I. Digging Holes

The next day, Leech was driving to Queens. Leech had sent Ms. Campbell an email and told her that Viper and Ivory had been hired to work at his bookstore. Leech wanted their files. Ms. Campbell agreed and said she'd give him what he needed.

Leech past the gateway to the foster home and observed the four different colored buildings. He saw a playground with younger kids wearing the same t-shirt. He then came to the assumption that the kids were grouped into each building by their age, forced to wear the color of their assigned building. Leech thought that it was a genius idea.

Leech drove deeper, seeing older girls sitting around, smoking. Leech was shocked at how large the area was for an orphanage, but didn't question it as he pulled up to the office. He parked his car and saw Ms. Campbell waiting nervously outside. The older woman led him through the building, and they eventually settled into her office.

Ms. Campbell sat down. "Here are their files containing their birth certificate and everything else that they need."

"It's nice to have before I hire them. I interviewed the two and wondered if you can elaborate a little more."

"What would you like me to tell you?"

"Tell me anything about them that is worth knowing. Let's start with Viper. She's a bit strange, that one."

"Viper isn't the best; her mouth was always too big. There isn't much to say except that I've always found her selfish; she acts before thinking, and it causes everyone around her to suffer."

"What can you tell me about Ivory?"

"Ivory...she's articulate; She has a sharp mouth, but is smart about using it. She usually keeps to herself and hates being bothered. She was never in serious trouble. I trust her, you should too."

"She's great. Everyone liked her after she left her interview."

"Really?"

Leech nodded.

"Well, I hope her the best. I know she doesn't miss this place."

"Tell me, why were they here? I never knew the details, that is if you're allowed to tell me."

"Viper's father left her mother. Her mother became a heroin addict and turned to bath salts. The mother's sister brought her here. Ivory, well, her parents had prestigious jobs. I don't know the details about the jobs, so I can't tell you what they did. The mother had problems, she was Borderline, I believe."

Leech's eyes widened. "Really? Ivory didn't tell me that."

Mrs. Campbell shook her head. "That information was given to me much later; I didn't put it in. Plus, Ivory's a very private person; she doesn't reveal much about herself. There are just things people don't need to know, some people will use that information against her. Viper's parents were dead beats from the beginning. Ivory's father didn't have the funds to keep her, so he brought her here when she was a baby. He was sad. I've never seen a father so upset to give up their child. He would have raised her well, I know it."

"Who told you her mother was borderline?"

"A private source," she said.

"You don't think Ivory has —"

"—What, a mental illness? Well, mental illness runs on her mother's side. The mother's family were nasty people; I think Ivory got the good genes. I don't think she will ever have Borderline Personality Disorder because her mother never raised her and because she's a tough person. Her father was a great man, he knew of the mother's problems; poor man. I don't think Ivory will love others the way others will love her, but that's because she doesn't realize what a good person she is. Ivory does what's right."

"I can tell. Ivory's very humanitarian; she just needs to mature a little more and realize it."

"Oh, yes, she will. I suppose that you will put your best foot forward to help her with opportunities. Personally," Ms. Campbell began, "I think that Viper envies Ivory, so please make sure that nothing happens. I don't want Viper ruining anything."

Leech nodded and shook her hand. "Thank you for having me, I appreciate it. This will be great to know. I might as well inform you that Ivory wants to continue her education."

"Does she?"

He nodded, "I will help her get her degree and put her through college. She could be a full-time librarian rather than a simple clerk."

"Well, I wish her luck."

"Nice meeting you," Then, Leech left.

Ms. Campbell took a deep breath, wishing that the man knew and that she could help him.

***

Later that day, Ivory was in the computer room all by herself. Rather than complete her job duties for the day, she decided to look up the mobster gang that Rover and Red mentioned. She would finish her job later as she was a quick and efficient worker.

Ivory went into the search engine and typed in 'Irish Mobster gangs in New York' since she didn't know how to spell the gang's name. When the results didn't show up, she went back to the search engine and added 'East Side', she got the results she was looking for. Ivory saw an article titled, 'Taboh Thoir', New York's most dangerous mobsters". She clicked the article and began to read about how the gang resided on the East Side. The group was different from the Blue Dragons in the retrospect that Taobh Thoir was a typical everyday gang like the Bloods or Crips, but they were almost just as wealthy as the Blue Dragons. Ivory didn't know the details of Blue's earning, but by the way, the base was designed and the people that work for him; she guessed that he was loaded.

She continued reading about how the last members were wiped out. Their base was blown up, everyone inside died a horrific death by being burnt. Those who weren't in the gang's base were eventually found and killed at the spot; the Blue Dragons' gang sign marked the area. Some went missing and turned up to be dumped in random places all over New York with body parts missing, immense marks all over their body, and blood everywhere; the Blue Dragons' symbol graffitied by their designated areas. Ivory then went back and clicked images, seeing photos of the gang. She scrolled down and thought that the mobsters looked fierce. Taobh Thoir was dangerous, all right, they looked the part.

Ivory wondered why no one knew about the Blue Dragons' until these horrendous murders?

She researched the murdered members' bodies, and the results shocked her, to say the least. The man that she watched getting tortured ended up looking bad, but the Irish mobster gang looked worse. Although Blue sends people from different groups to do work outside the base. It couldn't have been him. Or was it? Was it really him that inflicted this type of pain on this gang?

She heard the door close behind her and quickly exited off google, but sighed in relief as she saw familiar strawberry blonde hair. "Hey, Ivory. Long time no see."

"Yeah, it's been a couple of months. How've you been?"

Swindle H took a seat next to her. "Well. You?"

"The usual." Ivory then remembered that she needed a favor from the cunning prostitute. "Hey, Swindle, I've meant to ask you something," The crafty strawberry blonde leaned closer, intrigued about the dirty blonde's favor. "There was a man that I spoke to at the club. He mentioned something to me that caught my attention. I was wondering if you can take me to the club so I can see him."

Swindle H thought for a moment. "Oh, Christopher! The tall, dark-haired man. Yes, he came a couple weeks ago asking for you. What is it that the two of you talked about? He told me that he wanted to speak to you about a private matter."

"Nothing really. We just had an interesting conversation."

"I will take you to see if he is there. But we can't be gone long. Blue will go looking for you."

Ivory nodded, and the two girls casually snuck out of the base to go to the club.