CHAPTER 45

Frankie does not have long to wait

Frankie and the boys—-Marcus and Winston have just begun work on a new purchase Frankie has made—-a charming English Tudor type home he has bought at a foreclosure auction on the steps of city hall. Although the structure appears to be in poor condition, the problems are mostly cosmetic and are easily remedied with some caulking and a coat of paint. The trio is busy preparing the exterior by scraping, spackling and replacing a few cracked wood shingles.

It is early afternoon and Frankie is standing on a scaffold that has been set up across the front section of the house, when Tim drives up and carefully makes his way through the building materials strewn about the front lawn.

“Got a minute, Frankie?” he asks.

Frankie puts down the scraper and climbs down from the scaffold.

“What's up?” he asks.

“Let me ask ya somethin' Frankie. When did you last check your criminal record—-your rap sheet in New York?”

Why?—-Never. It ain't somethin' I'm proud of.”

“Well, a friend of mine in the Attorney General's office in Raleigh checked it and ya know what he found?” drawls Tim.

“No, I'm waitin,” says Frankie.

“He found that you don't have any felonies on your record—-When they decided ta give you the deal for turning states evidence against Provitera, they knocked the felony conviction down to a class A misdemeanor. So congratulations my friend, as far as I can see, you're in the clear to run for sheriff of Wake County,” says a jubilant Tim.

Frankie is uncertain whether to be glad or sad. It would be a new sensation to be a law enforcer rather  than a law breaker, but he questions whether he really wants the job. Is it worth the effort involved to run in an election campaign and most importantly is it worth the scrutiny by adversaries of his personal life. The digging up dirt from his past to hang out on a line for everyone to see, which is always a part of any election. It could get down and dirty. Does he want to put Peggy and Jana through that? Does he want to go through that? He knows he is going to have to make some tough decisions.

“What's up, Frankie? I thought I was bringing good news, now I'm not sure.”

Epilogue

Biff is dressed in suit and tie which is a rarity for him, but this is a special day, because today, April 13, 1986, is the day Aloyisius Rollo aka “Biff” gets his “button” aka “made.” Coincidentally it is also his birthday, his thirtieth.

He Makes sure he gets to the club early on this day. He climbs the stairs and tries the door and finds it locked. He tries looking through the painted pane on the door and is about to knock when he hears the door latch being turned. The door opens a crack and Matty the “Flea” thrusts his small head out.

“What the fuck are you doin' here so early?” he asks, not opening the door any further.

“Good morning, Boss. Weren't we supposed to do the... you know, the ritual today?” Biff asks.

“Yeah, but not at nine in the morning, you jerk off. I got somebody in here wit' me,” he whispers, making a motion with his head and opening the door a little further to show Biff that he is still in his underwear.

“Oh geez, I'm sorry Matty. What time should I come back?” asks Biff in a whisper.

“You young guys got more balls than brains. You're the third guy to knock on the fuckin' door this morning. A guy can't even knock off a decent piece of ass without some ball-buster showing up. Come back around eleven,” he says and slams the door.

Undaunted, Biff hoofs it down the stairs and out onto the street. He looks around for somewhere he can spend a couple of hours until the time to return to the club. Having made the drive to the Bronx from Brooklyn, he isn't about to drive back. He decides to walk a few blocks to Sam's luncheonette. At least he knows the owner and some of the people that hang out there.

“How ya doin, Sam.” He greets the bug-eyed little man standing behind the register. Sam's grunt in return is unintelligible.

Biff picks up a Daily News at the paper stand, sits at the counter and orders coffee.

“Hey Biff,” comes a call from a booth toward the back of the store. Biff looks over and sees two cohorts, Mikey Dip and Donnie Henkle sitting, eating breakfast.

“Come on over,” beckons Mikey.

Biff picks up his coffee and paper and moves to the booth.

“I just came from the club and Matty's up there with some broad. I don't know what the fuck is goin' on. What time did he tell ya we should get here, today?” asks Biff as he slides into the booth.

“I know, I know. We just went through the same routine. Yesterday he says be here first thing tomorrow morning,” says Mikey.

“That's what I heard. Now he tells me to come back at eleven, anyways, whatever the time, I'm ready for it to happen. How about you guys?” asks Biff.

“I'm ready, but Donnie here wasn't asked, right, Donnie?” asks Mikey.

“Yeah, I don't know.  I thought I was doin' good, workin' wit' dat kid, Jimmy Provitera, but lately Jimmy's been wantin' to work alone. I don't feel comfortable workin' alone yet, so I got Matty on my ass because I ain't producin' like I used to—-I don't think he's too happy wit' me lately, but ya know what? Worse comes to worse, fuck it,  I can go back to workin' in my cousin's deli. I also got an uncle in Brooklyn who's got a Deli and he's ready to retire and sell me his store.”

If I was you Donnie, I'd buy the Deli, says Biff.

“Whyd'ya say that?” questions Donnie.

“Because you're never gonna be made—-you're not Italian,” says Biff.

“Are you shittin' me, nobody told me that, besides my grandmother was Italian.”

“It don't count, both your mother and your father gotta be full-blooded Italian.”

“That don't seem fair, I do as much as any of you Guineas” says Donnie.

“Watch dat Guinea shit,” says Biff and chuckles at Donnie's lament. He takes a sip of coffee and goes back to reading the paper—-he leafs through the comics, the sports page and finally the news section.

“Did you see this? Clint Eastwood is elected mayor of Carmel California,” reads Biff.

“Like he don't have enough fuckin' money,” says Donnie.

Biff shakes his head. “He didn't do it for the money, you asshole, he did it to stick it to the Carmel zoning board for not letting him put up a sign in front of his restaurant,” he says, and goes back to reading.

“What time ya got?” asks Mikey Dip.

“Donnie checks his watch.

“Ten fifteen,” he says.

“Time's draggin',” laments Mikey.

Biff continues browsing the paper and stops as an article on page six catches his eye.

Listen to this,” he says. “Sez here, that on April 21, Geraldo Rivera is gonna broadcast live, “The Mystery of Al Capone's Vaults.” He continues reading, paraphrasing. “During the two hour live broadcast, they're gonna open a vault in the basement of the Lexington Hotel in Chicago that once belonged to Al Capone. It says the hotel is closed and scheduled for demolition, and that during the 1920's and 30's, the Lexington was Capone's headquarters, and that beneath the hotel they found tunnels and hidden vaults that were used by Capone and his mob for storing bootleg liquor, and as an escape route in case they were raided by the police, and possibly for hidin' money.”

“Who's this Geraldo... what's his name?” asks Donnie.

“Rivera, Geraldo Rivera. You must live in a fuckin' vacuum. He's that hippie reporter wit' the long hair.” says Biff.

“What else does it say?” asks Mikey.

“It says, the two hour special is greatly hyped.”

“What's hyped? ” asks Donnie.

“It's another word for bullshit.”

“So whattia think, they gonna find anything?” asks Mikey.

“I don't know. Capone went to prison right around then. He mighta stashed somethin' there, figurin' he would come back later and dig it up, only as far as I know, he never made it back,” says Biff.

“I got a good one. Let's go out there to Chicago and when they dig it up the stash, we'll be there to pull a heist and grab whatever they find, right on national television,” says Donnie.

“Yeah, right. I don't think that'll work, but I'm thinkin' of somethin' else that might,” says Biff

The three men stop and look at each other.

“Are you thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?” asks Mikey

“I think so, what're ya thinkin'?” asks Donnie

“I'm thinkin' maybe a trip to Chicago might be in the cards, but right now, Mikey, let's go get our buttons,” says Biff.

***

The three men enter the clubroom and unexpectedly, they find, there are almost a dozen older men milling around the room, conversing in low tones while munching on hors d'ovuere and sipping champagne from paper cups.

Biff recognizes many of them as higher ups in the organization, captains, capos and two consiglieri. Biff is impressed with this turnout. He didn't realize that the ceremony was so important to the organization. Of course he knew that in order to be “made” you didn't fill out an application and wait to be called, you had to be invited by someone higher up, someone already made. They are then watched closely for an extended period of time, usually a year or two and then they have to be approved by the committee. The member who suggests the name is held responsible for what the new member says and does and can even be killed if his choice of a new member is a bad choice. In his and Mikey dip's case, they were nominated by their boss, Matty who is a captain in the organization. 

Biff and Mikey are introduced to the family members they don't know. They are surprised to learn that they are known to many of them, however.

After about an hour, Matty stands and gets the members attention.

“My family and friends of the family, today we're here to baptize Biff Rollo and Mikey DiPalermo into our family. They were baptized when they were born, but now were gonna baptize them again into a new life, a life in our family. At this time I'm gonna ask them to come up and stand before me.

But before they do, I gotta ask anybody who ain't directly involved with the ceremony to leave now.”

No one moves. “That means you, Donnie,” he continues.

Self consciously, Donnie slowly walks out of the club.

Biff and Mikey shuffle to the front of the room and stand in front of Matty.

“I want each of youse to put up your hand and show me your trigger finger. The finger you would pull a trigger with.” he says.

They each put up a hand and indicate a finger. As Matty and the group watch, one of Matty's associates takes a pin and pricks each of their fingers, drawing blood—-Matty  continues.

“This blood means that you are now one of the family.”

He then asks Biff.

“If it was found out that your brother betrayed us and you were given the contract to kill him. Would you do it?”

Biff answers immediately, “Yes I would.”

The same question is asked of Mikey who also answers, “Yes I would.

He then takes two saints cards and blots the blood with them. Taking a cigarette lighter, he lights the cards on fire and puts one in each of their hands. As the cards burn Matty says.

“You live by the gun and the knife and you die by the gun and the knife. If you betray the family you will burn like these saints.”

“That ends our initiation. These two men are now and forever part of our thing, our family.”

The ceremony being over, all present congratulate Biff and Mikey as they go around the room shaking hands.

Refreshments and catered food is served and there is much chatter, camaraderie and business talk.

Later, when everyone has left, Biff, Donnie and Mikey Dip corner Matty and ask him if it's okay if they take a few days to relax and celebrate after being “made” in the organization.

He reluctantly consents, but asks Donnie, “What're you celebratin'? you wasn't “made.”

“Yeah, but these are my friends,” he says.

Matty shakes his head,“Yeah, fine, but I'm gonna expect big production from youse guys when you get back,” he says.

***                                                       

April 14, 1986

That evening the three men leave Brooklyn in Biff's two year old El Dorado Cadillac, to make the thirteen hour, non-stop (except to gas up and eat) drive to Chicago. They decide to split up the driving between the three of them. Biff takes the first turn at driving.

Mikey is the third and final driver as they arrive in Chicago. Using a map they acquired at their last gas stop, they navigate to Michigan Ave. and 22^nd St, to the area of the defunct Lexington Hotel.

They look for and find a decent hotel nearby and check in, sharing one room with two queen-sized beds.

“Who gets to sleep alone?”  asks Mikey.

“I paid for the room, so, guess what?” says Biff.

As they get ready for bed, Mikey asks Biff.

“Would ya really kill your brother?”

“Fuck, no” replies Biff.

––––––––

April 15, 1986

After settling into their room, they sit and discuss what they'll be doing for the next few days while they're in Chicago. They first discuss the need for a construction plan of the hotel itself. After a short discussion it is decided that acquiring such a plan on so short a notice is next to, if not totally impossible. So the next best thing it is decided, is to visit the site and visually inspect the possibilities first-hand. It is decided they will first have dinner, then walk the two blocks to the hotel. The next thing discussed is how the “take” if any is to be split. This is decided by Biff, being he is the senior member of the group and being it is his idea. They (Biff) decide that he (Biff) will take 50 percent and Donnie and Mikey will split the other 50 percent.

***

It is almost 10:30 in the evening by the time they arrive at the Lexington. After circling the hotel building they discover that the perimeter of the structure is enclosed with a construction fence, or in this case, since the building is going to be taken down, it could be called a demolition fence. They see that there are several gates in the fence and that they are all pad-locked except one. Biff tries that gate and finds it open. He starts in with Mikey and Donnie following. Biff stops, turns and comes back out, pushing Donnie and Mikey before him.

“Tell ya what,” he says. “I'm gonna go in to find the watchman to talk to him to see if I can make some kind of a arrangement widdim. Capisce. If there's too many of us were gonna spook'im. As soon as I see he's okay, I'll call you guys in.”

Mikey and Donnie look at each other and reluctantly agree.

“Take a walk around the building until I come out,” says Biff.

Biff discovers that the gate opening allows him access to the first floor level adjacent to the main lobby of the hotel. He calls out as he makes his way through the dusty, dimly lit corridors so as not to startle whoever is in the building. He can tell even in this scarcely lit atmosphere that at one time this was a sumptuously built and adorned building that had had it's day and now had to make way for progress.

After Biff's latest hail, a voice in the distance questions.

“Who is that?”

“It's me, Biff,” Biff calls out as if he's a lifelong friend.

Out of the dimness appears a giant of a man carrying a very large flashlight that could double as a weapon in a pinch.

“Who'd you say you were?” he asks.

“Biff, Biff Rollo.”

“Am I supposed to know you,” asks the man illuminating Biff's face in the beam of his flashlight.

“Well no, but I...”

“Then what the fuck are you doing in here?” asks the man, belligerently.

Taking note of the man's size, Biff treads lightly.

“Wait a second my friend, I don't wanna fight wit you. I'm sorry if I came in without an invitation, but there is no other way to contact you, there's no phone or nothin', so hear me out, it might be worth your while,” he says.

“I ain't your friend and I don't have time to bullshit with you, you'll have to get out,” says the man, pointing the way out.

Biff ignores the directive.

“Look, if you could do something nice for your family like make some extra money, wouldn't you do it, or if you knew somebody in your family could be in danger and you could do something to stop it, wouldn't you do that for them?” asks Biff.

“Is that some kind of threat?” asks the giant.

“Threat? Hell no. I would never threaten nobody. I just wanna have a chat wit you that could be worth your while.”

“What's it about?” asks the giant.

“Look, it's very simple. By the way, what's your name? So I know who I'm talkin' to.”

The giant man hesitates, examining Biff carefully, “Sharkey,” he says.

“Well Sharkey, how would ya?...” Biff pauses. “How much do ya make a week, Sharkey?”

“Why the fuck should I tell you?” says Sharkey.

“Because you'll be glad ya did and I'll tell ya why in a minute. So, how much do ya make?” Biff insists

Sharkey's curiosity gets the better of him and he hesitantly answers. “Not that it's any of your business... about eighty dollars,” he says.

Biff does some oral calculations.

“That's about four thousand a year, right?” he asks, not waiting for an answer. “Howja like to make that four thousand for a coupla nights work?”

Sharkey doesn't need to think very long.

“Yeah, of course I would, as long as I don't have to kill anybody. What would I have to do?” he asks suspiciously.

“It's really simple. C'mon over here and sit down for a minute and I'll tell ya.” says Biff as he leads Sharkey, to some old sofas and armchairs that were originally part of the décor of the hotel lobby.

“I'm sure you know that next week their gonna put on a TV show from the hotel here, and this guy Geraldo Rivera is gonna MC as some guys break through the wall of a vault in the basement of this building that they says used to belong to Al Capone. Ya know all that, right?”

“Yeah.”

“So, are we okay so far?”

“What do you mean?

“I mean, are ya interested in hearin' more?”

“Yeah, I guess so.” says Sharkey.

“Okay, but let me do this first. I got a coupla friends outside that are gonna help me with this, uh... project, I'd like for them to come in to join in on dis conversation, that okay with you?”

Sharkey scratches his head, “Yeah, as long as it don't take too long,” he says.

“Not long at all. I'll be right back.”

Biff goes out and searches for Donnie and Mikey who have circled the building several times since leaving him. He spots them as they make their latest turn to the front of the hotel. He intercepts them and describes his conversation with Sharkey and the deal he has made with him.

“Four grand? Are you serious, I don't even have four hundred. Where the fuck are we gonna get that kinda money?” asks Donnie.

“Yeah Biff, Donnie's right, we haven't started earnin' the big money yet, where're we gonna get the money to pay'im” says Mikey.

“Use your brains you morons. If when we get into the vault there's a good payoff, we pay him the money. If we don't find anything, we give him a handshake and our condolences,” says Biff.

“Yeah dat's fine, but suppose he talks,” says Donnie.

“I'm not worrying about him talkin'? If he talks he involves himself too. What I'm worryin' about is runnin' fast enough to get away from him when he finds out were not gonna pay'im. The guy's a fuckin' giant, you'll see.”

Biff leads the men back toward where he left Sharkey.

“When we get there, let me do the talkin',” says Biff.

Sharkey is not where Biff left him and they walk further into the gloom of the doomed building until they spot him sitting at a desk complete with a phone and a typewriter. Donnie and Mikey's eyes open wide as Sharkey rises from his chair and towers over them.

“Shake hands with my friends Donnie and Mikey,” says Biff introducing the boys. “You have a nice little setup here'” he says.

Sharkey grunts and reaches down to shake with the boys. “Now, what's this all about?” he asks.

“I'll come right to the point. We think that if Rivera and the brass at those TV stations are spending all this money to break into that vault and put it on national television, then they must think they know something. What we wanna do is...”  Biff stops and takes a deep breath. “We wanna beat them to the punch. We wanna find the back of that vault, break in, take out whatever's in there and then close it up, just like nobody was ever there. All this before April 21. Whattia think?”

“The room goes quiet. No one says a word for several seconds as Sharkey looks from face to face and slowly shakes his head.

“You guys must be fuckin' nuts...,” he says and jumps to his feet.

Biff, Donnie and Mikey come to attention, ready to run.

Sharkey continues, “But I love it, I fuckin' love it,” he says.

The three men look from one to the other and break out into nervous laughter.

“You scared the shit out of us,” says Biff.

“Just one thing,” says Sharkey. “If you find something, I want a cut of it.”

“...And if we don't find anything?” asks Biff.

“...Then I get the four thousand,”

“Ya know, Sharkey, when I was a kid my mother always made us a birthday party, and for the party she'd always make a beautiful cake. All the kids at the party would get a nice slice of birthday cake. Some kids would eat their piece a birthday cake there at the party and some would take theirs home. Dere was some kids that would eat their cake and then ask my mother to wrap up a piece to take home. My mother would say, no, no, ya can't have it both ways, kid, ya either eat it here or ya take it home, ya can't do both. Now, if we dig and do all kinds of other shit to break through that wall and we don't find nothin', can I go to Geraldo and say, mister Rivera I didn't find nothin', could you pay me for my time and expenses? You know what he'd say, he'd say rotate on this,” says Biff holding up his middle finger. “So it's gotta be one way or the other, what's it gonna be?” Biff asks.

Sharkey sits back in his chair and laces his fingers behind his head, deep in thought for several minutes.

“What's the split?” he asks.

“I haven't discussed a deal wit these guys, dat includes you, yet,” says Biff indicating Mikey and Donnie, but before I do, there's a coupla things I need to know. Number one, are you the watchman here at night?  Number two, are there any people around outside this building at night?

Sharkey mulls over the questions.

“Right now I work the night shift, 10 PM to 6 AM a couple of nights a week -—but it isn't the most popular shift -—so if I give a reason why I need to be on this shift more often, I don't think anybody is going to object.  After 8 o'clock this place is like a cemetery, there ain't a living soul for blocks until morning. So what's the plan?”

“Before we discuss plans, let me talk to my buddies here, so we can iron out a split dat includes you,” says Biff.

Biff signals Mikey and Donnie to follow him out to the street where they huddle to discuss what kind of deal would be acceptable to all. After many “no's”, “bullshit's” and “fuck him's,” they finally come to an agreement and return to Sharkey's desk.

“This is the deal we came up wit and I think it's a fair one,” says Biff.

“We'll see,” says Sharkey.

Biff ignores the comment and goes on.

“Donnie, Mikey and you are gonna whack up 60 percent of whatever we find, an even steven twenty percent each. Now, since this was all my idea and my plan, I'm takin' 40 percent.” Biff waits for a reaction, but gets none. So. Whattia think?” asks Biff.

“What do they think?” Sharkey asks nodding toward Donnie and Mikey.

“They're good wit it,” says Biff.

“They're good with it, then I'm good with it. So what's next?” asks Sharkey.

“The first thing we need t'do is sit down and figure out what we're gonna need t'do this job as fast as possible,”  says Biff. Then to Sharkey he says.

“You're gonna hafta show us this vault or whatever it is, so we can figure out how to get t'the backside of it. Once we do dat, we can decide what we need, t'get the job done.”

“When do you want to do that?” asks Sharkey.

“How about right now,” says Biff.

“Okay then. Follow me,” says Sharkey.

Biff, Donnie and Mikey line up behind Sharkey who carrying his large flashlight leads the way down several dark corridors and several spooky staircases to a basement area beneath the hotel, the beam of his light illuminating the way. They walk up, down and around for several minutes swatting at cobwebs that become entangled in their clothes and in their hair. They finally arrive at an open area where Sharkey switches on a single lightbulb. The illumination reveals a red brick wall that goes from floor to ceiling. It appears that at one time this wall apparently had a large opening in it,  an opening that has since been filled with concrete. Sharkey stops here and waits for everyone to catch up.

“This is it. This is where this guy, Rivera is going to be broadcasting. That wall behind you is the vault they're talking about, where supposedly, Al Capone might have hidden money or valuables and maybe, some bodies. They're going to have a construction crew here with drills, jackhammers and probably explosives.” says Sharkey.

Biff closely examines the wall, feeling the bricks and concrete while the others watch.

“Drills, jackhammers and dynamite, hah? I think it's gonna take all a dat and den some. -—Okay, Sharkey, now take us t'the other side a this thing, we need t'see the backa this vault. Dat's gonna be our show,” says Biff.

“Alright, if you ladies will follow me, I'll take you to the backside of this baby,” says Sharkey.

Sharkey leads the way as the others follow. The elevators are not working, so they take the stairs up one level and walk back through the lobby toward the back of the building, Although now old and threadbare in spots, the once plush carpeting still shows evidence of it's original opulence.

On the opposite side of the lobby, behind the reception desk, Sharkey opens a small door that could easily be missed if one didn't know of it's existence. The room is essentially a coat and storage room for hotel employees. Within this room and behind a clothes rack on one side of the room, is another door, which with a little prodding opens to a staircase leading to a lower level. The four men with Sharkey leading the way, descend the stairs to the floor below. The only light in this dank smelly area emanates from Sharkey's flashlight as they search for the possibility of a light fixture or electrical outlet, their search is disappointing until Donnie moves a dusty crate that is lodged in a corner and there, finds an ancient electrical line with a bulb-less, brass, light fixture attached to it's end. He gives a yelp when he discovers, by putting a finger into the socket, that it is indeed active. Without being asked, Mikey dashes up to the lobby and snatches a bulb from one of the fixtures near the reception desk. It lights up as he screws it into the socket. By raising the light fixture and wrapping the electric cord around a nail on the wall, the bulb is able to radiate barely enough light to illuminate the area.

Sharkey moves about the room, closely examining the walls. He completes a total inspection of the area and appears not to find anything. He then turns and points to the wall to his left. 

“That's it, that's the wall, that's the back of the vault,” he says.

“How d'ya know?” asks Biff.

“You don't trust me?” asks Sharkey.

“No, I trust ya. But like Reagan says, 'trust but verify,'  dat's what I'm doin'... so, how d'ya know?”

“You must be a Republican,” says Sharkey

“No, my parents were Italian,” quips Biff.

“You're also a comedian, I'll bet you were hot shit in grade school.” he says.

“Class clown,” retorts Biff. 

“Getting back to your question. When the TV people we're here. I took them around. They had blueprints of the building with them, and when they were down here, I heard them talking and I heard the guy carrying the plans say that this is the back of the vault,” says Sharkey

“Good enough,” says Biff and moves to examine the wall. It is a replica of the wall Geraldo is going to excavate.  He feels the bricks and the concrete, tapping the area where the concrete meets the bricks.

“The bricks were here long before that concrete was poured,” he says.

“How do you know that?” questions Sharkey.

“Before I got into my present line a business, I worked for a while as a cement mason, in fact I did some of the cement work at the World Trade Center, the Twin Towers. All I know is, they didn't have this mix of concrete when they built the hotel, so it had to be done later, maybe in Capone's time,” says Biff.

“What is your present line of business?” asks Sharkey.

“I'm a financial adviser. I advise people how to borrow money they need for things -—special projects. I also give good advice to people who have a problem repaying dose loans. It's a specialized business, not everybody's good at it. I happen to be very good at it!”

Sharkey chuckles, “I'll bet you are,” he says.

Biff continues examining the wall and jotting down notes in a pad he takes from his pocket. After fifteen minutes he seems satisfied with the inspection.

“Okay, I think I got enough info. Next I gotta make a list of what were gonna need to do the job. We'll go back to our hotel now, get somethin' t'eat and figure dis out, then I'll get back to ya so we can  make a plan.”

“When will I hear from you?” asks Sharkey.

“You says your shift starts at ten?” asks Biff

“That's right,” says Sharkey.

“So, we'll be back tomorrow night around ten thirty. We gotta move on this thing, I can't afford to hang around here too long. I got business waitin' for me in New York,” says Biff.

***

Back in their hotel room, Donnie and Mikey sit on the bed and Biff in an armchair. They listen intently to Biff  as he goes over the list of items they'll need to carry out his plan of exhuming the Al Capone vault in the Lexington Hotel and then re-closing it, so as not to show evidence of tampering.

“We can get almost everything we need on this list at a big hardware store like those new Home Depots,” says Biff.

“Yeah, they got everything in those places,” agrees Donnie.

Biff continues, “The only things we can't get there are the jackhammer and the dynamite. The jackhammer we can rent, in one of those Rent-all places, but the dynamite is gonna be a problem, we're gonna hafta steal it someplace, maybe Sharkey'll have some ideas.”

“You think it's gonna be safe to use a jackhammer and dynamite. I mean don't ya think somebody'll hear us?” asks Mikey.

“You heard. According to Sharkey, the area is deserted at night. I figure, because the vault is below ground, I think that what you'll hear from outside when the charge goes off, is a loud thud. As far as the jackhammer goes, I don't know if you can hear it from the street. We're just gonna hafta take dat chance or forget the whole thing,” says Biff.

“So, what do we do first,” asks Mikey.

“First thing tomorrow I think we should go shopping for all the small stuff, like shovels, picks, sledge hammers, chisels, and buckets to haul dirt outta da way,” says Biff.

***

April 17, 1986

The next morning, the three men find the nearest Home Depot and begin the purchase of the tools they'll need, to execute Biff's plan to breach Al Capone's concrete and brick vault. They load the tools into the trunk of the El Dorado and then stop at a Rent-all dealer where they rent a heavy duty electric jackhammer, which they squeeze into the back seat of the car. Their next stop is to purchase each of them a pair of coveralls for the dirty work to come. They then make their way back to their hotel, park the car in the hotel parking garage and go to their room to pass the time until 10:00pm, by watching TV and playing polka.

***

As night falls, the men become more anxious and restless, waiting for the time to arrive when they can go to the Lexington to begin the job they came to do. They have long abandoned the polka game and TV has become boring. As the time draws closer, it seems as if at least one of them is checking his watch every few minutes.

At last the time to leave has come. They have waited until 10:30 to be sure the shift change is complete and everyone from the previous shift has gone. The men pile into the El Dorado for the short trip to the Lexington.  Biff sends Mikey in to be sure the coast is clear. He comes back with Sharkey, who helps, as they then begin unloading the car, each man taking tools and equipment. It takes two to carry the jackhammer down to the work area. As Mikey and Donnie finish bringing in tools, Biff questions Sharkey about acquiring dynamite.

“I'm not sure about using that stuff; too much noise,” says Sharkey.

“If we don't need it, we won't use it, but I don't know if we can finish the job in time without it.  So, do ya know anywhere we can get it?” asks Biff.

“Yeah, I do, but believe me,  I hope we don't have to use it -—Actually, there are explosives, caps and detonators right here on this site... in the construction shed. They're there to use when they're ready to start the demolition of the building,” says Sharkey.

“Believe me, I don't wanna use it if I don't haf'to, It'll only be a last resort. Howd'we get in the shed?” asks Biff.

“I have a key,” says Sharkey.

“Great great, that's great. Okay, I think we have everything we need, so let's get started,” says Biff.

“I'd like to help you, but you know I've got to stay up here in case somebody shows up,” says Sharkey.

“Yeah, I figured dat,” says Biff.

“One other thing and this is important,” says Sharkey. “Before you guys showed up tonight, I worked out a system so I can warn you to stop working in case I see or her something. Look over here,” Sharkey says, demonstrating. “I found a steam pipe right here behind the reception desk that goes right into the area where you'll be working. If you hear me rapping on it, like this,” he says, as he bangs on the pipe. “You stop working and turn out the light until I rap it again, okay?”

“Yeah, that's great,” says Donnie. “But suppose we're usin' the jackhammer and don't hear ya rappin', what then?” he asks.

“Holy shit, I didn't think about that,” says Sharkey, scratching his head.

The room goes quiet as they each search for a solution to this problem. After several minutes of contemplation, Mikey says:

I got an idea. Suppose we take a string and tie it to somethin' in the lobby or to wherever Sharkey is and bring the other end down here and tie it to somethin' that'll move, so that if somethin' happens while were usin' the jackhammer -—he pulls the string,we see the thing move, we stop the hammer.”

They nod their approval of this solution.

“That's good Mikey,” says Biff. “But think about dis. Instead of tying the string to something that we might not see in time, suppose we tie it to the guy usin' the jackhammer, like to his leg or somethin'?” he asks.

“Great idea,” says Sharkey.

“I got a better idea, we'll have Mikey do the jackhammerin' and we tie the string to his dick,” says Donnie

They all agree, that's the best idea.

***

That night the three men begin the tedious task of breaking through the the vault wall. The plan is to first, chisel by hand, the outline of a thirty inch square close to the base of the wall and then to follow the outline of the square they chisel with the electric jackhammer. Biff, Donnie and Mikey each take turns chiseling into the wall and are making good progress before their first interruption. The banging on the pipe brings the activity to an abrupt halt. The men sit quietly after first pulling the plug on the light-bulb. They hear voices and activity from the level above them as Sharkey converses with someone. After several minutes, Biff becomes ansi.

He no sooner whispers “What the fuck's goin' on up dere?”  that there's a banging on the pipe signaling all-clear and Monks voice calling down to reassure the men they can continue working.

The light is plugged in and the men resume hammering at the wall.

It takes the almost two hours to complete chiseling the square, whereupon it is decided to talk with Sharkey before using the jackhammer, mainly to be sure that everyone is on the same page and everything is calm and safe before using this clamorous tool.

“All clear?” Biff directs the question to Sharkey softly in his growly voice as he, Donnie and Mikey make their way toward him.

“Yeah, yeah, everything's good. How are you guys doing?” he asks.

“We're doing very good, in fact I came up here to tell ya dat we're ready to use the jackhammer. I wanted to make sure everything was copacetic before we start wit the big noise,” he says.

“Everything is cool, you can start whenever,” he says.

“Who was dat who came in, before?” asks Biff.

“That was only a cub reporter for a local paper looking for a headline on the Geraldo Rivera thing. I told him I don't know shit about it. Told him he'll have to ask the man himself. He was disappointed but convinced.”

“That's good. You think any more of these news guys are gonna be around?” asks Mikey.

“I don't know. I hope not, anyway all the gates are locked, so no one can come in unannounced. In fact I changed the padlocks on the gates so that not even the people associated with the building can come in without me letting them in.”

“Is that gonna cause somebody to get suspicious?” asks Donnie.

“Nah, I'll just tell'em we had a break in and I had to change all the locks. By the way, I'm also putting a lock on the door leading down to the vault, so that if anybody comes in that wants to go down there I'll tell them one of the bosses put the lock on it because he has some personal stuff down there, and I don't have the key.”

“If dat sounds good t'you it sounds good t'me. Okay boys let's go back to da dungeon and make some noise,” says Biff.

***

Mikey and Donnie hold the jackhammer while Biff examines the decal for directions on how to use the tool.

“Besides all the things you shouldn't do with it, the only other thing it says is, plug it in and pull the lever on the handle. The part that's gonna be a bitch is hammerin' sideways. How the fuck are we gonna hold this fuckin' thing up against the fuckin' wall? This fucker weighs sixty pounds,”  says Biff.

“We're gonna hafta jerryrig some kinda platform or box to lay this thing on, so we can drill sideways,” says Donnie.

“Ya know what we need? A coupla dose milk crates from when milk used to come in a glass bottle. They were heavy duty wood reinforced with metal, you couldn't kill those babies,” says Mikey.

“Go up and ask Sharkey if there are any of those around, Mikey. Ya never know what you find in an old joint like this,” says Biff.

Mikey takes the steps two at a time to the upper level, where he searches for Sharkey in his usual hangout. Not finding him there, he walks down one of the corridors toward the sounds of conversation. He walks quietly, making sure not to be detected in case someone had come in unexpectedly. Turning a corner he sees Sharkey in the distance sitting with a phone to his ear. Not wanting to interrupt him, he waits, listening until Sharkey hangs up. He then shuffles his feet and clears his throat, pretending he just arrived.

“Hey Sharkey, I've been lookin' for ya,” says Mikey.

“I didn't see you. You been there long?” Sharkey asks.

“Long? No, I just got here, why?”

“No, nothing. Something you need?”

“As a matter of fact, yeah,” says Mikey and proceeds to describe the problem they are going to have with the jackhammer.

“So, we're gonna need a strong platform to put the hammer on so we can work sideways. Then I remembered when I was a kid we had glass milk bottles and they usually came in a heavy duty case. We were wonderin' if there were any of those around that we can use?” he asks.

“You mean those heavy wooden cases with a metal rack in it and reinforced with metal?” asks Sharkey.

“Yeah, yeah, those,” says Mikey.

“I'm pretty sure there's  a shitload of them in a storage room off the kitchen, they must've been there for fifty years,” he says.

“You're shittin' me. How do I get there?” asks Mikey.

***

Mikey struggles down the steps lugging three milk crates and stands at the bottom of the stairs.

“Anybody gonna help me with these fuckin' crates?” he asks.

Donnie walks over and takes a crate from him.

“Why didn't ya say somethin'?” he asks.

“Why, are ya fuckin' blind?” asks Mikey.

Awright you two, cut the crap, we got a lotta work t'do. Bring those crates over here so we can get t'work cutting a hole through this fuckin' wall,” says Biff.

As Donnie and Mikey watch, Biff takes the milk crates and places them in front of the outline cut in the wall. He places them flat, then stands back and examines them, he then tries them on one side, then the other. He strokes his chin as he ponders. He stands them on end and does some more chin stroking as the flicker of a smile comes over his face.

“Ya wanna know somethin' these fuckin' crates are perfect. If we put 'em one way, the 'hammer is just right to cut the bottom line. If we put 'em another way, they're perfect to cut the sides. Then if we put one crate on top of the other two, it's just right to cut the top line. We couldn'to asked for anything better,” he says.

“We gonna start hammerin' now?” asks Donnie.

“Nah, it's too late, it's almost 5:30. well just set it up and start tomorrow night. Let's clean up, get outta here and get some sleep,” says Biff.

***

They walk a short distance to Biff's El Dorado which is parked a block away. Biff unlocks the door and Donnie is about to get in the car.

“There's a rag on the floor, wipe off your feet before ya get in,” says Biff.

“Do what?” asks Donnie.

“It was real dirty down there today, you're lucky I don't make ya get undressed, the least you can do is wipe off your feet.”

Donnie exchanges looks with Mikey as he takes the rag and wipes his shoes.

“You too, Mikey,” says Biff.

Mikey avoids looking at Donnie as he takes the rag and complies.

Donnie takes the wheel on the ride back to the hotel as Biff relaxes in the shotgun seat. Mikey stretches out in back, but cannot relax. Something he heard earlier is not allowing him to unwind.  He leans forward between the two front seats.

“There's somethin' I gotta tell youse,” he says.

Something in his voice gets Biff's immediate attention and he sits up.

What, what's up, whattia gotta tell us?” he asks.

“It's somethin' I heard when I went up to find the milk crates,” he says.

“There's somethin' I heard, there's somethin I gotta tell ya, c'mon get to the fuckin' point, spit it out. What did ya hear?” asks Biff, testily.

“Okay, give me a fuckin' chance, willya.  Maybe it's nothin', but I thought you guys should hear it anyway. So when I went up, I went lookin' for Sharkey because I wanted to ask him about the crates. When I found him, he was on the phone. He didn't see me right away, so from a distance I heard some of the conversation he was havin' on the phone. I couldn't hear it real clear, but I could swear he was talkin' about the vault and about money and I could swear I heard him say somethin' like ' I'll take care of him or them', somethin like that.” says Mikey.

Biff leans back in his seat, quietly contemplating for several minutes.

“I don't know what's goin' on, but we need this guy. We gotta play it close to da vest. We're gonna have to keep a close eye on'im without being obvious.”

***

April 18, 1986

After a heavy breakfast of ham, eggs and french fries washed down with a gallon of coffee at the coffee shop in the hotel, the men sleep undisturbed until five pm. Whereupon they lounge in their room, chatting, passing time until they return to the Lexington at 10:30 pm.

Biff lays on his bed with his hands folded behind his head. Mikey sits reading a newspaper and Donnie snoozes in an armchair.

“Hey Mikey tell me, do ya feel any different?” asks Biff.

Different about what?” asks Mikey.

“You know, about bein' “made”. Do ya feel any different?”

Mikey thinks about it.

No, no different. What about you?” he asks.

“Me either. I thought it would be different, you know?” muses Biff.

“I can't believe you fuckin' guys. Ya just got your buttons a few days ago. It's not gonna be any different until ya start meeting and talkin' to people, until people start knowin' about it,” says Donnie, awakened by the conversation.

“Yeah, dats true... I just thought it... ya know, somethin' would feel different,” persists Biff.

“I'm more interested in this thing we're doin', I hope we're not just spinnin' our wheels here, spendin' all this money and doin' all this work for nothin', says Donnie.

“Nobody twisted your arm to come in on dis, so don't be a fuckin' cry-baby, now. You want out, you can get out, but don't go lookin' for somethin' later when we got our pockets full,” says Biff.

“Nah, I don't want out, I'm just... sayin' that's all,” says Donnie.

“Well, I don't wanna hear it,” says Biff.

“Yeah okay,” says Donnie.

***

Biff and the boys arrive at the Lexington at the usual time, but things are not as usual. Whereas yesterday the Lexington was friendly territory and Sharkey a friend and ally, Sharkey's overheard phone conversation by Mikey has changed all that, they are now the potential enemy. Biff''s perception of Sharkey has done a one eighty. Outwardly, as far as Sharkey is concerned nothing will seem changed, Biff and to a lesser degree Donnie and Mikey are masters of deceptive friendship. You have to be, to survive in “the life”.

Sharkey shows up as the men are changing clothes in anticipation of the dust that will be generated by the jackhammer. They each have a dust mask to protect from inhaling dust.

“Right on time as usual, are we gonna be doing some jackhammering tonight?” asks Sharkey.

“We're all set up. There's gonna be some noise tonight,” says Biff.

“Not too much, I hope,” says Sharkey.

“We're gonna see, ain't we?” says Biff

Donnie carries a large ball of twine which he begins to unravel. He ties the loose end to the desk where Sharkey spends most of the night and carrying the ball of twine with him, begins unrolling it as he walks.

“Okay, remember this is the plan, Sharkey. You're gonna keep an eye out for anybody coming onto the property while we're hammerin', in which case you're gonna give a coupla heavy tugs on the string which is gonna be tied to one of our legs. Ya got it?” asks Donnie.

“Can you write that down for me?” asks Sharkey, condescendingly.

“I would have, but I didn't know you could read,” says Donnie.

“Good one,” says Sharkey.

By the vault, Biff sets up the jackhammer on the milk crates and plugs the power cord into the socket adapter they had bought. He ties the string around his ankle and gives it a tug, almost immediately he receives a tug in return.

The men put on plastic goggles and adjust the dust masks on their faces.

“Okay, it looks like we're set. I think I'm gonna need one of youse to steady the hammer on the crate while I put pressure on it,” says Biff.

Mikey stands beside Biff  steadying the jackhammer with two hands to keep it from sliding off the milk crate.

“Are ya ready?” asks Biff.

“I think so,” says Mikey.

“Okay, let's go,” he says, as he pulls the trigger on the handle.

The jackhammer comes to life, vibrating violently as Mikey tries with all his might to control it as Biff tries to guide it along the bottom line of the box outline that was hand chiseled; an almost impossible task.

Although it is quite noisy, the deicibels of the electric jackhammer are nowhere as loud as a comparable pneumatic hammer.

While the hammering continues, Donnie goes upstairs to listen to the level of noise that can be heard on that level and also outside the hotel. He then checks with Sharkey to get his opinion.

Sharkey is surprised at how little noise can be heard where he is.

“Outside in front of the place you can barely hear it,”  Donnie tells Biff and Mikey as they rest while taking a coffee break.

“Dat's good news. The bad news is... the jackhammer ain't doin' jack-shit. By the time we can make a hole big enough to crawl through wit dat thing, Geraldo Rivera'll be retired in Miami. We we're doin' better wit the fuckin' hand chisels,” says Biff. “I think we're gonna retire this fuckin' torture tool and figure out how to do this, usin' explosives.”

“I think we can still use the jackhammer, but in a different way. I think we can use it to punch a hole in each corner of your square and that's where we'll put dynamite charges, which I hope'll blow a hole big enough to squeeze through,” says Mikey.

Donnie has been quietly listening to Biff's lament and Mikey's plan. He shakes his head dejectedly.

“How the fuck can we set off dynamite charges in the middle of the night and not expect the whole fuckin' police department to not be up our asses before the fuckin' smoke clears?” he asks.

“You got a strong point dere. We got six days left to get in and out. We're gonna hafta work dat one out. Right now let's do what Mikey says, lets knock a hole in each corner of the square wit the jackhammer,” says Biff.

The men work through the night taking turns with the jackhammer. By quitting time they barely have time to complete drilling the last corner, clean up and leave, before the day shift comes in.

April 19, 1986

As they eat breakfast in a nearby diner, the conversation about how to go about breaking through the wall by using explosives is under way. Several plans, like getting mesh metal blankets to muffle the explosions are explored and thrown out. It's a great idea, provided there's a payloader available to pick up and carry the heavy metal blankets, which of course there isn't.

The only plan that they discuss that appears feasible, is a diversionary plan. To divert attention from the explosion at the Lexington by having a diversion (or two) somewhere else and what better a diversion than another explosion (or two).

Before going to the Lexington that evening, the three men scout out the area for likely places to place a diversion. They first search for the location of the nearest police station to the Lexington Hotel and find there are actually two precincts in the vicinity. One to the east and one to the west of the Lexington. They then look for a likely location in the area to the side of the police stations facing away from the hotel that will, in the event of an incident, draw the police away from the Lexington. They find the first such location in an auto demolition yard on the west side of the Lexington, two miles past the police station. At night they find, the area around this auto yard is desolate and uninhabited. The second location they find, is a vacant lot containing debris and abandoned cars. Also uninhabited most of the time, especially at night. This location is a half mile past the police station on the east side of the Lexington.

Upon arriving at the hotel later that night, the three men seek out Sharkey regarding the dynamite he says is on the premises.

“You're really going to use dynamite?” he asks.

“We told ya we might hafta, we don't have a choice. We don't have the time to do it by hand or with the jackhammer. Why, is dere a problem?” asks Biff.

“No, no problem, it's just that it's a lot more risky.”

“It's a risk we gotta take or we're not gonna get done in time. Now can we get a look at the explosives, to see what we're gonna need?” asks Biff.

“Yeah, sure, come with me,” says Sharkey, leading the way to the back of the building and out to a shed located several hundred feet from the main building. Taking out a key ring he fumbles about searching on the ring until he finds the key he seeks. He unlocks the shed and they all enter.

“Here, the explosives are over here,” Sharkey points to a bin in a corner.

Biff opens the bin and is briefly startled by the trove of explosives it contains. He begins counting out dynamite sticks, blasting caps and fuses.

“Holy shit, how much of this stuff are you going to use?” asks Sharkey who stands at the door watching Biff, with concern.

“You'll understand when I tell ya the plan,” says Biff as he counts the explosives, closes the bin and looks for a receptacle to carry away the explosive compounds.

“Find a box or somethin'” he says in Mikey and Donnie's direction.

The two men scamper to look for a suitable receptacle in which to transport the dynamite and come up with several containers. Biff chooses one he deems suitable and carefully loads the explosives into the carton.

Without declaring it, it is obvious Biff has assumed command of this operation. He does most of the planning and issuance of directions. Mikey and Donnie seem content to follow his lead.

“So, what's the plan. Why so much dynamite?” asks Sharkey.

“Okay, let me go over the whole plan the way I see it's gonna go off, so everybody's on the same page. There are two precinct houses near here that could cause us problems, one about a mile and a half east'a here and another one about two miles west'a here. The plan is to keep them occupied while we're busy here, blowin' a hole in our wall.

In the middle of the night, say at three oclock, three explosions are gonna go off, one small one here, which I'm gonna set off.  One big one on the east side of the east precinct, which Donnie is gonna set off and one big one on the west side of the west precinct, which Mikey Dip will take care of. If everything goes off the way I think it will, the boys in blue will have their hands full, checkin' out those blasts near their precinct houses and not even know about our little explosion. Whattia think?” asks Biff.

“Are you sure ours is going to be a “small” explosion?” asks Sharkey.

“Yeah, for two reasons. One. We don't need a big charge t'make a little hole. Two. Before we set off the blast here, we're gonna close up this place as tight as we can so that not much noise is gonna get outa here. Capisce?”

“When do you plan on doing it?” asks Sharkey.

“Tonight,” says Biff.

“Tonight?... why so soon?” asks Sharkey.

“Whattia mean, soon?  Rivera's guys are gonna blast the thing open on Saturday, six days from now. Between now and then we gotta blast a hole, dig it out, find whatever's in there, get out and close it up like nobody was ever here. Ya think it's too soon?” asks Biff, incredulously.

“I guess not,” says Sharkey.

***

Mikey and Donnie assist Biff to set up the charge in the wall. They place a small dynamite charge and blasting cap in each corner hole and snug it up with stones, dirt and fast drying spackle. They next wire the four charges together and attach them to the main wire leading to the second level and the detonator.

The job done, Biff goes over Mikey and Donnie's tasks with them.

The plan is that at 2:45 am, Mikey will take Biff''s car and go to the the area of the vacant lot west of the police precinct and at exactly 3:00 am he will light the fuse on a dynamite stick, throw it over the fence and quickly leave the area. Based on the length of the fuse, they figure it will take about a minute to go off. He should be several blocks away by then.

Simultaneously Donnie will be taking Slades' car and doing exactly the same thing on the east side of town.  After setting off their explosives both  men will drive in a direction away from the Lexington.  A couple of minutes after Biff hears one or both detonations, he will set off the charge at the hotel.

“Now before we do anything else, we gotta bring down three or four mattresses, that Sharkey says are upstairs. They're gonna be perfect for muffling the noise and keeping and keep shit from flyin' around,” says Biff.

Sharkey helps the men to drag several old mattresses to place against the wall where the dynamite is set to detonate later that night and by the area where Biff will be with the detonator.

Later, after Sharkey has gone back to his post upstairs, Biff is alone with Lenny and Mikey.

“I think we've got everything covered. Any questions?” he asks.

“Yeah... what about Sharkey?” asks Mikey talking in a whisper.

“It's okay, he's gone, he's on the other side of the building,” says Biff.

“So, what are we gonna do about him?” Mikey asks.

“Yeah, that's right, do we have to worry about him?” asks Donnie.

“If what you think you heard is for real, then yeah -—so before you go tonight I want you to get the artillary that's in the trunk of my car and bring mine in to me. If I was you, I wouldn't take yours with you. I don't think you wanna be caught in Chicago, carrying.  I think what youse should do is hide your pieces outside someplace and pick 'em up before you come in when you get back here later. And be alert when you come in. Capisce?” says Biff as he checks his watch..

“It's a little after midnight, we got a coupla hours to kill...  How about a little polka,” he says.

The men play several nervous, penny-ante games of polka to pass the time until they are to take their places. At a few minutes to two, Biff throws his cards in.

“It's almost time to go. Let's make sure our watches are sync... syncorized... whatever that fuckin' word is,” he says.

“Synchronized,”  says Lenny.

“Yeah, that one.” says Biff.

***

At two thirty in the morning, out on the sidewalk in front of the Lexington Hotel, it is an eerily quiet cool night in April 1986. Biff,  Lenny and  Mikey adjust their watches, walk over to Biff's car and take guns and ammunition out of the El Dorado trunk. Biff takes his Smith and Wesson M&P 40 and places it in his inside jacket pocket. Lenny and Mikey take their pieces and conceal them behind concrete planters that have been adorning the front of the hotel since being built many years before. Biff gives some last minute reminders. They shake hands. Mikey gets in Biff's car and Lenny gets in Slade's. Biff goes back into the hotel as the men drive away.

***

Biff places the detonator on a table which is positioned  almost a hundred feet from the vault room behind a wall of mattresses that are set up as a miniature fort to protect against the explosive force of the dynamite. He then goes back to the vault and begins unwinding the wiring coming off the four dynamite sticks, walking it back toward the detonator. He attaches three  wires and is removing the insulation from the end of the last wire when he hears voices from above him. He checks his watch. Two forty six. He stops what he is doing, pulls the Smith and Wesson from his coat and quietly makes his way to the top of the stairs. He carefully opens the door a crack and listens. He can hear Slades voice and at least two other voices.

“If you knew you were coming here you could of at least brought some doughnuts and coffee. I hear you guys are connoisseurs of doughnuts, detective,” says Sharkey.

“Don't be a wise ass, just answer the question. Have you seen or heard of any strangers being around here at night?” asks the detective.

“I would love to have some company at night, it gets pretty lonely here,” says Sharkey.

Biff checks his watch, two fifty one.

“That's right, keep it up, keep it up and I'll put my foot so far up your ass, I'll have to follow you to the emergency room to get my shoe back,” says the detective.

“Temper temper,” chides Sharkey.

Biff hears the sound of scuffling and the voice of a second man.

“Cut it out Ben, nothing's happening here. Let's just get out of here,” he says.

“I got your number wise guy. This isn't the last of this. You'll hear from me again,” says Ben.

“Next time don't forget the doughnuts,” calls Sharkey as they walk out the door.

Biff waits until he's sure they're gone before he quickly makes his way into the room. Sharkey is at his usual perch behind his desk.

“What the fuck was that all about?” asks Biff.

“I don't know. A couple of local cops that are always around here. They came in to bust my balls. Somebody in the neighborhood might have seen you guys coming or going. I was just worried they'd be here when you set the thing off.”

“Yeah, me too. I wasn't sure what I was gonna do if they didn't leave when they did. Anyways, I came up to remind you it's almost time, and I wanted to make sure everything was closed up tight. We don't want any sound getting outta the building. I hope those two clowns are far enough away when I set the thing off, that they don't come back to bust our balls,” says Biff .

“Everything is as set as we can make it. I hope that the big bang ain't our ticket to Alcatraz,” says Sharkey.

“Amen. Well, here goes nothin,” says Biff

He makes his way back downstairs to await Donnie and Mikey's blasts. Just as  Biff's foot reaches the bottom step, he hears the first explosion come from a distance and then almost immediately a second explosion from a different direction. It isn't longer than three minutes before he hears the sound of sirens from behind the hotel and about two minutes later sirens from in front of the building.

Biff waits what feels like the longest two minutes of his life behind his mattress barricade, with the detonator in his hands. As the second hand on his watch reaches the two minute mark, he simultaneously twists the handle, drops the detonator to the floor and covers his ears with his hands.  The split second between turning the handle and the explosion feels like an eternity to Biff. His mind says, “It didn't work. It failed. All this for nothing'. Then the world around him turns into a light-show, a tornado and a nightmare. Everything is flying around the room, tables, chairs, mattresses, dirt, stones and Biff.

After the initial shock wears off, Biff finds himself lying on the floor behind the table with two mattresses and a mound of debris on him. Except for a loud ringing in his ears and an inability to hear anything, Biff finds himself in one piece. He slowly gets up and staggers to the vault wall and the hole. His first impression is that not much happened, but on closer examination he sees that a portion of the square had been blown away. Not enough to squeeze through, but he estimates it wouldn't take too much to finish the job. He makes his way through the rocks, dirt and mattresses to the stairs and up to the upper level, to speak to Sharkey.

It is dark upstairs and Sharkey is nowhere in sight. He is about to go downstairs again when he hears the outside door open and sees Sharkey come in.

“Where'd ya go? Asks Biff.

“I went outside just before you set it off, to see how loud the blast would sound outside.”

“And?” asks Biff.

“It wasn't bad at all. There was a heavy thud and some shaking and a lot of dust,  but other than that, not bad, not bad at all. -—Did it do the job?” asks Sharkey.

Not altogether, but it's not gonna take much to finish,” says Biff.

“Well I'm glad it wasn't bigger.”

***

It takes about an hour for Donnie to get back to the hotel, Mikey Dip drives up just before the time they usually knock off, at five thirty, neither of them encountered a problem. The length of the fuses on the dynanite allowed them to drive a good distance away from the blast site before it went off. By the time the police arrived several minutes later, they were a long way from the site. As an additional precaution they took an extra long time getting back. 

They three men stand examining and admiring the partially completed opening in the wall. Being so close to their goal and anxious to finish, they know they must wait until that night before continuing the digging -—it's going to be a long day!

––––––––

April 20, 1986

One day to Geraldo. The men have spent a quiet day sleeping, eating, figuring their expenses to date which come to almost eight hundred dollars and have arrived at the Lexington for what may be the big payoff day or the big loser day.

Sharkey seems more down and apprehensive than usual, upon their ten thirty arrival.

“So, what's wrong with you?” asks Biff.

“Shh, keep it down,” admonishes Sharkey. “There are some guys here from Geraldo's show, casing the place, so far they haven't come to this side.”

“When we go downstairs, put the lock on the door. If they ask about it, you don't have the key. If  you see them coming this way, do the bangin' on da pipe thing,” says Biff.

The men make their way down to the vault to continue widening the opening enough for them to crawl through.

Donnie  sits on a stool changing clothes and having a conversation with himself.

“What the fuck are you mumbling about?” asks Biff.

“Suppose he doesn't unlock the door, after?” asks Donnie.

“You always think of the bright side,” says Biff.

“Yeah, but suppose he doesn't?” Donnie insists.

“We got jackhammers and dynamite, any other questions?” ask Biff.

“I guess not,” says Donnie.

“Remember, you guys, this is the last night before the Geraldo show, we gotta get in, get out and close the thing up like nobody's been here before we leave tonight,” says Biff.

With those words, the work on enlarging the hole resumes in earnest. Unfortunately the only feasible tools they can use are small hand tools; a hammer and a cold chisel. The men take turns whaling away at the wall with a small sledgehammer and banging away at the chisel, knocking off small chunks of concrete from the side of the hole the dynamite hadn't penetrated, a bit at a a time. By two a.m. it doesn't seem like very much progress has been made, the hole does not seem large enough yet. Getting arm-weary by this time, Biff suggests they go upstairs and take a break. Mikey, who is the smallest of the men, suggests he test the size of the hole before they go up. He gets down and tries to wiggle through the opening. He gets part of his torso through, but getting stuck there, needs Biff and Donnie's help to pull him back out.

Biff notes that Sharkey appears much more relaxed when the men return to the upper level.

I'm guessin' those Geraldo guys left. You got some color in your face,” says Biff.

“Yeah, they didn't stay long.”

The men sit around chatting with Sharkey and reading anything he may have available. They answer any questions he has about their progress and then return to the vault.

Good progress is made in the balance of the night and as Donnie puts down his hammer, it is apparent the opening is now sufficiently large to accommodate a small man.

“It's all yours,” Donnie says to Mikey, as he gets back on his feet and stretches the aching muscles in his back.

Biff stands watching Mikey taking off his coveralls to get ready to discover and report on the Al Capone forgotten treasure that he will find when he crawls through that wall. The truth is he is really thinking of the time and money he spent on this project he now considers dumb and the long odds that there really will be something of value behind the wall.

Mikey gets down on all fours and stretches out his arms in front of him, placing them through the opening first, as he enters the so-called, Al Capone vault. In his hand he carries a flashlight. His upperbody fits through the gap without too much problem, his hips however are a tight fit as he squirms and twists trying to pull himself through the tight orifice. He inhales the dank air within the enclosed space and switches on the light. From his limited position, all he can see is a mound of dirt before him. Pulling and tugging, he manages to pull the rest of his torso through the hole.

“Whattia see?” asks Biff as he anxiously pokes his head through the hole.

“Not much, just a mound of dirt that goes up to the ceiling,” says Mikey, getting to his feet and making his way around the immediate area. After a few minutes he returns to the opening.

“There's nothing in this area in front of that mound of dirt and I can't see behind it. I think we're gonna hafta do some shovelin' to get behind it.”

“There ain't gonna be no 'we, Mikey. Me and Donnie wont be able to get our fat asses through that hole. It would take us another two days to make the hole big enough; we ain't got time, so it's all up to you, Mikey.  Here's a shovel,” Biff says as he passes a shovel through the opening.

“Ya know, Biff, I got this feelin' I'm gonna bust my ass movin' dirt in here, for nothin',” says Mikey, dragging the shovel behind him as he moves to the dirt mound.

“I hope not, Mikey, but you know, like I know, in life nothin' is certain. Tell me if ya need water or anything,” says Biff.

Mikey begins attacking the pile of dirt, a shovel at a time. After an hour of work with frequent water breaks, Mikey calls back, “I'm nearly through.”

“Can you see anything?”  asks Donnie, who is now monitoring Mikey's activity from the hole.

“Yeah, I see the whole other side to this room, the part that Rivera's crew is gonna break through” says Mikey, peering over the top of the mound. “A couple more shovels and I'll be able to squeeze through,” he says.

“What d'ya see?” asks Donnie, anxiously waiting to hear of treasure.

Mikey's assessment of Capone's vault is less than encouraging, “I don't see shit from here, just more of the same, dirt and more dirt,” he says.

“That fuckin' Biff and his fuckin' ideas,” says Donnie, carefully looking, to be sure Biff isn't close by. “On his say-so we spent all this fuckin' time and money for nothin'” he says.

Mikey continues digging, “It ain't all his fault, we all agreed it sounded like a good idea.” he says as he heaves another shovelful of dirt behind him.

“I think it's time to pack it in and get the fuck...” The sound of someone coming down the stairs causes Donnie to curtail his remark as Biff enters the room.

“What're you bullshittin' about?” he asks.

“Me? Nothin', just talkin',” says Donnie.

Biff gives a “humpf” and turns his attention to Mikey in the hole.

“How's it goin', Mike?” he asks.

“I think I can get through now,” he says and drops the shovel—-Laying on his stomach, Mikey squirms through the opening between the mountain of dirt and the ceiling.

“Tell me what ya see,” loudly calls out Biff.

It takes a few minutes for Mikey to reply.

“I don't see a fuckin' thing. There's a coupla old bottles in the dirt, that's about it, and a...” Mikey doesn't finish the sentence.

“And a, what?” What're ya lookin' at?” asks Biff.

Donnie who was sitting across the room, hurries to Biff''s side at the opening.

“What's up?” he asks.

“I don't know. You heard as much as I did,” says Biff.

Mikey pokes his head over the dirt mound.

“I found a... there was a small metal box that was on the floor in the corner here. It's locked and it's pretty heavy. That's it, that's all there is in here,” he says.

“Are ya sure? Did ya look toroughly?” asks Biff.

“I looked everywhere you could look, this is the only thing that's in here.”

“Whattia think, Biff?” asks Donnie.

“I think we're fucked,” says Biff with disgust.

“Whattia want me to do?” asks Mikey.

“Ya might as well come out, but to avoid any problems,  I think dat before ya come out, ya should try to make the place look as close to what it did before. Capisce.”

Mikey follows Biff's instructions and takes another thirty minutes to restore the area over the mound close to the way it was. He then crawls back over the opening he made and replaces the dirt to close it up. Through the hole he hands the green box to Biff and smooths the dirt near the entry, he then wriggles his way out of the vault.

Biff examines the green metal strong box carefully. He gives it a shake, hoping it would give him a hint as to it's contents.

“Let's see if Sharkey has any tools we can use to break open this treasure chest, maybe we'll find the crown jewels inside,” says Biff, sarcastically.

Sharkey brings in a tool box from his car and rummages through a myriad of tools until he finds a small pinch bar, a hammer. and a chisel.

“From the looks of it, I guess I'm gonna have to cancel my order for a yacht,” he jokes.

Biff is not in the mood for Sharkey's sarcasm.

“Yeah, yeah, right. Just open the fuckin' box,” he says.

The pinch bar is not of much use in prying open the green box and Sharkey resorts to pounding the chisel into the panel of the box near the lock. After several minutes of heavy blows, the lock is destroyed and falls into the box. The pinch bar is then employed to bend the cover enough that it can be pried open. The four men hover over the box as Sharkey pulls back the cover.

“What the fuck?” exclaims Biff as he looks into the box.

The other men make similar exclamations as they peer into the green box at a small fabric sack with a picture of a little girl holding an open umbrella and the words Morton's Iodized Salt on it. They all appear paralyzed for a moment, until Biff speaks.

“Let's see what's in it,” he says and proceeds to remove the parcel from the box.

From the way he lifts it, it can be discerned that the bag has some heft to it.

“Well, it's not salt,” he says.

He places the salt sack on Sharkey's desk and unties a string that has been tied around the neck of the bag. He looks in the sack, then turns it over and spills the contents on the desk.

***

They all stand mesmerized as a parade of pristine gold coins pour out of the bag.

“They're all nineteen twenty, twenty dollar gold pieces that look like they've never been circulated,” says Donnie after examining the coins.

“How many are there?” asks Mikey.

A quick count is made of the coins.

“There are twenty of them,” says Sharkey. “I know a little bit about coins and I don't know exactly how much, but I know these coins are worth more than twenty dollars each,” he says.

“Yeah, but if their worth a hundred dollars each that would only be two thousand dollars and even if their worth a thousand dollars each, that only comes to twenty thousand and by the time we split it up, it comes to shit. It still was a waste of time,” says Donnie.

“Whatever. We took a shot and it didn't work out. So, fuck it, on to the next thing. In the meantime we'll split these up like we says. I get forty and you guys split up sixty. That means you each get four of them and I get eight. Is that right?” asks Biff.

The others solemnly agree to the division of the coins and then go about the business of finishing filling in and cementing the rupture they had created in the wall. When it is completed they place furniture and debris in front of the area to disguise it.

***

April 21, 1986

Biff, Donnie and Mikey Dip sleep hard and long on this their last day in Chicago. Given the fact that they've finished with their Geraldo project, they would have normally arisen, had breakfast (or in this case “lupper,” being they didn't arise until four pm.) then they would have then loaded up the car and started back to New York.

However they didn't want to miss “The Secrets Of the Al Capone Vault” Geraldo Rivera's syndicated TV show that was airing that evening; mainly to see if there was any treasure that they missed, but also to observe if anyone detected their presence in the vault.

After eating, the trio heads back to their room to await the tv show. Having several hours to kill, they decide on a poker game to pass the time. After several hands, Mikey becomes bored and drops out, leaving Biff and Donnie to switch to a game of Gin Rummy.

Mikey pulls out his four, twenty dollar gold pieces and lays them out on the bed examiming each one carefully under a tablelamp.

“So, how much ya think we can really get for these?” he asks.

“Who're talkin' to?” asks Donnie.

“Either one a youse,” says Mikey.

“As soon as we get home, I got a guy that's a coin collector that I'm gonna bring'em to. He'll tell me what they're worth,” says Biff.

“I hope we at least make back the money we spent,” says Donnie.

“Amen,” says Mikey.

Biff slams down the cards he's holding in his hand, startling Donnie.

“Stop pissin' and moanin'. You guys knew it was a long shot from the beginin', so I don't wanna hear any shit now,” he says.

“Aw, don't get mad, Biff, we're just talkin',”  says Donnie.

“I know you're just talkin', but don't ya think I'm just as pissed off as you guy's are? Drivin' all this fuckin' way, spending all that fuckin' money, for what?'  A coupla fuckin' coins. “I'd like to kick the shit outta Geraldo Rivera for thinkin' this thing up.”

That evening, the men sit through almost two hours of Geraldo Rivera's boring hyperbole, as his crew digs and dynamites the wall to the vault.  Now, however they sit on the edge of their chairs as a payloader pulls down the now vulnerable concrete wall of the Al Capone vault. It crashes to the ground creating a huge dust cloud. When the dust settles, several of the men enter the vault and carefully search the area, coming up with nothing but an old stop sign and a couple of old gin bottles.

“Look, look behind them,” exclaims Mikey excitedly.

“Where?. What're talkin' about? Ya see somethin' ya missed in there?” asks Biff.

“Nah, but look how nice I left the place, they'll never know we was in there,” he says.

“Oh kiss my ass,” says Donnie.

Elated that they hadn't missed anything, but disappointed that there hadn't been the treasure they had hoped for, Biff, Mikey and Donnie go about packing their belongings and loading up the car for the trip back to New York.

***

The day after the drive back from Chicago, Biff checks in with Matty, to let him know he is back and ready to resume his duties to the mob. Later that same day, he takes a ride to his old neighborhood in Brooklyn and stops in at Peter Pan Pawn.

“Biff! -—Biff Rollo. You haven't been in my shop in ages. Where have you been, my boy?”

Lester Griffin steps around the counter of  his pawn shop to personally greet Biff as he steps through the door.

Biff, never one for exuberance gives Lester a limp handshake. Lester had been a middleman in the early days of Biff's career, the days when he was involved in petty thefts and needed somewhere to fence his take. 

“Whattia say Lester,” says Biff.

“It's great to see you, Biff. What are you doing these days? I miss seeing you. We had some good things going at one time, what happened?”

“Things change, I'm in a different business, now.”

“Well, I hope you're doing well.”

“I'm doin' real good,”

“That's great to hear, my friend. So, is there something I can do for you, today?”

“Yeah, there is. I wanna show ya somethin',” says Biff opening a small leather bag he is carrying.

“What'cha got there?” asks Lester.

Biff places one of the 1921, twenty dollar gold pieces on the rubber pad that is usually on the counter.

“I know you're inta coins, so I want ya to give me an idea what this is worth,” he says indicating the coin.

Lester takes out his jeweler's Loupe and takes an extremely long time examining the coin closely. He takes the Loupe out of his eye and slowly puts down the coin.

“Have you shown this to anyone else? He asks.

“No,” answers Biff.

“What do you want to do with it?” he asks.

“It depends -—sell it, I guess. How much willya gimme me for it?” asks Biff.

Lester strokes his chin and stares at the floor for a few seconds before answering.

“Where did you get it?” he asks.

“I got it,” answers Biff.

“How much do you want?” asks Lester. 

“You're the expert, what's it worth to ya?”  asks Biff.

Lester picks up the coin, examines it again and puts it down.

“I'll only make pennies on it, but because it's you, Biff, I'll go -—fifteen hundred,” he says.

Biff picks up the coin and puts it back in the bag.

“So, what do you say, fifteen hundred,” says Lester.

“I'll think about it,” says Biff.

“Why don't you decide now? I might have a buyer for it -—I'll tell you what, let's not fuck around, let's cut to the chase. I'll take a beating on what I make on it. I'll give you twenty five hundred and that's only because you're a good friend. I wouldn't do that for just anybody. That's my last offer -—deal?”

Lester extends his hand.

Biff ignores Lester's hand and takes the bag from the counter and starts for the door with Lester walking beside him, trying to cut him off.

“What's wrong with you, Biff? I'm offering you a good deal, twenty five hundred, only because it's you Biff,” says Lester.

Biff ignores him and starts to open the door. Lester takes a hold of the door and prevents Biff from fully opening it.

“What's wrong with you, I'm offering you good money. Okay, this is my last offer -—five thousand for the coin if you say yes right now,” says Lester, with a note of desperation in his voice.

Biff stops, looks Lester in the eye, shakes his head in disgust and with an open hand to Lester's face, pushes him out of the way and walks out the door without looking back.

***

Immediately upon leaving Lester's pawn shop, Biff calls Mikey and Donnie and has them meet him at Sam's Luncheonette.

“What's up, Biff, why the big rush?” asks Mikey.

“I didn't want you guys to do anything with those coins before I had a chance to talk to ya,” he says.

“Why?” asks Donnie, with concern.

“What did you do with yours?” asks Biff noting the worry in Donnie's voice.

“I sold one,” says Donnie.

“How much?” asks Biff.

“A thousand,” says Donnie.

“Ya got screwed,” says Biff.

“How'dya know?” asks Donnie.

“Because when Lester Griffin looked at the coin I showed him, he got so excited I thought he was gonna shit his pants. He offered me five grand.”

“Wow, ya made five thousand on it?” asks Mikey.

“No, I didn't take it.”

“Why not?” asks Mikey.

“Because I know Lester. I could tell by the look on his face, he was lying. I figured they're worth a whole lot more, and before I sell'em, I wanna know what ball park I'm in -—Who did ya sell the coin to?” asks Biff.

“To some coin collector I found on Craig's List.”

“Well, ya got fucked. Go get your coin back, c'mon, I'll go with ya,” says Biff.

Within thirty minutes Donnie and Biff  are knocking on the coin collector's door. At first the man  belligerently refuses to discuss returning the coin to Donnie, that is, until Biff describes several options that are open to him, all of them painful. In fact, the man is so grateful for not having to experience any of these options that he becomes very helpful by suggesting they take the coin to one of the big auction houses in New York to get an appraisal.

Biff' suggests Donnie refund the coin collector his thousand dollars. Donnie reluctantly complies.

***

Several days later at Grantland & Barnesby auctioneers, Biff, Donnie and Mikey present one of the  coins for evaluation. They can see that the appraiser, Mr. Cantor, is immediately impressed.

“Uncirculated 1921 Saint Gaudens twenty dollar gold coin, a rare collector piece. Very nice,” he states, peering through his eyepiece Loupe “A prime specimen,” he adds, “May I ask where you acquired it?”

“It was a present,” snaps Biff -—“Whattia think it's worth?” he asks.

Cantor looks down his nose at Biff and takes an unnecessarily long time answering. 

“I would guesstimate that at auction it might generate one hundred fifty to two hundred” he finally says.

“Dollars?” asks Mikey, disappointingly.

“Thousand,” corrects Cantor.

“Two hundred grand for one coin. Are you shittin' me?” asks Biff, hoping he isn't.

“Well, that's the high end. The actual price at auction could be somewhere between there and a hundred fifty thousand,” says Cantor.

Donnie and Mikey pat each other on the back and do a little dance.

“Thanks Cantor, how much do I owe ya?” asks Biff..

“There is no charge, the only thing I ask is that you bring your coin here to me when you're ready to sell,” he says.

“You got yourself a deal,” says Biff.

Riding home, Mikey and Donnie cannot contain themselves as they discuss how they're going to immediately sell their coins and all the many ways they'll spend their new-found wealth. Of course they use the high estimate and value the individual takes of their four coins at six hundred thousand.

Biff, who has not says much to this point, listens patiently until they're all talked out.

“First thing. One of us has to call Sharkey to tell him what we found out about the coins so he don't get screwed like we almost did. The second thing is;  you guys can make whatever plans you want, but let me tell youse what I'm gonna do with my gold -—I'm gonna put'em away for a rainy day or for when I can't earn anymore, they're only gonna get more valuable with time -—Also, if for some reason I hafta cash in, I'm gonna do it one coin at a time and I'm gonna have a legit shill stand in for me at the auction, because ya don't wanna bring attention to yourself if ya can help it,”  he says.

“Shit, that ain't no fun. I wanna enjoy some a  that money, now, “ says Donnie.

“You can do whatever ya want, but my advice is, don't try to sell all your coins at once or you'll bring the Feds down on ya. Use a legit coin collector to front for ya, it's worth payin' him a coupla thou.” says Biff.

***

In the years that follow the Geraldo caper, Biff lives up to his vow to hold on to the coins as a retirement fund with one exception. He sells one of the gold coins by paying Cantor to be his stand-in at an auction. The successful bid by a collector in Colorado is one hundred forty one thousand. After paying Cantor five thousand dollars, he uses the balance toward buying back what had been his childhood home on Victory Boulevard on Staten Island.

He refurbishes the house and furnishes it to resemble as close to his original childhood home as possible and though he lives full time in an apartment in New York, he makes frequent visits to this house when the mood suits him, which became more and more frequent as the years passed.

Biff decides to place the balance of twenty dollar gold pieces in a safe deposit box in the Richmond County Savings Bank which is convenient to his Victory Blvd House.

His plan is to leave the coins to Frankie and his son Marcus.  He intends to write up a will so that the proceeds of the coins which he believes will be worth even more then, than they were when he had them appraised. He will leave  25%  of the proceeds to his son Marcus in an annuity and the balance to Frankie with the proviso he be a mentor to Marcus until his twenty first birthday.     

The End