The Valletta by Ben Conlon

Author:Ben Conlon [Conlon, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-02-22T23:00:00+00:00

Hewey had conducted an in-depth analysis of all the field reports, statements and interrogation summaries and concluded that there was one POW of interest. Without advising his superiors of his suspicions he made sure that he was included in the POWs transferred to the Valletta for repatriation to Naples. Enzo and then Norman Butler were the only two he shared this information with when he gave them his confidential dossier to read.

Emilio De Cristofaro, known to all as ‘Leo’, was a gentlemen’s tailor by trade. Interrogation revealed that his family had been tailors to the ‘Savino’ Camorra clan. For generations his family had suited the Savino family. Through this connection, the ‘De Cristofaro Brothers, Bespoke Tailors’, had encountered the ‘Vomero Camorra Clan’. The report went on to describe the Vomero district as “a hilly and urbanised area in the centre of Naples, inhabited by the wealthy middle classes”. Leo explained that his uncle and father were the tailors of other Camorra clans; The Arenella Clan, to the north, Soccavo and Fourigrotta Clans to the west, Chiaia clan to the south, Montecalvario Clan to the east, and the Avvocata Clan in the Northeast. Until conscripted into the army, Leo worked with his father Antonio and Uncle Nicola. Their tailor’s shop was opposite the Vesuvian Railway Terminus in Naples. Leo was expected to carry on the tailoring business when he returned after the War.

As far as Hewey was concerned Leo could become the main conduit to the Camorra. Once he had read through the brief Hewey had provided Enzo came to the same conclusion. This potential British asset could be the key for dialogue and co-operation with the Camorra. Their job was to convince Leo to work with them in implementing Operation Valletta.

Early next morning both officers took their seats in the wardroom. Leo was to be interviewed in his own language. Normally, Hewey would request the guard on duty leave when intelligence matters were the subject of any meeting or interview. Fortunately, the guard neither spoke nor understood Italian. So could stay and be their ‘go for’. Enzo had done the homework Hewey had set for him the previous night and was well prepped. For obvious reasons it had been previously agreed all conversation about the case would be in Italian.

“Enzo, forget all that crap about Lucky Luciano. The Americans are not releasing him, so he was not on that Cruiser I showed you yesterday. As far as we know, they have dropped all plans they had about trying to work with the ‘Camorra’ in Naples. So, we do not have to worry about the Cousins fucking things up, which they are inclined to do! I have asked ‘Jeeves’ to fetch us tea and toast in about ten minutes. Private De Cristofaro will be here for interview shortly. Gives you and me time to have a quick cuppa and chat about the format we use.”

“Hewey, how do you want to do this? Formally or informal?”

“Not as an interrogation, more conversational. We need to know in detail what he knows about the Clans, and the families to whom they have allegiance.

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