Hunters Point: A Novel of San Francisco by Peter Kageyama

Author:Peter Kageyama [Kageyama, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Petersburg Press
Published: 2023-01-16T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

The next day, New Year’s Eve, the Vello brothers took their father’s ashes out on the last boat he’d worked on and returned Carlo to his beloved sea. As they sailed past Hunters Point, they both eyed it like a malignant growth squatting on the bay. Neither said a word, but both had tears in their eyes.

Returning to the dock, Gianni was met by Lilly and young Carlo. They’d brought the family car over, loaded with suitcases. He and Anton looked at each other one last time. “Go. Call us when you get there.” Gianni nodded and got into the drivers’ seat of the red-and-white Chevy Bel Air. As they drove off, Carlo waved out the back window to his uncle, who smiled and waved back. OK, they’re safe, thought Anton.

As the Bel Air reached the top of the road and turned toward the hills and the highway, a dark blue Buick started its engine and slowly creeped down the road following the Bel Air at a distance.

Over the next three days, Kats laid out a surprisingly simple plan to gain access to the base. Anton was reminded that one of their craftsmen, Stefano, had worked over at Hunters Point years ago. They sat down in the shop office with Stefano, and he explained that in 1947, he’d worked for the American Bridge Company. They were charged with building the enormous battleship crane. Standing some ten stories tall, the steel superstructure still dominated the horizon of the base.[7]

“How did you access the base when you went to work?” Kats asked the man.

“We were issued a pass with our name on it along with our company. The men who worked for Bethlehem Steel and Dupont and the other companies had the same kind of identification,” Stefano said.

“So every day you had to show the pass to enter?”

“Technically, yes, but most of the time when the shifts changed, you had hundreds of men entering and exiting, so you just flashed the pass and the guards waved you through. It really didn’t matter unless there were inspectors or visitors on base. Then they paid more attention.”

Kats and Anton looked at each other. Not so crazy after all.

Stefano continued, “There’s security there. It’s in layers. It was easy to get onto base and then just go to your worksite like we did. But getting access to the buildings was much more difficult. There were guards at all the important buildings.”

“And you think it’s the same today?” Kats asked.

“I know it’s the same. My son Marco works out there for the steel company. Same procedures.” He laughed, “They even have the same ID.”

“Do you think we could get a look at your son’s ID?” Anton asked.

“No need. I still have mine,” Stefano said as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his wallet. He opened it up and dug into it, producing a worn, slightly yellowing card. Kats reached out, examined the card, and nodded to Anton.

“Stefano, we need to borrow this,” he said.

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