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After settling in at their hotel, the entourage moves to Louie and Connie's house, where Frankie intends to leave Peggy, Jana, Marcus and Winston while he attends to business.
Frankie is very careful to avoid any of them becoming aware of the imminent threat Jimmy Provitera poses to him and his family. He knows he can kiss his wedding goodbye if Peggy gets wind of it. He arranges to have Tim, his brother Ray, Reno and his boys, Rossi and Clem meet at Biff's Staten Island house. When he discovers they are part of Jimmy's plot, he also invites Guy Curto and Pat Holt to see if they were sincere when at Biff's wake they said to talk to them if he ever needed anything.
Frankie and Ray arrive early to the house on Victory Boulevard. Fall has suddenly arrived and the day has dawned with a chill in the air. The house is cold and clammy and they turn on the heat.
Frankie is glad that Guy and Pat arrive before any of the others and after the initial greetings, are given a tour of Biff's house.
“I cannot believe Biff would have a house like dis, right Pat?” says Guy, at the conclusion of the circuit.
“Not in a million years,” concurs Pat.
“Yeah, it surprised me too when I first saw it, but almost everything Biff did, surprised me,” says Frankie. “He was an amazing guy.”
“Yeah, God rest his soul—-So—-what're we doin' here?” asks Guy, coming straight to the point.
“I think you know why I asked you here. I know about Jimmy's plan to fuck me and my family up. I also know you guys are part of the plan, right?”
“Yeah, g'head,” says Guy exchanging looks with Pat.
“Well, I think you know where I'm heading.”
“No, tell me,” says Guy.
Frankie tenses up, unsure of the territory he is approaching. Is he talking to allies or enemies? With his next question he will find out if they meant what they says at Biff''s wake, or was it just talk—-just bullshit.
“So, where do you guys stand on this thing?”
Guy looks over at Pat and nods. Pat nods back.
“Ya know somethin' Frankie, over time, situations change, plans change, people change and what worked before don't work no more...,” Guy sighs deeply and continues. “...and so I hafta say dis to ya. What I says back then at Biff's funeral, was me, givin' my word to you at that time—-and when I give my word no matter when it is, then, now and until I give up my last dying breath, dat word is like money in the bank. Most guys throw around their word like spreading horseshit in a cornfield. That's not me and I think I talk for Pat—-right Pat?”
“Right,” says Pat.
Frankie releases the breath he was holding.
“You have no idea how good that makes me feel,” says Frankie.
“So, what can we do for ya?” asks Guy.
“We'll talk about it as soon as the rest of the guys get here.”
***
Ray locks the door after Reno, Clem and Rossi arrive. Frankie does the introductions around the room and since it's his party, he begins explaining his reasons why he would at a minimum want to inflict some pain on Jimmy, if not actually kill him.
As he explains it, his plan is to let Jimmy crash his wedding and then since most of the men with him have no loyalty to him and those that do (if there are any) would be immediately neutralized. He would then make an embarrassing example of him in front of all the wedding guests. There is understanding for the justification of such an act by most of those present, Guy and Pat remain neutral. Ray requests the floor.
“Frankie...” says Ray, “You're my brother and I love you, but you know, I'm not like you and I try not to curse a lot—-but—-are you fucking nuts? Have you lost your mind, this is insane. You're about to marry a woman who has a stroke if you say the word, damn in front of her and you expect her to just sit there on your wedding day while you make some kind of gross example of Jimmy in front of all the wedding guests? You know what, Frankie? You're going to have the shortest marriage on record.”
“He's right, Frankie, you'd better rethink that one. There must be a better way to take your revenge on Provitera,” says Reno.
“So tell me—-what?” asks Frankie.
“That's something you have to figure out.”
***
That night, in his hotel room, Frankie lies in bed, staring at the ceiling, sleep becomes elusive as he twists and turns, unable to get comfortable as he ponders the many conflicting and complicated aspects of his current life. He tries to get his priorities straight in his mind, to line them up in orderly fashion so he can get a grasp on them. A big number one, of course is Peggy and Jana and his upcoming marriage, it is the most important thing in his life right now. The guys are right, he mustn't fuck it up. Then there's Biff's son, Marcus, not exactly a positive situation at the moment and a huge problem that must be handled. He must do it because it's something he must do for Biff. Then there's Winston, a nice kid that needs a break. His parents and Ray are also in his thoughts, especially his father who took a horrendous beating for him and for whom he must get some kind of revenge. But what...what and how?
What about it, Jimmy? How does my father get retribution for what you did... how?...is Frankie's last thought as he finally drifts off to sleep.
Frankie's sleep this night is restless and crowded with dreams of all shapes and sizes. The one dream that Frankie remembers vividly the next morning is one starring Biff. In this dream Biff sits behind the wheel of his Cadillac and looking over to him and says something he heard frequently in the time he spent with him, “Before you get in the car, wipe your feet.” In the dream Frankie does as he's told and gets in the car. The dream ends when Biff then turns to him and says 'Frankie, remember Richie Lundgren'. Of course it's only a dream and the name Richie Lundgren does sound familiar, but he can't remember anything specific about him, so why should it mean anything to him?—-Who can he ask about Richie Lundgren? The only person Frankie can think of is his former partner, Anthony Grace, and he's dead—-thank you mister Provitera.
Frankie digs deep in his memory trying to recall the many characters he met while working with Biff, trying to come up with Lundgren...Lundgren...Richie Lundgren, where did he hear that name—-then it strikes him. Of course, Richie Lundgren—-small-time bookie. Lived in Park Slope Brooklyn, owed Jimmy a lot of money. Jimmy didn't want him hurt, but he wanted Biff to teach him a good lesson, so he and Biff taught him a really good lesson—-but why was he in his dream, what was Biff trying to tell him—-and then it comes to him.
***
“Something important has come up, Frankie,” are Jerry Leonard's first words as Frankie answers his phone. “and I happen to be in Brooklyn, can I meet you somewhere?” he asks.
“What's it about?” asks Frankie.
“It's about Jimmy Provitera. I think you'll be very interested.”
Frankie arranges to meet Leonard at a nearby luncheonette. Frankie arrives first and finds a booth toward the rear of the store. He browses a New York Post purposely left for the convenience of the regulars. His mind is not on the paper as he absentmindedly turns pages, but on what he is about to hear about Jimmy. A few minutes later Jerry Leonard arrives and searches for and finds Frankie. The waitress arrives at the booth simultaneously with Leonard and takes their order.
“So, what's it about?” asks Frankie.
“Remember I told you that the guard, Willie Maxwell that killed your friend Rollo, was himself assassinated?” “They found his killer and also, what I think is even more interesting to you, They also found out who ordered the killing—-none other than your boy, Provitera.”
“How did they find out?”
Their conversation is temporarily interrupted as the waitress brings their food to the table. As she leaves Frankie repeats his question.
“So, how did they find out it was Jimmy?”
“It seems Jimmy has this kid, Augie Longi working for him. Augie's a small time thief with a long rap sheet of relatively minor offenses, some of them still outstanding. Last week he was picked up as a suspect in a seven eleven holdup that took place about a year ago. Apparently Augie, not realizing he was being stopped for that offense, but thinking it was for Maxwell's murder, spilled his guts. He confessed that he was the driver, this other bad character Sammy Platt was the shooter and Jimmy ordered the killing. Why, I don't know.”
“Did they pick up Jimmy?” asks Frankie.
“Not yet, they can't find him. They think he got wind of Augie's screw-up and is hiding out somewhere.”