17 — Hire
October 17, 1938
"So, uh, excuse me Mr. Tamburo..."
"Wish you'd call me Carmine."
Dwight huffed out a breath, nodded, and sat.
"Carmine. Excuse me if I'm a little confused. You came to me because I've been investigating your brother?"
"Yes. May I sit?"
"Please," Dwight sighed, and watched the younger man slump into the other chair.
Carmine Tamburo looked remarkably, Dwight thought, like his father. Even for a father and son, the resemblance was uncanny. Dominic Tamburo, in Dwight's opinion, looked far more like the mother.
"A couple night's ago, someone sought me out," Carmine said.
"Someone who works for Dominic."
"And?"
"It seems this guy heard someone close to my brother discussing certain events. Events which I'm fairly certain you consider my brother a suspect in."
"The Angellini beating?"
Carmine nodded. Pauline entered just then, with the glass of water Carmine had requested just after arriving. There was a look of kindness on her face as she passed the glass — Dwight wasn't sure he liked it — and Carmine was quietly thankful.
Gulping the water down, Carmine squeezed his eyes shut for a moment and went on.
"It seems this person, the one who contacted me, believes people close to my family may be conspiring, possibly with Spiros Angellini, to get some perceived vengeance for Ari's beating."
"Let me cut to the chase," Dwight said, leaning forward slightly.
"Were you, or anyone in your family, involved in the beating?"
"Would you think vigilantism justified if we were?"
"Of course not. But Carmine..."
"I've got no idea who messed Ari up." Carmine rushed.
"I just know Renato fired him, then the beating happened. What I do know is that the Angellinis blame my family, and now it seems they've got someone close to us on their side."
"All right. Well, what exactly did you want me to do about this matter."
"There's a party on the 29th. Costume party. My family holds it every year. There'll be security, of course..."
"Of course. You're wealthy and influential people."
Frowning, Carmine continued.
"There will be security, but I'd like to ask you to be there as well. Simply to observe."
"I don't feel that your brother Dominic would be very happy to see me in his vicinity," Dwight chuckled.
"You'd be in costume, and masked. I've heard of your work, sir. You're regarded as a highly skilled investigator, and I'm told you can read people."
"I have some ability to detect suspicious behavior."
"I'd like you at the party observing the arrivals. My contact believes something may happen that evening. No one but my father's security will be permitted to carry real weapons — I can get you an allowance if you must carry a gun — and attendees will be searched. Still, some in circles around my family know how to conceal items. I have it in mind with your keen eyes, you might spot anyone seeming excessively suspicious."
"Carmine... Mr. Tamburo, I..."
"I'll pay you. I can offer money well beyond any usual rate you may charge. Please, for one night. Please, help me look after my family."
The fellow's face was so earnest, so pleading. The thought of working for a Tamburo made Dwight feel ill, but this young man was almost begging. To see a member of that proud family so low...
"Well," Dwight shrugged, "since you ask so nicely..."
"Thank you!" Carmine crowed, hopping to his feet and reaching across the desk to happily shake Dwight's hand.
"Don't thank me yet," Dwight smirked.
"I don't work cheap."
"That doesn't matter. Money is no object, sir."
They talked for a few moments more, and then Dwight walked Carmine out into the front office, told him to give his details to Pauline, and then returned from whence he had come.
Of course, he kept his ear to the door as Pauline and Carmine spoke. It all sounded routine, and the idle chat after produced no great information but that the young man was headed immediately off to church for confession.
Now there was a racket. Dwight wished he had half the power of the Church so he could talk everyone into just spilling the truth.
Posted Oct 17, 2019, 7:28 AM UTC · edited