THE DRIVEWAY OUTSIDE PATRICK Angelo’s home, 10543 Foxberry Lane, Teaneck, New Jersey; 25 August, 1968; 8:36 P.M. On this date, Angelo’s “personal” car (he owned three) was under electronic surveillance by an investigative agency of the U.S. government, which cannot be named at this time, using a device which cannot be revealed. The car was a black Continental, license LPA-46B-8935K. Patrick Angelo and John Anderson sat in the back seat of the parked car.
ANGELO: Sorry I can’t ask you into the house, Duke. The wife’s got some neighbors in tonight for bridge. I figured we could talk better out here.
ANDERSON: Sure, Mr. Angelo. This is okay.
ANGELO: But I brought out some of this cognac you like and a couple of glasses. We might as well be comfortable. Here you are. …
ANDERSON: Thanks.
ANGELO: Success.
ANDERSON: Luck.
[Lapse of four seconds.]
ANGELO: Beautiful. Jesus, that’s like music on the tongue. Duke, I heard you leaned on our boy the other day.
ANDERSON: Parelli? Yes, I leaned on him. He tell you?
ANGELO: He told D’Medico. The Doc told me. What are you doing—setting him up?
ANDERSON: Something like that.
ANGELO: You figured he’s got a short fuse as it is—and not too much brains—so you’ll psych him. Now he’s so sore at you he’s not even using the little brains he’s got. So you’re that much more on top of him.
ANDERSON: I guess that’s it.
[Lapse of seven seconds.]
ANGELO: Or was it you wanted to hate his guts so it would be easier to spoil him?
ANDERSON: What difference does it make?
ANGELO: None, Duke. None at all. I’m just running off at the mouth. You had your first meet yesterday?
ANDERSON: That’s right.
ANGELO: How did it go?
ANDERSON: It went fine.
ANGELO: Any weak spots?
ANDERSON: The faggot, Tommy Haskins, has never done a hard job before. He’s been on the con or hustling his ass or pulling paper hypes. But his job is easy. I’ll keep an eye on him. Johnson—he’s the dinge—and the two Brodsky boys are true blue. Hard. The tech, Ernest Mann, is so money hungry he’ll do what I tell him. If he’s caught, he’ll spill, of course. All they’ll have to do is threaten to take his cigarettes away.
ANGELO: But he’s not going to be caught … is he?
ANDERSON: No. Parelli is stupid and vicious and kill-crazy. A bad combination.
ANGELO: You’ll have to play that guy by ear. I told you … don’t turn your back.
ANDERSON: I don’t figure to. I gave my boys their advances.
ANGELO: Do they know what everyone is getting?
ANDERSON: No. I gave them sealed envelopes separately. I told each guy he was getting more than the others and to keep his mouth shut.
ANGELO: Good.
ANDERSON: Did you ask about the diversions?
ANGELO: Papa says forget it. Keep it as simple as possible. He says it’s tricky enough as it is.
ANDERSON: He’s right. I’m glad about that. Can you tell me about the truck now?
ANGELO: Not now. When we meet on Thursday.
ANDERSON: All right. The Brodsky boys will pick it up wherever you say. It’ll be in New York, won’t it?
ANGELO: Yes. In Manhattan.
ANDERSON: Fine. Then we can figure out our final timing. What about the drop?
ANGELO: I’ll give you that on Thursday, too. How many men will make the drop?
ANDERSON: I was figuring on me and the Brodsky boys.
ANGELO: All right. Now let’s see … what else did I want to ask. … Oh, yes … do you need a piece?
ANDERSON: I can get one. I don’t know how good it will be.
ANGELO: Let me get you a good one. Right off the docks. When your boys pick up the truck, it’ll be in the glove compartment or taped under the dash. Loaded. How does that sound?
ANDERSON: That sounds all right.
ANGELO: A .38 okay?
ANDERSON: Yes.
ANGELO: I’ll see it’s taken care of. Now let’s see … oh, yes, the masks. You got all that fixed? Gloves … shit like that?
ANDERSON: It’s all arranged, Mr. Angelo.
ANGELO: Good. Well, I can’t think of anything else. I’ll see you on Thursday, then. Your second meet is on Wednesday and your last on Friday?
ANDERSON: Yes.
ANGELO: How do you feel?
ANDERSON: I feel great. I’m hot with this thing but I got no doubts.
ANGELO: Duke … remember one thing. This is like war. Your reconnaissance and intelligence and operations plan can be the best in the world. But things go wrong. Unexpected things come up. Somebody screams. A rabbit becomes a lion. The fuzz drops by unexpected because one of them has to take a pee. Sometimes crazy things happen—things you never counted on. You know?
ANDERSON: Yes.
ANGELO: So you’ve got to stay loose in there. You got a good plan, but be ready to improvise, to deal with these unexpected things as they come up. Don’t get spooked when something happens you didn’t figure on.
ANDERSON: I won’t get spooked.
ANGELO: I know you won’t. You’re a pro, Duke. That’s why we’re going along with you on this. We trust you.
ANDERSON: Thanks.