"Eddie, I'm sorry I'm causing problems for you," Phil said to begin their telephone conversation.
"I'm not sure that problems with Chicago politicians taking payoffs from the Outfit is something you can take responsibility for," Eddie teased, "but I know what you're getting at.
"There's no need for an apology but I do need you here in the worst sort of way," the head of the Chicago Organized Crime Task Force said with a trace of urgency in his voice.
"Of course I will come," Phil said, "but I'm pretty sure my appearance before the Chicago media is only going to make matters worse."
"Why do think that?" Eddie asked.
Phil went through the same explanation he had given the assistant attorney general. Then he related his suggestion that Buster LeClaire appear as the lead attorney in court as a special prosecutor and repeated his suggestion that Ken Reilly should travel to Shreveport to present himself as the face of the investigation.
Eddie agreed, but wanted one modification.
"I think I need to be in Shreveport as well. You're right. The Chicago media is about to invade that place and I think it's important for them to see me there and hear me participating as an active partner in the investigation," the task force boss said.
"I agree completely," Phil responded.
"Get on a plane. And if I could make a suggestion," Phil said, then paused.
"Sure," Eddie said.
"We'll send you a telegram from Ken explaining how vitally important your presence in Louisiana is for the investigation and we'll send copies of that telegram to the media. Then, we'll set up a joint press conference for you and Ken in Shreveport. What do you think?" Phil asked.
"I think it will go a long way toward calming things down in Chicago," Eddie agreed.
"I'll get the telegram working. Call me back with your flight information. If it's all right with you, we'll have Ken meet your plane and you two can have your press conference right there. It will look more urgent that way," Phil said.
Phil did not admit how embarrassed he was to be manufacturing a spectacle like he had just described. But he had to silently concede that it would have significant impact on the case. Phil's next step was to call Buster.
"There's no business like show business," Buster teased after he had heard the whole thing.
Phil laughed.
"One thing," Marcel LeClaire said.
"I want you to personally call Iris Kelley at WWL and leak my appointment to her. If I'm going to spend this much time away from my practice, my partners need to see that the firm is getting something out of this adventure."
"Done," Phil agreed.
"The papers for your appointment will catch up with you in Shreveport. I imagine Ken will want to fly from Lakefront. You want to ride along?" Phil asked.
"No, I think I'll drive. I want to stop off in Baton Rouge and see Nita," Buster explained.
"Tell her I said hello," Phil said.
"I will, but it would be better if you took a minute and called her yourself. She's been worried sick about you," Buster added.
"She's number three on the list, after Ken and Iris, but before my boss," Phil said laughing.
"Serves him right for getting you into all this," Buster teased.
Somewhere in the course of his activity, Phil had managed to slip on some clothes, but he was clearly delighted when Mo showed up with hot coffee and two bacon and egg sandwiches.
"Thanks," Phil said.
"I'm talking to Nita."
Trooper Melancon reached his hand out and Phil passed over the telephone.
"Hey, Boss," Mo said.
"I just wanted you to know that your boyfriend is safe for now. But if he doesn't stop getting us into all these situations, I may shoot him myself."
All three had a big laugh. Nita wanted to end her conversation with Phil by telling him she loved him.
"Thanks for calling and take care of yourself," she said instead.
"I will," Phil promised before hanging up the phone to call John Brinker.
The scene at Shreveport Regional Airport for the press conference was complete chaos, just perfect for the television audience back in Chicago.
"All rise," the bailiff called at ten the next morning as Judge Hawkins entered the packed courtroom.
"What's this?" the crusty jurist asked the bailiff, an elderly man who knew exactly what the judge was referring to without any further words spoken.
"She's an artist, your honor and I have already warned her that she's not to cause any disruptions," the bailiff answered.
Judge Hawkins looked directly at the stunningly beautiful courtroom artist from Chicago, a woman about fifty years old.
"See to it that you get my good side for the folks up there in Chicago," he said before shocking the entire courtroom with a rare smile.
"Mr. Ruby," the judge called out gruffly.
"Yes, your honor," the New Orleans mob lawyer responded, rising to his feet.
"I'm fully well aware that the purpose of this hearing is to determine the fate of a bail motion. But before you waste a lot of my morning trying to justify your exorbitant fees, I want to make it perfectly clear that there is no way in hell that your client is leaving my jurisdiction.
"You have anything else?"
"Yes, your honor," Billy Ruby replied with a smile.
"We would like to propose that our client be released to the personal custody of an officer of this court, Mr. Johnny Pisanti and that our client remain available to this court inside Mr. Pisanti's home. We're also ready to pay for the expenses incurred by the US Marshals Service to maintain watch over our client in Mr. Pisanti's residence and to post a substantial cash bond in addition to these other conditions."
"How substantial, Mr. Ruby? Would you say a million dollars worth of substantial?" Judge Hawkins asked.
There was a collective gasp in the courtroom and Billy Ruby swallowed very hard.
"Yes, your honor. We would agree to that amount," the lawyer managed.
"Well, Mr. Ruby, I can't for the life of me imagine how a man such as your client could legally come up with a million dollars in cash. And this court has no intention of accepting anything as bond that comes as a result of criminal activity," the judge said, scowling at Ruby.
"Your honor," Billy Ruby protested loudly.
"You don't have to shout, Mr. Ruby, nor feign indignation. I know you're completely familiar with the Fifth Circuit and you won't hesitate to appeal my ruling down there.
"This defendant is remanded to the custody of the US Marshals to be held without bail for trial," the judge said sternly.
"We're adjourned," he added, rapping his gavel sharply before slowly standing.
"All rise," the bailiff called out as Judge Hawkins began to walk out of the courtroom.
The acceptance by Mario Barbato of the million-dollar bail proposal that Judge Hawkins had skillfully dangled in front of him answered the questions of lots of critics and doubters in Chicago and Washington about the way these organized crime cases were being handled.
"Judge: 'No way in hell'" screamed that afternoon's Chicago Today headline. The next morning the Chicago Tribune followed with three major stories and a complete set of sketches from the courtroom. Special Agent Eddie Aimes received lots of praise in the quotes in the Trib stories and in the coverage on the cover of the Washington Post.
However, over a third of one of the Tribune stories was devoted to the behind-the-scenes management and expertise of Assistant Inspector General Phil Adley of the United States Department of Justice.
"No wonder Carlos wanted this kid rubbed out," one of the Chicago task force's informants quoted Sam Giancana as having said after he read the newspaper story.
"Phil's a genius," Eddie told John Brinker in a telephone conversation just before lunch the next day.
"He pushed every appropriate button at just the right time."
"Giancana's talking about you," Danny told Phil in a phone call that afternoon.
"Yeah, I heard. And I suppose that's not good," Phil responded.
"You suppose right. This whole thing has the potential of getting out of hand, just like the Nazi's invasion of Russia," Danny said.
"Well, we've gotten help in Shreveport from Chicago and more people are on the way from Washington. I just got off the phone with Maria. She said some of the reinforcements were on planes right now," Phil offered.
"Yeah, but we can't risk having you set foot in Louisiana for the foreseeable future. And we need you here to coordinate all this mess, particularly with the new people coming in and the investigation threatening to grow beyond our capacity to manage it," Danny replied.
"Wait a minute. Isn't that why we're in business, to put mobsters in jail?" Phil asked, but moved on with the conversation before Danny could answer.
"Look, we've got some serious assets in place. Eddie's a real player and I think we need to keep him in place in Shreveport, at least for a while. And don't forget Buster and Eb. Those guys are heavy hitters,"
"Eb's so tired he can hardly see straight," Danny said.
"Well that's why we've got so much help coming, so we can break up these cases and spread out some of the legal work. And don't forget," Phil said.
"Hold on a minute," Danny interrupted.
"Eddie just walked in. I'm going to hand him the phone."
"Hey, Phil," Eddie said.
"What's up?" Phil asked, sensing that something important had just happened.
"One of our informants in Chicago just heard that Giancana has put a hundred-thousand dollar price on your head. We also heard that the Outfit thinks the Air Force has you wrapped up in Omaha," the Chicago task force boss said.
"Do you have some people you can send to Omaha?" Phil asked.
"Yeah, I guess we could. What do you have in mind?" Eddie asked.
"Maybe we can set a trap? Maybe we can get the marshals service up there to act like they're guarding someone on base?" Phil suggested.
"Possible. It could work all right. Let me get on it," Eddie answered.
"Good hunting," Phil said.
Phil sat quietly for a few moments.
"You know Mo, you and I have lost track the most important element in all of this. We've put all kinds of Mafia guys in jail, but we're not an inch closer to finding Aubrey's killers than the day we started," Phil said to his friend, the Louisiana trooper.
"Well, you asked Silvio on the plane. It seemed pretty clear to me that he didn't know anything," Mo replied.
"Let's go find him. Maybe I didn't ask him the right questions," Phil said.
"You look tired," Phil said to Silvio when they got to the cousins' room.
Silvio Amalfitano was sitting in a chair reading the paper while his cousin Buddy napped on one of the two twin beds.
"Not much happens out here, huh?" Silvio said, indicating with his eyes the thin copy of the Idaho Statesman he held in his hands.
"Wanna get a beer?" Phil invited.
"Sure, why not? Want me to wake Buddy?" the Chicago cousin asked.
"Let him sleep. We can tell the deputy to bring him to us, if he wakes up," Phil answered.
Silvio stood up and followed Phil and Mo out of the room. They picked a table by the window in the Officers Club as far from the bar as possible. There were no customers in the place.
"We're willing to make a deal with the trigger man," Phil tantalized in his opening remarks to Silvio.
The mobster was intrigued, but clearly puzzled.
"I don't get it. Those guys are back in Italy. And anyway, I don't know what they could give you that I haven't already," Silvio said.
"Wrong hit," Phil asserted.
"I want the guys who killed Sheriff Braud and Trooper Fitzmorris. In exchange for fingering the people who set things up, they skip the death penalty."
"I told you on the plane. I don't know anything about those killings," Silvio answered, curious as to where this was going.
"But you either have a good idea who might or you could draw us a map leading to the people who set this up," Phil said, looking at Amalfitano with the complete confidence of someone who knew he was right.
But Silvio sat in silence and Phil knew he was missing something, probably something obvious.
"How much of your money do you figure you can actually get to?" Phil asked after he figured out what he was doing wrong.
Silvio laughed a little.
"Probably none of it," he admitted.
"And nobody's going to send me any of it, even if I tell them where to look, because I'm a rat."
Silvio had a smile on his face that seemed to say, 'What you gonna do?'
"How many kids you have?" Phil asked, now confident he was back on track.
"Five," Silvio answered.
"What if I told you I have a way they can all go to college? Would you help me then?" Phil asked.
Silvio smiled. He had decided to cash in for his kids.
"The old man came up to see Sam about two weeks before your friend was killed," he began.
Phil knew that the old man was the way the Outfit guys referred to Morello.
"Zip was with him?" Phil asked.
Silvio shook his head.
"You see him yourself?" Phil continued.
"No, but everybody was talking about it. The guy rode up on the Panama Limited. Seemed to think he would attract less attention on a train than flying," Silvio answered.
"Funny, after our talk on the plane, I started trying to remember anything that might have involved your case. Then I remembered the train ride and I asked Buddy when your friend got murdered. That's when I started putting things together."
"So who else was in the meeting?" Phil asked.
"Just the old man and Sam. But after, we heard Sam called in Tommy the Moose," Silvio said, as if that cleared up everything.
Phil had no idea where this was going, but he forged ahead.
"What's his real name?" Phil asked.
"Tomaso Musso," Silvio said, "but he's got another nickname."
Silvio left that morsel as bait and Phil took it.
"And?" Phil asked.
"They call him the Executioner. He's a captain, but he has no crew. All the other captains kick part of their take to him and Sam pays him, too. His specialty is taking care of politicians who stray away from us and rats, people like me," Silvio answered.
Phil looked closely at the mobster and concluded that Silvio was very satisfied with himself. Amalfitano was confident he had solved the puzzle.
"So Musso killed Aubrey and the trooper?" Phil asked.
"My guess would be no," Silvio said.
"A couple a times before, Tommy the Moose called in these two old guys from Hartford, real small, maybe close to seventy years old. Nobody would suspect them of anything, but word is they're both stone killers. New York boys use them a lot," Silvio explained.
"Any proof to any of this?" Phil asked, knowing the answer to his question in advance.
Silvio confirmed Phil's suspicion with a shake of the head.
The pieces fell quickly into place for Phil. Danny might already know who the two old men in Connecticut were. There couldn't be too many hit men who fit that description. If Danny didn't know, someone with the New York task force would. Phil picked up the phone and gave Nita's phone number to the base operator.
"I'm with an informant who has just solved Aubrey's murder," he told Nita.
"He has five children and we want to see to it that they all get full scholarships to LSU," Phil said.
"I'm sure the governor will set up the scholarship fund," he added.
"He won't have to. I'll tell him. But I've got the list of donors for things like this and I'll make the calls myself. Give me their names and ages," Nita said.
Phil turned his head directly to Silvio.
"Give me your kids' first names and ages," he said.
"We won't use last names for now," Phil told Nita.
"They'll be changing pretty soon."
"Jennifer is fifteen," Silvio began and they went through the entire list and Nita called them all back to make sure she had them right.
Silvio confirmed the list with a nod.
"Let me talk to your informant," Nita asked Phil.
"Thank you," she began.
"Aubrey Braud was a dear friend. I'm Nita LeClaire, Governor McClellan's assistant. Each of your children will have full educations at LSU. And beginning with Jennifer's arrival, I will keep in touch with all of them while they're here.
"I don't know what else you may have done in your life, but you have done a very good thing today. Thank you again," she said.
Silvio was unable to speak, but managed to hold back his tears as he passed the phone over to Phil.
"Thank you," Nita said to Phil.
"I'll tell the governor."
"You want a glass of water or something?" Phil asked Silvio, who was still unable to speak.
The Mafioso just shook his head.
"Danny," Phil said into the phone a few minutes later.
"Can you get us a federal material witness warrant on one Tomaso Musso, a.k.a. Tommy the Moose? We want to question him about the murders of Aubrey Braud and Billy Fitzmorris.
"And have you ever heard of a couple of old men in Hartford who perform special hits for the mob?" Phil asked.
"Those guys are famous. Nickie Sinatra and Jackie Venezia," Danny answered without hesitation.
"You want material witness warrants for them too?" he asked.
"Yes and do you think Judge Hawkins will sign them based on information from a confidential informant?" Phil asked.
"I'm pretty sure he will. But if not, I suppose I should tell him that Silvio Amalfitano provided the information?" Danny asked.
"Yes, but only if you have to," Phil said.
"And as soon as their feet touch the ground in Shreveport, tell Eb. I'm going to ask him to indict all three of them for capital murder [a state charge that carried the death penalty]."
"Any proof?" Danny asked.
"Just the word of a Mafia puzzle master," Phil replied.
"I'm sure they've killed somebody," Danny quipped.
"That's a safe bet," Phil responded before ending the call.
"You can do that based on what I said?" an amazed Silvio asked.
"Your boss has messed with the wrong people in the wrong place. I've got a grand jury sitting in Shreveport that will indict a ham sandwich, if Eb asks them to," Phil answered.
"Somebody's going to the electric chair."
Phil could tell by Mo's broad smile that his friend did not feel that he had overreached, but he wanted verbal re-enforcement.
"So you don't think I went too far with the information Silvio gave up?" Phil asked.
"As much as it pains me to admit it, I think Sam Boerne is right about you. You are a natural-born cop," the trooper answered.
Phil was somewhat reassured. The material witness warrants were federal and if something went wrong, the responsibility was his. The state murder indictments were another thing. So Phil called Eb and told him the whole story.
"Amalfitano knows what he's talking about?" the Louisiana special prosecutor asked.
"He does," Phil confirmed.
"And you have no reason to believe he's lying to you or misleading you?" Eb followed up.
"None at all," Phil answered.
"I'll get the indictments first thing in the morning. I think we've got a decent chance somebody among the three will talk and we can investigate further based on the information we develop from the cooperating witness," Eb asserted.
"Thanks," Phil said and ended the conversation.
There is no charge for reading this novel. If you like it, please refer your friends. Feel free to highlight, paste and print one copy for your private use. This novel is protected under U.S. Copyright and all rights are reserved. My email address is oakley.phil@gmail.com.
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