Stolen Blessings by Lawrence Sanders

Author:Lawrence Sanders
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-26T16:00:00+00:00

Queens, NY

A choice gaggle of goons wait at the bar in Rocco Castellano’s steakhouse. The don and his underboss are in the back room going over lists of names and addresses in the New York area where liquid nitrogen may be purchased.

“Mario Zucchi may be ahead of us on the search” Vito Zivic says, “but not by much.”

“What he’s doing is illegal,” Castellano says somberly. “According to the Treaty of Hackensack, signed in 1986, everyone agreed not to invade another guy’s territory. Not for any kind of business. Not even a vacation without tipping off the boss. And now The Man from Chicago sends Zucchi to New York on the qt, hoping to make a big score. It’s just not proper. How would he like it if I was to take out a bank in Vegas, say, or hit an armored truck in LA.”

“What if Mario finds Marilyn’s eggs before we do, Rocco? What happens then?”

“We might have to go to the futons,” Castellano says darkly, “I’ll talk to the other Families about this, and see if they’ll back me up. I tell you, if Mario finds those eggs before we do, the shit will really hit the fan. You ever been in an all-out war?”

“No, I never have.”

“Well, it ain’t fun. But sometimes you gotta do it to keep the peace. Now let’s get those guys on the street. You give them their orders and tell them to use muscle if they have to. All I want is results.”

After Zivic leaves, Castellano sits for a few moments drumming blunt fingers on his desk top. Then he picks up the phone and calls The Man from Chicago.

.“Hey, compagno,” he says cheerily, “how’s your health?”

“Couldn’t be better, Rocco, thank God. And you?”

“Not a care in the world.”

“Glad to hear it. What’s on your mind?”

“Listen, I thought I’d take a few days off, fly to Vegas, lose some money. I just wanted you to know that me and Vito Zivic will be going out for some laughs.”

“It’s right and proper that you should tell me,” The Man says approvingly. “Shows respect. You’ll be staying at my joint?”

“If it’s okay with you.”

“I’d be insulted if you didn’t. I’ll call and tell them to lay it on for you. How long will you be there?”

“Oh, maybe a week or so. I gotta get out of New York and breathe some fresh air.”

“Good idea. Stay as long as you like. You’re comped; you know that. It’s good you should take some time off. Recharge your batteries.” “That’s what I figure on doing. My organization can get along without me for a week; it’s not going to fall apart.”

“You’re doing the right thing, Rocco.” Castellano hangs up. “Bastardo!” he says aloud, satisfied he’s got Chicago thinking that he’ll be leaving town and Mario Zucchi will be free to find Marilyn’s eggs without competition.

Then Castellano calls the dons of the other local Families. If they’re not in, he talks to their consiglieres. He sets up a meet at his home in Forest Hills.

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