The Story of Charlie Mullins

by Jim Wygand

  “Ah, uh, yes, you’re right Don Carlo. Of course you are right. But I don’t understand. You said he is your son-in-law?”

  “Surely you know that Italians have kids, Mr. Shaw. In fact we are known to have lots of them. Unfortunately, I only had one – my sister’s daughter. She is beautiful and she fell in love with Mr. Mullins. Now tell me something Mr. Shaw, how long do you think Mr. Mullins would have worked for your company once he married the daughter of the alleged head of the Philadelphia mafia? Would the Shaw Corporation keep him on its payroll? Would the FBI give him a security clearance to work on Defense Department contracts? I would think that if his connection to me was known and he was still working for the Shaw Corporation he would be given his walking papers. No one would say it was because of his wife, but he would be on the street, am I right?”

  “I suppose that is what would happen, yes.”

  “You know Mr. Mullins and I am sure you saw him as an honorable fellow, hard-working and loyal. But you would not have been loyal to him, Mr. Shaw. For reasons related to your business, you would have to put him on the street. Nothing personal, just business. But for Mr. Mullins it would be a highly personal matter. His chances would be zero of ever working in finance for a large company. His career would go to hell, and all because he fell in love with the wrong woman. We Italians are romantic, Mr. Shaw. Mr. Mullins fell in love and it was with my daughter. I had to see to his welfare.”

  “You mean you….”

  “Let’s just say I gave Mr. Mullins the benefit of my experience.”

  “Now, as to your plans for Mr. Mullins….”

  “No, Don Carlo, I didn’t know he is your son-in-law, I mean I never….”

  “Relax Mr. Shaw, I’m not the thug you think I am. I have a proposal to make. You plan to run for the US Senate. It would not do for people to know that the son-in-law of a mob boss, which is what the papers call me, was involved in the choice of your acquisitions. Your IPO was an enormous success and your reputation is excellent. Frankly, I think you will make a fine Senator. You are certainly not going to really miss sixteen million dollars. That’s the kind of luxury you can afford and for which you should be thankful. But Mr. Mullins is a working stiff. He can certainly use the money, assuming of course that he has it. My proposal is that we simply forget the matter. No one knows it happened. Nothing illegal took place. Mr. Mullins should be allowed to resign from the Shaw Corporation and get on with his life. In exchange, I will see to it that you have as much discreet support from me as you need to win your seat in the US Senate.”

  Phillip Shaw knew when he had come across a better negotiator than he was and he knew when he had been outfoxed. He also knew that everything that had just been said would never leave the room. His face visibly relaxed. “Don Carlo, I can accept your proposal and I hope you will forgive me for the accusation against your son-in-law. This has all been an unfortunate misunderstanding and I agree that we should forget about it. No one has been hurt.”

  “I thought we could come to an agreement.” Don Carlo’s face turned soft again. “We should seal this bargain with a toast. Frankie, bring us another two glasses of wine, please.”

  Phillip Shaw’s hand did not shake this time. He smiled at Carlo Rizzo and held up his glass, “I salute you sir, congratulations. It was a master stroke.”

  Don Carlo merely said, “Thank you, Mr. Shaw, salute”.

  When they finished their wine Don Carlo said, “My driver will take you back to your car, Mr. Shaw. Please give my best regards to your father. He is a good man.”

  “I will do that, Don Carlo, and please tell Mr. Mullins that I will arrange for him to submit his resignation dated for the day immediately after the IPO. He merely has to prepare a letter and have it delivered to me. I’ll discuss it with the new owners.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Shaw and good luck to you in the elections.”

  Phillip Shaw was escorted through the kitchen to the black Mercedes waiting for him. Frankie drove him straight to his car in the parking garage. Phillip Shaw got into his car and thought, “What the hell, sixteen million is not so much compared to being a US Senator!” He smiled and started his car and left the garage.

  * * * * *

  Carlo Rizzo walked back to the guest room where Charlie and Gina had been staying. He entered smiling and said, “OK Charlie, you need to write a letter of resignation today. It’s all been worked out. Phillip Shaw will handle the formalities and your severance package. Date the letter for the day after the IPO. You can use whatever reason you want for resigning. Just make it positive. This is all being done in a highly professional way and you are simply going off to pursue other career options. That sound OK?”

  “Wow, Carlo, it’s that simple? Phillip Shaw rolled over on the sixteen million? How did you convince him to do that?”

  Carlo’s eyes twinkled and he said with a mock mafia accent, “As Don Corleone would say, ‘I made him an offer he couldn’t refuse’” and broke out laughing. When he stopped laughing at his own joke, he turned to Charlie and Gina and said, “You kids can go public now, too. It doesn’t matter now who knows that you love each other. As soon as the transaction is finished and your resignation accepted, I will have the judge record your marriage and issue a certificate. It’s done!” Carlo Rizzo smiled and hugged Gina and Charlie. “I think I’m gonna retire next year, you know that? I want to play with my grandchildren so get busy!”

  * * * * *

  Charlie’s letter of resignation was accepted by Fred Perkins without Fred understanding anything that was going on. He received a call from Phillip Shaw followed by a call from a new member of the Board of Directors instructing him to prepare an answer to Charlie’s letter expressing the company’s regret at his departure and wishing him luck in his new career. Fred had better sense than to ask what it was all about so he just did what he was told. Laura typed the letter for Fred, smiling the whole time. Charlie had broken out. She didn’t know how but he broke loose and that was enough for her.

  Warren Carpenter received a call from Phillip Shaw telling him to call off the investigation and the surveillance and phone tap on Joey Esposito. Carpenter knew enough to not ask why. If Phillip wanted to tell him he would. His job now was to get Phillip elected to the Senate and if nothing more was to be said about Charlie Mullins, that was it. Warren called Bill Cummins who was also wise enough to know what he did not need to know. He filed the work papers of the acquisitions and did not bother to discuss the matter further. He poured himself a scotch and silently toasted Charlie and wished him luck. He knew they would eventually get together once everything had been forgotten.

  Charlie had one thing left to do and he dialed Joey Esposito’s number. “Joey?”

  “Holy Christ, Charlie, where the hell have you been? The whole goddamned town has been looking for you.”

  “I know Joey; I have to talk to you. I think you are the guy who might wind up getting the short end of the stick when everything is settled.”

  “What are you talking about Charlie?”

  “Meet me at the trattoria tonight. I’ll fill you in. I’ve got some news for you. Be there around 8-o-clock.”

  “Sounds mysterious, Charlie, would you like to give me some more information?”

  “I’ll tell you everything tonight.” Charlie rang off.

  XL

  Charlie and Gina arrived at the trattoria at 8:15. They walked in holding hands. Johnny the waiter had a huge smile on his face as he pointed them to Joey’s table. Joey’s shock was visible as he saw Charlie and Gina walking toward him. They sat down and Johnny quickly showed up with a bottle of wine and two additional glasses.

  Joey was flustered, “Charlie? Gina? Wha…”

  “Easy Joey, you started this whole thing, you know.”

  “What are you talking about, Charlie? Are you and Gina going together?”

  “No, Joey, we’re married.”

  “Charlie, this is a lot for me to put together. What the hell is going on?
You two are married?”

  “Yeah, and to each other, if you can believe it,” Gina laughed.

  “Joey,” Charlie began, “did you know who Gina was when you introduced us?”

  “Of course, I’m from Philly. I know who Gina Ferelli is – ah Mullins now I guess.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me, Joey?”

  “You remember what I told you Charlie when you asked about Gina? I told you that she would tell you about herself if she felt like it and when she was good and ready. It’s not up to me to be talking about other people. I’ve known Gina for years and she is a great gal, but I’m not gonna run around telling everybody I know who her uncle is. Everybody knows that anyway – except maybe some micks from Shoreville!” Joey laughed.

  “Well, Joey, as you can see, I owe you a big favor. We both do. You may have heard that I resigned from the Shaw Corporation after the IPO.”

  “Yeah, I heard something to that effect.” Joey said.

  “What else did you hear, Joey?”

  “Knock it off Charlie. We go way back, remember? Yeah I heard some comments. They were not really about you. They were more about our friendship and my being picked to find some acquisition targets.”

  “That’s more or less what I figured, Joey.”

  “Yeah, well it’s nothin’ I can’t handle Charlie. You know me.”

  “Joey, you introduced me to the woman I married. It was the best thing you ever did for me. I put you in the middle of something that has not done justice to the favor you did me. Am I right?”

  “C’mon Charlie, we’re friends. I don’t hold anything against you. You didn’t mess anything up.”

  “Maybe not Joey, but you will sooner or later hear some things that will make you think I used you. I didn’t. I wanted to help your career. But I realize now that I probably did not. No one will ever tell you that your career might be stunted because of our friendship and your work on the acquisitions, but it will, believe me.”

  “So, I’ll quit and get a job somewhere else. Fuck ‘em!”

  “That’s my Joey! South Philly tough! Well since you plan to quit anyway maybe you might want to come and work with me.”

  “What are you talking about, Charlie? My understanding is that you are now gainfully unemployed.”

  “Joey, I’ve got some money to invest and I plan to set up an asset management company here in Philly. It won’t be a big bank. I plan to make it a private asset management firm. Obviously, my marriage to Gina will draw the attention of the feds so I don’t think I should be running the operation.”

  “Yeah, well I can appreciate that. You might be marked for the occasional harassment.” Joey chuckled.

  “Would you like to run the company, Joey?”

  “No one will know that I am the investor. I have a structure that will protect the ownership of the firm from becoming known. You’ll be your own boss and share in the profits. What do you say?”

  “Joey Esposito front for Charlie Mullins? You bet your ass! I’m in. I hate that goddamned bank anyway. Shake on it!” Joey offered his hand to Charlie.

  “Done,” said Charlie, “I’ll get the paper work drawn up and have an attorney take care of the registries. It will take a couple of months, and then you can quit the bank.”

  “Thanks Charlie. I don’t know what else to say. You won’t be disappointed. And man, am I ever glad you two guys found each other. As my old Sicilian grandfather would say, ‘It’s the thunderbolt.’ I’m happy for both of you. Now let’s eat something, I’m starved!”

  * * * * *

  The following week Charlie drove over to Shoreville for league night. He walked into the bowling alley like he had always done and his buddies froze in their tracks. Artie Samuels was the first to speak, “Look what the wind just blew in! Holy shit, the mystery man returns. You mind tellin’ your friends where the fuck you been, asshole?”

  Charlie laughed, “Not at all, Artie. After the IPO I quit my job at Shaw and the next day I got married. I’ve been on my honeymoon!”

  Bill Gallagher piped in, “You quit your job and then got married, Charlie? Isn’t that kind of assbackwards? You’re not supposed to get married if you’re out of a job!”

  Charlie laughed, “Yeah Bill, it’s usually the other way around. You get a job and then you get married. But if you recall that’s what I did the first time and it didn’t work!” The group broke out in laughter.

  “Good old Charlie!” Tony Mazza exclaimed, “You always have to do it your way!”

  “So, c’mon Charlie,” Artie Samuels said, “tell us who is the unfortunate broad that married an unemployed executive.”

  “It’s a girl from Philly,” Charlie said, “I’ll bring her over here one day soon. You’ll like her.”

  “She’s got a name, right?” asked Artie.

  “Of course, it’s Mullins.”

  “Oh bullshit, Charlie, I mean her goddamned maiden name. You know the one she had before she had the bad luck to run into you.”

  “It’s Ferelli – Gina Ferelli.”

  “Wait a minute,” Bill Gallagher said, “isn’t she….I mean that name sounds famil…”

  “Yeah, Bob, that’s her. Carlo Rizzo’s adopted daughter.”

  “Holy shit,” said Artie, “you don’t do anything by half measures do ya´?”

  Charlie laughed but noticed that the group had now gone serious. They were now with the son-in-law of a very powerful man. “C’mon guys, this is the same Charlie you always knew. Relax.”

  Charlie could sense the tension dissolve and Tony Mazza said, “OK, a round of beer for everybody. Charlie Mullins got married again!”

  “Listen guys, I’m not gonna hang around to bowl tonight. I just came by to tell all of you the news. You’re my buddies and always will be. I’m happy and I hope you are all happy for me. Now I’m going home to my bride if you don’t mind.”

  “Oh my God, pussy whipped already!” Artie Samuels cried out. “I guess we’ll never see you again Charlie Mullins!”

  “I’ll be around, Artie. Not to worry.”

  Charlie pulled Tony Mazza aside as he was leaving and said, “Tony, thanks for being a buddy. You were right that there is nothing like making love to the woman you really love. Tell Marie hello for me.”

  “Will do, Charlie, and best of luck to you.”

  Charlie drove back to Philly to what was now his and Gina’s apartment.

  * * * * *

  Bill Gallagher could hardly wait to get home to tell Sharon the news. She had been so obsessed with Charlie’s disappearance, she would be glad to know he showed up. Sharon had been in a foul mood the past few days. Bill burst into the living room where Sharon was glumly staring at a TV screen. “Sharon, guess who showed up for league night?”

  “I give up Bill, who? Peter Pan?” she answered with sarcasm.

  “Nope, Charlie.”

  Sharon almost jumped from the sofa. “Did you say Charlie? Charlie Mullins? He just walked into the bowling alley, just like that?”

  “Yeah, can you believe it? He quit his job at Shaw the day after the buyout, got married and has been on his honeymoon. He came in to tell us all. What a story, huh? I guess that explains why he put a for sale sign on his house and hired an agent to sell it. He was off on his honeymoon!”

  “Right, Bill, and you believe in the tooth fairy too, yeah?”

  “C’mon Sharon, aren’t you happy for the guy?”

  “How should I know? Who did he marry?”

  “He married a girl from South Philly, and get this, her maiden name was Ferelli – Gina Ferelli.”

  “So, who is Gina Ferelli, Bill, some South Philly wop broad?”

  “Careful Sharon, she’s the adopted daughter of Carlo Rizzo.”

  “Carlo Rizzo, Carlo Rizz…holy shit, Bill, that’s the name of the mob boss in Philly.”

  “The same, Sharon. She was the girl we saw Charlie with in Philly that time. Now I recognize her. She has not been in the papers often, but the one picture I
saw of her was beautiful. She is one looker, that’s for sure.”

  Sharon slumped back on the sofa. Her desperate and obsessive hunt for Charlie’s girlfriend was over. Worse yet, everyone in Shoreville will know by tonight who is Charlie’s girlfriend when the husbands tell their wives that Charlie showed up. No sooner had she finished her thought than the phone rang. It was Diane Simms. “Sharon, my God, did you year the news? Charlie…”

  “Diane?” Sharon interrupted, “go fuck yourself!” and slammed the phone on its cradle.

  * * * * *

  A week later as Charlie Mullins was passing a news kiosk he saw the headline of a local tabloid publication: MAFIA PRINCESS WEDS IN SECRET CEREMONY. He bought a copy of the paper and sat down on a park bench to read the article. It began:

  Philadelphia….According to anonymous sources interviewed by this reporter, Mafia princess Gina Ferelli, adopted daughter of Carlo Rizzo, alleged head of the Philadelphia mafia was secretly married to a former financial executive of a major Delaware Valley corporation….

  The article provided the date of the marriage as the one on the marriage certificate prepared and filed by the judge who married Charlie and Gina. The article went on to say that they had been married at an undisclosed location. It also said that the couple had been on their honeymoon, also at an undisclosed location. Finally the reporter wrote that the couple was unavailable for comment. Charlie knew immediately that Sharon Gallagher was the “anonymous source” cited in the article. At first he was angry as hell. Then he just broke out laughing. Sharon always had to have the last word and seem to be the person who was “on the inside”. She must have been so frustrated that she simply had to tell someone.

  Charlie folded the paper and tucked it under his arm. He walked home to Gina. She was going to make her lasagna tonight.