Mafia Cop by Richard Cagan

Author:Richard Cagan
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781616088576
Published: 2016-10-19T04:00:00+00:00

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Outside the Olive Grove, two black Lincoln Continentals pull up to the curb. The men who are gathered outside the club move aside, lining a path to the front door. Don Alberto's consigliere, Angelo Orabona, exits. His face is stern. He wears a black overcoat with a velvet-trimmed collar. His bowler hat nods as he passes through the line. Anthony Tremato, Scarmello's partner in the regime, follows next. Then Giorgio Amadeo steps out, followed by two of his men who witnessed the Cannelli problem a short time earlier. Six bodyguards leave the second car. They all enter the club.

Of the eleven, only three go into Scarmello's private back room. Orabona is the first to enter. Scarmello looks up in astonishment.

"Signore, welcome. I'm sorry I didn't know you'd be coming to visit me. We, Tony and me, would have prepared something nice for you."

Scarmello feels a surge of helplessness. First in his legs. Then his guts and finally his head. Tremato enters, followed by Amadeo. Cheech Scarmello has his own personal army outside. Protection against kidnappers. But no army can keep these guests out.

"Everything's just fine, Cheech," says Orabona. "We're here on important business."

"If it's the kidnappings and ransom, we have no trouble here." Scarmello looks at his partner, Tremato, for reassurance, but the capo's eyes are chained to the floor. Reassurance is out of his hands. Scarmello feels totally helpless, like Dominic Gatti must have felt just before he clubbed him to death with baseball bats in this very room. He waves his card-playing friends into the front room. His guests sit down.

Orabona speaks. "Some facts have been brought before the Commission. Some very damaging and serious facts. These have been examined by the Fredoni Family first. These are your people. Then the entire Commission heard the evidence. It was decided to test you. Don Alberto has sent me here personally to speak for him and tell you that you have failed that test."

Scarmello writhes uneasily in his chair. "With all respect, Signore, I've done nothing wrong. Nothing to hurt the Family."

"You have sold the Family honor when you sold the Fredoni name."

Orabona motions to Amadeo. Giorgio opens the door and nods. A young man enters the room. He is Frankie Faiella, one of the two men who were present at the Cannelli slapping. When Scarmello sees Faiella's face, his lips and cheeks begin to twitch. His face pales, gripped in horror. On the day before, he had accepted $40,000 from Faiella and in return had brought him into the Fredoni Family. Frankie Faiella was his test and he had failed.

Scarmello says nothing. In his eyes is the surrender of despair. He knows there is nothing he can do. Faiella leaves the room.

The consigliere continues. "Your don has asked me to tell you a story. A man sits on his porch and he enjoys the sun. He hears the birds sing and smells the flowers in the air. Life's good and he's happy. While he sits in his chair, he notices that one of the boards in his porch is soft.

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