The excitement of Christmas and Hogmanay was accompanied by the
anticipation of his imminently maturing investment. Dennis had told Frank
that there would be no work done at the hotel for a two-week period
between December 20 and January 5. Though moderately empty for most of
the winter months the festive season was always busy at the hotel. Even
though he didn’t work during that time Frank visited the hotel almost every
day. They would talk a lot, drink to continuing success and generally enjoy
the festive atmosphere and the promise of good things yet to come.
Timed to perfection, Frank showed up at the hotel on New Years Eve
carrying a small sports bag. With the air of a flamboyant benefactor he said
to Dennis “I have a something for you my friend that maka you very happy.
Let’s go somewhere private”.
Dennis had been expecting this moment but had not imagined the rush of
pure excitement it brought to him. The two of them retreated into the
resident managers quarters. Frank opened the bag and tipped the contents
onto a coffee table. The bundle of cash thumped onto the table. Although the
bundle mainly comprised hundred dollar bills at least three thousand was in
twenty-dollar bills making the cache larger than it might otherwise have
been. Frank insisted that Dennis count the money after which they toasted
the occasion with a three-fingered shot of Scotch.
It was during this celebration that Dennis noticed Frank’s diamond studded
ring. The ring was of gold and it had at least 6 diamonds encircling the
letters TC.
Dennis commented “Tony, why are you wearing a ring with the initials TC
as in Tony Carotenuto when you want everyone to know you as Frank
Marino?”
“Ah, but you don’ understand. This ring was a gift to me by the various
families when I was elected Tutti Capo. Boss of Bosses. One day you know
who I am. You stay with me an’ you make lotsa money”.
Dennis was happy, he was impressed and he did want to kiss this little
Italian.
“So what do we do now?” inquired Dennis.
“What do you mean what do we do now?” replied Frank somewhat coyly.
“Well, can we do this again?”
“’Course you can. Only thing is we have to wait. Maybe days or maybe
weeks for another opportunity” said Frank in a very matter of fact way. He
continued “you may want to keep the cash available if you’re interested in
another shot so’s not to have to keep going to the bank for cash. Bank
transactions can be difficult to explain if the tax people ever decide to do an
audit”.
Dennis thought for a moment and said “Yes, that’s good thinking. I’ll keep
it in my safe deposit”.
That night, full of exuberance, Dennis and his wife Fiona celebrated
Hogmanay with their good friends the Mcfee’s.
In the middle of January Bill McFee paid a visit to Dennis at the hotel. The
two of them were talking in the hotel lobby when Frank came barging in.
Without the slightest consideration that they might be having a private
discussion he interrupted the moment by blurting out “Dennis, for fuck sake
man we need more tiles”.
Dennis, taking the interruption in stride replied, “Tony this is the third time
you’ve run short of tiles, there should have been enough for 3 more rooms!”
A brief pause and he continued “Bill this is Frank, Tony this is Bill”.
Bill was somewhat amused by this introduction and laughingly said, “Well
I’m pleased to meet you Frank or Tony” and offered his hand to shake.
Frank took the extended hand and gripped it firmly. “Dennis is all fucked
up. When we met I was using another name but really I’m Frank Marino”
said Frank.
“Ah, so you’re the man who’s responsible for Dennis’ recent good fortune,”
replied Bill affably.
Frank immediately looked at Dennis and said testily “I thought we agreed
you don’t talk to nobody ‘bout our thing”.
Dennis with some indignation responded, “Well I actually didn’t,
unfortunately Fiona was a little pissed on New Years Eve and happened to
mention that we had this thing going. But don’t worry, Bill assures me that it
goes no further”.
“Och don’t worry about me man I’m as silent as a tomb. But I will say this,
if you have some deals going on in the future I’d be interested” said Bill in
his best placating manner.
With that brief exchange over Frank restated his need for more tiles.
“Why don’t you tell the people at Home Hardware that I can sign for stuff,
then I wouldn’t have to keep coming to you every time I run short. I don’t
trust those pricks either,” appealed Frank.
“Well I suppose that’s not a bad idea. You run along now and before you get
there I’ll give them a call”.
Frank headed for the exit with a parting shot “I’m gonna’ need some gas
money for all this runnin’ around!”
When he had gone Bill quizzed Dennis “Are you sure you trust this guy?”
“Oh yes, I know a bit about his background and I know for sure he’s had an
association with some powerful people for a long time. He’s not very refined
but he is reliable” attested Dennis.
“No, it’s just that he seemed a little on edge. Does he always talk like that, I
mean using the ‘F’ word in front of complete strangers,” asked Bill, whose
sense of propriety rose way above Frank’s inconsiderate and insensitive
style of social engagement.
“I understand what you’re saying. I think it’s just their way. I suppose when
dealing with the kind of people they deal with on a certain level the niceties
of civilized behaviour don’t have the right impact”. Dennis picked up the
telephone. Called the Hardware store and authorized Frank Marino to sign
for material. Almost as a postscript he added “but nothing over $500.00”.
At the store Frank casually walked around taking time to talk and joke with
various store employees. He strolled out back to where the bulk material
was kept and took stock of the entire yard. He instinctively knew that
security was lax. Two teenagers were assigned to tidy up the yard, restacking
2” x 4”s, helping to load material onto contractors vehicles etc. He noticed
one of the older yard hands that was yelling at and berating the two young
yard workers. Frank walked over to him and in a loud voice and with a large
smile said “That’s right, you need to give those little fuckers shit to keep
them in line!”
Frank had this way of walking, well it was more like strutting with shoulders
alternating in an accentuated up and down movement. It may well have been
what one might describe as the ‘mob walk’. In any event the walk was
meant to convey a signal that I’m a somebody. The point was taken and the
man responded “hey, how you doon?”
With his hand extended Frank introduced himself. His gesture was
reciprocated. Frank and his new acquaintance Mario, who also was of Italian
parents, commenced a business friendship.
Feeling good about this place, Frank returned to the store and picked out a
few items that he needed to do some repair work on his apartment,
paintbrushes and roller, 2 gallons of interior latex, masking tape, baseboard
mouldings and a bronze coloured doorknob. He took the items to the
contract sales counter and heaved his stuff up for the cashier.
The cashier asked if he had found everything he needed. She was attractive
enough but not exactly pretty.
“Now I found you what more can a guy want?” said Frank with all his
charm.
“Sorry, but I’m already taken” she said brandishing her diamond studded
wedding band.
“Then you’ll never know what you’re missing. Anyway I need 10 boxes of
tiles”.
“What kind of tiles do you want?” inquired the cashier.
“The same kind as before” replied Frank.
“And how do I know what kind you had before?”
Frank decided to end his playful game and said “This is all for the Landasia.
I’m Frank Marino and Dennis said he’d call to let you know I can sign for
stuff”.
The cashier brought up the account on her computer screen. With a
businesslike demeanour and not caring much for Frank’s sense of humour
she started to record the sale items including the 10 boxes of tiles. Frank’s
personal items totalled $103.00 and the total was almost $300.00. She
ripped off the invoice and asked Frank to sign for receipt of the
merchandise. Frank noted with interest that she didn’t ask to see any
identification. He scribbled some kind of signature on the document. The
mark on the paper could have been made by anyone. He returned to the
Hotel feeling uplifted and full of promise for the future.
Frank had bought a used box trailer for hauling material since he was now
doing weekend jobs for other people. One day in early spring Dennis was
shocked and worried when Frank pulled into the hotel parking lot, his trailer
weighed down by spruce 2” x 4”s, eight 4’ x 8’ plywood sheets and who
knows what else in the way of nails, screws or hand tools. Frank got out of
his car and hauled a tub of tile adhesive out of the trailer. He set it down
outside the reception door and entered the lobby.
“Tony, I hope you haven’t put that material on my account” said Dennis, his
rage barely contained. Dennis had in fact noticed that Frank was charging
quite a bit of personal stuff on the hotel account. He hadn’t confronted Frank
with hostility when he had discovered this, preferring to admonish him
gently with a suggestion that a few small items were acceptable but “let’s
not be piggish”. Thereafter, he had added a few personal items to the list
whenever Frank needed to collect material and thus avoided the need to
implicate himself with a ‘goods received by’ signature.
“For fuck sake man, are you O.K.? Here’s your invoice. I just put the cement
on yours, and I got you a new hammer as well” retorted Frank with all the
innocence of a newborn babe. He offered the green invoice copy to Dennis
who snatched it from his hand and studied it intently.
“Why do I need a new hammer?” asked Dennis “we must have 3 or 4 lying
around the workshop.
“Yeah, but they’re no good. This is a man’s hammer and it’s time you got
some decent tools to work with!” exclaimed Frank.
Dennis was annoyed by Frank’s attitude and his face showed the taut
muscles of exasperation. “When tools are to be bought, I’ll do the buying. Is
that clear!”
“Fuck man I’m only trying to help you,” after a brief pause Frank continued
“Look, I meant to tell you there’s another investment opportunity if your
interested. Don’t worry if this is a bad time ‘cause I got other people
begging me for more. The pricks make a load of money but it’s never
enough.”
Dennis’ anger evaporated instantly. “ What did you have in mind then?”
“This is a bit different, I got one for $35,000, one for $53,000 and one for
$64,000 and they’re all 9 to 11 month investments. The best interest is on
the $64,000 that gets you $95,000 back on February 15
explained Frank.
“And what do the others yield?” inquired Dennis.
Without a moments pause Frank replied, “The $35,000 gets $45,700 and the
$53,000 gets $71,500”.
Dennis did some quick mental calculations. After a moment he said, “I think
I could take the $35,000, but I was talking to my son Dave who’s also
interested, do you think he could have one”.
“For fuck sake man, I gotta be careful. Pretty soon the whole fucking town
will be involved” he paused momentarily and went on “but I guess it’s your
family so it don’t make too much difference”.
Sheepishly as if not really wanting to press a point Dennis asked “Do you
think you could let Bill in on this?”
Frank, now himself manifesting irritation, said “Dennis, I let you in ‘cause
you helped me when I needed it. I only help people who help me in what I
got to do”.
Sensing a way through this dilemma Dennis appealed to Frank’s mercenary
instinct “When I spoke with Bill he did say he had a fair bit of work that
needs to be done. He wants his front porch tiled completely and he needs an
extension to his cement patio at the back of his house. I’m sure he would
pay good money”.
Frank gave it some thought and responded, “Tell him if he’s interested to
give me a call. But I gotta know by tomorrow and I gotta get the money to
Van by Friday. And that reminds me, Rob’s coming in tomorrow just for
two nights, can you book him a room?”.
Dennis was acquainted with Rob, who, among other things was Frank’s
muscle. He rode a heavy duty Harley Davidson bike, liked easy woman,
used hard and soft drugs and rarely had anything to say. Frank had
persuaded Dennis that his stays at the hotel should be free of charge since
Rob was, in part, instrumental in seeing that their investments were carried
out and fulfilled.
Feeling somewhat relieved that he had negotiated both his son and his friend
into the deal, he was happy to offer his hospitality to Rob who seemed more
of a Hell’s Angels person rather than a Cosa Nostra person.
Within the hour Frank received a call from Bill McFee. At Frank’s
insistence they would meet at Bill’s house to discuss the matter of
investments and property improvements. As always, when it was
inconvenient, Frank avoided talking on the phone to discuss business
“’cause you never know who’s listening”.
At the house Bill showed Frank around his large home and 3-car garage.
Inside the garage was a spanking new maroon Jaguar which Bill had
imported direct from England, a spotlessly clean black SUV and an about
town Honda Accord. Frank asked Bill about the work Dennis had mentioned
and Bill explained the requirement. Frank’s response to each was “oh yeah, I
done hundreds of jobs like that” and that he would do a better job than the
other people who just want to grab your money and run.
Frank wanted to secure the work contract before getting into the investment
aspect of their meeting. They agreed that the work should start in mid-April
because up to that time Frank was fully booked. With all the modesty of a
prima donna he declared “when you got such a good reputation like I got the
phone don’t stop ringing. I think maybe I should charge more”.
Bill took it all in with a ’pinch of salt’. Having spent most of his life
listening to the bullshit of bidding would-be contractors, he knew their style
and could generally gauge the depth of their expertise or skill. He was not
terribly impressed with Frank but was intent on getting into this great
investment opportunity, which Dennis had so enthusiastically endorsed.
The rules of this particular engagement were explained i.e. cash only, no
documentation other than a hand written note, in code, identifying the terms.
“We do everything on the honour system and my handshake is stronger than
Fort Knox. I guarantee the investment ‘cause we got the muscle to enforce
the contract and we never fail”.
Bill felt the need to ask a few more questions regarding the deal. Who, what,
where, when questions that a normal intelligent person would be inclined to
ask. Frank avoided giving up any of this information citing the need for
secrecy within the organization and so’s not to get anyone in trouble. He
closed the explaining process by saying, “Look my friend, not everyone feels
comfortable with this kind of deal and I understand, if you don’t trust me
that’s O.K. I got two people who are begging me for more opportunities so
it’s not a problem for me if you don’t want to do it”.
Bill settled on the $53,000 deal and promised to have the cash available by
the following day.th next year”
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