The Killing of a Chinese Bookie

In the seedy underbelly of 1970s Hollywood, Cosmo Vittelli ran a dingy cabaret, where women in various states of undress took to the stage to entertain the patrons. Cosmo was not just the proprietor but also the owner of these women's lives, at least, in so far as he provided for them. They became like a surrogate family to him, and he genuinely cared for their well-being. However, his paternal instincts and generosity towards his performers often put him at odds with the demands of keeping such a business afloat. In a dingy backroom, hidden from prying eyes, Cosmo liked to gamble – often with disastrous results. His habit of losing big-time at these underground casinos had gotten him deep in debt with several unsavory characters. Among these creditors was Mort, a menacing underworld figure whose ruthless reputation was legendary. Mort's casino was a den of vice, where gamblers often lost their shirt, and the rules were set by none other than Mort himself. Cosmo's latest misfortune occurred at one of his regular visits to Mort's underground establishment. He had bet big, hoping to turn his luck around but ended up on the losing side again. This time, however, the sum was significant enough to catch Mort's attention. Instead of offering a sympathetic ear or a temporary extension on the payments, Mort decided to extract compensation from Cosmo in a different form. He called in the favor, offering Cosmo an 'opportunity' to pay off his debt by taking out a rival bookie, Franklin 'The Hammer' Rizzo. Rizzo was a nasty piece of work, known not only for his aggressive tactics but also for being well-protected by an organized crime syndicate. He was the type of man who wouldn't hesitate to 'accidentally' knock out a rival to further his own interests. This, Mort thought, was exactly the kind of task Cosmo would be able to accomplish. Mort had a reason to believe Cosmo was capable of this feat – not because of any inherent qualities that might have suggested Cosmo could successfully pull off such a heinous act, but largely due to his desperation and the pressure from his creditors. Cosmo found himself caught between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, he had no choice but to comply with Mort's demand, and on the other, taking out a mafia-protected bookie was akin to committing a crime, albeit, indirectly. He knew the potential consequences of refusal – he had seen what happened to those who crossed Mort. In the underworld, non-payment of debts often translated into severe reprisals, or worse. Cosmo reluctantly accepted the job and set his mind to figuring out how to take out Rizzo without putting himself or those he cares about in grave danger.