Chapter
FORTY

Eduardo Masseria buzzed Pescaro’s intercom at precisely 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 4. When his car stopped in front of the Villa, Pescaro was on the steps waiting. They went straight to the kitchen where biscotti and freshly ground coffee had been prepared. Pescaro began loading a tray.

Masseria, taciturn, thoughtful and still wondering why he was here, watched Pescaro in silence. When everything was ready, he followed Pescaro with the tray to the library. After pouring coffees, Pescaro said, ‘I know what you are thinking. The answer is, I need your help. We have a problem and I am entrusting the task to you personally.’

Masseria was flattered but remained silent. He was a large man, balding with short greying hair and light brown eyes. Waste management was his special interest and he also ran a string of brothels. Shrewd and cautious, he was thorough and strict. Over time, he had built a reputation for generosity, mainly towards hard workers and needy cases in the community. He likened himself to the first godfather of the American Mafia – Don Giuseppe “Battista” Balsamo. A solid Family member, in his younger days he had been a hard man who had killed, wounded and beaten non-conformers.

‘I’ll come straight to the point,’ said Pescaro, drawing on his cigar, ‘I believe someone in our ranks is helping Chernamenko. I want you to confirm or clear my suspicions. In due course, I also want you to remove Chernamenko’s team.’

A faint smile cracked the edges of Masseria’s generous mouth. ‘Ah, so the meeting had more than one layer then, it was not a sell out? I hoped this was the case.’

Pescaro momentarily allowed himself a sly grin and affected an innocent air. ‘You didn’t think I‘d roll over that easily did you? Eduardo, you disappoint me.’

‘No, but you had me wondering. There are others who already are strongly convinced you caved in to the Russian.’

‘Well, that’s a good thing Eduardo. For what I have in mind, it is essential the capos think that way. They will be uncertain and therefore on their toes. I don’t want you informing anyone to the contrary either,’ he glowered.

‘Excuse me interrupting Don Pescaro, but … Teresa’s performance. Was that part of your strategy?’

‘Of course, we needed Chernamenko to behave just as he did.’

Masseria sat back and smiled broadly. ‘I am much relieved. What can I do?’

‘We are gathering intelligence about Chernamenko and I want that to continue. But, I want Chernamenko, Bilyenko, Vitalev and Silverstein under your special scrutiny. It is imperative that operation remain secret. Can you manage that?’

‘I won’t lie Don Pescaro – it won’t be easy. That kind of work needs special skills and with our people already so busy, it will be difficult. I can only say I will confirm as soon as I can. Just as we are watching them, Chernamenko’s men are watching us like foxes.’

‘I am thinking of arranging some gifts for them, gifts I don’t want them to discover. I want to know the best place to leave them and I don’t want anyone around who can’t be trusted when it happens. I also want their criminal activities accurately tagged. You will have to choose your team wisely.’

‘When do you want this Don Pescaro?’

‘Yesterday.’ Pescaro allowed a grim smile. ‘With the Russians nibbling our cake, they will soon want it all. Greed will make that hard to resist. So, when you know your capability, tell me. I am asking a lot, but this is our business we are protecting.’

‘Don Pescaro, you didn’t ask me here just for this – tell me about the snitch.’

‘Would you like fresh coffee Eduardo?’ Deflecting the question he rose and poured himself another cup. Masseria declined. When he had resettled, Pescaro continued in a matter of fact tone. ‘I believe we have a traitor. I cannot rely on our intelligence because that person could either be sending it on to Chernamenko or changing his parts in small important ways before it gets to me. However, I must continue in the same manner rather than draw attention to my concern.’

‘Okay, I understand. But what about this traitor? Who is it?’

‘This man,’ he said coldly, writing the name on a piece of paper for Masseria. Surprise crossed Masseria’s face. He looked up to find Pescaro’s eyes boring into him.

‘I am astonished Don Pescaro. I know he is ambitious, but … that ambitious?’

Pescaro held up his right forefinger, his eyes speared Masseria. ‘Think for a moment Eduardo. If Chernamenko has inside help to erode my authority, the outcome will be my replacement – possibly by force. Recall for an instant the reactions of some of your colleagues at the meeting: they hated what I was doing. They think I’ve become weak, or senile or that I am hiding behind Teresa. It would take very little for someone with ambition to orchestrate my removal. If successful, that person would be elevated and the balance of power will have shifted to Chernamenko.’ Then harshly, ‘I believe this is what lies behind the deaths of Fabrizzi and Barracusa.’

Thoughtfully, Masseria nodded, he could see the ramifications of Pescaro’s viewpoint. He said, ‘What about Santini? The papers are linking him to those deaths as another victim. Is that true?’

Composed again, Pescaro weighed up his response before saying, ‘No. I’ve got Teresa on that now, but I don’t believe it is related. Do you have more questions?’

‘Only one; what about placing your suspect under surveillance? Hopefully, he won’t know you’re on to him and I doubt that he’ll be dealing openly with Chernamenko. If you are agreeable, I will take care of that.’

‘Thank you Eduardo, I would appreciate that. There is always the possibility I am wrong about him. I hope so, he always seems so agreeable. But, I have been around a long time and my instincts on this are strong. I appreciate you taking this task and I will not be speaking to the others, not even Teresa. I say again, your people must be totally trustworthy – the slightest whisper and we have lost.’

‘Your trust will be honoured Don Pescaro. I’ll be in touch as soon as I can.’ Both men rose and shook hands. Soon after, Masseria drove away to begin what Pescaro hoped was another step towards Chernamenko’s removal.