by Tony Bertot
“We don’t know,” Anthony replied.
“Anthony, round up a few of our boys and have them check out the apartment building. You know. Ask if there are any rooms available. Let’s see what they find out,” Al ordered.
A few days later Anthony Giovanna held a meeting with a few choice men.
Present were Mario Pierina, Rico Vitalia, responsible for the 1942 bombing of a corner cigar store, and brothers Louie and Eddie Bertolonia. All four of these men returned to Chicago after working for Bolnaldo for ten years. Also in the room were Nick Costello, Joe Bolano and Theodore Enzinola.
“Mario, Rico, I want you to go over to this apartment building and find out if there are any rooms available. While you’re there, check for cops in the lobby or on any of the floors,” Frank Sabrisio told them.
“The rest of you position yourself close by, mingle with the people. Find out as much as you can. Find out why there is a cop car parked in front of the building,” Frank told them.
“No one is to make a move until I say so. Is that understood?” Frank asked them.
“Yeah boss,” they responded.
“We’re going to send a message to these people they will never forget,” Frank told them.
On a Tuesday afternoon, Rino Porfirio watched from a parked car as the men left Al Giovanna’s headquarters and exited onto the streets. Among them were the men he was looking for. Rino followed as they all climbed into two cars and headed north on South Wabash Street. They pulled over on Roosevelt Road and parked their cars. Nick Costello, Joe Bolano and Theodore Enzinola got out and started walking up the east side of South Wabash while the other men walked up the west side. Halfway up the block, Mario Pierina and Rico Vitalia crossed the street and walked up the steps to an apartment building as Nick Costello, Joe Bolano and Theodore Enzinola passed by and continued their trek northward.
Ringing the superintendant’s bell, they heard Ana Randazzo’s voice over the microphone.
“Hello, can I help you?” they heard Ana ask.
“Uh, yeah we are looking for an apartment,” Mario said into the voice box.
“I’m sorry, we don’t have any apartments available in this building but we do have one in another building down the block. Are you still interested?” she asked them.
“Sure. Why not,” Mario responded.
“Ok, give me a second,” she told them.
A few minutes later Ana was at the front door. The men backed off when they saw she was in a wheelchair. She saw their expression and laughed.
“Don’t worry I don’t bite,” she told them.
“Give me a hand getting down the steps.” she said.
“Uh… Sure,” Mario said.
When they got to the street they turned right and headed towards the other building.
“Hey you got a cop living in your building?” Rico Vitalia asked Ana.
Hesitantly, Ana responded.
“Why, yes, we do. How did you know?” she asked him.
“Oh, saw the police car in front of the building,” He replied.
“Yeah, he’s been off for a couple of weeks now; on vacation,” Ana told them.
As they were helping Ana into the building, located next to the butcher shop, Theo happened to be cleaning the table closest to the window and saw Mario and Rico helping Ana Randazzo. In that instant three men came into the shop, one of them being Nick Costello. As Theo turned he accidentally bumped into Nick.
“Sorry,” Nick said as he indiscreetly placed a piece of paper in Theo’s hand. Theo nodded and continued as if nothing happened.
“Hey, Theo you going to do some work today?” shouted Benito out to him.
“When you start paying me,” Theo responded.
Over the last few weeks, Theo had gotten used to the bantering and the wisecracks by both Benito and Calito. With Calito’s coaching he has learned how to give it back and not take things so seriously. Theo loved these people. They were his family.
Going to the back room, Theo opened the piece of paper which read;
“Davino killed, Randazzo next.”
Theo folded the paper, put it in his pocket and returned to the counter. At the end of the counter Theo picked up a meat cleaver and slipped it into his shirt.
“Mr. Randazzo, I have to go now,” he told Benito.
Both Calito and Benito looked up startled.
“Where the hell are you going?” Calito asked as he watched Theo heading for the door without so much as a polite response.
Theo walked between Nick and the other men with him as he stepped out and turned left. As he reached the first building, he turned towards the step, placed a foot on the third step as if to tie his shoe, and looked up in time to see Ana and the two men talking at the top of the stairs. One of the men was holding the wheelchair while the other man was in front carrying her down. Theo overheard her say something about requiring a one-month security deposit. Theo straightened himself and continued walking down the street. When he reached his apartment building, he went up the stairs, took a quick glance up the block and saw the two men coming in his direction with Ana between them. He went in, ducked into his apartment, and waited. A short time later, he overheard Ana wishing them well and saying goodbye. He stepped out of his apartment in time to meet Ana in the hallway.
“Hi,” Theo said.
Ana looked up at the young man and smiled.
“What’s wrong, Theo?” she asked him.
“Nothing, Mrs. Randazzo,” Theo replied.
“I saw you watching us. I know you were worried for me,” she told him.
“Who were those men?” he asked her.
“They said they were looking for an apartment in this building,” she told Theo.
“Those were the men who killed my father. I thought they were going to hurt you,” Theo told her.
Though taken aback by Theo’s statement, Ana remained calm.
“I see and what exactly were you planning to do?” She asked him.
Ana knew better than to question this young man’s ability to recall past events. She and Benito have spoken into the night about Theo. His innocence, determination and ability to learn was uncanny for someone his age
Theo looked down at her, patted her shoulder and said nothing.
She reached up to him and grabbed his hands.
“Don’t you worry about me, I can take care of myself,” Ana told him.
“Yes ma’am,” Theo responded.
With that Ana wheeled herself over to the stairway as Theo made his way back out onto the street.
Sylvia heard their conversation through the closed door.
A couple of minutes later Theo walked back into the butcher shop as Nick and his companions were leaving. Nick nodded and stepped aside as Theo came in.
“Hey, where did you go in such a hurry?” asked Benito.
“Forgot to say goodbye to Sylvia this morning,” replied Theo, knowing they were going to tease him.
“Someone got a string tied too tight,” Calito commented laughing.
“What did you say?” asked Sonia from the back table where she usually sat.
“Nothing honey,” replied Calito.
The few that were there entertained Sonia’s retort at Calito’s expense.
Benito stared at Theo and then at Nick and his friends as they passed the front of the store heading south. Something was going on, thought Benito.
Benito remembered Nick as troubled, though he never had a problem with him. He recalled seeing him looking through the store window once, when he was young. Benito brought him a turkey and cheese sandwich with some juice. Nick took it and never said thank you; just ran away. After that, he never peered in again. In fact, he avoided the store all together.
Strange boy, thought Benito.
That night Ana talked to Benito telling him about Theo and the two men who came to look at the apartment and what Theo said about them.
“I wouldn’t be surprised. He has an uncanny way of rememberin
g things. Also he has been carrying that picture with him all these years. Who knows how many times he stared at it.” Benito said.
“What now?” Ana asked concerned.
“Well they’re probably planning something. We got to be ready when they come,” he told her as he kneeled down, took her hands and looked into her eyes.
“It was just a matter of time,” he added.
It was around 10:00pm the same day when Theo slipped out of his apartment and went upstairs to see Benito about earlier events.
Benito told Theo he didn’t want him involved but Theo insisted. Shaking his head, Benito relented and let Theo in on his plans.
Benito stationed Calito up on the roof with a rifle while he stored a few weapons in the apartment.
“We knew this day would come. I’m just surprised it took this long,” Benito told Theo.
“What do you mean?” Theo asked.
With that, Benito told Theo the story of what happened to the men that came to extort money from him. He told Theo about his anger and grief over the loss of his best friend, Theo’s father, and swore they would not get away with it. He knew they were all connected somehow. When he was done with the three men, he learned they were working for the Giovanna Family. He also learned the Sabrisio brothers were the ones who sent the two men who hit Sergio’s store.
“What became of these men?” asked Theo.
“We executed them,” Benito told Theo as he stared into his eyes.
“We couldn’t afford to let them get back to their friends. So I put a bullet in each of their heads and had their bodies dumped up north, close to the Canadian border,” Benito told Theo.
Theo stared at Benito as he told him the story and developed a new admiration for this man.
He didn’t screw around. He did what had to be done, thought Theo.
“Mr. Randazzo, I’m good with a gun and can help protect you and your family. Please let me help,” Theo begged Benito.
“No. We are ok,” Theo insisted.
“In a few days you go off to the service. You need to know that Sylvia is safe. If you get involved they may come after her. It’s best that you stay out of it,” Benito told Theo.
“Mr. Randazzo, you started this fight because of my father. It’s as much my problem as it is yours. I believe I’m here, at this time and place for a reason, to help you. So let me, or I’ll do it on my own. I will not let you take them alone,” Theo said.
Before today Benito saw Theo as a young man struggling to fit in. But now he saw someone different, a determined individual.
Benito walked away for a few seconds. He came back with a fully loaded Colt Python revolver and two boxes of cartridges. He handed this over to Theo.
“Do you know how to use this?” Benito asked him.
“Yes,” replied Theo.
Before Benito could go and get a bag to carry the weapon, Theo slipped it into his back.
“Please don’t worry, Mr. Randazzo. We’ll be ready when they come,” Theo told him.
Benito looked at Theo and somehow felt at ease. As if this boy was going to take all his problems away. What worried Benito was, at what cost.
After Theo left, Ana came to Benito and took his hand.
“I hope I have done the right thing,” Benito told her.
“I pray Sergio forgives me,” he said as he got down on his knees next to her.
Ana stared into his eyes, as a tear escaped her, and said,
“You had no choice. Like Theo said about being here at this place at this time; it was meant to be.”
After leaving Benito, Theo headed for the roof. A cool night breeze and a full moon embraced him. As he stepped further into the night he saw Calito sitting on a lawn chair peering over the front side of the building. Within his reach was a rifle.
Theo walked up behind him and casually took the rifle as Calito continued to scan the area.
“Nice rifle,” Theo said in a soft voice.
Calito almost jumped out of his pants.
“Shit, you scared the crap out of me. What the hell are you doing up here?” he asked Theo snatching the rifle from him.
“Your father sent me up to see how you are doing,” Theo lied.
“What! I thought he didn’t want you involved with this,” Calito told Theo.
“He changed his mind,” Theo replied.
“Tell me Calito. From where do you anticipate they will come?” Theo asked him.
“I think they’ll be coming from their neighborhood. South of here,” Calito said pointing down South Wabash.
“When they get here you will only have a brief opportunity to stop them. Once they come up the stairs they’ll be out of your site unless you bend over the ledge and expose yourself,” Theo said.
“I suppose you have a better idea?” Calito asked.
“Sure, get on the roof of the building across the street. When they get to the top of the stairs they’ll be completely exposed with no place to go but back to their car. Then they’ll have their back to this building where your father and I can pick them off as they take aim to shoot at you,” Theo told him.
“Holy crap, that’s a great idea. How in hell did you come up with that idea?” Calito asked Theo with a new found respect for him.
“Been there, done that,” was Theo’s reply.
“You know how to use this rifle?” Theo asked Calito.
“Yeah. Aim and shoot,” replied Calito.
Theo looked around and saw a can and picked it up and walked over to the other end of the roof and placed it on the surface in the corner. He then walked back to Calito.
“Shoot that can,” Theo told him.
“Well that’s pretty far,” Calito replied as he took aim and fired. He missed. Took aim again, fired and missed again.
“Well it’s hard to see in the dark,” Calito said.
Theo stared at Calito and realized that it was up to him to stop the men. Calito might end up shooting his own father.
Theo took the rifle from Calito and with minimal effort fired at the can sending it spinning up in the air and then fired again hitting the can before it hit the ground.
Calito stared in disbelief. The little camera boy who he taught to use the back alleys of their neighborhood can outshoot him, Calito thought to himself.
“Where’d you learn to shoot like that?” Calito asked.
“It doesn’t matter right now. We need to get off this roof before the police arrive. I’m sure the gun shots have attracted the curious,” Theo said.
They quickly left the roof and headed downstairs where they were met halfway by Benito carrying a gun.
“What the hell is going on?” he asked them.
“Nothing Pop. Target practice,” replied Calito as they turned him around and kept moving downward.
Once inside Benito’s apartment Calito explained to his father what Theo had recommended. After a few seconds, his father agreed. Calito would reposition himself across the street where he will have a clearer view.
Before Calito left, Theo advised him how to shoot.
“Aim for their feet, not their upper body, and hold your breath when you are ready to fire. Since they won’t be expecting you one shot would scare the crap out of them,” he told Calito.
When they were done, Calito hugged Theo and thanked him. In his heart, Calito knew he had just improved his odds of stopping them when they come.
Benito, had a newfound respect for this young man and realized he made the right decision. Theo bid his goodbyes and told Benito he would help Calito by watching from his window, which faced the front of the building.
As Theo left Benito’s apartment he realized they didn’t really stand a chance. Yeah, they would be able to stop them the first time around, but it would only be temporary. They always come back with more guns, Theo thought.
Theo went into his apartment and over to Sylvia who was nervously looking out the front window for any sign of activity.
“I think I heard some shots,
” she told Theo.
“It was Calito taking practice shots up on the roof,” he told her.
“Honey, they don’t have a chance against these men. It’s up to me to stop them,” Theo told her.
The chill that suddenly engulfed Sylvia forced her to wrap her arms around herself as she sat on a nearby sofa. The fear tore her emotional control to shreds. But she fought for calm.
“I must remain calm,” she thought to herself.
“What are you planning to do?” she asked him.
“In a couple of days I have to go away to the military and I can’t leave knowing you and the Randazzo’s are in danger. Please trust me to do the right thing,” he told her.
Sylvia stared up at him and nodded.
“Theo, you do what you have to do. Please… Please be careful. I don’t want our child to grow up an orphan,” she told him.
Theo smiled at her and said,
“I promise to return.”
He raised her from the sofa and held her until the warmth once again flowed through her heart and soul. The unspoken words were held silent with a kiss that lingered with a promise of love eternal.
Theo, dressed in black, stepped out into the night heading south on South Wabash with the loaded gun tucked into the back of his pants.
The day before Theo and Calito were taking pot shots at a can atop their building, Al Giovanna and the Sabrisio brothers were laying out their plans for hitting Benito Randazzo.
The hit was planned for Saturday, July 2nd at around 10:00pm when Randazzo closed his shop for the night. They knew he would have to walk a quarter of the block to get home and that is when they would attack At that time of the night there wouldn’t be too many people on the streets and Randazzo would be out in the open. They would pull up in two cars and using silencers, they would execute him and anyone with him, leaving them there on the street for everyone to see what happens when you mess with the wrong people.
Al Giovanna and his son agreed to be guests of the Sabrisio brothers at their home in Lake Zurich.
After learning the Sabrisio brothers would be at home in Lake Zurich on July 2nd, Rino Porfirio and Nick Costello put their plans for revenge in motion.