8

SAL TARANTINO USED THE intercom to call his son into his office. The shades on the windows close to his desk were pulled all the way down, always a sign that he wanted nothing on Atwells Avenue to divert his attention from what he was doing.

“Salvy,” he began, as soon as Sandy walked into his office, “I was looking at the numbers for Ocean State Wire & Cable, what we’ve got through last month. We’re taking a bad beating there this year, the worst since we invested in them. Maybe it’s time for us to try and get what we can for our thirty-five percent. I don’t trust the Platt brothers, especially the older one. We could wake up tomorrow and find out they filed for bankruptcy without warning us. They’re going to do what’s best for them and not worry about the Tarantino family.”

Sandy did not sit down. “I saw the latest profit and loss statement from Ocean State when it came in, Pop. I called Fiore about it, and even told him we were thinking about selling our interest. I let him know it’s the worst performing company we’ve put money into. He told me to sit tight while he tried to get some answers for us. When he called back, he said the company still looks good for the long run, that most of the problem has to do with the recession. He said he asked three different brokers to research the wire industry, and what they told him is that all the producers are hurting, not just Ocean State.”

“Have they all got unions?” Sal asked.

“I don’t know, Pop.”

“Because Ocean State’s contract with the goddam Machinists is coming up soon and I don’t see where the company’s got any room to give the union anything. That could mean a strike if we can’t get to the right people, and then the Platts might just say ‘Screw it’ and shut the place down. Salvy, I want you to stay on top of this situation because it worries me. And see if there are any potential buyers for our shares in the company in case we decide to get out quick.”

“Okay, I will.”

“And speaking of Fiore, what’s with the group you’ve been trying to put together? Are we getting support from the names on that list?”

“We definitely are. So far, it’s looking real good.”

“Have you got that campaign manager yet, the one you told me about?”

“Not signed on the dotted line, but we’re pretty close. I’ve still got to work out a few more details. I should know something definite soon.”

“Is he expensive?”

“He knows what he’s worth.”

“How much up front?”

“Forty percent in our case, but that’s because Fiore’s an absolute nobody right now. This guy likes getting paid, but winning means more to him than the money. Doug will be in good hands if we can wrap him up.”

“Good. Okay, I’m taking the rest of the day off.”