by Joe Corso
Moose was tending bar. He loved tending bar and he was good at it. That’s how he broke into the rackets. He was tending bar one night when a fight broke out. He took a bat and hit one guy in the head, knocking him unconscious, then he went after the other guy who was in a rage. He came at Moose angrily, but Moose just stood there with the bat at his side, waiting for the guy to get close enough. Then, he raised the bat a little until it was horizontal and facing the guy’s gut. When the guy came into his zone, Moose snapped his hand suddenly, jerking it forward, hitting the guy in the gut, knocking the wind out of the man, and dropping him to his knees. Moose then simply grabbed him by his hair and half walked, half dragged him out the door and threw him onto the sidewalk. Then he did the same to the first guy, yelling at both of them not to come back again or he’d really hurt them. Red had been in a meeting with the owner. When he stepped out of the room to see what was causing the disturbance, he witnessed Moose in action. When Moose returned to his duties behind the bar, Red approached him and asked him if he wanted a job making a lot more money. Moose reported for work at the Starlight Club the next day.
Moose knew the drinks each of the guys liked, so he mixed and poured the drinks all afternoon and he continued to pour drinks into the evening. The atmosphere in the room was more like a college reunion than a business meeting. The men chatted and laughed, enjoying each other’s company, talking until midnight. The hours passed quickly and the festiveness of the evening would have continued into the early morning hours if Red hadn’t glanced at his watch and noticed the time. He told the group, “It’s getting late. Let’s call it a night. I have an early morning appointment and I don’t want to be late.”
Moose nodded and told the guys, “Red’s meeting Larry Bernstein at nine a.m. at his office at Columbia Pictures.” All of the guys knew that Red flew out to Hollywood to meet with Bernstein but they just didn’t know the day and time of the meeting.
Shorty Davis tugged lightly on Red’s arm as he walked by him, heading for the door. “Hold on a minute, boss. I have to ask you something. Is it true what I heard? You’re gonna re-build the Starlight Club?”
“Yeah, I sure am. In fact, it’s being built as we speak. I miss the place. I miss the great times we had and the parties we gave. And I especially miss the get-togethers with all of my friends at the affairs I threw. When I re-open the place, I’d like to have Sinatra entertain my guests. I already asked my contact at the Copacabana to try to get him for me. I want that night to be something very special, so let’s cross our fingers and hope we can get Ol’ Blue Eyes to entertain us.”
“Wow! Sinatra, eh? Man I’d sure like to see that. I know the missus would enjoy it.”
Red smiled and put his arm around Shorty’s shoulder. “You were a good soldier when you were in Queens Shorty, so don’t worry, you’ll be getting an invitation in the mail.”
Shorty beamed with happiness. “Thanks, boss. I never seen the Starlight Club except in the movies and it’d be nice seeing the all of the boys again.”
Nine o’clock the following morning, Red was ushered into Bernstein’s plush office. “It’s good to see you, Red. What can I do for you?”
“I need a favor and an opinion from you. The favor first. I know that Swifty has a contract with you for four pictures. He’s almost finished with the third picture. I’d like to borrow him from you. I want him to make a picture for me. Do you have a problem with that?”
Bernstein was in no position to refuse Red after he saved his studio last year. He nodded thoughtfully, as if he were considering Red’s request. “I don’t see why he can’t do the picture for you, especially when we’ll be releasing and distributing it for you. Do you have a finished script for the movie written yet?”
Red shook his head. “No. I’ve been considering one of two scenarios. I intend to do a buddy film so I could introduce Gonzo as an action-type guy. You know, a lot of muscle and very few words. I think action films will be popular in the future. So I figured I’d pair him with Swifty, who’s now an established star, and that would boost Gonzo’s stock with the movie audience.”
Bernstein considered what Red just said and he was impressed with the way he thought. No wonder he could run an organization of over one thousand men successfully. He was always a few steps ahead of the parade. “What was the second scenario? You said you had two of them.”
“Yeah, I do. After this picture, I’d like to film a re-make of Gunga Din. I’d have Swifty and Gonzo, and I can introduce Henri in that movie. This way I’d have my three fighters appearing in the movie. After that, I figure I could build them up to where they could star in their own movies. And now, we get to the part where I ask you for your opinion. You didn’t get this far in the movie business by guessing. Usually when you choose an actor to star in one of your pictures, you already know that he’ll become a star. Well, I want your assessment of my two fighters, Gonzo and Henri. Do you think they have what it takes to become movie stars?”
Bernstein absently stroked his chin without realizing it as he thought about Red’s question. “I’d say yes, they can become stars with a few reservations.”
“And what would those reservations be, Larry?”
“Your boys need to be typecast for specific roles. Like John Wayne or Humphrey Bogart, who always played themselves no matter what their role was. Gonzo would have to have scripts written specifically for his intimidating size. So we’d cast him in action pictures built around his unique character traits and his personality. Of course, it goes without saying that he’d have to have a screen test so we can evaluate his potential and to see if the camera likes him. The same goes for Henri. Now in Henri’s case, I believe Latinos will become an increasing presence in motion pictures, so in his case, the timing could be very fortuitous. Henri is a very striking Latino male. I’m anxious to see his screen test to see if the camera likes him. If it does, there are many roles he could fit into very nicely. We have Gilbert Roland, Ricardo Montalban, Fernando Lamas, Desi Arnaz, and Jose Ferrer, and we’d have to tailor the script to fit Henri’s personality. Unlike James Roman, or even Swifty Card for that matter, who could be put in any situation and pull it off successfully, those two boys will have to have carefully written scripts if they are to be successful in the movie business. But in answer to your question, yes, I think with the carefully written scripts I just mentioned, they can become film stars.”
That made Red’s day. “Before I leave, I want to use some of the talent you have working for you. I want you to help me get started with the script. I’m leaving you a list of the people I hired. They come with good credentials, but since I’m releasing my movies through your company, I’d like you to look over our shoulders for the first two or three pictures. Remember, I’m paying for everything and you will be the beneficiary if the pictures are good. I’m not competing with you. I’m partnering with you in my business and not yours. Look me in the eye, Larry, and tell me if you will or won’t help me.”
Larry looked into Red’s dead blue eyes and even though Red was a friend of his, it sent a chill down his spine. “Sure, you know you can always count on me, Red.” As soon as Larry said those words, the mood in the room lightened.
“Good. I hate to ask for a favor a second time when I’ve already asked for it once.” Red put his arm around Larry’s shoulder. “Larry, when it comes to my pictures I will pay for everything. There will be no cost to you; just make sure your price is fair. I don’t like my generosity being taken advantage of. If I use any of your people, bill me fairly for their services. I don’t want anything on the arm from you. What I want, and what is important to me, is your friendship, and the knowledge that if I need anything from you, you will provide it for me. Is that a fair assessment of the service I can expect you to provide for me?”
“Yes! Yes it is, very fair.”
“Look, Larry, I have big plans for the future. In case you haven’t heard, I’m having the Starlight Club re-built, and once it’s finished, I’m having a
grand re-opening and I’ve got feelers out for Sinatra to perform that night. I would like you, John Morgenstein, and your families to come. I’ll let you know the date. And another thing, I’m gonna tell you something no one but a few of my men know. Once I have my movie studio running in the black, I’m going to look into buying a Vegas casino.”
Bernstein was surprised. “No kidding, a casino, you say? When did you say you’ll be doing this?”
“I didn’t say. I said I’ll be investigating the possibility of owning a casino, or at the very least buying a major piece of one.” What Red didn’t say was that he was interested in the skim he would take from the casino.
Bernstein smelled an opportunity and his nose never let him down. “Will you be looking for investors?”
Red held back a smile and said, “I have my own money, but I’ll let some of my friends in on the action, so yes, I’ll be looking for a few of my friends to invest some of their money with me when the time is right.”
“It sounds interesting, Red. Please keep me in mind when it happens.”
“I will, Larry. And thanks for helping me to get started. Oh, before I leave, could you tell me when I can expect Swifty to report for work?”
“We’re wrapping up now. His part will be done in about a week. You can expect him to report to work no later than two weeks.”
“Sounds good, Larry.” They shook hands, and then Red left the building.
CHAPTER 7
Wherever Red went these days, he took Shooter and Joey Bones with him. As bodyguards, they were reliable and experienced and they knew how to spot a threat. Red felt safe with them. After catching five slugs to the chest and being left for dead by federal agents at the Starlight Club last year, he wasn’t taking any chances on someone or some group assassinating him. He had a lot of living to do and he had plans for the future, and besides, he was too young to die over something stupid like not taking the necessary precautions that a man in his business should always take.
Red called Tarzan before they left for the airport and he gave him instructions. “Tell Piss Clam to meet us at the Washington National Airport at 2:15 pm. It’s the closest airport to downtown Washington; that’s why I chose it. Tell him to bring our tools with him. You never can tell; we might get an unexpected job and if we did, we better have our tools with us or we could be buried by our competition.”
The following morning, Piss Clam pulled up in front of 1500 K Street. Red and Joey Bones got out of the car, walked through the entrance of the building, and took the elevator to the third floor. The elevator door opened into the law firm of Edward Bennett Williams. Red told the receptionist that they had an appointment with Mr. Williams. She picked up her phone and spoke for a few seconds then she stood and said, “Mr. Williams is expecting you. Please follow me.”
Williams told Red that he didn’t feel comfortable making a deal with Bobby while he was still the Attorney General. “I’d recommend waiting. I believe Richard Nixon will be the next president. I have inside information that if he becomes President, he intends to pardon Jimmy Hoffa. He hates the Kennedys and he can’t think of anything worse he can do to Bobby Kennedy than to pardon Hoffa. Nixon knows that what Bobby did to Jimmy was illegal, so we expect that he will pardon him. And besides, think of all the Teamster votes he’ll get when he runs for re-election.”
Red was clearly disappointed. “So, if I’m hearing you right, you’re telling me you can’t do anything for me now. I’ll have to wait until fuckin Nixon gets elected? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“No. That’s not what I’m saying. The ideal approach would have our friends go directly to Nixon if he were president and have him pardon you, which he’d do. Listen, as long as the feds think you’re dead, I may be able to get your name cleared posthumously. I have some very important Democrat friends in high places. In front of the camera, the two parties appear to be enemies, but in reality, they make deals with each other all the time because by crossing party lines and going over to the other side, it doesn’t appear to be politics as usual.
“If my Republican contacts can reach across the aisle and convince their Democrat colleagues, it would be great PR for them to pardon a man who’s dead. But I also have Democrat political friends and I think even Bobby Kennedy, who thinks that you’re dead, would see no harm in clearing your name now that you’re dead and no threat to him. He just might agree to do it after the fiasco his men caused. If I can get them to agree to restore your rights posthumously, then it will appear to the public that the Democrats are doing the right thing. But a word of caution here. These people think you’re dead and it must remain that way. If I start my inquiries in any other way but this one, they’ll know that you weren’t killed at the Starlight Club. And then, they will come after you again. Remember, Bobby Kennedy is still the attorney general. I can’t get around that fact.
“You’re paying me a lot of money for my advice, Red. You’ve just given me a retainer, and I intend to earn it, but why tell everyone who’s ever been gunning for you that you’re still alive? Remember, there are only two ways of getting your name cleared. I can try by convincing them there’s no harm in clearing a dead man’s name, or we can wait until Nixon is elected president and then have him do it for you. Let me do my job, and when I have something to tell you, I’ll be in touch, okay?”
“Yeah, I guess it will have to do. I was hoping I could go back to living a normal life again instead of constantly looking over my shoulder.”
“Look, Red. You don’t have to look over your shoulder. Everyone thinks you’re dead, so go and live a normal life and leave the worrying to me. I have every reason to believe that I’ll have your name cleared, and when that happens, you’ll have your life back.” The two men shook hands while Joey Bones tried to act casual, but he wasn’t successful because his eyes were scanning everything and everyone near them for signs of danger.
The elevator doors opened to the main lobby on the ground floor. As the men were about to exit the elevator, they walked right into the middle of a gunfight. A man covered a woman protectively with his large frame, trying to protect her from the hail of bullets that were flying all around them. He realized the futility of his act and knew that they would both die in the next few seconds if he didn’t do something to ensure her survival. In a last minute act of desperation, he shoved her hard with both hands, hoping to get her to the safety of the elevator, knowing he would be dead in the next few seconds.
She stumbled toward the elevator, propelled by the force of the push. Her high heels caught on the elevator track, causing her to fall into Red’s arms. Instinctively, he did the same as the man she was with had done. He put his arms around her to protect her from being hit by a bullet. He’d take the bullet before he’d let her be harmed. He chanced a quick glance at the woman. The angle of his vision prevented him from seeing her clearly, but he could tell that she was a pretty woman. The dark glasses she wore were knocked off kilter when she flew into his arms. She took a moment during all the confusion and managed to straighten them out so that they sat properly on her nose. She wore a blue bandana around her head and with the dark glasses, it made it difficult to get a good look at her. A shot bounced off the elevator lintel very close to them, and Red pressed her closer to protect her from the gunshots pinging around them, chipping tile and gouging holes in the walls.
Piss Clam had parked the car in a nearby parking lot and returned as fast as he could. While waiting for Red, both men shuffled their feet nervously just to be doing something. Shooter became nervous when he heard the gunshots. He knew something wasn’t right and he was worried that Red might have been ambushed. He was getting antsy and he wished Red and Joey would walk out of the building right now. Shooter thought all of his fears had been realized and Red was being targeted for assassination all over again. Shooter pointed to the parking lot and ordered Piss Clam to get the car, and park it by the curb in front of the building. He told him to keep the engine running when he got here. Onc
e Piss Clam left to get the car, Shooter ran into the building with his gun out. He saw Red by the elevator holding a woman, and he noticed a large man in a suit taken by surprise and was being shot at by three men from behind. As he ran to help Red, he saw the man fall to the ground after being shot by the three gunmen. He didn’t know what was happening and he didn’t care. His concern was for Red’s safety and he was worried that in the hail of bullets flying around Red would get shot. He raised his gun, and he let loose. Shooter fired with practiced accuracy at the three gunmen who had their backs to him, killing all three before they knew who was firing at them. He reached into his jacket pocket for more bullets and reloaded the Colt Single Action as he rushed to Red’s aid. He couldn’t help noticing the woman nestled between Red and Joey Bones.
Red took the woman by the arm, “Come on. If you want to live, you better come with us. We’ll keep you safe. Later, you can tell me why those men tried to kill you. But right now, we better get out of here.” He looked around cautiously. “There might be more gunmen waiting to kill you. Besides, I’d like to leave before the police get here.”