Chapter 49

Report on Progress

Hey up, mates! Surely you can tell who this is. How many other characters in this story say 'hey up'?

Only Emily Jason!

I must say, it took our author ages to think of who would be best narrating this chapter. It was either Luca, Lino or me. And she picked me!

So, I told you all what happened to me before I swam away. It's not a pretty story is it.

But anyway, Lenny was supposed to be the only one I told. However, someone who was keeping an eye on my also heard my story. But he also heard something else.

Luca had learned that I couldn't read. And that seriously reduced my chances of completing my mission. Besides, I hadn't found much yet. But I could swear that it was one of those five fish eaters who are always in their own little gang. They're always acting like they're hiding something, and none of the other sharks act like that.

Anyway, I was saying that Luca new about my illiteracy and if he went and told the Don then I might lose my assignment and any respect I'd earned.

But before he could ever get the chance, I myself was brought before the Don.

Lino hadn't heard anything about my assignment since he sent me on it and he ordered me to report on my progress.

"It's been days since I sent you out with that assignment." Lino didn't sound to happy with me. "I thought I'd have heard something by now… You've got nothing!"

I strongly disagreed. "I haven't got nothing! I've got something!"

"Hey, don't take that tone with me!"

I backed down. "I'm sorry." I spoke quickly. I closed my eyes and nodded my head in respect. "Old habits die hard."

"So will you if you forget your place one more time."

I decided to try to redeem myself. "I've made some progress." I looked back up.

"Let's hear it." Said Lino.

"I think I've narrowed it down to five. Well, four actually." I began to explain. "You see, there's a group of your mobsters who are always ganging together. Their names are Matteo, Giovanni, Giuseppe and Bartholomew."

I gave my guess, but Lino didn't look so sure. "Those guys have been loyal ever since the business became mine. What makes you suspect them?"

"They are always acting like they've got something to hide. And they've got a gambling problem. I wonder if they might have accidentally-on-purpose gambled away some money that wasn't theirs. And when that oil problem came along, maybe there was so much chaos going on that no-one noticed that the money they gambled with didn't belong to them. That's my best guess."

"And you don't suspect anyone else in the mean time?"

I shook my head. "They might not have even realized at the time. There could have been a mix up with the accounts if the oil caused problems with the banks."

My explanation sounded convincing to me.

I watched Lino's expressions as he too considered the possibility I had suggested.

"Luca." He turned round and faced his criminal advisor. "You're always hanging around with those guys. What do you think?"

"I d'know." Said Luca. "They seem pretty honest to me."

"You don't know what 'honest' means." I frowned.

"And you do? I listened in on your story last night, and I heard you talking about a little problem of yours…"

"Luca, enough." Lino shut him up. "We're getting off the subject."

I stared at Luca. I thought: 'Was he talking about my disability to read or write? But what else could he be talking about?'. Luca slightly leered at me, but luckily for me Lino didn't notice.

"Keep up the work." Lino looked back at me. I turned round in response. "And if you don't come back with an answer in the next three days, you're out. Capisce?"

I nodded innocently. "I get it."

Well, that was that. Now I had only three days to find something or I was gonna be in for it.

Luca escorted me out after the meeting was over. But after I was out of the study, I still had something to say to Luca.

"What exactly did you mean by that remark?" I questioned him.

"Let's just say I know about your little illiterate problem."

Oops! "You sneaky son of a slimeball!"

"Hey, hey, watch it." Luca warned me. "I mean, listen kid, did you notice anything? Or actually, do you notice something that was not there to be noticed?"

I thought for a few seconds. "You haven't told the Don about it." I realized. "Why?"

"Hey, if I did, you'd be out of a job."

"But why would someone like you do that for me?"

"Look, I've learned that you don't take bribes. But I know you react when someone say… threatens something you value."

I was confused. "What the shell are you talking about?"

"Long story short; If you pick the right horses, I won't tell the boss that you can't read or write."

I heard him alright. "You do and how do you know I won't pick the wrong horse on purpose?"

Luca opened his mouth as if he was about to say something. But then he was silent.

"Look, mate. I'm not gonna make a deal with you until I know I can trust you. So, why don't you keep that secret of mine. Then I might start to trust you."

"But wait…what if…I mean…that is…" Luca tried to come back with something.

"Look, mate." I said one last thing. "The more you try, the more you'll fail. So, get off my case and let me do my job."

I huffed and swam off.

Luca's sneaky plan had fail once again. It was as if he could never make a deal with me. I mean, he was the slippery advisor of crime in this mob. Who would trust him?