Definition:
\De*tect"\ (d[-e]*t[e^]kt"), a. [L. detectus, p. p. of
detegere to uncover, detect; de + tegere to cover. See
Detected. [Obs.] --Fabyan.\De*tect"\ (d[-e]*t[e^]kt"), v. t. [imp.
& p. p.
{Detected}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Detecting}.]
1. To uncover; to discover; to find out; to bring to light;
as, to detect a crime or a criminal.
PUBLISHED: july 2005 Gunsels,GunMolls, & Private DIcks Collection
PUBLISHER: Omenspirits.com
WEBSITE: this one
I walked causally toward the front of the dining room hall table with my hands in my rented black tux coat pockets. The Don was still huddled on the floor with Johnny. The band was nowhere to be seen.
“Well, this doesn’t look too good, Don. Your security is seriously compromised. By the grouping of the bullets, and the holes hammered into this solid pinewood table. I’d say they were pro’s. Or very accurate amateurs.”
I had no love for The Don, but we played on neutral ground. He couldn’t bump me off. Besides, even through my sarcasm, there was a mutual respect. Right now, I had poor taste in words. He wasn’t pleased with me. The tears stopped. His voice was all business,“Dummy up and listen, you two-bit shamus! You take some of my men, and you find me who did this and why. Don’t give me the business. You know why you’re here, so do your job!”
Anthony Jr. was visibly upset, ”Papa, what about me!? This is family business, I should be the one to handle this, not some outsider! I don’t need Crazy Horse here to help me plug the mugs who....”
The Don cut him off, ”Tony. Shut. Up. I just lost your brother and I don’t wanna loose you!” With his pinky finger, sporting a solid gold band with three grooves etched on the outer rim, he pointed from Anthony Jr. towards me.
“You do what you do.........and find them.....alive.”
Anthony, “But...”The Don, “No buts---“ then The Don paused. Thoughts moved in his eyes,” all right, Tony, ya can go, but Mason’s in charge! Now go!”
Anthony Jr. and The Don were at an impasse in their relationship. A shootout with a known associate of the Gambinos over three years ago before, had led to the loss of The Don’s only daughter (Restitution had been made to advert a war). Ever since then, The Don and Anthony Jr. had been walking on egg shells around each other. Anthony Jr. blamed the Gambinos for the loss and made it very vocal, but The Don kept to himself what he felt. Some in their circle thought that The Don blamed Anthony Jr. for Maria’s murder, some thought he was so deep in mourning that he just couldn’t accept her loss. The Don kept his most private feelings under a bullet proof heart. But, and this could be noticed by someone who is used to analyzing people, The Don’s treatment of people said what he thought and felt more than words ever could. Anyway, I was here for a reason. Half of that reason was to keep an eye on Anthony Jr. to make sure he didn’t go after The Gambinos in retaliation. Anthony Jr. picked four of his men and sent them to get some toolies and a car. I looked at The Don, he looked at me. I pulled my hat forward and nodded. I went out one of the glass doors, across the grass, and onto the blue stoned driveway. I used a pen light to comb the area. Some wet tire rubber had been caught on a sharp bluestone. I picked it up and put it in a plastic bag crumpled in the corner of my pocket. Tony and his three men came around in an immaculate new 1946 four-door white Chrysler with runners and white walls. I got in the back. The engine roared, and we sped off into the night. Back towards The Big Apple.
*
This was the second time I had seen a Frezzetti take the big sleep. Three years ago. It was a warm August day down on Tin Pan Alley, 49th Street. The wind was softly moving through the buildings, and traffic was non-existent for mid-day New York. Maria and Anthony Jr. and his shadows were coming out of a nearby recording studio. Maria was a club hopper that liked to cut a rug in the colored part of the city. She had a thing for the Jazz. She was a sharp little number about 5’ 7 and had dark brown hair, slender small hands, and strong thick calves. She had a firm athletic figure that kept most men locked in the dog house with their wives after she walked by. She was whistle bait. But Anthony Jr. kept his peepers open and his ears to the ground. Anyone who looked at her for too long, or whistled at her, and Anthony Jr. and his mugs would fall on them like a ton ‘a bricks. She had a round face with Veronica Lake, piercing eyes. She was very friendly and personable. More than Anthony Jr. ever would be. He had that cocky ego an older son gets when he is the favorite. The Don doted on Anthony Jr. and was very protective of his daughter. He loved his sons, but Maria was his little girl. His only living reminder of “her”, and his one great guilt. I was there by accident. Another case called for me to find out about some piece of music and someone I knew was a musician recording on the same block. I was on the other side of the street. A few people wandered by. Some men wore summer shirts and khakis. Some wore Bermuda shorts and straw hats. Women sported day dresses made of light cotton material with various floral patterns. She wore a yellow cream colored day dress with a low cut collar that was held at the shoulders. A matching wide belt around her waist complimented her purse. She flirted with Anthony’s shadows. They knew, so Anthony let them.
He spoke loudly with his right hand man Donny “Two Tone”. His attention was on himself. They didn’t see it coming, neither did I. It was so quick, my eyes barely had time to focus. I caught the make as it sped by, spitting smoke and fire through an open window.
A two door Cord screamed around the nearby corner and fishtailed near where Anthony Jr. had parked. Pop! Pop! Pop came like tap shoes against marbled dance floors. I rolled ,on instinct, behind a Packard parked nearby.
Donny pushed Anthony out of the way, and Anthony’s shadows dove and pulled thunder out of their coats and clapped out lightening with every squeeze of the trigger. Maria froze. Donny went for Maria.
The roar of the engine, and the chatter of gunfire.
Donny took two in the chest. Maria---took the rest.
The gunmen drove off without looking back.
RETURN
TO INDEX