be collateral materials for another new product launch. And because it was her favorite Freelance Creative team that was at her office all day, it had not only been a very productive, but a fun day. She was in a good mood when she packed her briefcase and headed home. Upon entering her house, she was surprised to see that Michael had left a message on her answering machine. He was lucky to have reached her. She was in the process of phasing out the home phone, having just bought her first Smartphone. After using it for a few weeks, she couldn’t see the advantage of having the hard line as well.

Michael’s message said that he was coming into LA to meet with Sam Cassidy, the young man who had just replaced Frankie as the new fund manager a little over a year ago – just before Michael had been forced to return to Chicago. Evidently from her own conversations with Sam, she knew Michael had kept in touch with him. But she was surprised he now felt it safe to travel again. The FBI investigation must have been almost completed. Curious, more than anything else, she gave him a return call immediately.

Hi Michael. Has the Kendricks’ situation been handled? Is everything okay with you? Danielle was curious to know what happened in the end.

Michael was obviously happy to hear her voice again. Hey Stranger, he started. Did you think I’d never make it back?

Well I was beginning to think just that, Danielle smiled into the phone. What happened with the bodyguards you loaned to Ted? Was there any fallback from the FBI?

Just a little, Michael replied. They vetted them both and found out that while they used to work for me, they were actually put on Ted’s own payroll sometime during that prior year. They didn’t find any outstanding charges against either of them. And believe me, they tried their best to find something to hang on them. Something that would point at me. But all of Ted’s records were clean and so were my two men. So after a lot of time, aggravation, and hassles, they finally gave up on looking in my direction. They still think that a second gunman may have been involved, but found no proof of that either. You know the government! Everything is always a conspiracy with them.

I haven’t read much about the case for several months now. I wasn’t sure just how far along the FBI was in their investigation, Danielle noted. They have been at it for over a year and you say they are actually still looking for something more?

It will be like most political killings, Danielle. They will be looking at it for the next 30 or 40 years. But for me, it’s finally all over, Michael finished.

Jumping back into the financial game, I wanted to thank you for taking care of things and helping Sam out while I was gone. He told me about a few of the hiccups, but it seems you both got through them okay. Michael paused for just a moment, then asked – I know you kind of cut things off with me because of this. But would it be possible for us to get together for dinner? No pressure, I promise. I just want to know how you’ve been and maybe catch up on the Investment Group.

No problem, Danielle happily replied. Will you be getting down to Orange County?

I’ll make a point of it, Michael answered. There’s lots I want to tell you. Can we meet Friday night, say 7:00 pm?

Sounds good to me. Call me with the details once your work with Sam is done. Danielle said her goodbyes and hung up the phone.

She got the leashes and took her two new puppies for their walk. She had a lot of questions that she wanted to ask Michael. But nothing that couldn’t wait until Friday.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Chapter 2

The rest of the week passed with the usual rush of meetings and phone calls. Danielle was surprised that she was actually looking forward to the dinner with Michael when Friday came. Michael’s limo was waiting at her house when she got back from work. Somehow he had managed his way into the house and waited for her on the back deck sipping a glass of wine. That he had let himself in bothered her a little. She had hoped that he was not expecting that she had put her life on hold while he was gone.

Entering the house, she was happily greeted by her two Silky Terriers. She hugged them and got ready to take them for a walk. They already had the leashes in their mouths ready to go. So she poked her head out of the back door to quickly acknowledge Michael’s presence and then walked the dogs around the lake.

After her walk, she joined Michael on the deck with a glass of red wine. You just kind of made yourself right at home didn’t you? I thought I took away your key? Danielle began with some trepidation.

Sorry. Gets hot in the car this time of year. I didn’t think you’d mind, Michael kind of apologized.

It’s not that I mind particularly. It’s more the way you automatically assume that you can just jump back into my life where we left off over a year ago! Danielle defended herself. Sometimes I guess I forget just who you are!

Don’t be like that, Danielle. I didn’t mean anything by it. Just habit I guess. Hey, I made us a dinner reservation at Antonello’s Restaurant. I remember the Italian food there as being out of this world. Are you up for that? Michael asked.

Antonello’s is perfect, Danielle replied. I have always loved their risotto. They finished their drinks and then got into the limo. There was the usual small talk during the ride. But no business was addressed.

Once seated inside Antonello’s, Michael ordered a bottle of wine. By the time the wine arrived, they were ready to order. He ordered his usual Gnocchi Ricotta and she the Creamy Parmesan Risotto. The food, as always, was absolutely delicious.

Over dinner, they talked about the Kendricks’ FBI investigation at more length until Danielle was finally convinced that the sordid adventure was now finally over with. Michael made a point of not making any fast moves on her. But he was anxious to tell her the status of things in Chicago.

Danielle, he began, things in Chicago have calmed down a lot. In fact, Vinny has things very well under control in Chicago and he’s more than earned the trust and loyalty of the family organization. I officially turned things over to him before I left Chicago. While I sold the old house in Beverly Hills, I’m going to buy a new one. I plan to stay in LA and look into Sam and the Investment Fund from time to time. But quite frankly, he’s done an excellent job while I was gone and I pretty much have also decided to leave that in his hands and step back a little from that as well. Michael delivered the news as if he’d expected something more from Danielle.

Danielle’s reaction was a little disappointing to him. "But you’ll still be