We're gearing up for another Chicago Chronicles stream here, crew. Join us as Brenda, Ian and Maciej prepare for war against the Cardsharks and take a closer look at combat on twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive, tomorrow at 17:00 CEST!
Empire of Sin
Empire of Sin: Chicago Chronicles Stream
We're gearing up for another Chicago Chronicles stream here, crew. Join us as Brenda, Ian and Maciej prepare for war against the Cardsharks and take a closer look at combat on twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive, tomorrow at 17:00 CEST!
Write a mobster story, win grand prizes!
Every mobster has a story to tell, and some of em can end up winning swell prizes to boot! If you’re feelin’ creative and are keen on sweet loot from Razer, then boy do we have a competition for you, boss!To participate, you must write an original short story that’s related to the general theme and tone of Empire of Sin and send it in before 19:00 CEST, October 30th 2020.
Once the competition is over, a jury consisting of the Community team for Empire of Sin and one developer from Romero Games will choose the 10 most promising short stories and then randomly select 3 winners, who will then be contacted via email.
Rules:
- The short story must be an original work created by you specially for this contest.
- The topic of the short story should be related to the general theme and tone of Empire of Sin (prohibition, Chicago, gangsters.)
- The length of the story can not exceed 3000 words.
- Acceptable file formats are: PDF, .ODT or Word Doc
- Entries are to be sent to empire-of-sin-short-story-contest@paradoxinteractive.com
- All entries must be sent in before 19:00 CET, October 30th 2020.
3 lucky winners will receive:
- Headphones: Razer BlackShark V2 Pro
- Mousepad: Razer Goliathus Extended Chroma – Black
- Mouse: Razer Mamba Elite
- Keyboard: Razer Huntsman Elite – Clicky Optical Switch US
- Speakers: Razer Nommo
Read the full terms and conditions for the Empire of Sin Short Story Contest here: Empire of Sin Short Story Competition Terms & Conditions
Good luck, boss!
Boss Spotlight: Maggie Dyer
Enough time spent around clowns, swindlers and wild animals gives a person an advantage in navigating the streets of prohibition era Chicago. Maggie Dyer ran off to the circus at a young age, taming lions and throwing knives as a way to make a living. Skills easily transferable for use on gangsters around the city.
She left school early. For her, education wasn’t gained from a stale classroom, but learned through lived experience, doing what you can to survive better than the other guy. The best part was that these lessons didn’t need her to change herself, only to sharpen traits she already had until they launched her to the top of her game.
Sullen as she may be, Maggie has a way with words. A ringleader's charm goes a long way, and she subscribes to the philosophy that anyone can be bought. Some may come at a higher price, but Maggie’s not afraid to get her hands dirty in getting that price down. Along with the help of some caged friends, she can negotiate most everybody to accept her terms, and her terms only. It’s a good cop, bad cat scenario and no one's lived to get the better of them yet.
The decision to take up permanent residence with her circus in Chicago’s White City means more than just the entertainment of civilians. Maggie is set on broadening her horizons in enterprise, starting with a few rackets and a protection ring, and ending with her as Chicago’s Number One. Being a wildcard who’s completely at home in a city of renegades, Maggie’s claws are well and truly digging in.
An Interview With Maggie Dyer On A Local Radio Broadcast
The following is a transcript of a radio interview conducted by popular Chicago South Side radio personality Gus Goldstein, with White City Circus ringleader, Maggie Dyer. The transcript was documented by the Chicago Police department on the night of the interview. Dyer is a person of interest to local P.D. and the interview serves as evidence of some recent allegations made against Ms. Dyer…
Gus: Good evening listeners. It’s a cold Friday night out there and you are tuned to Chicago’s most popular and reliable radio broadcaster, CSS AM. Tonight we have a guest talking about her growing business in Chicago’s White City. The White City circus took up a permanent residence near the city’s South Side some time ago, and it continues to draw considerable crowds to its regular shows. Here with me is the circus’ ringleader and owner, Maggie Dyer. Good evening, Ms. Dyer.
Maggie: Call me Maggie. Y’know I knew a Gus once before. Is that short for Gustavo?
Gus: No. My full name is Aengus. But please, let’s --
Maggie: Ah! Well, I knew a Gustavo. He was in the circus with me.
Gus: Charming, indeed--
Maggie: You remind me a lot of him.
Gus: Is that so? Does he still work with you?
Maggie: Nah, he passed on. Talented performer though, and loyal friend. I got his tattoo on my arm here, see? That’s him.
Dead air hiss
Gus: That… monkey on a bicycle?
Maggie: A Penny Farthing no less. Y’know how difficult that is to ride?
Gus: You’re saying I remind you of a circus monkey?
Maggie: Don’t look so offended, that’s high praise. He was smarter than most men I know.
Gus: Charming. [Clears throat] Let’s get to your um, vocation. As ringleader at the White City circus, your stature in this position is most unusual. Would you care to tell our listeners about it?
Maggie: Unusual? How’s that? Every circus I know has a ringleader, Gus.
Gus: Of course, I’m sure, but the position is mostly reserved for men, is it not?
Maggie: …I get it. [Sniffs] Much like your position as “Radio Speaker Guy”, huh?
Gus: Indeed.
Maggie: Then, I guess we’re just two anomalies to the rule, ain’t we?
Gus: [Coughs] Very humorous Ms. Dyer.
Maggie: Who says I’m kiddin’?
Dead air hiss
Gus: W…w…why don’t you uh, tell us how you found your way into the circus?
Maggie: I got into it young. It seemed to suit my personality more so than school ever could. That and the elephants were nicer.
Gus: And… they just let you in?
Maggie: Believe it or not, Gus, they did. Circus folk are a welcoming bunch… until ya cross us. Then it’s a whole other story.
Gus: I don’t doubt it, Ms. Dyer. Tell me, what was your act when you joined?
Maggie: Oh, I didn’t have an act for a long time. Nah, it’s a long way from the bottom to the ringleader’s coat. I started in backroom detail. Cooking, cleaning, shovelling shit, all that nice stuff.
Gus: Please, watch your profanity Ms. Dyer. This is a live broadcast.
Maggie: Awh Christ, Gus. How much starch you eatin’ every day to keep ya this stiff?
Gus: [Clears throat] Moving on, how did you breakthrough to performance?
Maggie: Well I got a pretty dab hand with a knife from cutting all those carrots for so long, and one night some schmuck came snooping around our camp for God knows what. Yours truly pinned him to the latrine wall from ten feet. Presto, Dyer’s Wheel of Death made it to showtime.
Gus: That’s… quite a sensational story.
Maggie: You having a hard time swallowing it, Gus?
Gus:[Clears throat] Your story is very entertaining. I believe you are an entertainer through and through.
Maggie: Alright, how’s this for entertaining?
Ruffling sound then a distinct ‘Click’.
Gus: Ho now! Ms. Dyer, I don’t see why you’d feel it necessary to bring a knife to an interview.
Maggie: You kiddin’? In this city, you need to bring a knife everywhere.
Gus: Indeed, w…w…well that’s where we’ll uh, agree to disagree perhaps.
Rapid thudding noise.
Maggie: How’s this?
Gus: [Voice shaking] Splendid, Ms. Dyer. Now please stop. You are ruining a perfectly good desk.
Thudding noise grows faster.
Maggie: How’s this? Now I ain’t even looking.
Gus: [Raising voice] Please, before you take a finger off.
Thudding noise stops.
Maggie: Alright. You wanna do a boring interview, fine. Where were we?
Gus: I…I don’t quite recall. I wonder uh, what is it that makes your form of entertainment so attractive to city folk?
Maggie: People wanna be thrilled, Gus. This is just another way to do it. And it’s suitable for the whole family.
Gus: And what must your family make of it all?
Maggie: White City Circus is my family, so y’know, they’re pretty supportive.
Gus: Hardly what one would deem a conventional family. Tell me, do you ever think you’ll…settle down?
Dead air hiss, then Maggie can be heard mumbling off mic. It is barely audible but sounds like she says ‘Strike two’.
Gus: How’s that, Ms. Dyer?
Maggie: Look, I’m a businesswoman first and foremost. Anything beyond that is irrelevant here.
Gus: Ah that’s right. I’m glad you brought this up, your ventures go beyond theater.
Maggie: That they do. I’m also heavily involved in… public relations around the city.
Gus: That’s what you call it, huh? Are you aware of some of the allegations made against you?
Maggie: Allegations are just that. I got nothin’ to hide, and I ain’t entertaining folks’ opinions and rumors about me.
Gus: This goes a long way beyond opinion, Ms. Dyer. Some of the accounts are uh, unsavory to say the least. They’d be of great concern to good citizens in this city if even an ounce of them are true. Allegations of violence, conspiracy to commit fraud… I even heard you linked to accounts of intimidation through the use of wild animals.
Maggie: [Sniffs] People sure do have crazy imaginations. Our animals ain’t wild, they do just what I say.
Gus: Perhaps you’d like to take the opportunity to set our good listeners straight?
Maggie: Look, this whole city is a goddamn circus. There’s wild animals and clowns everywhere. They’ll run riot without a ringleader like myself to keep everybody in check, cracking the whip, making sure it’s a smooth show. I don’t think that should be held against me.
Gus: That answer seems a little uh, rehearsed, Ms. Dyer. Am I not the first to raise such a public concern?
Dead air hiss.
Maggie: [Sighs] Your wife get you that tie, Gus?
Gus: Uh, matter of fact she did.
Maggie: She blind?
Gus: What? No…[clears throat] We’re going off--
Maggie: You got a little somethin’ on it. Let me just…
Ruffling sound.
Gus: What the--[grunts] Let go of me[choking noise]--
More grunting sounds off mic, then a loud thud. Maggie can be heard laughing.
Gus: [Off mic and shouting] What is the meaning of this?
Maggie: Ladies and gentlemen, your stuffy presenter is a little tied down at the moment--
Gus: [Off mic] Pull the knife out at once.
Maggie: Pull it out yourself, I’m broadcasting here. As I was saying boys and girls, if you wanna witness more high brow entertainment like this, with your own eyes, get down to White City circus. Running shows four nights a week and two on Sunday.
Off mic grunting then a loud tearing sound.
Gus: [Off mic] Ugh, you ruined my tie.
Maggie: I did ya a favor.
Gus: Is this any way to conduct yourself in a live interview? [Heavy breathing] I brought you on here to promote your circus--
Maggie: Nah, you brought me on here to look down your nose at me and try to catch me out for something I’m accused of. I’m the one promoting my circus. Entertaining the masses, using you as a clown.
Gus: This is an outrage. [Heavy breathing] You have squandered your opportunity to--
Maggie: Ah save it. People know where to find me.
Gus: Ladies and gentlemen, [coughs] my sincere apologies. We will promptly go off air until this interruption is resolved. Do not adjust your sets, a weather report will follow.
Click sound. Dead air hiss.
End.
Watch the Chicago Chronicles video on Maggie Dyer here:
[previewyoutube="5xbPtlLjZrI;full"]
Empire of Sin - Chicago Chronicles Stream
In the last Chicago Chronicles stream, Capone and the crew ran into Stephanie St. Clair. What will happen this week? Find out as we head to Chicago on Thursday, at 17:00 CEST on twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive!
Boss Spotlight: Stephanie St. Clair
Stephanie St. Clair is a well-dressed tornado, blown into America from an island in the Caribbean called Martinique. The whirlwind she unleashed when she arrived on the streets of Harlem, somewhere between the ages of thirteen and twenty-three, carved a path of annihilation and domination, unmooring well established gangs from their foundations and flattening anything that came up against her.
St. Clair earned her riches and her nickname, “The Queen of Numbers,” through policy banking rackets in Harlem. With a title like that, it’s no surprise that her contemporaries describe her as aloof, though Stephanie has never forgotten where she came from. Her work benefits herself first, of course, but she never hesitates to give back where she can. She is vocal against injustices and quick to remind people of their rights. Her philanthropic nature ensures that those she’s helped will have her back when she calls on them.
Despite this, Stephanie has always had more of a “do it yourself” mentality. Anyone unwise enough to move in on her territory must be prepared to watch as she lays their crumbling empire at their feet. She has no qualms about doing the dirty work herself either, and in fact, relishes it. Rather than diminish her involvement in any destruction, she doubles down, taking out a newspaper advertisement stating her responsibility for it and warning antagonists not to go any further. After a spat with a New York mob boss that wound up with said boss dying in hospital from a gunshot wound, St. Clair sent a telegram to his bedside that simply said: “As ye sow, so shall ye reap.”
Enforcing your own law on cease-and-desist cases is the kind of badass disregard that owns cities before too long. Chicago, as far as Stephanie is concerned, is primed for new leadership. It has just the type of wildness, wickedness, and “take what you want” attitude that suits Stephanie’s mannerism, and presents a whole new challenge she’s just dying to rise to. This is something that the city’s gangsters would want to consider when making room for this newcomer. There is no enemy Stephanie will not step up to, disgrace publicly, and then brag about in the following morning’s paper. The only question is: who’s big enough to go against her?
PAID NEWSPAPER EDITORIAL THAT STEPHANIE PUT OUT ABOUT HERSELF UPON MOVING TO CHICAGO
To whom it may concern;-
Consider this the announcement of my arrival in Chicago. Do not think for a second that you hold any more stake over this fine city than I, solely because you have lived here longer. Such beliefs will prove inconsequential in matters relating to my business ventures, and public relations there in.
In truth, I have grown tired of New York and its endless bickering for pennies. The real money lies in the future of Chicago. Some men hope for the luxury of believing I was run out of Harlem, and to this I say fairytales are for children, and you are not children, are you? Simply, I have conducted all the business that Harlem can muster, and now I have my sights set on expanding my horizons here.
There are many who believe that I am penniless. This may have been true at the start of my life, but I assure you all, that I have built myself to the very antithesis of poverty through my proud work as a policy banker. Still, attempts have been made to frame me by some of the bravest and noblest cowards to ever wear civilian clothes. They cannot touch the sensibilities or fortune of I, an honest and most upstanding businesswoman.
I have had enemies telephone my private line every night since my arrival. They said they plan to write me off, to take me for a ride that I won’t come back from. To them I say, thank you for making me laugh. I have been so busy with business of late, that I had forgotten the benefit of humor to the human spirit. Make no mistake, such threats do nothing but make me smile. They sound so silly to me. Especially coming from such simple and ineloquent men. Now, they say they will report me and say that I carry a gun in my possession.
There are many more things they are planning to do, but they will not be successful. I have an ear to sources that they do not have the capacity to imagine, and so I will hear about such attempts, three to seven days in advance. Let it be known here, that if such thinly constructed threats continue to annoy me over my private line, I shall publish their names and letters in this very newspaper.
Many people say how they fear for me and my safety and how I ought to be careful in how I have been conducting my actions. Please, do not fear for me. I ask only that you listen to my advice and do as I told you.
In conclusion, I will say that I do not fear anyone. I respect most everybody and shall expect respect in return. Chicago is my new home, and I plan to keep it so. It just needs some redecorating, and certain people better not get in the way of that.
MME. STEPHANIE ST. CLAIR
Watch the Chicago Chronicles video on Stephanie St. Clair here:
[previewyoutube="N1VzcBmqsfQ;full"]
Empire of Sin - Chicago Chronicles Stream
Are you ready for Chicago? Ol' Scarface sure is... Join us for another Chicago Chronicles stream on Thursday with Brenda, Ian and Maciej! Stream starts at 17:00 CEST, on twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive
Boss Spotlight: Al Capone
Public enemy number one. Leader of the Chicago Outfit by age twenty six. Earning up to a hundred million dollars a year throughout the twenties. Untouchable to everyone but the IRS. Al “Scarface” Capone started in the street gangs of New York before becoming the gangster every other gangster wishes they were. His short reign at the top of Chicago’s underworld was enough to cement him in the annals of history as one of the most notorious and cold-blooded mobsters in memory and the blueprint for any wannabe gangster trying to rise through the ranks.
Since being recruited from Brooklyn by the Outfit, Capone has stamped his boot print all over the faces and places of the South Side of Chicago. Capone is the lethal combination of businessman and rottweiler; he can see the best ways to make money and knows when to delegate to his partner, Mr. Tommy Gun, and get his voice heard down Michigan Avenue.
For Capone, violence is just another part of the job. It’s a necessary trade off in the interests of furthering business prospects and status in the city. That gives him a callous edge and a heavy hand when it comes to sending a message to any chancers to his throne. In his eyes, it’s kill or be killed, and with a wife and child to stay alive for, he always makes sure he’s the man of action and not reaction.
While never convicted, Capone has direct ties to many bloody slayings throughout the city. Cold blooded is a part of his nature, and though some may see him as a ruthless killer, as far as he and his associates are concerned, you don’t get to make Chicago your kingdom without spending some lead.
Detective S. Kennedy of the Chicago Police Department is working closely with the Bureau of Prohibition to build a case against Al Capone, a man they believe to be a growing threat to the sanctity of prohibition law. Below are the notes taken by Det. Kennedy on one of his stakeouts…
CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT
File: #01032-A
Status: Open investigation
The following are handwritten notes recorded by Det. S. Kennedy with attending officer J.L. Murphy, during a stakeout and undercover pursuit of Alphonse Capone. The notes are being used as evidence to the ongoing case being built against Mr. Capone.
CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT – PRECINCT 12
Date: 02/15/1920
Time Commenced: 12:00
Attending officer: Det. Kennedy, Ofc. Murphy
Equipment used: Model T, Colt .38, Naval Binoculars
12:00, South Prairie Ave. 60619 – Stationed south of the entrance to the home of ‘Scarface’ Capone. Street is quiet, save for some night-time traffic; seems a pretty residential place for a gangster to live. Looks like he’s got two guards walking a beat around his house for the night, both armed with guns the size of cannons.
12:30 – Ordered Murphy to walk the block; maybe get eyes on the rear entrance — if he can get a view — to spot anything suspicious that arises.
12:50 – One of the goons has come out to the street. He’s standing on the sidewalk looking North and South alternately.
12:58 – Taxi approached from the North and pulled up directly in front of the property. The guard opened the cab door for two ladies and a man — small stature and robust, in a gray hat and trenchcoat. The females: both average height, dark hair, mid-twenties. One in a light coloured overcoat, the other in a fur shawl. Clearly intoxicated. The man is now engaging in friendly conversation with the guard. Cannot tell who it is as he is facing away from view. All three enter the house; the guard resumes his beat around the house.
01:30 – Murphy returns to the automobile. Nothing to report, other than there’s another guard at the back.
04:00 – Taxi pulls up to the house once again. The same guard as before, ushers the three visitors out the front door. The man can now be identified as one Tony Lombardo, known associate of the Capone Outfit. He talks to the guard a minute on the sidewalk, then enters the taxi and the three drive away.
06:30 – The street is slowly starting to wake up now; mail truck, street traffic etc., I sent Murphy on the beat again to survey the back door — from a distance.
07:00 – Murphy has returned. The rear of the house now has two of Capone’s goons stationed directly outside at the back door. Capone must be getting ready to mobilize.
07:05 – A green Rolls-Royce has turned the north east corner of South Prairie Avenue., headed south. Two occupants — a driver and passenger. We are now engaging in a distant pursuit in our motor car.
07:15, Off South Prairie Ave. – Rolls-Royce has stopped at the rear of the building. The passenger has disembarked. There’s a rifle in the fold of his overcoat. Description: Tall, dark hair, clean shaven, early thirties. He’s standing in the street now, looking around…
He’s signalled to the rear of the building and Capone can now be seen approaching the vehicle, flanked by the two guards. I can now identify them as Frank Nitti and Tony Accardo. They have entered the automobile and we are once again pursuing from a distance.
08:00, Fuller Park – Stationed outside a premises near W 42nd St., Capone and Nitti have entered the building through the front. Their car remains idling outside where Accardo set himself on the sidewalk between the auto and the front door to keep watch. He appears to be having a conversation through the window with the unidentified passenger of the motor car.
08:10 – Capone and Nitti exit the building quickly. Both appear restless and Capone puts a package into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and shouts something to Accardo before entering the motor that makes Accardo laugh. Once again, we’re in pursuit.
09:00, Bridge Port – Same as before, Capone and Nitti enter a building at 134 S Halsted St., Accardo keeps watch outside. This is a faster visit and they both emerge within a couple of minutes — Suspected pick-ups of racket cash or protection money.
10:45 – Two more stops in Armor Square and Douglas – Premises are at 130 W Alexander St. and 78 S Slate St., respectively. Capone exited the S Slate Street premises wiping his hands on a handkerchief that appears to be bloodstained — Must have gotten pretty heated in there.
11:30, Michigan Ave. – Stationed north of an entrance to a restaurant named ‘The Olive Branch’. Capone, Nitti and Accardo have gone inside, after the owner — presumably — met them at the door with open arms and back slaps. Must be breakfast. The driver stayed in the car with the unidentified passenger loitering outside the restaurant, doing his best to look inconspicuous.
12:30 – The party emerges. The owner once again escorts them to the door. Capone is speaking to the owner and prodding his chest with a pointed finger. The owner’s a big guy, but damn, he looks like a scolded child. Capone slaps him twice on the cheek and follows his crew to the motor. The owner shouts after them: “Thank you Mr. Capone. You won’t regret this.”
— Regret what exactly?
Note: send Murphy back with another beat cop to scope this place out at a later date.
13:30, Kenwood – Have been in pursuit for the last hour. No stops made, and there doesn’t seem to be any direction in particular that they are going. Either they’re conducting some sort of mobile business meeting, or they smell something’s off. Murphy and I are now hanging back a couple of extra yards so as not to spook them.
14:10, Hyde Park – Their motor car has now pulled into what seems to be a garage on 35 E 52nd Street. We’re stationed south of the entrance without a clear view of what’s going on inside, and I’m not getting too close to blow cover.
14:30 – Something’s up, I can feel it. Just had a cargo truck swing by real slow past our motor, then turn into the same garage. Two guards are outside to direct it in. This could be some sort of hooch deal?
14:35 – The motor car and truck have both left the garage, headed North. We are in pursuit. Unclear if the occupants of the motor car are the same as before, and I cannot identify the driver of the truck.
15:15, Outskirts of Woodlawn – No longer in pursuit. Followed motor and truck to the south end of Washington park. An arm came out of the motor in a beckoning motion and the truck accelerated and overtook it. The motor stopped in the middle of the road and the four occupants stepped out of the vehicle. All faces were covered with bandit scarves and they pointed tommy guns directly at our motor as we approached. They said nothing, just stood there aiming. I swear one was Capone. I could see him grinning under that mask, but of course I can’t prove it was him — beyond those jazzy fuckin’ shoes he wears. We sat at their mercy and after a minute they returned to their motor and took off heading west. What could I do? Take on all four with a fucking pistol? I can’t believe the nerve of these guys. Standing in the street in the middle of the day with automatic weapons.
15:30 – Returning to base. Who knows where that truck went to get the deal done? We now have known addresses for Capone-associated rackets on record at least. They can be added to the ongoing investigation.
Watch the Chicago Chronicles video on Al Capone:
[previewyoutube="e4ljgWuUhH0;full"]
That's right, boss - we have a release date!
Empire of Sin will be coming to PC, Mac, Switch, Xbox One and PlayStation 4 on December 1, 2020!
♠️ That's right, boss - we have a release date! ♠️
Pre-order now: http://pdxint.at/STEAM_EoS_Pre-order
[previewyoutube="49XkSdBM1HM;full"]
Chicago Chronicles: Tutorial
An original Scarface and a symbol of a prohibition-era crime boss - yes, that's Al Capone! Join us in the new streaming series, where we will make an attempt to conquer Chicago and become real kingpins of the underground world!
Join Brenda Romero and Ian O'Neill as they venture through the tutorial, laying the cornerstone for their Empire of Sin - today at 5 PM CEST / 8 AM PDT on http://twitch.tv/paradoxinteractive!
Boss Spotlight: Elvira Duarte
Elvira Duarte has achieved what few others in her profession have managed to do: live into old age and still remain an active member of a criminal empire. She’s not some periphery player either, leeching in the shadows of younger, bigger fish. She’s a ruthless, tenacious gang leader bent on claiming more stake in Chicago’s fortune than any of the pissants half her age.
A whole life lived before coming to Chicago, Duarte began her life in crime in her native Mexico. She had a natural flair for the business and an unforgiving attitude toward challengers to her regime. Working her way up the ranks, she became a gang leader before setting her sights on a better, more fruitful life for her and her sons in Chicago. She upped sticks and came to the windy city to start all over again. It didn’t take her long to get the lay of the land. Using her skill and experience, she muscled her way into the best of the city’s profits. Naturally, she made her way back to the position that fits her so well: gang leader of Los Luceros. Elvira came from nothing, twice, and carved a path to criminal royalty. Providing where she can, she guides her gang using her work ethic. She demands they be as resilient and bull-headed as her, instilling extreme loyalty and confidence among her followers.
At a glance, there are many who would depreciate Elvira to a frail old timer. This is their mistake, and one she plays to her advantage when the opportunity arises. This long in the game, Elvira is under no illusion as to what it takes to get what’s desired. She is neither phased nor deterred by the prospect of breaking bones, or ending lives to further her own end in this wild city. What some call callousness, she calls business. Jaded to the pleas and bargaining of condemned enemies, if she doesn’t get what she's looking for on first request, she doesn’t think twice about pulling the trigger. She has plenty of heavies to clean up the mess afterward.
Elvira has outlived countless other gang lords who have fancied themselves kingpins of the city through their schemes and ventures. The demise of each one has given her knowledge and experience of how not to do things. She can smell lies, betrayal, and ambitious ego under the best poker faces. There is no scam, backhanded deal, or mutiny she hasn’t heard of - or used herself in the past. She’s already four steps ahead of those considering the idea of attacking her domain.
After a lifetime of cunning and violence, backed up by a gang of stone hearted trigger fingers, it shouldn’t be long before she sees herself as sole ruler of Chicago.
The Letters
Raul, the adopted son of Elvira sent a letter to his relatives in Mexico to learn more about his mother and her roots. This is the translation of the response he received from his Tia Yoly.
Hello Mijito,
Raul, this is what I remember about my sister Elvira: she was a very proud woman, hard and strong. She was so rigid and tough; the only person I was ever afraid of. Elvira was a business woman and did not put up with any weakness from anyone. She raised her family during very hard times and had to do whatever she had to do to make ends meet.
Tough as she was, she always paid it forward. Elvira helped so many people throughout her time in Hermosillo. Everywhere she went around here, she was well known. Police, professionals and other locals would always say hello to her. She raised her family the only way she knew how to.
I don’t know when or how we came to get into the business we did, but we did. With the help of your Tios and I, she decided on brothels. They were combined with bars and restaurants. They were named ‘Waikiki’, the ‘B-21’, and the other one...I don’t remember the name.
Your Tios were all bartenders, and we all helped out. Elvira had a friend at one time who couldn’t take care of her child, and asked Elvira to raise him. That child was you, Raul, and she raised you as her own. As you know, Mama Elvira was very strict with her children. Josephina, your sister, rebelled when you were still a baby. She ran away to Los Angeles. The last I heard she became a nurse.
Elvira used to always help the poor and took in children. At one time she probably had around thirty. I always remember having new nephews and nieces to meet.
Once, she won a quarter of a million pesos in a lottery. After that, she had a little chapel built across the street from our family house. She opened a second-hand store in Hermosillo, and she would help many people get back on their feet. All in all, Elvira was an extraordinary, tough, hard working person in our life. She did what she had to do to support her family in tough, unapologetic times. She wouldn’t stand for weakness.
I loved her but was always afraid of her. After she got a hardening of her arteries in the back of her neck, she ate rattlesnake meat. She heard it was a good remedy. She would pay a man to collect some snakes, and she would blend the meat up and eat it. She claimed that it helped. I remember attending our business meetings, sitting across the table from her as she chewed on it. I do not know how she is managing now. I imagine there are fewer rattlesnakes in Chicago.
Her house is still here. Someday you must come to see it. I have her wedding picture if you want me to send it to you. I hope you guys are safe and well.
Take care of yourself mijito, love you.
Aunt Yoly.
P.S.: If you ever want to find out about Grandpa, who was a revolutionary soldier and fought with Pancho Villa, get in touch with Tio Donny. He knows all about it.
A translation of a letter written by Elvira when she left Mexico. The letter is addressed to the Madam of one of her operations.
Madam Maria,
I leave the houses under your control for now. You have proven yourself ready. I always told you - never be sentimental. Here is a case in point. My life in Mexico has reached a hiatus, and I have no time nor like for goodbyes. I have made my choice. It is time to bring our operation elsewhere. What I have achieved here is my greatest pride. Now I will expand across the border, to capitalise on the affluence of foreign soil. Chicago seems the right place to spread our influence.
In a way, I am back to my roots, which will be good for me. The easy life can become boring, I need the challenge. I need hard people who can make hard choices, adept to the values of real work. That is what our business runs on. For this reason, I’m leaving with no more than I require and a loaded pistol. Whatever is left in our house, the safe, my office, is yours to manage. Spend it, invest it, build upon our empire.
I once considered retiring to what my mama would call “a decent life,” but thought better of it. I have acquired too much knowledge over our years here to squander it on honest living. The old ways are best, and our business model will translate well in America. Real money is rooted in the thrill, desire and false hope of common people, not the work of respectable professions. Remember that, tailor the house toward it, and we will have an operation that spans two nations.
I am leaving swiftly, without warning, so we can avoid your teary farewell. Life is hard, and you need to harden to it. Now take what I taught you and continue the empire. I will do the same in Chicago, bring our business to people who know no better. They will have their eyes opened and their pockets emptied, and I will build another fortune with the help of my sons.
I do not worry for you - you have shown me time and again that I have no reason to - so, do not worry for me. Look after yourself. Until we meet again.
Vaya con Dios,
El.
Watch the Boss Spotlight on Elvira Duarte here:
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