The Case of Kinnegal's Banshee
Disclaimer: I do not own The A Team movie or television series or any of the delightful characters found on The A Team.
Chapter 14 Mad Sal
One enemy is too many and a hundred friends is not enough. Italian Proverb
ooooooo
"What do you mean I won't have much choice? Is that a threat?" She swallowed.
"I've known you since your Poppa held you in his arms after you were born. You've always been a smart girl. One of my favorite 'nieces,' you know that, Daniela." Tabio chuckled again. "I love you like you were one of my own."
"But the organization comes first." She added with a bitter smile.
"Always." He nodded, then smiled back. "You're much smarter than your brother Eddie ever was. I trust you won't become a liability to the family business?"
"Are you saying that Eddie died because he was a liability? That my own father had him killed?" Daniela tried to push back the tears but one spilled down her cheek.
"He had become . . . what are the words? . . . a loose cannon. Some of the things he was doing were . . . dangerous to the welfare of the family." Tabio peered at her, the threat in his eyes and his voice. "Don't be like him. Follow my instructions to the letter and your father will not send you back to live in the Old Country. We may allow you to go back to your new life. We may even let your boyfriend remain a part of that life."
"I really don't have any choice, do I?" She bit her lower lip and trembled.
Tabio shook his head. "No, you don't. A year ago an investigative reporter for one of the local papers imbedded himself undercover in Matrianneti's establishment as a waiter. He managed to take some photos of your father and other men from our family and others having friendly business lunches together. He was there when Charlie 'The Badger' Shlossneger had his 'accident.' He overheard things that put him in the right places at the right times to take several photos."
"You don't need me in order to get photos from him." She folded her hands in her lap to prevent them from shaking.
The older man ignored her statement. "The reporter turned in his two weeks' notice and went to work for Murray Kinnegal at The Thirsty Dog. Shortly after that, he disappeared and hasn't been seen since."
"The name Murray Kinnegal is familiar but I don't know why. I never went to The Thirsty Dog when I lived here. So how am I going to help my father?" Her stomach churned seeing the cold impassive stare Tabio gave her.
"Murray Kinnegal was once the leader of an Irish gang called the Banshee Boys." He shrugged and chuckled. "The name gives you an idea of how small time it was. They hung around the 111th Street and Michigan Avenue area. His best friend's son Brendan is trying to resurrect the group."
"So what? If they're small time punks looking for small time things to do, why should my father be concerned?" Irish street gangs and the Mafia were not known to share the same territory very well.
"Let's say the son has more wisdom than Murray Kinnegal. He has become associated with our family and has been trying to 'help' the Kinnegals come to a decision to sell The Thirsty Dog. We can't be involved with the 'encouragement' but we have someone who is willing to buy the pub as soon as the decision to sell is made. It's a mutually satisfying partnership. The kid gets a little hush money from us and we get the opportunity to search the property without any questions raised."
"How does this concern me? What am I supposed to do?" She dreaded stating the question but she knew Tabio would tell her anyway.
"Our associate has done something very foolish. He antagonized three men recently hired as part time bartenders and cleaning staff. He is no longer welcome in the pub. The work he's done to press the sale of the establishment will continue but we need an insider who can search for the photos and whatever else the reporter hid. The other families involved are anxious to get their hands on the material, too. If the photos are found before the Kinnegals sell, we won't have to deal with the Banshee Boys anymore."
"How do you know the information is there? Are you sending me to become an employee at The Thirsty Dog? They won't hire me." She gave the older man a dismissive wave of her hand.
"We know the photos are there. Don't ask how. We also know you will be hired."
She raised her eyebrows at his confident tone.
"One of the three men Brendan McClonough antagonized was your boyfriend. He'll know if the information we want has been found or not." Daniela paled when she heard Murdock was involved.
"I . . . I can't get him into this. Please, if there's any other way . . ." Her voice trailed off. The look Mad Sal gave her told her the answer to her plea.
"If you won't do this for your father, you will be on the next plane to Sicily. Got it?"
She bowed her head and closed her eyes. "I understand."
"Was someone waiting for you at the airport when you arrived?"
She thought back to her departure from her plane seat, Sly's grip on her arm and his low threatening voice in her ear. When he ushered her to the car, she thought she saw H. M.'s friend B. A. He was difficult to miss in a crowd. She had been so afraid when Sly approached her that she focused mostly on him and where he was taking her.
"No. No one was there that I recognized." She wondered if that was a safe answer to give. She felt a wave of relief when Tabio smiled.
"Good. Did your boyfriend leave a number so you could reach him when you arrived?"
She nodded and clutched her purse tighter.
"You're going to call him and tell him your plane got in later than you expected. Have him give you his location. Tell him you'll get a taxi. We will want the address and the phone number, of course, before we let you go." He motioned to the phone in the trailer.
Swallowing hard, trying to keep her voice from shaking, she dialed the phone number the pilot had given her.
"Hello, Murdock? This is Dani."