Fahrenheit 1600 (Victor Kozol) (11 page)

Chapter 22

Euphoria at Rosselli’s

Back in New York, the weekly dinner meeting of
Carlo’s family has good reason for celebrating. After years of frustration with
prosecutions and convictions from DNA and other evidence bedeviling the family,
finally there is something good to report. The first disposal by cremation has
occurred and it is a success. While the subject of this project one Charley
Jones was a really minor player, it is a fact that this new crematory works and
that bodes well for the future. The report of Sam Giannetti makes him the star
of the show tonight. For a minimum expenditure of less than $50,000 the family
has a permanently installed facility to use into the foreseeable future. Its
location, one hundred miles from New York, is far enough away from any local
jurisdictions, that it should be next to impossible to connect Duryea,
Pennsylvania with Brooklyn.

The only weak link would be the operator in
Pennsylvania, and Sam assures his colleagues that Victor is as solidly
committed to this as if he were part of our family. That remark is probably a
stretch, given the instability of Victor’s personality. The same weaknesses
that brought Victor aboard, could work against the family if pressure is ever
exerted on Victor by any law enforcement authorities. Victor has been turned
once, maybe he could be turned again and render state’s evidence. This is a
question that no one is asking on this Friday night.

The other members of the group of twelve are only
looking at the subject as a typical legit business venture they do all the
time. They buy into a business; once they own it the operations will now be
skewed towards the new owners. It was much like buying the Ajax garbage
disposal company last month. This was the last independent hauler in Brooklyn
who was undercutting the mob’s prices. Presto, the Ajax prices are now higher
than the mob’s other haulers. And no one can say anything, because Sam has the
deed for the Ajax Corporation in his safe.

Carlo instructs the group that after getting approval
from him for a hit, Vinnie is to be contacted immediately after the hit and the
transfer of the body to him will happen at one of the dock warehouses that are
secure. This policy will be effective until further notice. Also, the members
can put out the word to their lieutenants that we can now become more
aggressive in handling transgressors. Just like with Charley Jones, we don’t
have to only target problems at the higher end we can tighten up the ranks down
to the runners and bag men. All agree this could put the family back to the
position of strength they enjoyed in the good old days, when they could wack
most anyone with impunity and walk away.

Yes, it is a new day and Carlo orders the wine
steward to break out a couple bottles of the finest French Champagne for the
celebration. However, this is a celebration that must stay cloistered within
the four walls of this room; this was the case with most of the activities of
Carlo’s family.

Chapter 23

Jack Cardigan

It has often been a joke among those in the know
that the mob needs enforcers who turn to violence for collections because they
can’t sue for payment in a court of law. Yes, the verbal contract you make with
your bookie would never see the light of day in any American court. There is no
redress for an illegal action. So, crime families have to employ their own
enforcers to bring in outstanding debts. Sometimes special members do nothing
but enforce. These are the guys who are the bone breakers and possibly even
executioners. But, like all collection agencies, the mob will first resort to
the regular bag men and runners whom the bets were placed with in the first
place.

Jack Cardigan has been gambling with his Dellveccio
“bagman” Luigi, for the last several years. Jack having no family or other
responsibilities spent his extra money winning and losing each week. Jack
thoroughly enjoyed himself watching the ponies run, and professional sports
bets. But when Jack loses his job as a maintenance man on Wall Street, his
spending and living money dries up quickly.

While he is looking for new employment, he
rationalizes that only through placing heavier bets can he come up with the
cash he will need to sustain himself. No gambler ever looks at his past track record
to see if this theory really justifies putting in larger wagers. The thrill of
the action is too great to consider this. Jack empties his savings of $6,000
and places heavy bets on a couple of games and five ponies in various races for
the week. He wins one race and one game, but the losses take out half of his
starting capital.

He then appeals to his man Luigi, to get him some
credit from the house for next week’s gambling. Luigi tells him he is good for
$10K on the cuff. A grateful Jack now bets another $5K on ponies and games. He
loses $3K when the week’s tally is in. He carries on like this for two more
weeks with the result he is wiped out. He now lost his $5K of savings and
another $10K loan from the organization …

Jack is now spending more time at Bozos, his
favorite local bar drowning his sorrows and watching games and races he can no
longer bet on. Three weeks later on a Wednesday night he is returning to his
apartment late when he is startled to hear a familiar voice behind him. Turning
around he sees Luigi quickly closing the distance and coming up alongside of
him.

“Watsamatta Jack, you no longer talk to Luigi? Well
Jack right now you and me gotta talk. See da boss is asking me for da $10K plus
the $1K interest you owe us fur last month, he tinks maybe you don’t like us
anymore and took your business elsewhere.”

“No, no, Luigi, I’ve been out of work for a couple
weeks, I don’t have the dough right now, but I’m working on something, and then
I can get straight with you guys again.”

“No Jack, now you listen, dat is not a date or a
place when da dough is coming for repayment. No bank or loan company would
accept dat explanation, why shuz I?”

“Well Luigi when you strip away all of the talk
here, I got no job, assets, or other income to pay you back with. You might
even compare me with a very large turnip, if you squeeze it nothing comes out.”

“See Jack, dat is where your tingin ain’t holdin no
water, you aint no turnip, and if you are squeezed sometin will come out, and
it won’t be good for your long term healt, kabish? Please don’t insult me with
dis attitude, I am only trying ta do what is best fur your future.”

“Are you threatening me Luigi?”

“You can call it what you like, but da next guy ta
see you may not be like me, and he won’t have my patience wit dis very
important matter. I tink you come up with some money and call me in da next
couple of days so dat you and me can work dis out like gentlemen.”

“I’ll try Luigi, but threatening me isn’t going to
get your money back.”

Jack is plenty scared, but he is hoping that $10K
isn’t enough to bring the real bone breaking enforcers down on him. Three days
later he calls Luigi and lies, “Luigi, I got a lead on a restaurant job
downtown, but it will take time to get the money together from working there. Right
now I have zero to give you”

“Alright Jack have it your way, bye.”

After another week Jack is home one night really
worried about still no job and the gambling debt. But he can do nothing,
because he is trapped in a situation he has no control over. The door buzzer
sounds and Jack hollers “Who is it?”

“UPS,” the voice from the other side of the door
responds.

Jack doesn’t think he ordered anything, but he
instinctively opens the door. With that all hell breaks loose, as two goons
tumble into his living room and force Jack down into his TV chair.

“Luigi sends his regards,” the larger of the two
says as he pounds Jack in the stomach with a clenched fist.

“Ugh,” Jack cries out.

“We are going to ask you just once nicely, duh you
have da money fur us?”

Jack shakes his head, but the motion is stopped by a
volley of fists as he gets pummeled in the face by the second goon. He grunts
in pain, but the fists keep flying, until Jack is bloodied and slumped over
limp and near passed out in his chair.

“Enough Enrico,” says the first goon, “Listen real
careful Jack, dis aint nutin compared to what happens if we don’t hear from you
wit da money next week.”

With that they leave as quickly as they entered. Jack
is panting, sweating, and might have soiled himself after the last horrible
five minutes. He is almost immobilized and his face is really starting to
throb. Who to call, and what to say? Jack spends the next two days home nursing
his wounds. He has ice bags on both of his eyes which are swollen along with
his face to twice their normal size. He decides he has to end this once and for
all.

He calls Luigi and says, “I have pictures of the
beating your guys gave me, and if they ever come near me again I am going
straight to the police.”

Luigi hangs up on Jack, as this is not the news he
wanted to hear. He is now forced to call Dominic, his lieutenant who runs
Luigi’s neighborhood territory.

“Look Dominic, dis guy Jack is becoming a loose
cannon. He is talking about becoming a canary and singing about us to da cops.”

“Okay Luigi, you did your part. I may call on you to
help later after I decide how to handle this situation.”

Jack meanwhile feels relieved; he finally told Luigi
that he is no longer going to be intimidated by mob’s threats. What he doesn’t
know is that Dominic is on the phone to Carlo looking for permission to head
off a possible problem by wacking him. Carlo responds to Dominic, for a lousy
$10K I would not have you take him out, but his threat of going to the cops
takes this to a new level. Carlo is feeling much less inhibited with his new
crematory scheme. Here is a case where he might have written off the 10Gs just
to keep the peace. However, now he yearns to get back the old respect on the street
that lately seemed to be lost.

“You have my permission to wack Jack. By the way,
take Enrico and Luigi along since they already know him; then use our new
procedure and call Vinnie he will take it from there. Jack will be given a
proper sendoff.”

“Okay boss; consider it done.”

Jack wakes up the next day and again feels insecure.
It was too easy to get to him before, how easy would it be for them to do it
again? How safe is he now? Jack has a cousin Robby, who is a detective in the
NYPD Manhattan Bureau.

He looks up the number of the 16
^th
precinct and asks, “Is detective Robinson in?”

“No, I’m sorry he is off until tomorrow, do you want
to leave a message or can someone else help you?”

“No, I’ll just call back later thank you.”

Jack doesn’t know where Robby lives and doesn’t want
to disturb his aging mother for the number. It can keep until tomorrow he tells
himself.

Later that night, Jack is leaving Bozo’s after a
couple of beers and a good basketball game. On the quiet street late at night
walking home he hears an engine noise following him down the street. He turns
and sees a black suburban driving slowly and keeping about fifty feet behind
him. Jack doesn’t need any further clues as to who this could be. He takes off
running and cuts a hard right into an alleyway between two buildings. Behind
him, he hears car doors open and footsteps getting louder coming from behind.
Jack, still being agile, gets to a five foot high gate at the end of the alley
and scampers over. He knows this isn’t the end of the chase, so he looks for
some open space to run towards. On the left is another street and Jack races
down the sidewalk. He doesn’t see anyone behind him, so he slows his pace and
tries to plan his next move. Before he can get his next breath, he sees the
black suburban with its lights off barreling down the sidewalk directly towards
him. He tries to duck to the right but is hit head on by the left fender of the
6,000 pound SUV. With a sickening thud, his neck is broken and his body is catapulted
ten feet into the air.

Luigi jumps out of the back of the Suburban and
looks at Jack’s mangled body and says, “See what happens when you disrespect
us, you lowly piece of shit. We gave youse a chance and you had da balls tu
threaten me and my people; you got what you deserve.”

Dominic, who is supervising this operation, gives
the order, load him up and head for the warehouse boys.”

He then calls Vinnie to meet them with the “mortuary
van.” One more customer for a trip to Pennsylvania. In two more hours, Vic’s
phone will ring in Duryea, it will be his second operation for the mob.