Chapter 16

 

 

While Julie is getting the addresses for the senior Paganellis, the twins are engaged in a conference call with Nick Petrillo. “I got you some time to try your blackmail schemes. You’ve got sixty days to try things your way during which your new partners will lay off your targets for acquisition. After that, they’ll try their methods of persuasion. I’ll take my reward in Franklins. Put them in a sealed envelope which will be picked up by someone I’ll send over to your office at three this afternoon. The individual will identify himself as Benjie. It’s not the brightest idea I’ve ever had, but it kind of fits the situation."

 

Duilio says, “We appreciate your effort, Nick. The money will be here and ready to go at three today.”

 

Breaking the connection Duilio says, “Okay, Riccardo, it’s time to turn loose the threat of scandal on these suckers and get their sweating backs up against the wall. It shouldn’t take long to have them agreeing to sign on the dotted line. What’s really nice about this is no one will have any idea it’s us doing the blackmailing. The sellers will think it’s some unknown unscrupulous off shore investor using Investors Anonymous as a go between. When the time comes, we can set up a shell company to put on the paperwork, not leaving any track of the connection between it and us.”

 

“And best of all, there will be no need for any more needless killing. When do we launch the first salvo and on whom?”

 

“ASAP. There’s no reason why we can’t start today. Let’s review what we have on each owner and prioritize based on the severity of what Haggerty’s uncovered. Bro, I think we’re about to take a giant step toward getting what we want. Since we’re offering better than market value for these wineries, selling out shouldn’t be that bitter of a pill to swallow. I don’t see anything that can stop us now.”

 

Duilio might not be so confident if he knew his dad and granddad are about to be approached by the Napa Valley Sheriff Department for their input on what’s been going on.

 

As the Paganelli brothers are lining up the first victim of their blackmail scheme, Derrick and Julie are driving out to pay a visit to Basilio and Alfonso Paganelli. When they pull into the driveway of Basilio’s house, two impressively built and barking black Labs rundown form the front porch to check them out and the commotion brings two elderly men outside to see what’s caught the dogs’ attention. Derrick says, “We may have lucked out and caught father and son together.”

 

As they’re driving an unmarked car and are leery of getting out of the car because the dogs don’t appear to be too friendly, Derrick lowers the driver’s window to talk with the two men. “We’re with the Napa Valley Sheriff Department. I’m Detective Sergeant Derrick Chandler and my partner here is Deputy Sheriff Julie Stuyvesant. We’re looking for Basilio Paganelli. We’ve stopped by to ask for his help with our investigation into what has been happening lately at some of the local wineries.”

 

The taller of the two says, “I’m Basilio and this is my son Alfonso. As for what has been happening lately at the local wineries, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

 

Alfonso adds, “We’ve been retired for a while now and spend most of our time, fishing and playing bocce, shooting pool, playing shuffle board and throwing darts at the local senior community center. Occasionally, we’ll go bowling or play some poker with friends. You know, doing the things that give us pleasure and avoiding anything that will spoil our fun. We’ve worked too hard to get where we are to go spoiling it with work related issues.”

 

Derrick responds with, “Even though you are no longer involved in the winery industry, you both have enormous amounts of knowledge about the industry that might be quite helpful to us. Can you spare some time to talk with us?”

 

Basilio says, “Sure, come on in. Our wives are off to San Francisco for a couple of days and Alfonso and I aren’t the most domesticated men in the world, so you’ll find the house a little messy.”

 

Derrick says, “Being a bachelor myself, I can relate. When we get out of the car, will your dogs think it’s snack time?”

 

“Not unless you try to hurt them or one of us. Ebony, Sable, be quiet. On the porch. Go.”

 

The dogs immediately obeyed without a backward glance.

 

As she and Derrick get out of the car Julie says, “That’s impressive. Do they always obey you like that?”

 

“Except when a squirrel or a bird has gotten their attention. Then all bets are off and I just have to wait until they tire themselves out. They’re sisters and I’ve had them since they were pups. They’ve given me many hours of pleasure and training them has been quite easy. Come. Follow me.”

 

Basilio takes them into the kitchen and offers them some freshly brewed coffee which is readily accepted since the station’s coffee is loaded with caffeine and devoid of any pleasant taste. They all sit down at a large circular oak table and Basilio starts things off with, “Okay, fill us in on what has been going on and how you think we might be able to help you with your investigation.”

 

Derrick fills them in on the acquisition attempts, the refusals, the subsequent sabotage incidents and the killing at the Parmentier Winery. “We’ve talked with the owners and employees of the wineries involved and were given the opportunity to speak at the Napa Valley Vintners Association. The word is out to all of the wineries in Napa Valley to be on the alert for anything suspicious and channels of communication have been opened between them and the Sheriff Department. We’ve done everything we can think of to lay a solid foundation for our investigation and are hoping you can provide us with some additional input that might strengthen that foundation.”

 

Alfonso asks, “Do you have any suspects yet?”

 

Derrick has been thinking about how he would answer this question if it came up and has decided to be evasive for the moment. “We’ve got some hunches, some gut feelings, but as yet nothing substantial enough to comfortably put anyone in the suspect category. We’re keeping these feelings to ourselves for now because we don’t want to ruin some innocent person’s or persons’ reputations if we’re wrong. Does anybody come to either of your minds that you think might warrant some of our attention? No one will know about our talk this morning, so don’t worry about any repercussions.”

 

Father and son lapse into deep concentration, occasionally glancing at each other, and it is a good five minutes before Alfonso says, “I’m surprised Paganelli Wineries hasn’t been approached. It seems to me they’d be a prime target for acquisition.”

 

Derrick has to exercise every ounce of his self-control to keep his poker face in place and responds with, “That thought has crossed our minds as well.”

 

The silence that ensued after this exchange was very revealing to both Derrick and Julie. It was apparent to them that the elder Paganellis were beginning to wonder if the twins were somehow involved in the attacks on some of the wineries in the Napa Valley.

 

Basilio finally breaks the silence with, “Nobody or nothing helpful comes to mind at the moment, but let us think about it some more and if something does occur to us we’ll get in touch with you. How would we do that?”

 

Taking his business card holder from his jacket pocket Derrick answers with, “Here are a couple of my business cards which contain my contact information. We appreciate the time you spent with us this morning and hope something will come to mind that will prove to be helpful to us.”

 

As they back out of the driveway to head back to the station Derrick says, “I think we just stirred up a heap of trouble for the Paganelli twins. Although it’s too much to expect a grandfather or father to put the spotlight on any family member without first looking into matters themselves, I think they’re going to probe for answers to their questions which is going to shake up the twins big time and maybe motivate them to do something careless enough to put them behind bars if our assumptions about them are on target.”

 

“You put on a good poker face in there, but there was deep concern on the faces of dad and granddad. My gut is telling me that they are honest men and will raise the roof if they think the twins are involved in this.”

 

“I’m hoping they don’t get hurt in the process.”

 

“You don’t think the twins would do anything to hurt them do you, their father and grandfather?”

 

“I’m developing a strong dislike for those two and wouldn’t put anything past them if it meant getting what they want.”

 

“I hope nothing happens to them. I’ve taken a liking to them. They personify the dream of all immigrants, coming to America and building a good life for themselves.”

 

“I think we might have just taken the first step into tempting the twins to do something about me. When we get back to the office I want to start learning everything we can about Pelegrinno and Conti so we have a better idea of who we’re dealing with and who poses a serious danger to me and by association perhaps to you.”