Born to Lose by James G. Hollock

Author:James G. Hollock
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781606350973
Publisher: Kent State University Press

17

“‘Not guilty!’ That’s what the sunuvabitch said, ‘not guilty’.” Chief Blackie DeLellis gave the news to Joe Zanella’s father, Joe Sr. “After all Hoss’s big talk about pleading guilty to everything, ya know, accepting his just desserts, now here he goes trying to squirm outta things, coward that he is.”

“When did you hear this?” Joe asked.

“Hour ago. Got a call from a deputy friend of mine in the courthouse. He keeps me up on things.”

“Did you really expect differently?”

“I guess not. It’s just now that you, Julie, and the girls will have to go through a trial, bring it all back. How ya doin’, anyway?”

“We’re getting by. Friends, neighbors have all been good. Still, losing Sonny … It’s near six months now and Julia is only a little better. She sleeps too much. It’s going to take some time.”

Inside Futule’s Tavern, the two friends caught up with each other and the news, Blackie drinking a bottle of Iron City, Joe Sr. sipping blackberry wine.

Just after the new year, Hoss was denied a change of venue by Judge Samuel Strauss, who declared that since publicity over the case was nationwide, carried in all news media everywhere, he saw no reason for a change.

“I can tell you I was happy about that,” said Joe, “and it bothered me a lawyer would even ask to move the trial away from here, like ordinary citizens would be so swayed by the papers they couldn’t possibly be fair, can’t think for themselves, use sound judgment. If that’s so, what about the lawyers? They read the same stories. Wouldn’t they then be so blinded to the actual evidence that they couldn’t be true and fair, couldn’t act properly, have to excuse themselves from the proceedings?”

Blackie laughed, “Yeah, tell you what, instead of shippin’ a trial out, let’s bring a few ignorant lawyers in, would cost less.”

Joe unwrapped a cigar and lit up. “Blackie, I’m glad you called, because I want to bring something up to you.” Blackie motioned the barkeep, held up two fingers, said, “Carmen, same thing again,” then looked at Joe. “Sure, what’s up?”

“Did you know Bob Duggan called me last week?”

“Really? What’d he want?”

“To offer Hoss a deal, that’s what. Wanted to know what I thought. It was nice of him to call, but I think it was a courtesy. He wanted to make this deal.”

“A deal about what?”

“Here’s how he explained it … said they were losing hope of ever finding the Peugeots, that Hoss faced the death penalty for Sonny, so he wanted to tell Hoss they’d take death off the table if he’d pinpoint the bodies.”

“Jeez, Joe, whaddya say?”

Said I’d call him back, that I had to think. And I did, thought of nothing else for two days. I didn’t even bring this up to Julia—it would be too much for her—but I talked to my oldest, Barbara. I bleed for the Thompsons. At least I know my boy’s resting at St. Jo’s where his mother and I will join him one day, and I know the Thompsons and the husband don’t have even that small comfort.

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