The Starlight Club 6: Double Seven

by Joe Corso

  She rushed over to him and jumped in his arms. “I’m the luckiest girl in the world.”

  He smiled mischievously. “Oh? And why is that?”

  “Because I met you. That’s why, silly.”

  There was no doubt about it. JoAnne was out of her shell and part of the human race again. Her hair was vibrant and she wore her makeup and it was tastefully applied and she proved it to him by taking him by the hand and leading him into the bedroom.

  “Don’t you think we should try the bed to see if it suits us?” He just smiled as she dragged him into the bedroom.

  The next morning, Richie called the Starlight Club and talked to Red. “When can you come in here, Richie? I need to talk to you.”

  “I’ll see you this afternoon, Red. I’d like to take JoAnne to Trenchie’s place and show her their apartment. If she likes it, I’d like to buy one like it and move her into it.”

  “Hold on a minute. Trenchie’s here. I’ll put him on.”

  A few seconds later, “This is Trenchie.”

  “Trenchie. Are you gonna be home this afternoon?”

  “I wasn’t planning to but I can be. Why? What’s up?”

  “Nothing much. I wanted to show JoAnne where you and Mary live because if she likes the apartment, I’ll buy one for her…uh, us.”

  Trenchie coughed a laugh. “Okay, kid. What time do you want to bring her there?”

  “Name a time, Trench, and we’ll be there.”

  “How about in an hour? Will that work for you?”

  “Yeah, an hour’s fine. See you in an hour.”

  “Do you have my address?”

  “Yeah. Red gave it to me and I put it in my address book.”

  “Good. See you in an hour.”

  An hour later, Mary opened the door to a smiling Richie.

  “Hi, Mary. This is JoAnne.”

  “Nice to meet you, JoAnne, and it’s good to see you too, Richie.”

  Trenchie tilted his head and motioned toward the patio. “Let’s sit on the patio.”

  The two men made themselves comfortable on the patio while Mary gave JoAnne a tour of the apartment. Trenchie handed Richie a cigar and after it was lit, he asked him, “You really like that gal, don’t you?”

  Richie took a drag on the cigar and nodded. “I never thought I’d fall for a gal like I did with her. Yeah. I like her a lot. I’m thinking of marrying her and settling down.”

  “Well, all I can say is getting married didn’t hurt me none. Just so she understands the life we live.”

  “Trenchie. She’s Joey Bones’ sister; she has to know the life we live.”

  “Yeah, I guess you’re right, but one day, you should sit her down and tell her the facts of life. You’re gonna be away sometimes for a long time and there will be times when Red or me or someone will call you in the middle of the night and tell you to do a job or to meet us somewhere and you’ll have to get up, get dressed, and leave…just like that. She has to know that you have to go and no matter what she says or how much she cries, you have no choice; you have to go and she has to know that.”

  “Yeah, I will. I’m gonna ask her to marry me and if she accepts, then I’m gonna have a heart to heart with her.”

  “Good. Now how about a cup of espresso?”

  That afternoon, Richie met with Red at the Starlight Club. “Richie, does JoAnne like the house in Corona Heights?”

  “Are you kidding me? She loves it. If it were possible, she’d stay there forever. But I told her staying in that house was a temporary situation. That’s why I met with Trenchie at his house earlier today. I wanted JoAnne to look at their apartment and see if she liked it. If there were any apartments available, I was gonna buy one in the same building.”

  “Well, did she like the apartment?”

  “Yeah. As a matter of fact, she did. Mary gave me the real estate lady’s number and I’m gonna call her tomorrow.”

  Red thought for a moment and then he shook his head. “Richie, do what you have to do tomorrow because I have to get you out to Vegas as soon as possible. We have one casino operating while the other is being renovated.”

  Richie frowned and said, “Red, I don’t know if I can settle all my business in one day. I’ll need at least a week.”

  Red didn’t say anything for a moment. “Come to my office with me.” Richie waited while Red called the casino. When the operator picked up, he asked to speak with Mr. Webber. Red hung up the phone and nodded to Richie. “Forget about having a week. You have three days from today to conclude your business. Come in Wednesday and I’ll have your airline tickets to Vegas and a little traveling money ready for you. I want you on Wednesday’s plane to Vegas. Capisca?”

  “Yeah, I understand. I’ll see you on Wednesday, and I appreciate you giving me the three days. I really need it.”

  “No problem, kid. You earned it; now go and make sure Joey’s sister is gonna be all right with you gone.”

  “Yeah, I’m gonna do that, Red. You know, I really like that gal…and besides, I’ll have Joey for a brother-in-law.”

  Red chuckled. “I just hope he likes the idea of having you for his brother-in-law.”

  They both laughed, but Richie knew that it wouldn’t be healthy for him if Joey didn’t like the idea of Richie marrying his daughter, but Red put his mind at ease.

  “Relax, kid. When you propose to JoAnne, if Joey doesn’t give the bride away, I will. But if Joey objects, which I don’t think will happen, I’ll let him know that I like the arrangement. Now go on and get out of here.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Charlie Brown Bag walked into the Starlight Club just as Richie Fingers left. Charlie got the nickname “Brown Bag” because every time he handed Red the numbers money, it was always in a brown paper bag, and since there were a number of Charlies in Red’s mob, Charlie Brown Bag or “Bags” stuck. Red was sitting at his favorite table by the window when he spotted Bags walk in the front door.

  “Over here, Charlie,” Red said, motioning with a wave of his hand for him to come over. “Have a seat, Charlie. What brings you here?”

  “Boss, you’re not gonna believe what Richie the Snake is doing.” There were also a number of Richies in Red’s mob, so in order not to mistake a war hero like Richie Fingers with Richie the Snake, they were referred to by their nicknames.

  “What’s the Snake doing now?”

  “He’s been picking up the numbers money for me and bringing it to me at my warehouse.”

  “So what’s the problem, Bags?”

  “The problem is I just found out that he’d been using his own money to take numbers from my customers and I don’t have to tell you that they’re your customers too.”

  Red’s eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute. Let me get this straight. Are you telling me that the Snake is taking number bets from your customers using his money and not telling you about it?”

  “You got it, boss. That motherfucker’s been doing it for a while now and I just found out about it.”

  Red was getting aggravated just thinking of this rat bastard who he put to work as a favor to his uncle because he owed him.

  Red ground his teeth and uttered in a low voice, “Richie wasn’t named ‘the Snake’ because the guys loved him; he got it because he’s a rat bastard and I put him on your crew to use him to pick up money and nothing more, and he goes and pulls a stunt like this?”

  “He’s biting the hand that feeds him, boss.”

  Red looked Charlie straight in the eyes. “And you’re sure about this?”

  “Yeah, boss, I’m sure. I decided to come to see you after a few of the customers took me aside and asked me if Richie was taking over my action, and I told them hell no, he ain’t.”

  Red rubbed his chin, trying to hold back his growing rage. “I want that rat bastard worked over. I don’t want him killed, but I want to teach him a lesson he’ll never forget.” Red shook his head in disbelief. “You know, Charlie. That prick is the dumbest white man I ever met. He
thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room when in fact he is the dumbest shit in the world. You know what he told me once?”

  “No, boss.”

  “We were talking about his brother and he looked me in the eye and said to me, ‘My brother is worth two or three million dollars, but I have him up here,’ pointing with his finger to his head. By definition, if his brother was worth that much money while Richie doesn’t have a pot to piss in, then the Snake has to be a moron.” Red shook his head, and with a sweep of his hand, he waved the thought away. “I don’t want to talk about that dumb bastard any longer or I’ll throw up. Tell a few of your boys to pick him up and bring him to your warehouse. When you have him there, give me a call and I’ll take a ride over.”

  Charlie smiled, inwardly satisfied now that the Snake was gonna get what he deserved. “I’ll call you as soon as my boys get him in the warehouse.”

  Two hours later, Red received a call from Charlie Brown Bag. “He’s in the warehouse, boss. What do you want us to do with him?”

  “Just hold him there. I’m coming over right now; I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” Red looked around the room to see who he would take with him. Frankie the Cop had come in while he was talking with Charlie Bags and he had Tarzan behind the bar. “Frankie, Tarzan, you two are coming with me.”

  “Where we going, boss?” Tarzan asked.

  “Taking a little ride to Ridgewood.”

  Tarzan handed the apron to Fat Sal, another of Red’s men, with instructions to tend bar and watch the place until he returned.

  The three men walked across the lot, heading to Red’s Caddy as Trenchie was just getting out of his car.

  “You guys going somewhere?”

  “Yeah. I have a little business to take care of at Charlie Bags’ warehouse.”

  Trenchie knew something was up. “Move over. I’m coming with you.”

  Red knew better than to argue with the big man, so he slid over while Tarzan started the car.

  Richie was seated in a chair in the middle of the warehouse when Red and the boys walked in. The Snake knew he was in a world of trouble and he hoped he could talk himself out of whatever they thought he did. He was too stupid to understand the gravity of betraying Red’s trust. Richie was a coward and a rat that got his nickname because he was always scheming, believing that he was the smartest guy in the room when everyone knew him for the dumb shit he was. Red approached and dragged a chair in front of him and he sat facing the Snake with his arms resting on the back of the chair. He began talking to him in a very calm, very soft voice.

  “Don’t I treat you good, Richie?”

  “Yeah…yeah, you do, Red.”

  Red looked over at Bags. “Doesn’t Bags treat you good too?”

  “Yes, boss, he does.”

  When Richie said that, Red backhanded him hard with his left hand, causing the Snake’s lip to split, and then he yelled at him.

  “Then why the fuck did you think you could get away with starting your own numbers racket using your money to take Charlie Bag’s customers bets?”

  Richie was trembling now. “No, it wasn’t like that, Red. I never took numbers from Bags’ customers.”

  Red slapped Richie again with his right hand, this time splitting his lower lip.

  “Look at me, Richie. Look at me. Do I look stupid to you?”

  “No, Red, you don’t look stupid to me. You’re one of the smartest guys I know.”

  “Stop jerking me off, you chicken shit bastard. We talked to the customers you took bets from and they told us what you’ve done. You betrayed a trust, Richie, and now you’re gonna have to pay for it. But don’t worry; we’re not gonna kill you, although any other mob boss wouldn’t think twice about whacking you and you can thank your Uncle Jimmy for that. The boys are gonna lean on you a little and then, when you recover, you are going to move far away from Queens. In fact, you’re gonna move out of New York State, because if I ever hear that you are back in my town, I’m going to personally kill you myself. Now get it in that stupid, dumb skull of yours and nod your head and tell me that you understand what I just told you.”

  “I…I understand, Red. I was a little confused, that’s all. I didn’t mean any harm by it.”

  Red stood and kicked his chair aside. “Shut up, just shut up. I’m sick of your lying to me. You’re not worth any more of my time.”

  Red nodded to Charlie Bags, who in turn motioned to two of his men as Red turned and walked out of the warehouse, his men following behind him.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The next day, a Sunday, Charlie Brown Bag walked into the Starlight Club and took a seat opposite Red, who had been reading the Sunday papers at his favorite table. Bags pushed his fedora above his forehead and poured a cup of espresso from the pot on the table. Red laid his papers aside and narrowed his eyes.

  “What happened to the Snake? You didn’t kill him, did you?”

  Bags waved his hand to dismiss the notion. “Nah! We worked him over pretty good, and then the boys drove him to his house and laid him on his stoop. He’ll need medical attention and maybe a trip to the hospital, but he’ll recover.”

  “Good. Just make sure he leaves town because if I ever see that rat again, I’ll kill him.”

  Charlie placed a brown paper bag on the table.

  “What’s in the bag, Charlie?”

  “About five minutes after getting the shit kicked out of him, the Rat was eager to talk. He told us where he hid the money he made off of our numbers customers. I sent Jo Jo to his house to get it. Jo Jo locked the Rat’s wife in the bedroom and then he went straight to the kitchen where the Snake told us he hid it. He found the money wrapped in a plastic bag under the sink, taped to the side of it.”

  “How much is in there?” Red asked.

  “Twenty-two thousand dollars.”

  “Jesus, that much, eh? That punk did all right using his own money with our customers. You know he didn’t get the name The Snake because he was a nice guy. He’s a rat and he can thank his uncle because he’s the only reason he’s still alive. When I sent him to you, I told you to make him part of your crew but keep him at the lowest level. I didn’t want him to know anything about how our organization functions because I didn’t trust him as far as I could throw the bastard. Have one of your men watch him day and night until he leaves town.”

  Charlie Bags stood and assured Red, “Don’t worry about Richie the Snake; I’ll have someone watching him day and night. I’ll let you know when he leaves town,”

  “Good. I want to know and it better be soon or I’ll kill the prick myself and bury him right in the street in front of the club. Then he’ll never get another chance to leave Queens.”

  “I’ll stop by and see you as soon as I know something.” Charlie turned and left the club.

  Trenchie walked into the office. “I saw you talking to Charlie Bags and I didn’t want to interrupt you in the middle of your meeting. Now what’s the latest with the Snake? Is he still breathing?”

  Red snickered. “Bags tells me that his men worked him over pretty good after we left. He may have been taken to the hospital, but I’m not sure…and what’s more, I don’t really give a shit.”

  Trenchie narrowed his eyes. “I never liked that shifty cocksucker from the first day I met him. He never once looked me in the eye. In fact, I think he’s afraid to talk to me.”

  Now Red laughed aloud, patting his buddy on his shoulder. “What’s so surprising about him being afraid to talk to you, Trenchie? You seem to have that effect on a lot of guys.”

  Trenchie mumbled something. “Yeah, maybe you’re right; at least he got the beating he deserved.”

  Red nodded. “Charlie Bags’ men work him over, but they stopped short of killing him.”

  Trenchie lifted an eyebrow. “Because of his Uncle Jimmy, right?”

  Red sighed and said, “Yeah, because of his Uncle Jimmy.”

  “You know, Red…that could turn out to be a mistake, maybe a big one.”<
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  Red sighed and then he motioned to Tarzan to bring over a fresh pot of espresso. It was Trenchie’s turn to take the seat opposite Red. He paused to light a cigar and then he turned to Red. “When are you leaving for Vegas to check on the casinos?”

  “I can’t leave right now. But I’m not concerned. Ernie’s out there watching out for our interests.”

  Trenchie’s brow furrowed. He never questioned Red’s motives or the way he operated, but he was curious about something. “Ten years is a long time to be away, Red. I know a lot of changes happened during that time, but there’s a lot of new faces that I never saw before, like the old man Ernie. Tell me about him. He’s not Italian, so how does he fit into the organization and where did he come from?”

  “Ernie used to run with Jimmy Hines in the twenties and thirties. Hines used to be with the old Tammany Hall gang, and he became the power behind the governor. Dewey wound up prosecuting him because of his association with Dutch Schultz and Lucky Luciano. In 1939, Dewey got him on corruption charges and Hines served five years in prison. Ernie was his right hand man and he would have been a made guy, but he wasn’t Italian, so it never happened. Ernie became a member of Joey Gallo’s gang and the sad part is both he and Tarzan did ten years on some bullshit charge. But Ernie is the real deal. He made his bones before most of the guys in my organization were born. He’s an ex-safe cracker and, from what I hear, he was one of the best.

  “When Crazy Joey Gallo was killed in Greenwich Village and when his brother Larry died of cancer, the gang wars were over, so I took Ernie in with me. He’s a loyal old man and when I need advice, I’ll ask Ernie and, most of the time, his insight is right on the money. Since I can’t be in Vegas, he’s there looking out for my interests.” Red leaned closer to Trenchie. “Look, Trenchie, you’re my right hand man and you’re the only guy I’ll level with. The rest of the guys do what I tell them, but I can talk to you and get your opinion on any move I’m thinking of making. I realize now that I’m never going to leave Queens. Whenever I attempt to make a move, something happens to keep me here. I’m not a religious guy, Trench, but it seems as if the universe is saying something to me, so I’ve decided that while our family is expanding, I’ll run our out-of-town operations from Queens.