8. Toeing a Fine Line

McCall spent the remainder of the evening reviewing the information he had and waiting for more. The Bureau had been stingy sharing information. He did learn that Elise's detail in New York centered on Asian mob activity, specifically illegal gambling. He wondered how a white, Italian girl might break into that crowd. The answer came from two places: Mickey's comments and the sports articles in her file. She spoke some Chinese and was a white girl participating in an Asian sport. Gamblers will follow any kind of sporting action.

How to connect the Bonnanos and the Asian driver who struck Mickey bothered him greatly, however. To McCall's knowledge, those elements kept a respectful distance, the Asian mob and the Mafia. McCall made another phone call, this time to Jimmy. "The listening device, any leads?"

"The bug itself is nothing special, made in China. Not hard to find if you know where to look."

"It's not one that would be typically associated with any group?"

"No. Now the cover, the magnet, that came out of a Chinatown print shop. It was a small run, rush order. Enough for a couple of apartment buildings only."

"What do we know about the restaurant that ordered them?"

"It's one outpost of a local Italian staple."

"I'm on tenterhooks. Owned by whom?"

"That's a little hard to say. Incorporated and owned by other corporations. CEO of the one of the companies up the chain is Joseph Bonnano, Jr.."

"Tomorrow, take someone who speaks the language and rattle the cage of the print shop about our driver, a guy who can hot wire a car and suddenly has spare cash."

"Sure."

McCall reached a decision point. He knew that he could read every file on earth, but in the end, only two people could truly enlighten him: the former Lisa Scarletti, missing in action, and her mother, Barbara. Getting to the wife of the mob king would not be easy. Misplayed, it could increase the threat to Elise and, possibly, Mickey. Even as he worked out possible ways to talk to her, McCall hoped to avoid it somehow.

McCall finally called a friend at the Bureau, one outside Elise's chain of command. "Walter, I've been getting the run around. One of ours has been hurt in an effort to intimidate one of yours. Yours has gone missing. Her apartment was booby-trapped after she left. I need to know what she's been working on. It has something to do with gambling in Chinatown."

"I am aware of the situation, Robert."

"Then give me just a little more."

"I can only give you a word of advice. Stay clear. This has been a nearly two-year investigation and it's nearing its terminus."

"Elise Cantrell's identity may be compromised."

"She has given us assurances that the incident you reference is not related."

"You believe her?"

"Yes. I am aware of her background, Robert. That other matter is just that -- separate."

"I would not be so certain of that if I were you. If I am correct, the consequences to her and your operation could be disastrous."

"Unless you have concrete proof, drop it and stay out of the way. Get your people to stop snooping in Chinatown before they do the harm. Our business will be concluded in a matter of days." Walter hung up, forestalling further discussion.

McCall tossed and turned through the night. In the morning, he called Jimmy. "Forget Chinatown for now."

Next he called young Vincent. "Vincent, you must say no to me if you feel that this will put you in the slightest danger. I believe that sometime in the next several days, there is to be some kind of large, illegal wagering event, perhaps tied to fighting or karate. Do you have any idea how I might find that out without bringing in the pasty white faces of my associates and myself? Again, understand that I absolutely forbid you to take any risk in ascertaining this information."

"That kind of thing is going on all the time here. You can find a flyer around every street corner."

"I think this one would be a big event -- in a large space, with big prizes, side action."

"I can ask around. Guy I grew up with is deep into that stuff. He's always trying to get me to go with him. I don't care much for fighting so I never go. Then he tries to convince me to go for the girls."

"The girls?"

"Um, you know."

McCall heard embarrassment in Vincent's voice. "I see. Well, again, if you can inquire without risk, please get back to me."

"Sure thing, Mr. McCall."

McCall called Mickey next. "I need to talk to you."

"Okay, talk."

"Here."

"See you in twenty."

Mickey looked much improved. The bruise above the eye had turned yellow. His gait seemed nearly normal.

"How are the ribs?"

"Fine."

"I need an honest assessment."

"I wouldn't want to get punched there just now, but they're fine. Why?"

"Should we continue along our current path, your ability to maneuver may be relevant."

"I can maneuver if I need to. What have you found out?"

"A great deal, Mickey. Sadly, I have not yet assembled all the pieces and I may never do so."

"I don't care about all the pieces, just one."

"There is a great deal of activity swirling around Ms. Elise Cantrell. Unless we understand the source and the motivation, we may not be able to help her."

"All right, McCall, either tell me or don't already. I could be out there looking for her now."

"NO! Under no circumstances are you to be traipsing through Chinatown or elsewhere looking for her. You will only increase the danger to her and make yourself a target."

"Then explain it to me."

"Elise Cantrell's identity has been compromised. Though I cannot get into the how of the matter, members of the Bonnano family observed her on your dinner date. Using the reservation book, you were identified and placed under surveillance. Undoubtedly, so was she. To warn her, the Bonnano family arranged your meeting with the taxi."

"Using an Asian driver?"

"They delegated that job to confuse the matter, I suspect."

"You know this how?"

"I believe the connection is through the print shop that imprinted the restaurant magnets. I suspect that if we followed up more closely with the shop, we would find out more about the driver."

"Why don't we do that?"

"After your incident, Ms. Cantrell received her own warning. In reaction,she opted to make it appear as though she had been scared off and disappeared. She broke up with you and then abandoned her apartment. The Bonnano family attempted to insure she complied with their warning by planting an explosive device in her apartment."

"But I know she's still around."

"Alas, the cryptogram she left you did not have the desired effect."

"'Mickey, so sorry. Please stay away. Regrets.' No, that wouldn't work. No more the message she left on my machine the day after I was hit."

"Which was?"

"I'm surprised that you don't know that already."

"Had Jimmy done his job thoroughly, I would have."

"Distilled, it said sorry and goodbye; I'm leaving New York with no forwarding address."

"Those messages were for your own protection and hers too."

"It means she's still on the job. She must be going after the driver . . . or . . . not the Bonnanos?"

"No, I don't think she is pursuing the Bonnanos or that she ever had any intent to do so. Unfortunately, the Bonnanos may not have known or believed that."

"If her identity is compromised by the Bonnanos and the Asians learn of it, then the operation she's been working on could also compromised. She'd be wearing a bull's eye."

"Yes."

"Then we need to find her and get her out."

"She is unlikely to cooperate. She has much time and effort put into the case."

"So we don't give her a choice."

"Mickey, you must put your emotions at bay and behave objectively."

"What are you proposing?"

"The Bureau's operation will conclude in the next several days. We have been told to steer clear."

"Like we're going to listen to them."

"In part, we are. The more outsiders who fish around Chinatown now, the greater the danger that her cover will be blown and her life endangered."

"Okay, I can see that. Then what?"

"I am awaiting word on the event that will trigger the Bureau's action. We may attempt to intervene before or during it."

"The event?"

McCall pulled out the sporting articles on Elise Cantrell. "I knew she was into karate, but I had no idea how seriously."

"The Bureau saw this as an window of opportunity to infiltrate the Asian gambling business."

"Elise is prize fighting?"

"Yes."

"I knew that guys were doing this all the time down there, but Elise?"

"Yes."

"The outcomes must be rigged."

"Certainly, according to whatever most benefits the house."

"How do you think this will all go down?"

"If her identity is not compromised, I expect the entire evening will be recorded and once the patrons disburse, the Bureau will sting the operation."

"And if her identity is compromised?"

"The event may be cancelled, or worse still, it could go forward and when it concludes, the Bureau may find itself the target of an ambush."

"Along with Elise."

"Yes."

"The sensible thing would be to call the event off if they felt a raid was imminent."

"True, though the mob may wish to send a strong message to the Bureau."

"Which they could do just as easily by . . ."

"Delivering the body of Ms. Cantrell."

"Then we don't dare wait."

"I think there is third possibility here, one I fear is the most likely."

"Which is what?"

"That the Asians are unaware of Ms. Cantrell's identity and the Bonnanos will use their knowledge of Ms. Cantrell's identity as leverage to extract a deal with them by exposing her at the most vulnerable time. That would allow the operators to clear out just before the Bureau commences its raid."

"Leaving them on the run, but alive, and beholden to the Mafia. Opportunistic and ingenious."

McCall snapped his head in sudden realization and muttered softly. "Yes, Barbara Bonnano certainly knows when opportunity knocks."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing, Mickey. Just thinking aloud. Look, I have some things to finalize still. Go and notify the troops to be available on standby the next few nights. Assemble what weapons and tools we might need. I'll let you know when I receive word on the time and location so we can finalize preparations."

Mickey left, only slightly less confused than before. McCall felt the same way. "Mrs. Barbara Bonnano, formerly Scarletti, there is more to you than meets the eye," he said aloud. Frank Woodham would be of no further help there, however. He died during the night. McCall resorted to another call to Walter.

"I do not wish to rehash our earlier conversation. I received your message loud and clear. I will behave on the condition you tell me what you know about Barbara Bonnano, formerly Scarletti, and her stepson Joey."

"You promise?"

"I give you my word that I shall do nothing inappropriate if you tell me what you know." McCall left himself wiggle room with that sentence, and he knew that Walter knew he did that.

"She was widowed after her son and daughter had a shoot out of some kind flowing from the business."

"Skip the party line. I know all about that end. I want to know what happened at the Scarletti house the night John Scarletti died -- that's the end that's fuzzy."

"The kids were out killing each other. Close in time, the father got a bullet in the back of his head. That's it. The widow grieved dramatically at the husband and son's well-attended funeral. By then, she already had her shoulder leaning on Joseph Bonnano, Sr. for comfort. She showed up alone at the daughter's funeral. Well not exactly. Joey Bonnano, Jr., drove her, but he stayed in the car. There was much less drama and crying from the mother at that one. Frankly, people were surprised she even showed."

"What do you know of Barbara Scarletti's relationship with John Scarletti?"

"To all appearances, he treated her like a queen, so long as she kept her nose out of his business. He let her come and go as she pleased provided she played the role of dutiful mob wife when called upon."

"And did she?"

"To the best of our knowledge, yes. Her father had been a lieutenant in Scarletti's father's operation. She knew the game."

"Was she happy with this role?"

"No. Despite appearances -- and she does still look the role of Mafia wife to the tee -- she's very bright and competent. She was self-educated because her father and Scarletti wouldn't hear of college for her. She was also very frustrated at not being able to do anything useful within the family business."

"Since she married Bonnano, has that changed?"

"Greatly so, we believe. Joey, Jr. spends a great deal of time with her. We think he vets things by her. The husband gives her a lot of latitude. He goes back a long time knowing her. Some people think they were involved before Scarletti died, but I doubt it. Scarletti was old school, completely unforgiving, the "you fuck me, I fuck you twice over" kind. In my opinion, Joseph Bonnano wouldn't have risked it. They waited a very proper two years after Scarletti's death to marry, although she was around him from the get go."

"She's very attached to Joey the younger, you say?"

"Yes. Joey, he has the charm of his father, and no trace of the brutality of the Scarletti men. He's definitely in line to follow his father."

"You think she would be protective towards him, like a mother?"

"I can only guess that the answer is 'yes'."

"One more question, if you please. Do the files cast any doubt on the proposition that Lisa Scarletti was the one who killed her father?"

"If you want the truth of it, Robert, there were no forensics. We were perfectly content for his killer to remain a mystery to see the effect it had on the organization. Otherwise, we'd have revealed publicly that it was the daughter. As to the evidence, we had the word of Frank Woodham that she killed her father. Woodham based it on the admission of Lisa Scarletti before she killed herself."

"Her death was never reported as a suicide, however."

"Not to the public, no. The papers simply assumed that everyone in the house died in the shoot out. The Bureau didn't comment. Woodham thought we had to leave how she died open, in case someone might have come forward who spotted her on the way to or back from killing her father. No one ever did; so it remained the assumption that she died in the initial shoot out."

"Lucky for you, that was. Did the Bureau really expect anyone would believe that Lisa Scarletti left a house full of dead people, trotted off to kill her father without being seen, and then returned home to kill herself? It's bloody ridiculous!"

"According to Frank Woodham, it was the utter gospel, except that he persuaded her not to kill herself. That was faked."


 "You don't really believe that is how it played out?"

"Why not? Revenge on the father for sending the brother to kill her and her husband, combined with the shooting of her mentor Frank Woodham, make a great motive for killing her father."

"She was in no condition to have done that alone, Walter. It is inconceivable."

"Revenge is a powerful tonic, Robert, and those are the only facts I know. I think you're spinning your wheels."

McCall inhaled deeply as Walter hung up on him. After his conversation, he believed with certainty that one of two things happened. Barbara Bonnano either helped Lisa Scarletti kill her husband or Barbara Scarletti, in fact, killed him. According to Frank Woodham -- and apparently omitted from the official files by him as well -- Lisa Scarletti had been beaten by her brother and then raped by him. McCall could not conceive how, immediately after that, she could have entered her father's house unassisted and killed him at point blank range.

Thus, if McCall was correct, Barbara Bonnano's recent 'surprise' at seeing Lisa was not because she believed Lisa dead in the shoot-out as the papers reported. It was because she believed that Lisa committed suicide. She may have even suggested it to Lisa as the only option for her. Lisa had betrayed the father and brother. She had killed the brother and two high-level goons. With that, a death sentence attached. Lisa knew it as did the mother. Why not take advantage of that and dispose of the man you despise while letting the blame fall elsewhere, or help the daughter do it and achieve the same end?

McCall re-reviewed the clippings and files from the Bonnano shootings. In only one newspaper, did he catch a line that made sense to him, that could help place Lisa at the scene (if she ever was there). "A neighbor reported that Mrs. Bonnano found her husband dead in his office shortly after she returned from an errand. The witness recalled Mrs. Bonnano waving as she pulled into the garage and then hearing the distress that followed minutes later when a hysterical Mrs. Bonnano sought comfort from another neighbor." The police reports said not a word about Mrs. Bonnano's whereabouts before. Lisa could have been in touch with her and told her of the events that transpired. Mrs. Bonnano and she then may have hatched the plan that followed, to kill John Scarletti.

The question that remained, however, was why, if Barbara Scarletti had helped her daughter back then, why the threats now? McCall answered his own question easily. Years later, could Mrs. Bonnano afford to have someone who knew the truth be nearby? Did she have reason to fear that Lisa would take on her new husband or threaten her stepson? McCall was out of options. Reluctantly, he called Walter again.

"Walter, I apologize. There is one more thing I need. What can you tell me about Mrs. Bonnano's schedule?"

"Oh, for crying out loud. This is the last of it, understood?"

"Understood."

"Today's Thursday, right? Hair done at 11:00 at Suprema Salon. Lunch with girlfriends always follows at Dominic's, 12:30, round table in the back corner. Home or shopping after that, unclear. Will that do?"

"Yes. Thank you."

"This the end of the matter."

"If it isn't, then trust me, you will want to hear back from me."