by Tony Bertot
Unknown to the Giordano family, Tyler had jumped onto the New York Thruway heading north and then onto the Berkshire Spur Road heading east toward Boston, Massachusetts, approximately 150 miles away. Running on half a tank of gas, they were forced to stop at a local gas station to fill up. Not having any cash on them they decided to let Sheila pay for the gas using her credit card, a mistake they would later regret.
Back at the Giordano home, information was pouring in on who the detectives and FBI agents might be. The two guys who almost caught up with them at the motel described Sheila to the Giordanos. Felicia knew instantly who she was and ran over to her purse and pulled out Sheila’s calling card.
“Talk about screw-ups,” Felicia said aloud. “Get all the information on this bitch. Her partner’s name is Williams. Don’t remember his first name, but it shouldn’t be too hard to find out,” she said.
A few minutes later, Nick called in for updates at which time the Giordanos informed him that they could provide him with a mobile phone so that they could keep him up to date as the information came in. Nick agreed that this would speed up the process and that he would call back about the location of the drop.
Traveling north on I-87, Nick called them back an hour later telling them to drop the phone off at a restaurant located on the corner of Jane and Patton Streets in the town of Saugerties, less than a mile off the thruway. Half an hour after that, a car pulled up with two men in it. One remained in the car while the other entered the restaurant, unaware that Nick was observing them through binoculars from a parked car across the street. Nick watched as they drove around the restaurant, parking across the street just a few cars from where Nick was. Nick pulled out alongside them on the passenger side. Both were busy looking for Nick through their binoculars and did not notice he had pulled up next to them.
Nick rolled the window down, pulled out his silencer, and fired into the car. The first shot shattered the window and struck the man on the passenger side of the car. Before the driver could react, Nick fired a second shot, hitting him in the eye. The third and fourth shots finished the job on the two men. Nick stepped out of the car, reached into theirs, and removed their mobile push-to-talk phone.
“Thank you, gentlemen,” Nick said, then drove away.
A few minutes later, there was a squawk on the phone Nick now had. “Come in, sightseer.” Nick heard over the air.
“Sightseer here,” Nick responded.
“Did you connect with the pigeon?” the voice asked.
“Yep, connection made,” responded Nick.
“Well, what was he driving? What did you learn?” the voice shouted.
“That you shouldn’t send boys to do men’s work,” Nick responded.
There was a long pause. “Who the fuck is this?” the voice asked.
“You know who this is. So let’s stop fucking around. Put Fabio or Felicia on, right now,” Nick ordered.
“Nick, is that you?” Felicia asked.
“Yes, it’s me. Thank you for the radio. Oh, sorry about your two friends. You need to make the necessary arrangements about letting their next of kin know of their sudden departure,” Nick said casually.
“You son of a bitch!” Felicia shouted at him.
“Now, now, that is no way for a lady to act. Business is business. They shouldn’t have taken a detour. Was that yours or your brother’s orders?” Nick went on.
“Does it matter?” she asked him.
“Actually, it does not,” Nick responded. “So where do we go from here? Still want me to track the judge down, or are you having a change of heart?” Nick asked her.
“You got your orders, Nick,” she responded.
“Well then, do you have any new news for me?” he asked.
“Yes, the agents traveling with the judge are Sheila Cooper and Samual Williams. If you like, we can fax you their pictures,” Felicia said.
“That would be nice. I’ll get back to you on where to fax them,” Nick responded.
Felicia once again felt that sickening feeling in her stomach about Nick. Not so much because he killed two of her people, but because she could not control him. He mocked her without any fear for his life.
Didn’t he know who he was talking to? Didn’t he realize she could have him eliminated at a moment’s notice? Who the fuck did he think he was, she thought to herself.
Nick continued his journey north along the New York Thruway and decided to take up residence in a nearby motel in Ravena. He would wait until he got word on the latest sighting.
A couple of days later, a call came in that Sheila had used her credit card at a gas station a few miles east of the thruway. Nick immediately checked out and jumped onto the thruway heading north to Berkshire Spur Road. Fifteen minutes later, he was headed east, less than 120 miles from where Tyler and his traveling companions decided to hole up for the night.
Closing In
June 14, 1984
A couple of days after checking into a motel in Framingham, Massachusetts, Sheila decided that they should call in to see if there had been any new developments since the last time she spoke to Agent John Connolly. Driving several miles from their present location, they found a gas station. Unknown to Tyler and his companions was the fact that there were approximately fifteen cars sent by the Giordano family heading in their general direction.
“John, is that you?” asked Sheila.
“Yes, yes, it’s me. We were able to get authority to use audio scanning equipment to monitor the Giordanos. We have situated ourselves just outside of their estate and have been monitoring their communications for the last hour. We can’t make out everything they are saying, but we did manage to piece together some vital information. They have mobilized their people toward Ravena, New York. I don’t know how many cars are looking for you, but I can only imagine there are quite a few. Also, make sure you pay everything with cash. They can somehow monitor the use of credit cards,” John said.
“What! We can’t use credit cards?” Sheila almost shouted into the phone. With that, she quickly hung up the phone and ran to the car. “Eric, we got to get back to the motel as fast as possible. They’re monitoring our use of credit cards.” Eric as was already putting the car in gear before Sheila was even in.
“Shit, these bastards have better intelligence than we do,” Sheila said aloud to Eric.
Peeling out of the parking area, they bolted out onto the street almost, causing a car to ram into them. Down the street, a police cruiser saw them peel out and immediately turned on his sirens and chased after them.
“Jesus Christ! We are being chased by a cop!” Eric said, looking at his rearview mirror.
“We don’t have time for this,” Sheila said.
“If we don’t stop, he’s going to call it in, and the shit will hit the fan,” Eric shouted.
“Stop then,” Sheila said. “Eric, you take off after we stop, and I’ll jump out of the car.”
Eric pulled over to the side, and before he could stop, Sheila jumped out of the car, raising her shield to the oncoming police cruiser coming to a stop behind them.
Eric peeled out, leaving Sheila to face the officer.
“FBI,” shouted Sheila.
The officer looked at Sheila coming toward him showing some sort of wallet, which he could not make out.
Stopping, he jumped out of the car with his gun drawn.
Sheila shouted again, “FBI!”
The officer stopped and asked her to keep her hands where he could see them. Sheila complied by raising her hands. The officer, with his gun drawn, approached cautiously, took the wallet and examined the shield. “What’s going on here, Agent Cooper?” he asked her.
“We have a situation. My partner has to get to a location in order to warn someone that they are in danger,” Sheila said as fast as she could.
“Okay, slow down. Where is he headed?” he asked.
“I can show you. But please we have to hurry,” Sheila said.
“I’ll call for
backup,” the officer said.
“No, the people that are after us are monitoring radio transmissions. We can’t take a chance having our location revealed,” Sheila said.
“Oh . . . okay . . . okay. Let’s go.” The officer got into his cruiser while Sheila jumped into the passenger side. With sirens blaring, they drove after Eric. “What’s your name, Officer?” Sheila asked.
“Gene, Gene Tyler,” he responded.
“Have you ever had to use your weapon in the line of duty, Gene?” asked Sheila.
“No, ma’am,” Gene responded.
Back at the Giordano home, they got word that someone using Sheila’s credit card checked into a motel at 1186 Worcester Road in Framingham, Massachusetts. This information had already been broadcast to all the cars, including the car Nick was driving. All cars were now headed toward their location.
One of the Giordano cars was pulling in south of Eric, who screeched into the motel parking lot, bringing their attention to him. The three occupants stared at Eric as he jumped out of the car and ran toward one of the rooms and started knocking frantically at the door. A few seconds later, they saw the judge emerging from the room.
“Shit, it’s them,” shouted one of the occupants. “What do we do?” another said.
Over the mobile phone, they heard someone shout, “Take them out. Now!” It was Fabio shouting the order.
Without thinking, the men jumped out of the car and started firing at Eric and the judge. Tyler ducked behind the BMW while he was running out of the room pulling out his revolver and crouching next to Eric. The judge had already gotten into the backseat of the car when Tyler reached in and pulled him back out as a hail of bullets battered the car.
“Get back into the room!” Tyler ordered.
The judge ran back to the room as Sam was coming out with his gun drawn. “Cover the judge,” Tyler shouted back to Sam. Sam retreated back to the doorway of the room and took a stand there as a Giordano car approached from the north side of the motel and entered the parking area. The car came to a screeching halt and turned sideways as two occupants scrambled to the other side, using the car as a shield.
They were now caught in a cross fire as the occupants from the other Giordano car on the north side opened fire. Sam was hit as he ducked behind a parked car in front of the room but was able to get off a few shots at the newest car to join the attack.
A few seconds later, another Giordano car was bearing down on them, right over the sidewalk heading straight for Tyler and Eric. Eric stood up and shot directly at the driver’s side of the windshield causing the car to sway to the right and into another parked car. The passenger in that car came out shooting, almost hitting Eric. Tyler turned his attention to him and fired, hitting him squarely in the chest.
Less than a minute later, a police car came flying around the corner with its sirens blaring. Gene, seeing what was going on, floored the accelerator and rammed the Giordano car south of Eric and Tyler, knocking the three shooters behind it to the ground.
Both Sheila and Gene jumped out simultaneously with their guns drawn. Gene ran around the left side of the car as one of the gunmen was reaching for a weapon that had been knocked out of his hand. “Stop or I’ll shoot!” shouted Gene. The man sprawled out on the ground, reached the gun, and turned to fire. Gene opened fire, hitting him in the head.
Sheila had gone around the right side of the car as one of the other men was raising his weapon to fire at Gene. She took aim and shot, killing him instantly. The third man lay there motionless, apparently knocked out from the impact of the crash.
“Cuff him,” Sheila shouted to Gene. He jumped into action. Knocking the gun out of reach of the man he had shot, he then pulled out his handcuffs and cuffed the man in the middle who remained unconscious. Sheila saw that the situation here was under control, and left Gene, to run toward Tyler, Eric, and Sam.
Just then another Giordano car came screeching onto the scene from Gene’s direction, forcing him to abandon his current position and seek refuge behind his cruiser. There were four occupants in this vehicle, and they exited the car shooting. Gene immediately opened fire, fatally hitting one of the shooters.
Sheila stopped her run toward the BMW and turned back to Gene who was being bombarded with gunfire. She could not get a clear shot and knew precious seconds were slipping by. This young officer’s life was now in danger. Gene stood up to take another shot over the top of his cruiser when a bullet ripped through the car’s window knocking him to the ground. The shooters began to approach the car when Sheila came onto the scene and opened fire, hitting one of the men in the chest and abdomen. The other men retreated back to their car. Gene, now lying on the ground, could see the men’s feet as they retreated and he fired, hitting one of them in the ankle. Sheila reached Gene and helped him up.
“That’s great shooting,” she told him.
“Ju . . . Ju . . . Just lucky,” he replied. She could see that Gene was scared while at the same time doing what he was trained to do.
They could hear sirens in the distance. The cavalry was coming, thought Sheila as she kept the shooters at bay. In the meantime, Tyler, Sam, and Eric were keeping their assailants at bay as well and were more than relieved to hear the sirens. As the police cars came on to the scene, they took positions at different locations, blocking any retreats by any of the cars. Now that they were surrounded, the men behind the two cars raised their hands and surrendered to the police. In a matter of seconds, it was all over.
Gene, holding his hand over one side of his stomach, gave the okay sign to his fellow officers. Sheila, Tyler, Sam, and Eric all hoisted their guns and raised their shields to the oncoming officers as Gene walked toward them.
Tyler immediately ran to the room to see to the judge cowering behind one of the beds. “You call this fuckin’ protection? Shit, it sounded like a war zone out there,” the judge shouted at Tyler.
“Hey, you’re fuckin’ alive, aren’t you?” Tyler told him.“Stay here while we sort things out with the local police,” he ordered the judge.
After conferring with the local chief and explaining the situation, it was determined that Gene Tyler’s quick action and decision making had saved the day. He was a hero even though a few minutes after it was all over Gene fainted.
Sheila called John and told him everything that had happened, and that they thought it would be best if they were picked up at the nearby heliport and brought in. John agreed and dispatched a helicopter to the Framingham Police Station where they would be picked up.
Across the street, Nick stared with much amusement, occasionally laughing hysterically as he watched the events unfold. Man, this is better than an old western, he thought to himself.
He saw the judge and those accompanying him get into the police cruisers. Damn, if I had a high-powered rifle I could have taken him out right now.
Pulling out from his spot, Nick managed to position himself on the street adjacent to where the convoy would pass. Watching them as they cruised by with sirens blaring, he caught Tyler’s eye as he stared back. It was as if the world had stopped revolving.
Up and Away
June 14, 1984
Among the armada of police cars and regular traffic were six of the Giordanos’ cars following to see where the judge was being taken. They communicated over their mobile phones and half an hour later, arrived at the Framingham Police Station where a helicopter was waiting. They could see the judge and four other people get into it and take off.
Fabio ordered all cars to keep an eye on the direction the helicopter was headed, and to try and follow them as long as they could. Giordano immediately called a pilot they knew at a nearby airport to see if there was a way to track the helicopter. Within twenty minutes, they had an airplane headed in the general direction the helicopter was last seen. Within minutes, it was reported that the helicopter landed at the heliport in mid-Manhattan. This was taken as good news by the Giordano family since they had eyes and ears throughout the c
ity of New York; cab drivers, street vendors, and anyone who was interested in making a fast buck.
O’Malley, accompanied by eight police cruisers and five motorcycles, met the helicopter and escorted them to the Twenty-First Precinct. “We got the call from Agent Connolly that you guys needed some help,” O’Malley told Tyler. Both Eric and Tyler were pleased to see their captain and their fellow officers.
“Yeah, it’s been a lot of fun playing babysitter for this character,” replied Tyler.
“Hey, it hasn’t been a picnic for me either,” the judge remarked.
Sam, who had taken a bullet in the leg, was left behind at a local hospital while Sheila, Eric, and Tyler went on.
“How about we put him in protective custody in a nearby hotel?” O’Malley suggested.
“For now, it’s our best shot,” Tyler replied.
Upon arrival at the precinct, all of the officers jumped out of their cruisers and engulfed the judge, Tyler, and Sheila as they exited the car and entered the building. What followed next was a quick exit through a tunnel connecting the precinct to a small warehouse next door, a little known fact to the neighborhood at large. They hurried the judge, Tyler, and Sheila to an unmarked car that was waiting. Once inside, they all ducked down in their seats as the driver pulled out into plain sight appearing as a lone driver. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the underground parking lot of the Baltimore Boutique Hotel on 118th Street and Malcolm X Boulevard in Manhattan where two FBI agents were waiting. After ensuring that the area was clear of any outsiders, they quickly entered the nearby stairwell. Walking up three flights of stairs, they managed to get to the rooms without being spotted.
As a precaution, they commandeered three rooms. The three rooms had connecting interior doors which remained open at all times. Escape plans were in place in case their cover was blown. The windows to all three rooms were covered with heavy curtains, and three additional police officers were assigned the task of keeping them safe while remaining as invisible as possible. Out on the street were three unmarked vehicles. One on 118th Street, across the way with a clear view to the front of the hotel, and another was situated on 118th alongside the hotel. The last car was on the boulevard facing the hotel from an angle. All three were instructed to keep an eye out for any vendors, street peddlers, cab drivers, and anyone else that was paying too much attention to any of them or the hotel. The police knew exactly how much influence and power the Giordano family had, and they weren’t taking any chances. Though they felt somewhat secure at their present locations, they had all agreed that they would once again be moved at a more opportune time.