July 17, 1997

Newark, NJ

As mourners filed out of Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart after Charles Corelli's Funeral Mass, Trevor Lansing noted that the two surviving members of the De Rossi Crime Family, Stefan DiMeo; and Girolamo "Jimmy" Palerno; didn't get into the same limo for the funeral procession to the Mount Olivet Cemetery. Given the history among the three men that wasn't surprising, and it gave him an opportunity. So, he slipped into Palerno's limo and pulled the door closed behind him. It closed right in Marco Dane aka Marco Corelli's face.

Palerno smirked at Marco Dane's misfortune. "Irony is rich, huh?" he asked.

Trevor didn't think he was solely referring to Marco Dane. "Indeed," he agreed.

"Of course, even a broken clock is right twice a day, right?" Palerno asked with a hearty laugh.

Trevor forced himself to join in. He was about to call in a favor, it was hardly the time to reveal he, himself found Palerno almost as stupid as Palerno found Marco Dane. "I'm sure you've heard the rumblings," he said.

"That DiMeo is leading Junior around by the nose? DiMeo forgets that loyalty isn't grey. But I'm going to put him out of his misery and make him an offer he can't refuse," Palerno said.

Trevor raised an eyebrow and nodded.

"I'm going to offer him a peaceful transfer of power," Palerno said.

Trevor didn't believe that. Perhaps Palerno was smarter than he gave him credit for. "So, you're going to let Stefano DiMeo take control?" he asked.

"It is time for the Family to come together, that was really all Papa DeRossi wanted with that ruling panel," Palerno said.

"It takes a lot to be the bigger man," Trevor said. He didn't really believe that was what Palerno was doing. He just hadn't figured out what angle he was working.

"Like I said, loyalty is not a grey issue. I can appreciate that," Palerno repeated.

"I guess you've also heard that the Commission is looking to fill an eighth seat," Trevor said. Perhaps that was the angle Palerno was working. Perhaps he and DiMeo were working together toward that goal. Trevor had witnessed stranger things and it was no secret that Simone De Rossi had long felt snubbed by not having direct representation to the Commission.

Palerno revealed no emotion in his face. "Word gets around. Marricante feels the seat is his and hasn't exactly been quiet about it. But, as my father would say, often the loudest voice is the weakest."

"Marricante needs to spend more time worrying about his own backyard. Those skirmishes with the Ruiz family in Miami aren't helping anyone, and won't be viewed favorably when the time comes," Trevor said. He was largely bluffing. He had no inside information. He had never been allowed to attend meetings and he feared that the Commission had been meeting without inviting Zacchara. The Solieto, Pozullo, and Camorese families had shown up at Simone De Rossi's Funeral with Joe Scully and Michael "Sonny" Corinthos in June. It almost left one to wonder if the Commission was less looking for an eighth family and more looking to shuffle the deck.

"Maybe, it is time for the Commission to come together," Trevor said.

Once again, Palerno showed no emotion. He just silently nodded.

"Salvatore Mancusi has a problem he needs handled with with some discretion and separation. I would consider it a favor if you could help him out," Trevor began.

"Introduce me to this friend of ours and I will see what I can do," Palerno said as their limo pulled into the Mount Olivet Cemetery.