Mario Puzo - The Last Don

Gronevelt uncovered the scam the very next day. The daily reports showed the markers high even for Fuberta's junket. The Drop at the table, the record of money kept after the night's play, was a figure too low for the amount of money wagered. Gronevelt called for the videotape from the «Eye in the Sky» surveillance camera. He didn't have to watch more than ten minutes before he understood the whole operation and knew that the million dollars of markers was so much cigarette paper, the identities false.

His reaction was one of impatience. He had suffered countless scams over the years, but this one was so stupid. And he liked Danny Fuberta; the man had earned many dollars for the Xanadu. He knew what Fuberta would claim: that he, too, had been deceived by the false IDs, that he, too, was an innocent victim.

Gronevelt was annoyed by the incompetence of his Casino personnel. The Stick at the crap table should have caught on, and certainly the Box man should have picked up the cross-betting. It was not that clever a trick. But people went soft with good times, and Vegas was no exception. He thought regretfully that he would have to fire the Stick and the Box man, at least send them back to spinning a roulette wheel. But one thing he could not duck. He would have to turn the whole matter of Danny Fuberta over to the Clericuzio.

First he summoned Pippi De Lena to the hotel and showed him the documents and the film of the Eye in the Sky. Pippi knew Fuberta but not the other four men, so Gronevelt had snapshots made from isolated video stills and gave them to Pippi.

Pippi shook his head. «How the hell did Danny think he could get away with this? I thought he was a smart hustler.»

«He's a gambler,» Gronevelt said. «They believe their cards are always winning cards.» He paused for a moment. «Danny will convince you he's not in on this. But remember, he had to certify that they were good for the money. He'll say he did it on the basis of their ID. A junket master has to certify that they are who they are. He had to know.»

Pippi smiled and patted him on the back. «Don't worry, he won't convince me.» They both laughed. It didn't matter if Danny Fuberta was guilty. He was responsible for his mistakes.

Pippi flew to New York the next day. To present the case to the Clericuzio Family in Quogue.

After passing through the guarded gates, he drove up the long paved road that cut through a long plateau of grass, its wall armed with barbed wire and electronics. There was a guard at the door of the mansion. And this was in a time of peace.

Giorgio greeted him, and he was led through the mansion into the garden at the rear. In the garden were tomato and cucumber plants, lettuce, and even melons, all framed by large-leafed fig trees. The Don had no use for flowers.

The Family was seated at the round wooden table eating an early lunch. There was the Don, glowing with health despite his near seventy years, visibly drinking in the fig-perfumed air of his garden. He was feeding his ten-year-old grandson, Dante, who was handsome but imperious for a boy the same age as Cross. Pippi always had the urge to give him a smack. The Don was putty in the hands of his grandson; he wiped his mouth, crooned endearments. Vincent and Petie looked sour. The meeting could not start until the kid finished eating and was led away by his mother, Rose Marie. Don Domenico beamed at him as the boy walked away. Then he turned to Pippi.

«Ah, my Martello, « he said. «What do you think of Fuberta, that rascal? We gave him a living and he grows greedy at our expense.»

Giorgio said placatingly, «If he repays, he could still be a moneymaker for us.» The only valid plea for mercy.

«It's not a small sum of money,» the Don said. «We must have it back. Pippi, what do you think?»

Pippi shrugged. «I can try. But these are people who don't save for a rainy day.»

Vincent, who hated small talk, said, «Let's see the photos.» Pippi produced the pictures and Vincent and Petie studied the four armed robbers. Then Vincent said, «Me and Petie know them.»

«Good,» Pippi said. «Then you can straighten out those four guys. What do you want me to do with Fuberta?»

The Don said, «They have shown contempt for us. Who do they think we are? Some helpless fools who have to go to the police? Vincent, Petie, you help Pippi. I want the money back and the semascalzoni punished.» They understood. Pippi was to be in charge. The sentence on the five men was death.

The Don left them for his walk in the garden.

Giorgio sighed. «The old man is too tough for the times we live in. This is more risk than the whole thing is worth.»

«Not if Vinnie and Pete handle the four hoods,» Pippi said. «That OK with you, Vince?»

Vincent said, «Giorgio, you'll have to talk to the old man. Those four won't have the money. We have to make a deal. They go out and earn and pay us back and they're home free. If we bury them, no money.»

Vincent was a realistic enforcer who never let the lust for blood overcome more practical solutions.

«OK, I can sell Pop that,» Giorgio said. «They were just helpers. But he won't let Fuberta off.»

«The junket masters have to get the message,» Pippi said.

«Cousin Pippi,» Giorgio said smiling, «what bonus do you expect on this?»

Pippi hated when Giorgio called him cousin. Vincent and Petie called him cousin out of affection, but Giorgio only did so when in negotiation.

«For Fuberta it's my duty,» Pippi said. «You gave me the Collection Agency and I get wages from the Xanadu. But getting the money back is hard so I should get a percentage. Just as Vince and Petie if they get some from the hoods.»

«That's fair,» Giorgio said. «But this is not like collecting markers. You can't expect fifty percent.»

«No, no,» Pippi said, «just let me wet my beak.»

They all laughed at the old Sicilian idiom. Petie said, «Giorgio, don't be cheap. You don't want to chisel me and Vincent.» Petie now ran the Bronx Enclave, chief of the Enforcers, and he was always promoting the idea that the button men should get more money. He would split his share with his men.

«You guys are greedy,» Giorgio said with a smile. «But I'll recommend twenty percent to the old man.» Pippi knew that meant it would be fifteen or ten. It was an old story with Giorgio.

«How about we pool it?» Vince said to Pippi. Meaning the three of them would share whatever money was recovered no matter from whom. It was meant as a friendly gesture. There was a far better chance of recovering money from people who were to live than people who were to die. Vincent understood Pippi's value.

«Sure, Vince,» Pippi said. «I'd appreciate that.»

He saw Dante walking hand in hand with the Don far off at the edge of the garden. He heard Giorgio say, «Isn't it amazing how Dante and my father get along? My father was never that friendly to me. They whisper to each other all the time. Well, the old man is so smart, the kid will learn.»

Pippi saw that the boy had his face turned up to the Don. The two looked as if they shared a terrible secret that would give them dominion over Heaven and Earth. Later Pippi would believe that this vision put on him the evil eye, and triggered his misfortune.

Pippi De Lena had gained his reputation over the years by his careful planning. He was not just some rampaging gorilla but a skilled technician. As such he relied on psychological strategy to help in the physical execution of a job. With Danny Fuberta there were three problems. First of all he had to get the money back. Second, he had to coordinate carefully with Vincent and Petie Clericuzio. (That part was easy. Vincent and Petie were extremely efficient in their work. In two days they tracked down the hoods, forced a confession, and arranged for compensation.) Then third, he had to kill Danny Fuberta.