• II •

                                    

                                          
"It is with great pleasure, however, that I introduce Wilbur Soot as the new mob boss of the Syndicate," Phil said, beckoning Wilbur to stand closer to him. The highest ranking members of the Syndicate were gathered around them. The announcement had gone well, everyone understanding Phil's reasoning of just wanting a break. 
 "Thank you, Phil," Wilbur said. "I will do everything it takes to keep the Syndicate as the ruling mafia group." 
And with that, the announcement was over. Phil, Wilbur, Tommy, and Techno returned to their house, sitting down at their dinner table. 
 "So where will you go?" Wilbur asked as Phil began packing his things. 
 "Just away," he said. "Not forever, but I expect you to come up with a good coverup as to why the biggest businessman is leaving for a while." 
 Wilbur smirked. "So you're not gonna tell us anything more about who you met, I take it?" 
Phil sighed and was silent for a moment. 
 "She's wonderful, she really is," he said at last. Tommy gasped obnoxiously. 
 "Oooh dad's got a girlfriend," he teased. Techno chuckled a bit. 
Phil glares at him and sighed. "Well, fiancé, but yes." 
"What the fuck, how long have you been hiding this from us?" Tommy half shrieked. Wilbur chuckled. 
 "Engaged half a year ago, if I put everything together correctly," Wilbur said. "That's when your silver ring showed up." 
Phil looked down at his hand, fiddling with the silver ring on his ring finger. 
 "I'm sure she's lovely, and we would all love to meet her," Wilbur said. 
Techno cleared his throat. "Well, I'd hate to cut this short, but Tommy and I really need to go and inform the rest of the Syndicate about the change in leadership." 
Tommy nodded. He and Techno stood up, making their way to the door. Techno hung back for a few seconds while Tommy ran ahead. 
 "And congratulations," Techno said. "To both of you." 
And the door was closed and they were gone. Phil looked to Wilbur. 
 "You sure you're up for this?" He asked. Wilbur grinned. 
 "Of course I am." 
...
It was yet another long day at the police station. Wilbur was working to make sure nobody questioned why a wealthy businessman would just up and leave without much of a warning, but so far nobody seemed suspicious of anything. That was until about halfway through the day. 
 "Soot," the chief of police said as she pushed the door to Wilbur's office open. Wilbur quickly shoved the cigarette he had been about to light into his pocket, smiling like he had done nothing wrong. To police chief just sighed, not acknowledging anything with words. "We've got someone down here that thinks that Phil Craft was part of the Las Nevadas Mafia and that's why he left so quickly. Conspiracy theory bullshit if you ask me, but he's asking specifically for you." 
Wilbur laughed. "Phil was in no way involved with the Nevadas. You could clearly see how much he hated them whenever he would talk about Las Nevadas." 
 "Like I said, conspiracy bullshit. But he's still asking for you," the chief said. 
Wilbur groaned. "Fine." 
He stood up and pulled his coat on before walking out the door, nodding a goodbye to the chief, who pointed him in the direction of the meeting room. He pushed through the doors, and to his surprise found a member of the Syndicate sitting there with a small stack of papers in his hands.