by Ronnie Allen
Papa closed his eyes, pretending to escape for a moment. “Oh my God. Go on.”
“Two .45 caliber Remington firearms, at sixteen hundred bucks each. A .38 caliber Smith and Wesson firearm and a Taurus nine millimeter for fifteen hundred, total. Two Israeli-made Uzi nine-millimeter firearms for twenty-six hundred bucks each. With the Remingtons, he sold five hundred oxycodone and four glassines of cocaine to that agent.”
“How could he be so stupid?”
“Papa, they watched him for six months. The agents interacted with him and made smaller buys. They developed his trust. There’s much more, Papa.”
Carlo placed a reassuring hand on his father’s knee. “Are you okay, Papa?”
Paulo took hold of his son’s hand and patted it before grabbing on tightly. He held on as he spoke. “Go head Stephano, what else?”
“The top charge is two A-felony counts for possession with intent to sell over an ounce of a narcotic drug. Then arraignment charges. Fifteen B-felony counts.” He paused. “That’s time seven, Papa, That’s one hundred five B-felony counts. The arrest charges were B-felony for criminal possession of drugs with intent. And seven D-felony counts for criminal sale of a firearm with intent, unauthorized person with an assault rifle, and criminal possession of weapons other than handguns.” He scanned the court printed charts. “Everything is detailed here, Papa.”
Paulo rubbed his forehead and quivered in his seat. “Who was involved in this?”
“Leonardo and two of his mechanics. They were cousins. One has bail at five hundred thousand, one at one hundred fifty thousand. Neither one made it so they’re being held at the same detention center as Leonardo. They have legal aid representation.”
“I don’t care about them.”
“Papa, you should. Says here, it was their first arrest. Don’t know what they can say about Leonardo to get a better deal. They are more of a threat than any of his friends.”
“Who was in charge of this so-called investigation?”
“The DEA Tactical Diversion Squad, the NYPD Intelligence Unit, the NYPD.”
“Names, damn it! I want names!”
“All right, Papa. This is what the article says. I’ll read it to you verbatim. ‘On November 7, 2014 after a six-month investigation, Leonardo Philetano, considered a major illicit drug trafficker in the Richmond Terrace area of Staten Island, was arrested, pulling up the gates to his car repair shop at seven a.m., by DEA Special Agent, Marcus Willtower of the New York Tactical Diversion Squad and NYPD Detective-Investigator Dunnar Vike, along with NYPD officers. The arrest occurred without hindrance. As Philetano was taken into custody, the DEA carried out search warrants for the repair shop, Philetano’s home, and the apartments of his two employees, Corrie and Jeff Markson of Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn. The search warrants resulted in confiscation of four thousand Oxycodone pills, two thousand Suboxone, thirteen glassines of cocaine, and one thousand Adderall, along with assorted drug paraphernalia. Over a six-month investigation, DEA agents filmed cars going in for repairs. Most left sooner than one hour later. The DEA put the investigation together, after calculating the short time of repairs to the number of employees. They used surveillance, physical with undercover agents and electronic, and undisclosed sources. The DEA estimates that over fourteen thousand dollars of illicit drugs per week hit the streets of Staten Island out of Philetano’s operation. Philetano is the son of Paulo Philetano who has been on the FBI’s most-watched list. But no charges were ever brought against him and no illegalities were ever investigated. High-ranking Mob bosses in his extended family fostered the interest in him. Philetano’s brothers are Doctor Paulie Philetano, a highly respected OB/GYN and fertility specialist in Todt Hill, and Stephano Philetano, a high-priced criminal defense attorney. Philetano’s brother is not representing him. The DEA would not disclose any information about suppliers. Their investigation is ongoing. These charges are not definitive. The suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.’” Stephano closed the file. “That’s it.”
“Okay. We need to speak to all of his friends. They have to know who his supplier is. Especially AriellaRose.”
“Papa, there could be many suppliers.”
“Speaking of that, tell Leonardo’s attorney not to fight for bail. He was using heavily. At least on the inside he’ll be detoxed. And I’m sure there are still people out there who don’t want him to talk. Those arms dealers scare the shit out of me. I’d rather have an incarcerated son than a dead one.”
“Agreed, Papa.”
***
Sam was in a quandary. She sat on her bed with one leg in her slacks, the other in mid-air, her mind imbedded in the case.
Was it gut instinct or my psychic ability that pinpointed AriellaRose?
She’d always known she was intuitive, as all detectives were. Truly psychic? She’d have to get a handle on it. She was great at putting things together. She knew deep down in her gut, she’d make a great detective. She was great at manifesting things. She attributed her practice of Dianic Wicca to that. She meditated and that was where she’d met Dara. She had just come to her. Sam didn’t even know their relationship. Spirit Guide was what she was told at a Reiki Healing circle she went to once a week. So Spirit Guide it was. As good a label as any.
She had no idea how she just blurted things out. Sometimes Dara did that to her. Sam needed to control that. Now she’d have to prove an hypothesis that she hadn’t consciously created. Psychic? Am I truly becoming psychic?
Dara was the one, rather the entity, who gave her answers. Like when Nick wanted to warn her not to drop the Rose. Dara had told her that in a meditation. Sam was glad she was quick to think of a reason that Frank would buy. She had cut that one close. The guys thought that her showing up in the same outfit as the Larcon women was coincidental. Not so.
Thanks, Dara.
She ruminated on the fact that none of them had asked her about it. Not the men, nor Mrs. Larcon, or Valerie. You’d think those women would want to keep their fashions in their echelon. She could make a bet that the Larcon women wouldn’t wear another Meghan Mason outfit since a lowly cop had worn it. She laughed at their pompousness.
Okay, Sam, you have to shake this off. Focus. Pay attention.
After glancing at the clock on her nightstand, realizing she had to get a move on, she dressed hastily. She needed her morning fix. A cup of joe.
A few minutes later, sipping her hot coffee at the table in the nook in her kitchen, she looked at the cover page on the New York paper. Leonardo Philetano had been indicted on drugs and weapons charges. Three days after the Larcon murder on one of their properties. Exactly six days after his arrest. Um, AriellaRose and Leonardo were the same age. But she lived in Manhattan and he on Staten Island. Still, the drug world was small. He sold the merchandise she consumed. Sam scanned the article. Weapons, high-powered weapons to boot.
Not good, Leonardo. That’s ten years minimum in federal lockup.
They hadn’t gotten ballistic reports back from Meghan Mason’s murder. On first look, there wasn’t an exit wound, so they needed to wait for the full autopsy. Sam wondered if there would be a weapon’s match from her case to Leonard’s. She hated the waiting. But it went with the territory.
The possible drug connection, kept coming back into her mind.
What if, they were friends? What if AriellaRose knew about his weapons connections? In addition to his suppliers, that’s what the DEA would be interested in. What if AriellaRose had partners who had gotten the weapon to kill Meghan Mason from one of Leonardo’s suppliers? And what are you basing this all on, Sam? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
It was too damn coincidental. But that sure as hell would be a great conversation she should have with AriellaRose.
Okay, she decided, she needed info about AriellaRose’s rehab and people she’d met while there. That would be hard. Doctor-patient privilege. These places didn’t share their files. Not even in murder cases. Then she got the one idea that could h
elp her make the connection between Leonardo and AriellaRose. She’d contact NYPD detective Dunnar Vike. If she played nice, maybe he’d share the surveillance video.
She was ready to kick herself. Why AriellaRose? This meek, poor-self-esteemed, sickly woman didn’t look like she had the strength to pull this off. She had dulled herself so much with drugs, she wouldn’t be able to think of something so evil. Why Sam picked her, she had no clue. Now she was stuck having to prove a hypothesis that she didn’t even think was possible.
Okay, Sam, you’re back to square one. Besides, anything derived through psychic intuition will not hold up in court.
She grabbed the paper and stuck it into her tote. Maybe AriellaRose would want something to read.
***
Sam entered AriellaRose’s room to find Frank standing next to her bed, wearing his doctorly uniform again. “Good morning, Doctor Khaos. AriellaRose, how are you feeling?”
She sneered at Sam. “Like shit. And he isn’t helping.”
Sam starred at him, wide eyed. “Shirt and tie again?”
“Yeah. The admin wasn’t thrilled with my shirtless escapade in the streets yesterday. But if this little girl hadn’t tried to pull a stun--”
“I won’t again. That cop you put at the door keeps popping his head in to tell me he’s still there. Don’t worry. I promise.”
“Doctor Khaos, if you don’t mind, I’d like to have some time to speak with AriellaRose.”
“Sure. I have other patients to see, then I’m going to the precinct.”
“I’ll meet you there.”
He nodded and left the room.
Sam turned back to AriellaRose. “Seriously, how are you feeling?”
“My breathing is better. I want to get out of here. But he won’t let me.”
“It takes time. Do you have any friends you want to call? You must be bored.”
“I’m watching more TV than I usually do. But no thanks. My friends are busy working.”
So she does have friends. Different story now. Glad I asked. “Has Adam or Valerie visited?”
“Adam came this morning.”
“Can I bring you anything? Toiletries? Magazines?”
“Why are you being so nice?”
“That’s the way I am. And I feel bad about your father.”
AriellaRose sucked her teeth before answering. “It’s not your job to feel bad. It’s your job to find who killed him.”
“Yes. It is. But cops are feeling human beings, too.”
“Well, don’t waste your time feeling bad for me.”
“Okay. I won’t. So help me find out who killed your father.”
“And how do you expect me to do that?”
“By talking about it.”
“What do you want to know?”
“Your mom said your father pays all of your expenses and rent.”
“Yeah. So what? My shrink--not Tattooman, my other one--says I haven’t found myself yet.”
“Do you work?”
“Like at a job?” AriellaRose looked away in disgust.
“Yes. Exactly.”
“I had a job after college, in a fashion house, but my asthma had gotten so bad, probably from the dust from cutting fabric--” She smirked. “I missed so much work, she had to let me go. She said I didn’t carry through on my responsibilities, even when I was there. The bitch.”
“What fashion house?”
“Meghan Mason’s.”
Sam stood stunned but tried not to let it show. “Did you know she was shot and killed the other day?”
AriellaRose blinked and then looked Sam straight in the eyes. “No. Can’t be. You’re fucking shitting me. When?”
Wow. She really didn’t know. “The day you were admitted.”
“Holy crap. Damn! I don’t watch the news.”
“It’s been all over social media.”
“My phone died. I told Adam this morning to bring me a charger.”
“What can you tell me, other than that she’s a bitch? Something from when you used to work for her. You know? Something only an insider would know.”
“I thought you were working on my dad’s murder.”
“We’re connecting them now, since they’re both fashion-industry related. So what about it?”
“Her husband used to beat her up a lot.”
“Yes. I know that. Your mom told me about that. We were together when the news came in.”
“Yeah. But even after the divorce, the fuck didn’t stay away. He came to the warehouse and wrecked it a few times. Set the place on fire once. A real sicko. He got arrested and did jail time. I don’t know who he knows, but he got out too quick.”
“Anything else?”
“Like what?”
“Your mother said Meghan and your father met a couple of times a month to talk about business.”
“Yeah, right. They’d talk about everything but.”
“Such as?”
AriellaRose swallowed and let out a shallow breath. “Damn. My mother lives on another planet. More like another galaxy. My dad would talk to Meghan about everything. Even every affair he had. That’s why he had the apartment I lived in. I was the excuse for him to have his hideaway.”
“Could you give me a list of the women he saw?”
“I was never introduced to any of them.”
“Any name come to mind?”
“Only one, Calinda. I heard him speak her name on a call. He was begging her not to stop seeing him.”
“Calinda? That’s Adam’s girlfriend’s name. Adam told Detective Valatutti they broke up.”
“That’s the one. My dad was banging her, hard and often. I never met her. Or even heard her. For some reason, whenever Adam had planned to introduce us, she couldn’t make it. She’s always working. At what, I don’t know.”
Um, Adam and Calinda just hit the suspect list.
“Thank you, AriellaRose. That helped a lot.”
AriellaRose put her head back on the pillow, looking fatigued.
“I’ll let you rest now.” Sam pulled the newspaper from her tote. “I took the liberty of bringing you the paper.” She put it on the table.
“Thanks. Yeah, I need to rest. I can’t talk too much without my breathing acting up.”
“Feel better.” Sam patted her arm, left the room, and stood by the NYPD guard, pretending to talk to him while she watched AriellaRose lift the paper and stare at the headline. Then she heard what she wanted.
“Oh, no! Leonardo!”
Sam smiled. This case is coming together from all directions.
CHAPTER 15
Frank and Nick were focused on the forensic reports that had come in on Meghan Mason as Sam entered the conference room, pulling a dolly piled high with boxes. They looked up, Nick for only a short moment. Frank caught her gaze as it landed on his torso. From the glimmer in her eyes, he convinced himself she had gotten used to seeing him in his T and jeans. He hoped so, because that was what she was getting. He smiled at her in her light blue denim jacket, jersey top that peeked through, and slacks that accentuated every curve.
Those boxes stirred some anxiety in him. He changed his position in the chair. “What’s up?”
“Later.” She moved the dolly into a corner. “Lots. Mr. Larcon was having an affair with Calinda. ‘Banging her hard and often’ to give the exact quote.”
Frank squirmed in the seat. He didn’t need her to be so explicit or dramatic in her delivery. That’s what he felt like doing. To her.
“And AriellaRose knows Leonardo Philetano.”
Nick scratched his chin. “Okay. No wonder Adam and she broke up. We’ll bring in the unhappy couple, but what’s the connection between AriellaRose and Leonardo?”
“Don’t know for sure yet. She was getting fatigued, but I left her today’s newspaper. She picked it up when I was outside the room. Her reaction was note-worthy. I think I’ll give Carlo a call to see if he knows about their relationship.”
Frank shrugge
d. “Why don’t you just ask her?”
“She wasn’t forthcoming with any info that pertained to her. Like her mother. And the Mrs. didn’t know her husband. Told me he never had an affair. AriellaRose told me he had a slew, in her apartment.” Sam paused for a long moment. “Hold on! Didn’t that just give us probable cause for a search warrant for AriellaRose’s apartment?”
Frank sat back and flipped the pen he held onto the file. “Yeah. It did.”
“And if we find illicit drugs or anything else during the search, that’s exigent circumstances.”
Nick raised a hand. “Hold on, Sam. We don’t want evidence bounced. How large is the apartment? How often was he there? Did he have a separate bedroom? If he did, we can’t include AriellaRose’s room in the search. Even though she might not hide her stash in there. You have to go back and ask her a lot more details.”
“Okay. I got that. I’ll do it tomorrow. Put in a call to whatever judge will listen. Get someone lined up. What’s in here?”
Nick ran his finger over the report. “A .380 hollow point in a Ruger with suppressor terminated Mason.”
“That wasn’t on the list of weapons the DEA confiscated from Philetano. Crap. That’s not our case, so I doubt if we’ll be granted an interview with Leonardo. No point in that yet. So what now?”
“It’s your lead. So what now?” Nick mimicked her and sat back in the chair, folded his arms across his chest as his lips curled into a smile.
“I have been working on this, Nick. We just haven’t met long enough to go through it all. I divided the hundred or so people we have into four teams. Loo gave me staff to work this.” Nick looked surprised. She rolled her eyes. “Hey, we can’t do all this legwork. It’s been two murders and we don’t know if any more are in the pipeline. Wallace-Dutton, Smerling-Cohen, Theodure-Ritlin, and Allenry-Holmes. They’re taping the interviews so we’ll have tons to piece together. They started late last night. On my drive here, I recorded the report of my conversation with AriellaRose.” She slipped her recording device out of her bra and handed it to Nick.