Chapter 5
Marco Del Piero was a long time acquaintance of Walter Mancini. They were both wine makers, but Marco did it almost on a commercial scale. He made a lot, drank a lot and sold a lot. For a man of almost seventy years, and despite his short and portly frame, Marco was indeed very industrious. He owned a take out Pizza place, which was operated by members of his family; he raised chickens, rabbits and pigs for sale, grew a sufficient quantity of produce for consumption and sale and, in addition, was a skilled cabinetmaker. A seasoned businessman would probably say that Marco was doing too many things to be really successful in any of them. As it was, he got by and seemed content enough with his forever busy life style.
It was through Walter that Marco became acquainted with Frank, who in turn, became one of Marco’s best customers. Frank would buy almost anything Marco had for sale including wine when his own stocks were depleted. A good payer, Frank would always pull out a wad off cash and offer a hundred dollar bill to settle his debt. At first Marco would protest that he didn’t carry enough cash to give Frank his change and thus had to wait until the next time, but soon became wise enough to bend his frugal nature when dealing with him.
Walter was not particularly discreet, especially after he had drank a couple of glasses of wine. Since he and Marco were often comparing their vintages, it was inevitable that Walter would not be able to contain his joy regarding the business relationship he now shared with Frank and thus Marco was apprised of Walter’s ‘hush hush’ connection to the Vancouver mafia. Marco wasn’t impressed with the organization as such, but he was interested in the easy money investment program about which Walter seemed so happy. He remembered Walter saying “thisa gonna make my retirement much a more comfortable”.
One day Marco broached the subject with Frank.
“Frank, I know you have soma kinda investment deal ’cause Walter one day tell me a little about it”.
Frank’s response was swift and intense “That fucking Walter can’t keep nothin’ a secret. I fucking cut him off if he talk to anyone else”.
“Wait a minute Frank, I don’t wanna get Walter in trouble and he only say it’s a good thing you got and I don’t talka to nobody. But I got a little money and I like to make more than 2% the bank pay,” said Marco pleadingly.
“ Yeah but fuck man, Walter shouldn’t talk to nobody. Only my friends are in on it and they don’t talk about it. They make their money and don’t do nothin’ to fuck things up,” replied Frank his outrage seeming to subside while his benevolent persona kicked in. He continued “you been a good friend Marco and we do stuff together. I might be able to let you in. How much spare you got?”
Marco, his right hand scratching his chin thoughtfully for a moment, said, “I gotta maybe fifteen thousand”.
“Did Walter tell you how this thing works?” inquired Frank.
“Yeah, he told me. I understand everything, no problem”.
“O.K. “ said Frank “I’ll see if I can get you in, but it might be some time before an opportunity for 15 grand come along. So if you don’t mind waiting we’ll see how things work out”.
Coincidentally, Walter’s first investment was due at about the same time Marco was offered an opportunity to invest $17,500. With a little grumbling at the extra $2,500 over what he had originally declared as being his available funds, he did produce the cash and was given a promise that in 9 months he would be a very happy man with a return of $8,200 profit on his investment.
A week later Frank called Walter to say he had received the money from Walter’s investment and that they should get together to celebrate and discuss further opportunities. Five minutes after the phone call Walter was at Frank’s front door carrying a bottle of wine and grinning from ear to ear. Frank threw a bundle of hundred dollar bills onto the kitchen table and had Walter count it.
“Didn’t I tell ya I maka you happy?” said Frank.
“Franco you don’t imagine ‘ow ‘appy I am right now,” responded Walter emotionally.
“You aint seen nothing yet. You stick with me an’ I make you a very rich man,” gloated Frank.
“When I can get another one you think?” asked Walter.
“I talked with my guys in Van and they got three more right now. I gonna take one, Ernie gonna take one. Bill, he want another one but if you want I give it to you.” explained Frank.
“’Ow much is this one?” Walter inquired.
“It’s a big one. $64,000 get you $92,000 in one year,” responded Frank.
“That’s a lot a money” Walter hesitated and continued “I got the money but it take time for me to get it”.
“Look my friend if it’s too much don’t worry, I give it to Bill” said Frank almost tauntingly.
“No Franco I take it but it maybe take a week to get the money. ‘Ow long you can wait?”
“I got exactly 8 days, but if you want it you have to make a down payment ‘cause I can’t fuck around with these guys. If I tell ‘em you’re in you gotta be in” replied Frank with a very concerned look on his face.
“O.K. ‘ow much I give you now?” asked Walter.
“Gimme ten grand now an’ the rest by next Thursday. But don’t let me down or I have to keep the ten grand” demanded Frank menacingly.
“No Franco wait just a minute. I can’t afford to lose that money just ‘cause I’m a late with the rest. I said maybe a week but maybe it’s 9 or 10 days. Perhaps I let this one go,” replied Walter wilting under the pressure.
Frank didn’t want to hear this. He had made his demand hoping to spur Walter into acting with maximum haste but he had no intention of letting him go so easily.
“I was kidding Walter. For fuck sake relax my friend. I take the ten but I cover you if it take longer to get your money” said Frank reassuringly.
“Yeah Franco, I appreciate if you do this for me. I don’t let you down but I not sure right now ‘ow long it take”.
Walter got his money together within six days and everybody was happy.
Marco Del Piero was a long time acquaintance of Walter Mancini. They were both wine makers, but Marco did it almost on a commercial scale. He made a lot, drank a lot and sold a lot. For a man of almost seventy years, and despite his short and portly frame, Marco was indeed very industrious. He owned a take out Pizza place, which was operated by members of his family; he raised chickens, rabbits and pigs for sale, grew a sufficient quantity of produce for consumption and sale and, in addition, was a skilled cabinetmaker. A seasoned businessman would probably say that Marco was doing too many things to be really successful in any of them. As it was, he got by and seemed content enough with his forever busy life style.
It was through Walter that Marco became acquainted with Frank, who in turn, became one of Marco’s best customers. Frank would buy almost anything Marco had for sale including wine when his own stocks were depleted. A good payer, Frank would always pull out a wad off cash and offer a hundred dollar bill to settle his debt. At first Marco would protest that he didn’t carry enough cash to give Frank his change and thus had to wait until the next time, but soon became wise enough to bend his frugal nature when dealing with him.
Walter was not particularly discreet, especially after he had drank a couple of glasses of wine. Since he and Marco were often comparing their vintages, it was inevitable that Walter would not be able to contain his joy regarding the business relationship he now shared with Frank and thus Marco was apprised of Walter’s ‘hush hush’ connection to the Vancouver mafia. Marco wasn’t impressed with the organization as such, but he was interested in the easy money investment program about which Walter seemed so happy. He remembered Walter saying “thisa gonna make my retirement much a more comfortable”.
One day Marco broached the subject with Frank.
“Frank, I know you have soma kinda investment deal ’cause Walter one day tell me a little about it”.
Frank’s response was swift and intense “That fucking Walter can’t keep nothin’ a secret. I fucking cut him off if he talk to anyone else”.
“Wait a minute Frank, I don’t wanna get Walter in trouble and he only say it’s a good thing you got and I don’t talka to nobody. But I got a little money and I like to make more than 2% the bank pay,” said Marco pleadingly.
“ Yeah but fuck man, Walter shouldn’t talk to nobody. Only my friends are in on it and they don’t talk about it. They make their money and don’t do nothin’ to fuck things up,” replied Frank his outrage seeming to subside while his benevolent persona kicked in. He continued “you been a good friend Marco and we do stuff together. I might be able to let you in. How much spare you got?”
Marco, his right hand scratching his chin thoughtfully for a moment, said, “I gotta maybe fifteen thousand”.
“Did Walter tell you how this thing works?” inquired Frank.
“Yeah, he told me. I understand everything, no problem”.
“O.K. “ said Frank “I’ll see if I can get you in, but it might be some time before an opportunity for 15 grand come along. So if you don’t mind waiting we’ll see how things work out”.
Coincidentally, Walter’s first investment was due at about the same time Marco was offered an opportunity to invest $17,500. With a little grumbling at the extra $2,500 over what he had originally declared as being his available funds, he did produce the cash and was given a promise that in 9 months he would be a very happy man with a return of $8,200 profit on his investment.
A week later Frank called Walter to say he had received the money from Walter’s investment and that they should get together to celebrate and discuss further opportunities. Five minutes after the phone call Walter was at Frank’s front door carrying a bottle of wine and grinning from ear to ear. Frank threw a bundle of hundred dollar bills onto the kitchen table and had Walter count it.
“Didn’t I tell ya I maka you happy?” said Frank.
“Franco you don’t imagine ‘ow ‘appy I am right now,” responded Walter emotionally.
“You aint seen nothing yet. You stick with me an’ I make you a very rich man,” gloated Frank.
“When I can get another one you think?” asked Walter.
“I talked with my guys in Van and they got three more right now. I gonna take one, Ernie gonna take one. Bill, he want another one but if you want I give it to you.” explained Frank.
“’Ow much is this one?” Walter inquired.
“It’s a big one. $64,000 get you $92,000 in one year,” responded Frank.
“That’s a lot a money” Walter hesitated and continued “I got the money but it take time for me to get it”.
“Look my friend if it’s too much don’t worry, I give it to Bill” said Frank almost tauntingly.
“No Franco I take it but it maybe take a week to get the money. ‘Ow long you can wait?”
“I got exactly 8 days, but if you want it you have to make a down payment ‘cause I can’t fuck around with these guys. If I tell ‘em you’re in you gotta be in” replied Frank with a very concerned look on his face.
“O.K. ‘ow much I give you now?” asked Walter.
“Gimme ten grand now an’ the rest by next Thursday. But don’t let me down or I have to keep the ten grand” demanded Frank menacingly.
“No Franco wait just a minute. I can’t afford to lose that money just ‘cause I’m a late with the rest. I said maybe a week but maybe it’s 9 or 10 days. Perhaps I let this one go,” replied Walter wilting under the pressure.
Frank didn’t want to hear this. He had made his demand hoping to spur Walter into acting with maximum haste but he had no intention of letting him go so easily.
“I was kidding Walter. For fuck sake relax my friend. I take the ten but I cover you if it take longer to get your money” said Frank reassuringly.
“Yeah Franco, I appreciate if you do this for me. I don’t let you down but I not sure right now ‘ow long it take”.
Walter got his money together within six days and everybody was happy.
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