Sergio De La Pava - A Naked Singularity

“Really?”

“That’s what they called me.”

“No I mean you had friends?”

“Well I was using the term loosely to describe the people who attended my high school at the same time I did.”

“Oh, and your name was Peter back then?”

“No, it’s always been Mondongo.”

“I guess in those instances alliteration tends to be viewed as more important than accuracy.”

“So you’ll come? It won’t take long.”

And on the way there Assado would periodically giggle to himself like something was the most amusing notion he’d ever had. But he looked older than when I first met him, less colorful.

“I just have questions,” he said when we sat down at the empty-save-for-one-drowsy-woman bar. “Questions I know you’ll want to answer. I sit around thinking about this case, that’s all I do, and I get these questions. And I get these questions and I think, who can help me answer them ? And I always come back to you, because you know so much about what happened that night.”

“You’re wrong.”

“I think, for example, about how much money was taken that night. Millions, lots of them, and all in cash like that. People don’t realize that money like that invites its own problems you know? I mean what do you do with it? You can’t walk into a bank and deposit it into your account right? What do you do, put it under your mattress? We’re talking about millions . I mean this presents problems even for people who are engaged in long-standing and consistent criminal activity, criminals. I’m sure you know that they devise all sorts of fake businesses and everything to convert the money into the kind that can be deposited into bank accounts. You’re wondering where I’m going with this. Well if my theory’s right and the person or persons who took this money are not really practiced criminals but more like ordinary people who found themselves with some inside information and did this on the spur of the moment so to speak, then it stands to reason that they will have even more problems than the average criminal in laundering this money no? So that’s one of my questions. You know, where’s the money and what kind of problems is it causing the holder, how will they try to legitimize it? Which of the two of them has it?”

“…”

“Yeah I guess I should mention that. I know now that two men did it. I can’t tell you how I know that or anything, it’s a pending criminal investigation, and no matter how close we are to making the arrests I can’t compromise the integrity of that in any way, I’m sure you understand. Anyway I bet only one of the two currently has the money and that’s got to make the other one uncomfortable you know what I mean? So that’s another question I have. By the way did you remember yet who you were just visiting at The Plaza?”

“…”

“The other thing is this with regard to the two guys we now know were involved. If I was one of them how would I know that my partner wasn’t in some way cooperating with the police in return for leniency? And since I couldn’t know that wouldn’t I be tempted to beat him to the punch so to speak by talking to the police or specifically a detective that I knew was working on the case so I could get that leniency for myself? I mean there comes a time when a person should be able to see the handwriting on the wall as it were and start thinking seriously about cutting their losses don’t you think? You have to wonder why I’m so interested in speaking with you. How I’ve been able to progress and proceed in this manner. Don’t you?”

Assado kept talking without pause and somewhere in there I decided to give up, that all was lost. I wasn’t even listening to what he was saying anymore but he was looking at me and smiling and I can’t really say I hated him anymore just that I was tired and wanted it all to be over. Then he laughed.

“What?” I said.

“No just that some people really aren’t cut out for prison you know? You’re a very good-looking guy actually. I know this guy in state corrections and the truth is that the sexual assault problem in New York State prisons is largely a thing of the past. But, you know, do you even want to have that like in the back of your mind and whatnot? Have you thought about that? By the way what are you, Italian? You a paisan?”

I looked away and he kept talking, on and on. I could hear him now. He started talking about money.

“What?” I said.

“I’m trying to help you, the money.”

“I don’t understand, what ?”

“The money. If we were to locate it, that could be a great help to you. Of course I’d have to talk to my supervisor you understand? Don’t you?”

“Yeah I think I do. I understand now, thank you.”

“So?”

“And I am Italian.”

“Really? I thought so, where from?”

“Italy.”

“Where in Italy.”

“A little village by the heel. Tiramisu di Bosco I think it was called. I came over by myself when I was a couple of weeks old.”

“I see, you’re pulling my leg.”

“I have a couple of questions myself that maybe you can answer Assado. Is that all right?”

He sat up.

“Like I was wondering why you’re even working on this case since it didn’t occur in your precinct.”

“Well I’m not going to discuss that.”

“Oh, because when I called your precinct a short while ago with an offer of information they didn’t seem to know what I was talking about.”

“Well they wouldn’t.”

“So is it like one of those Hollywood-type things where you’re like suspended but you’re so used to administering your own brand of street justice that you pursue the truth on your free time? Is that what it’s like?”

“Maybe.”

“Well what is it exactly?”

“There are parallels.”

“Because I also know that neither of the detectives that met with DeLeon has talked to you about this case.”

“How I conduct this investigation is really none of your business.”

“Just questions Assado, don’t get so bent out of shape.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Also I noticed that when you showed me those pictures from the scene they were like copies of copies and I would’ve just expected better access to the evidence from the lead detective on the case. Then there’s all the times you mentioned specifics about what happened at 410 but since you never spoke with either of those narcotics detectives and the investigation doesn’t even properly belong to your precinct then your source for that information can only be… but that can’t be right… can it?”

There was a long pause here where Assado would smile and take long drinks from his glass then look around and murmur. Finally he looked directly at me.

“So you want to do it this way huh? I tried to be nice but I guess you prefer this.”

“What you said about your friend in corrections was nice I suppose, I didn’t like that.”

“You know what? You have no idea who you’re fucking with. No idea at all.”

“I think I know exactly whom. I’m just not overly impressed, there’s a difference.”

“I could disappear you if I wanted. It just so happens you know where something valuable is. And I got news for you, the wrong people know that you know where it is. I was offering to help you. I could do you myself, say you reached for my gun.”

“I’m right here.”

Assado pointed to his glass then raised two fingers. When the glass was empty he turned to face me and I sensed he was shedding a character he had created.

“You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into do you? Let me give you some free advice then do whatever you want because personally I don’t give a fuck if you live or die. You like playing bad guy? Well the guy you’re fucking with, and no I don’t mean Escalera, isn’t playing and I think you know that. He isn’t playing and he’s immense and he’s got you in his cross hairs. You got your little reprieve. That’s what this has been the last few days, an opportunity. If you had availed yourself of it, told me where the money was, I maybe, maybe , could’ve convinced that animal not to hunt you down and end you, to just take back his boss’s money and leave the matter at that. Now? Well that was your chance but you didn’t take it and now I have no sympathy for you. What you did was wrong and you know it.”