Dark as Daylight Ch. 06

"You bastard. You can't even be charged with invasion of privacy. They were introduced to you by a friend of the family. Remind me to send a bag of coal to each one of them for Christmas."

"Do you think they're going to miss your Christmas presents after what your former partners had the government pay them as restitution for their character?"

"No, I don't think so."

"Shall we get down to business?"

"Sure why not."

"Are you using your secure line?"

"Yes mommy, I am. I had it tested by friends of my daddy."

"Your daddy's influence knows no bounds."

"Tell me about it."

"Celeste, and all her people have gathered information about Multitronics that is going to blow this case across the country, and the world. I'm not going to use their names just in case someone is listening, from that place near Omaha. We are talking about at least nine U.S. Corporations, three European Corporations, and four from Asia. If they wanted, they could strangle the economy of the world. I want you and Donna to move down to South Carolina yesterday. You are too exposed in New York, and Brooklyn is too expensive anyhow. You are in a lot of danger up there, get down here tomorrow."

"I own my homes; all I do is pay taxes."

"Don't you think they know that? Don't you think they know where you go every night? Get your ass down here Vincent, and I don't mean the day after tomorrow, I want you down here by tomorrow."

"Who's going to run my office?"

"Your friend from Brooklyn College. He wouldn't steal a dime if it was left on your desktop. You were going to make him a partner anyhow; so do it today, and do it in a hurry. Get your ass moving, you have a lot of work to do.

Call Donna, and tell her to start packing. Have your secretary pullout your old partnership agreement, and have her change the names and dates on it. He has to remain with your company for the rest of his life as payment for his 49% share of the company, or return it to you free of charge, if he leaves for other employment. You can never fire him, unless it is for gross negligence, or gross moral turpitude. A private jet will be waiting for you at Kennedy at 3 PM. I will give you the tale number, and the captain's middle name before you get on the move to Kennedy. If they don't check out run like hell."

"I love working with you Rod. I had a nice peaceful business taking money from the richest, and giving it to the richer. Now I have to wait to see if I'm going to be shot, like my dad did. It's true, life does come full circle."

"It may be true Vincent, but this time, we are on the right side of the law."

"Why doesn't that make me feel comfortable?"

"Because bullets don't have a conscience."

"Thank you, I needed to hear that right now."

"Oh, your father wanted me to verify that the water heater is empty."

"Yes, it's empty."

"Why would a hot water heater be empty?"

"It's summer you idiot."

"Hang up Vincent, and get to work."

****************

"Betty get in here."

"What is it Vincent?"

"Three things: 1. Pull out my old partnership agreement, with Tom and Jim. Update it to today's date. Put Joseph's name on it. I keep 51%, he gets 49%..."

2. When you're finished with it, get him in here so I can ream him a new asshole, and have him sign it. He will be in complete charge of the office, until I return.

There will be no shakeup in personnel, everyone's job is secure. You are my eyes and ears in this office. If something does not smell right, I need you to get in touch with me on my cell. Can I count on you to do that?"

"Yes sir, you can."

"You will get an extra $4000 a month, directly from me, for that information. We have to setup a direct deposit between my bank and yours. Will you set that up for me please?"

"Thank you Mister Caruso, it's not necessary, but it is appreciated. I will take care of the transfers."

"I want you to contact building security. I want 4 armed security agents inside our office, from 4 PM to 9 AM. I want two armed agents standing in our hallway, but not near our doors, from 8 AM to 6 PM. This is just a precaution, but I want our people safe while I'm gone."

"I know you're going to trial later this year, sir, but who are you going up against?"

"It looks like a simple case of an unjustly dismissed employee by a multinational corporation, but it's going to get ugly really fast. I don't want you to know anything else about it. The less you know the safer you are."

"I'll get right on these things Vincent. Joseph should be in here within 10 minutes."

*****************

"Hello sweetheart, how are you?"

"I'm fine. Why are you calling me in the middle of your day? Don't you have anything better to do?"

"I'm supposed to have something better to do than to speak to my wonderful wife, mother of my 10 children, who has managed not to kill me because of that accident?"

"What accident? I believe I enjoyed every minute of it."

"You enjoyed taking care of 10 babies, with diapers running around everywhere? The garbage men used to put masks on when they came to our house to avoid the smell.

Every Christmas I gave each of them $1000 each for their bravery. I think that's the only reason they kept coming back."

"Vincent, after our first four children, I didn't smell a thing."

"Is that why you wore perfume every time I came home?"

"I said I didn't smell a thing, not you. You worked all the time, I was the one at home. Why do you think the windows were open in the middle of the winter?"

"I always wondered why our fuel bills were low."

"Do you want to tell me why you called me?"

"Yes, we are going on vacation tomorrow."

"You are a lying sack of shit Vincent. We have a three-week cruise scheduled for the end of September. You would not take another vacation in the beginning of July knowing that."

"Tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM we are going to be flying on a private jet for a vacation. What do you say about that darling?"

"Vincent, when was the last time you lied to me, and got away with it?"

"Never!"

"Good boy, now tell me why we're going on a vacation tomorrow."

"We are not safe here any longer. I just got a call from Rod Laver. He ordered us down to Charleston immediately. He told me we are no longer secure in Brooklyn. We are too exposed. Pack up what you need, and we will buy the rest down there. I will be home by 6:30 PM, not one minute later. Don't let anyone you don't know in the house. I mean the UPS man, the FedEx man, or anyone. If it's the regular guy fine, if it's not he leaves it outside. You know where my gun is, use it if you have to Donna. You know how."

"Vincent, you are scaring me."

"Stay scared baby, I will be home soon."

********************

"I don't care what you say, I am not submitting my resignation."

"Joseph, you are the worst lawyer I have ever known. You take pity on the rich, and you hate the poor."

"That's not true. We only represent the rich. I am duty-bound to give them the best representation possible. That's what this firm is all about, isn't it?"

"What is your winning percentage Joseph?"

"97%."

"How much did that 3% cost our clients?"

"$730 million."

"Did those clients retain us?"

"One did, the other did not."

"Do you know what that did to our billing?"

"I would suspect we took a hit."

"Nope, it didn't hurt as it all. They were going bankrupt anyhow. They filed Chapter 11 seven months later."

"Then why are you busting my balls?"

"Isn't today Tuesday?"

"No it's Wednesday."

"I thought it was Tuesday. Tuesday is break Joseph's balls day. I want you to read this thoroughly, and get back to me in 30 minutes. Use the meeting room."

****************

"Here he comes Vincent, and he has a head of steam on."

"Cover your ears Betty, the screaming is about to begin."

"What is this piece of shit, you're not yanking my balls again because I don't believe one word of it. No one gives 49% of a company worth three quarters of $1 billion to someone he barely knows, as long as he stays with the company, or commits some heinous act as defined by law."

"If you don't want it, I'll ask Janet. She's an up and comer."

"What are you talking about. She's been out of law school eight years."

"True, but she has never lost the case."

"Yes, because she's always been second chair to you."

"Should that make a difference?"

"You damn right it should."

"Well since you don't want it, who should I consider taking over for the next few months, while I'm away?"

"How the hell should I know?"

"Betty, who was third on my list?"

"Sandra."

Joseph screamed, "Sandra, are you out of your fucking mind? She can barely find her way around the courthouse."

"Yes, that's true, however she's an excellent administrator."

"She couldn't administrate her way out of Starbucks."

"Joseph, the courthouse closes in 90 minutes. I need your signature on that agreement, and everything else that goes with it so we can get it down there and filed today. If you really don't want it say so, and stop this nonsense. I have to be in South Carolina tomorrow afternoon. YES, or NO!"

"Yes damn you; I knew I would regret getting on that airplane with you in Vermont."

"You deposited the check for $10 million dollars the next day; so it couldn't have been that bad."

"You are bastard Vincent."

"My father would only have hurt you for saying that. When my mother got to you, you would wish you had died at my dad's hands. Now sign the fucking papers, and get down to the courthouse PARTNER."

"I never did like you Vincent. I only stayed here because I liked Donna, and wanted to make sure you didn't go to jail."

**************

On his way home that evening Vincent made a short detour to his uncles moving and storage warehouse. He explained his situation, as his uncle slowly nodded his head. After hearing everything, his uncle said, "My people will be at your house at 1:30 PM to take you to the airport."

"How will I know it's them and not someone else?"

"Do you think you will recognize your niece, Devon?"

"Oh yes, I could find Devon sitting in the upper deck, at Yankee Stadium, if I was sitting behind home plate. She looks like Donna, when she was 19."

"She is beautiful, and my Joseph tells me she is a handful."

"I can't imagine why?"

"My son is going to be my age before she graduates college."

"Would you like me to rein her in a little?"

"Joseph hasn't been able to."

"That's because he's her father, and too close to the situation. Uncle Phil, I've been through nine daughters, I believe I can slow this one down."

"Your cousin would be forever grateful."

"Just a reminder uncle Phil, Donna and I started very early, and we are still very much in love."

"I don't know how you two did it, but the whole family is proud of you."

"Thank you uncle Phil that means a lot to us."

*******************

"Vincent, Rod; the tail number is 453SI; middle name is Elizabeth. This airplane looks like no other. If it looks ordinary, don't get in it."

"You make me feel so safe Rod."

"Once that airplane door closes my friend, you and Donna are as safe as you were in your mother's wombs. We will see you tonight. Have a nice flight."

********************

At 1:15 PM, four police cars, and one police bomb squad truck pulled up in front of Vincent's home. Behind them was a tow truck carrying a stretch limousine. It had been impounded several nights before, when its passengers were found carrying assorted and sundry illegal drugs. The owners had yet to come by the impound yard to pay the fine, and remove the vehicle.

At the request of a special friend, the car had been gone over with a fine tooth comb to look for any bombs or explosive devices that may be hidden inside it. Even as it was being lowered off the tow truck, police explosives experts, dogs, and human eyes looked for every possibility.

Then, a red Ferrari zoomed around the corner, and squealed to a stop inches behind the limousine. In her matching red leather outfit, Devon jumped out of the car, waved at the police officers, who stopped what they were doing to watch the new scenery go by.

Donna opened the screen door, and hugged her niece.

"You sure do know how to make an entrance, don't you darling?"

"Can I help it if my daddy spoils me?"

"You can lie to yourself little one, but you can't lie to me. I've seen those tears, and those pouty lips of yours in action. They could melt a stone wall if you tried hard enough."

"I thought that was the best kept secret in the world."

"I have nine daughters. There is nothing that hasn't been tried on me by one of them at least. The last three thought I had eye's all around my head, because they couldn't get away with anything. Vincent Junior was different. He got away with more crap than any of the girls, because of his father's influence. I wasn't sure which one I was going to kill first, but I knew in my heart it was not going to be the father. Vinny worked at least 10 to 12 hours a day. Junior was only gone for eight hours a day at most. That four hours was the turning point. He was going to be the dead man in the family."

"Are you ready to go, I got a date at 4 o'clock."

"Does your father know you have the date on a school day?"

"You're not going to tell him are you?"

"Do you want to bet your birthday present on it?"

"Come on aunt Donna, you were young once."

"Devon, at 18 I had my first child. At 20 I had my second child. I was also taking a full load of courses in college. At 23, I had a set of twins, and graduated with honors. Your uncle graduated the same year with highest honors. You see where he is now. I don't want to hear from you 'I was young once' because I was. I also had responsibilities. As soon as we get started towards the airport, I want you back on the Brooklyn College campus. I want your instructor to call me to verify you are in class. If you're not your father and I are going to have a conversation that you are not going to like, and that car is going into a garage for a long time."

"No, not my car!"

"Your car, your little red outfit, and your charge cards. Missy get your act in gear. You will either wind up pregnant by someone you don't care about, or a joke on everyone's lips that you are as easy as the beds you lay down on."

"I didn't expect this kind of conversation when I headed over here."

"Maybe it's better that you had it here, then standing in front of your father?"

"Okay, I'll do as you ask. It won't be easy, but I'll do it."

"I'm going to make it easy for you, because I love you. I'm going to hire a private investigator to follow you around. I'll make sure she looks young enough to fit into your social group. I'll see if I can get someone from the FBI, or maybe NYPD to follow you, day and night. I will have her report directly to me. You get two strikes. The third strike goes directly to your dad, and when you get home you will never know what hit you."

"You're really mean."

"If you think I mean, take a look at this."

Donna reached into her pocket, and pulled out a miniature tape recorder. She rewound it for a few seconds, and played a portion of the tape back.

Devon listened with horror written all over her face.

"When you attempt to tell your daddy you didn't know; he will play this tape for you. What are you going to say to him then?"

"You watch too much television. That's a cops trick."

Vincent walked down the steps and said, "Cops can't do that, it's entrapment. It's a lawyer's trick. Your grandfather told me what a handful you've become. I told him I would help him out in exchange for a little help today getting to the airport. I'm sure he would love to hear this tape, don't you Donna?"

Devon screamed, "Please, don't give it to grandpa, he will crucify me."

"What can I guarantee your father and grandfather about your behavior, in return for not giving him this tape?"

"I promise to change my ways. I will go to every one of my classes. I will get good grades, and I will only go out on weekends."

"That's not good enough. Do you want me to tell you what you're going to do so we don't stand here all day, and send this tape to your grandfather?"

"Yes please."

"You will be kind and respectful to all the elders in our family. You will go to confession on Saturday, and church on Sunday, with your mother. You will stop fucking every boy you meet. You have become a joke, even within the family. Your father has become embarrassed by your behavior. From now on, you can go out on a Friday, or a Saturday night, not both. On one of those nights you will study, not watch television, or have company over; you will study. The lowest acceptable grade from you is a B+. B+ is just barely acceptable. You are a very intelligent girl Devon; you better prove it. There's a nunnery in upstate, beyond Syracuse. I understand gardening is good for the soul. However, it might mess up your $100 manicure.

If you get a speeding ticket, you have to pay for it, not your parents. If you get a second ticket, the Ferrari gets taken away for a year. It doesn't matter if you have to walk, take a bike, bus, or train, you get to school on your own.

Now here is the biggie. If you have a date, he must pick you up at home. You must introduce him to your parents. If your father doesn't like him, you are not going out with him, period. If you try to fool your father by bringing a nice looking young man home, and then go out with someone less respectable, your father will know about it before you get home.

Depending on how much influence your mother has with your father, you will either find your clothing sitting on the street, or you may not be able to leave the house until you are 30.

I would pick my dates very carefully, and remember someone is always looking over your shoulder, because of who you are. If there are any other ways you can think of to make your behavior more acceptable to our family, you should do them with all haste.

Your father has run out of carrots. You have embarrassed him to his very core. He is ready to use the stick on you, and you will not like it when he does.

Your grandfather raised him that way, and made your father into a very good man. You will be a good and devoted daughter, one way or the other. The way I've given you is the easy way. You don't want your father to teach you the hard way; it will scar you for life."

Devon looked at her watch. "Uncle Vincent, I have to hurry. I'm going to be late for class."

"Don't speed, I don't want you to get a ticket."

"Yes sir."

Devon scampered down the stairs, and ran to her Ferrari. She started the engine, smoothly backed up to the corner, turned and headed to Brooklyn College. The tires didn't screech, and the engine didn't roar.

"Well that went well."

Donna said, "If I was Devon, I would have to run home to change my panties."

"No you wouldn't, I don't scare you anymore."

"You scared me yesterday."

"That's why we're out of here today. Let's go."

Two police officers helped them with their luggage, and put them directly into the backseat of the limousine. The lights and sirens blared as they started down the street. The bomb squad vehicle returned to its station, while the police cars continued covering the limousine.

They were entering the executive jet area of Kennedy International Airport when all hell broke loose. Three of their four police cars broke contact and turned away towards the Belt Parkway. The fourth car moved in close to protect one side of the limo.

The driver was looking for 453SI, but with all the corporate jet aircraft lined up, wingtip to wingtip, it was hard to tell which one it was.