To Tell the Truth (878 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: The_Malleys
Rating: 1.55 on 14 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Axolotl (View user info) at 2006-05-24 10:03:43 EDT
Agent Ross stared at the page of his book, reading slowly and deliberately the file. Though he would never let any of his FBI coworkers know, he had been dyslexic as a child, and had fought the disorder his whole life.
"John (Jackie) Aidan Patrick Sullivan was born August 2, 1935 in the rural village of Drumshambo, County Leitrim, Ireland. He grew up in severe poverty, and moved to Manchester, England, in the autumn of 1956, and then to Jersey City, New Jersey in the spring of 1957. Though at first exploited by Liam O'Quinn Sr., the known Mafiosi, Thomas Malley II took Jackie under his wing and made him an associate of the Finnerty crime family. Jackie slowly bided his time, rising up in the ranks of the mafia, eventually becoming a made man in 1966, right before the long period of gang warfare in the family—"
"What are you reading there, Ross?" Paul Ciceri asked, coming back into Ross' office from his cigarette break.
"Jackie's file," Ross replied. "Today could be very important. Is Sergeant Diciccio ready?"
"It's all under control, chief," Paul said confidently, leaning up against the wall in his tailored blue suit. He could never seem to want to sit down, Ross noted mentally. He continued Jackie's file—
"When Don Colin Finnerty was murdered by turncoat Liam O'Quinn in March of 1970, sources say that Jackie was promoted to caporegime. Jackie became O'Quinn's personal gunman, carrying out a string of assassinations in the early 1970s, culminating in the murder of underboss Scott Connolly on September 30, 1974. This murder was allegedly committed in the basement of capo Tom Malley II, with the latter's 13-year-old son, John Malley as an unwilling witness (see file of John Malley for more information). Jackie took gradual influence over the rest of the family, even sparking an interest with the Five Families of New York City. Around New Year's, 1980, Jackie Sullivan became Godfather of the Finnerty family after the unsolved murder of Don Anthony O'Quinn, and changed the name of the family to Sullivan."
"If you want to find out stuff about Jackie, go to one of your contacts," Paul Ciceri said. "Who's your contact right now in the family?"
"Pat Coyle," Agent Ross replied emotionlessly. "We flipped him after he and Peter Malley had to close down their restaurant in Newark. Wanted protection from more than one source, I suppose."
"Big Carmine Galantro knows a lot about Jackie as well," Paul said, loading a clip into a semiautomatic pistol. "Not that it matters in the long run, to tell the truth."
* * *
John Broadus was a tall, incredibly strong man with sandy-brown hair and a pointed chin; he reminded some of the retarded Lennie from Of Mice and Men. His quick wits rebuffed those claims, and the claimers usually found themselves beaten so badly they could have passed for retarded. Jackie Sullivan was happy enough to see him as he saw Broadus walk into the square central courtyard of Jackie's safehouse/apartment building on Emerson Road in Ridgefield Park, right on the northern edge of the Meadowlands.
Jackie eagerly waited for Broadus to climb the stairs to the safehouse, and embraced him as soon as he entered the door. "Broadus!" Jackie exclaimed, leading Broadus into the sitting room of the cramped, secret apartment. "I'm so glad you could make it! Your ten years are finally up..."
"Prison was tough," Broadus said, smiling nervously. "I've missed a lot of things, but I want to get my life back on course. I don't know if I can stay with the family, and it hurts me to say that."
"I understand," Jackie said sympathetically, adjusting the ice-pack on his stomach. "Rules can be bent and changed, don't worry, Broadus."
"I'm worried about you," Broadus said in a soft voice that seemed incompatible with his hulking body. "I heard you were shot."
"Just some broken ribs, and a broken dignity," Jackie said, brushing off the wounding. "You remember Jim Brecher. The rat got me in his back room, but I took back the gun, and shot him dead. John Malley and Don McMichael helped carve up and dispose of the body."
"Wow," Broadus said in awe. "It's been so long since I've done things like that..."
"This last week, there've been problems, I have to admit," Jackie said portentously. "Did you know that last Tuesday, Patrick Coyle and Peter Malley had to close their restaurant in Newark? A murder took place, in broad daylight..."
* * *
Alex Collins was in a booth of Malley's Irish Restaurant and Pub with David Lodovich across from him. The Russian-Italian gangster exuded confidence, and Alex was doing his best to act like a frightened child. The restaurant was packed with people, and the two mobsters were casually trying to discuss a business deal.
"Don't you love that scene in Star Wars where Han Solo shoots Greedo under the table?" David said buoyantly, blowing cigar smoke up toward the ceiling. "That scene gets me every time."
David and Alex connected eyes for a moment, and there was a clicking sound. "Oh, hell," David muttered, realizing his gun had jammed under the table.
"You know, I prefer Michael Corleone shooting Sollozzo in the restaurant, to tell the truth," Alex Collins said brusquely, standing up and drawing his gun. In front of every person in the restaurant, Alex shot Lodovich in the center of the forehead; Lodovich keeled over into the bread plate, sliding against the wall of the booth.
Alex turned and left the restaurant, while the patrons screamed and rushed to leave as quickly as they could. The restaurant would be indefinitely closed down by the next morning.
* * *
"...what's more," Jackie continued. "That Alex Collins boy shot some men in front of a witness, with Jim Brecher. This Jason Sporran, he's a worker at the auto shop, and he saw Brecher and Collins murder two men."
"What does he think about it?" Broadus asked in concern.
"Since Jim Brecher's not around to take revenge, he's safe for the time being," Jackie said simply. "We might send him off for a long vacation, anyway. A permanent move, like."
"There hasn't been a war this bad in a while, I hear," Broadus said, staring out the window. "Are you alone here? Trouble's been going on...men are being killed."
"I called the police a few minutes ago, they're sending an officer over to protect me," Jackie replied. "He'll be here any moment. I'll be fine with my stomach, I don't need help getting down the stairs."
"Is it a lot of pain?" Broadus asked.
"Not too bad," Jackie answered darkly. "Just a few broken ribs, not more. Mike's taking it hard, ever since I had to take his brother. I had to do it, John. I had to kill Jim, it was for my safety. Not only that, John Malley seems to think Brecher's conspiring with the insurance provider, cheating him out of the benefits for his damaged car."
"What's Malley going to do about it?" Broadus said, already knowing the answer.
"John found out that the insurance man, Ranier, has involved in some insurance fraud," Jackie said. "And he's got it into his head that Mike's been conspiring against him. They haven't spoken to one another in a few weeks, and John's going to kill Ranier, I believe..."
"I feel bad for Mike," Broadus said sympathetically. "Losing his brother like that."
"He'll be sad for a little while, but then he'll realize that Jim was a leech on the family," Jackie said coldly, setting Broadus off balance. Broadus had rarely seen Jackie in such a vindictive mood.
* * *
Barry Rainer felt the phone cord slip around his neck, and he belatedly remembered Mike Brecher's warning to keep his hands at the level of his eyes. He was jerked upward, into his compact office's desk, into the sunlight streaming in from the window.
"Hello, asshole," John Malley whispered in his ear, pulling the cord tighter. Barry Rainer gagged, trying to pry the wire away from his throat.
"You think you can ignore me for almost a month?" Malley hissed. "Three weeks you've been fucking with me, trying to scam me out of this. Fuck, you think I'm here for my health? I need this payment,"
"Brecher...not me..." Rainer wheezed as Malley pulled him onto the desk, twisting the telephone cord tighter around his neck. "Don't..." His face was bright red now, his bald spot shining scarlet as Malley strangled him.
"You've had the last three weeks," Malley snarled, watching Rainer's eyes gruesomely bulge from his skull. "I'll give you three minutes."
His fingers bleeding from holding the tight cord, Malley kept up the deathly hold around Barry Rainer's neck, choking him so that he couldn't breathe. Rainer kicked the air wildly, making guttural cries, his swollen tongue protruding from his mouth.
Three minutes later, Malley left the office. Chris and Virgil O'Duinen would be around later to deal with Rainer's post-mortem eviction.
* * *
"The O'Duinen boys chopped up the man's body and laid him to rest in the Meadowlands," Jackie said matter-of-factly. "I wish John had dealt with it in a more—mature is the word, I suppose—way. He's been aggressive recently. His boy's decided to go to TCNJ, did you hear?"
"That's great," John Broadus said, his voice full of quiet congratulation. There was a moment of silence, where neither man knew what to say.
"I'm glad to have you back, John," Jackie said to Broadus, his face shining with delight. "Even if you won't be with the family any longer. You were still a good soldier."
"I want to put that life behind me," Broadus said concedingly. "You were still a good boss, yourself."
"Thank you, John," Jackie said warmly. "My children have little interest in taking over when I pass...Don McMichael is ambitious enough, and so is John Malley. I lean toward someone neutral, like Michael Brecher, to take over."
"Your boys...Johnny-boy and Michael," Broadus asked. "I understand Michael Sullivan is successful in the financial world?"
"A real estate company, yes," Jackie said. "Johnny, the youngest, is trouble. He's too...I don't know, he never really listened as a child. He caused pain to my dear Mary."
The sound of a car idling outside floated through the window, and Jackie's ears perked up. Creaking to his feet, Jackie looked out and saw a black-and-white police car parking outside the apartment's square, enclosed courtyard.
"Ah, my protection," Jackie said gratefully. "I'll go down and invite the policeman upstairs, you stay, John."
"Are you sure?" Broadus asked, shifting in his chair. Jackie moved to the door, and turned the knob.
"I'll be back up with the cop in a second," Jackie said, walking down the stairs. He made his way down the short spiral staircase and out into the square courtyard, the walls of the apartment building rising on all sides with a single entrance to the south. The smell of lilacs from the islands of land around Interstate 95 wafted across Emerson Street into Jackie's nostrils.
The policeman was stepping out of his car, bedecked in his blue uniform and his pistol at his side. Jackie paused at the doorway, waiting for the officer to enter the courtyard.
"Thank God you're here," Jackie said, relieved. As he stepped into the small courtyard's center, he saw the policeman's face. It was Sergeant William Diciccio, the Dimiglio's connection to authority.
"Don't worry, Jackie, there's no family business here," Diciccio said, raising his hands. "I'm just doing my job."
"Thank you, thank you," Jackie said, sounding gratefully pleased. "I knew you were a good man."
From behind Diciccio came another man, in a fedora and long black coat. He tipped his hat to Jackie; it was Paul Ciceri, grim and youthful.
"Paul?" Jackie asked, stopping in his tracks. "Paul? What are you doing here? Why are you here?"
"Don Jackie, I'm sorry it couldn't have been Jim," Paul said calmly. "It would be so much easier." From a side entrance, Vince Tabano and Iggy Ciceri entered the courtyard, guns already drawn.
"Paul, you can't be serious," Jackie gasped, still standing stock-still, prepared to run. "Officer Diciccio..."
"Hey Jackie," Paul Ciceri called out, drawing a Magnum from his coat. "Anthony Porcelli says hello."
With a terrified cry, Jackie turned around and ran toward the back wall of the courtyard, and the assailants opened fire. Iggy and Tabano rushed up close to Jackie, their gunshots breaking the silence on the edge of the Meadowlands, while Paul coolly fired, walking toward Jackie. Diciccio drew his gun, but didn't fire, observing the situation.
Gritting his teeth from the impact of the bullets, Jackie slammed against the courtyard wall, praying that Broadus would rescue him. He sunk down the wall toward the ground, his knees buckling from the gunfire, but still standing. Iggy and Tabano ran out of bullets, and then Paul Ciceri, the final assassin, heard the click that signified an empty clip. The gunfire, like quick chains of ignited firecrackers, echoed through the courtyard. It was over.
Jackie slid down the bloody wall, fifteen bullets white-hot inside his flesh. He fell face-first to the ground, his eyes blinking, blood running from his back. Diciccio replaced his gun and said, "Let's go." Iggy and Tabano nodded and holstered their weapons, running out of the courtyard. Paul Ciceri paused a moment, looking at Jackie's crumpled, shattered body, and then left as well.
From the courtyard's open door, John Broadus ran out, frantically calling Jackie's name. He ran over to where his godfather lay, his jacket a dark red, and Broadus sank to the ground, embracing Jackie's body. Broadus cradled Jackie's head, weeping into his grey hair.
Episode 1: The Malleys http://www.ubersite.com/m/87184
Episode 2: To Risk Your Arm http://www.ubersite.com/m/87242
Episode 3: Innocent Until Proven Guilty http://www.ubersite.com/m/87289
Episode 4: Roulettes http://www.ubersite.com/m/87511
Episode 5: Broadside - http://www.ubersite.com/m/87564
Episode 6: Under the Influence - http://www.ubersite.com/m/87706
Episode 7: Broken Glass - http://www.ubersite.com/m/87745
Episode 8: Off the Face of the Earth - http://www.ubersite.com/m/87999
Episode 9: Liability Claims - http://www.ubersite.com/m/88086
User Reviews
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2006-08-11 15:19:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
No Comment
Submitted by BobLobla (user info) at 2006-06-22 15:30:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
FUCKING AWESOME
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-05-25 08:35:29 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Ah, forgot to change the filename
Submitted by darko (user info) at 2006-05-25 03:12:54 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 cancer, evem though the filename sucked.
Submitted by livEvil (user info) at 2006-05-24 11:19:31 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
to tell the truth... i didn't read it...
but it looks like you put in some effort
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-05-24 11:11:48 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-05-24 11:08:27 (#)
Ranking: 2
i don't get it. why'd they kill jackie? can't the two big shots from different familys have meeting?
i'm nto sure why, but i was rooting for a peaceful diplomatic solution.
i guess senseless violence will have to do...
---
Agent Ross is trying to play the two families off of one another, by arresting those guys in Hoboken and blaming Jackie, and now by enticing Paul Ciceri to put a hit on Jackie. There will be a meeting, I'm writing that episode now (ep12.)
Submitted by G-prime (user info) at 2006-05-24 11:09:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-05-24 10:22:45 (#)
Ranking: 2
didnt read it but the image was a +2 alone
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-05-24 11:08:27 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
i don't get it. why'd they kill jackie? can't the two big shots from different familys have meeting?
i'm nto sure why, but i was rooting for a peaceful diplomatic solution.
i guess senseless violence will have to do...
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-05-24 10:32:37 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-05-24 10:22:45 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
didnt read it but the image was a +2 alone
Submitted by WildcatMcGee (user info) at 2006-05-24 10:15:17 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Go Lancers!!!!!! Ramapo is one of the worst names for a river. Almost as bad as the Northwest River that is located in South East Virginia.
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-05-24 10:09:53 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2006-05-24 10:05:15 (#)
Ranking: 2
cancer RAWKS! Thats why i deliberatly drank all those carcinogenic chemicals! Now Im the coolest kid on the block!
---
Up in Ringwood near where I live, there's a huge abandoned Ford Plant that shot out carcinogenic sludge that turned Ramapo River pink. NOW EVERYONE THERE HAS CANCER WOOOOOO
Submitted by The_taste_of_Monkeys (user info) at 2006-05-24 10:05:15 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
cancer RAWKS! Thats why i deliberatly drank all those carcinogenic chemicals! Now Im the coolest kid on the block!
Submitted by Axolotl (user info) at 2006-05-24 10:04:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
cancercancercancer