“SEE, THIS is why I wanted to speak to you in private!”
De Niro laughed quietly as he stood up and winked at his brother-in-law.
“Keith, for one, for them to purchase that property, they knew in advance the resistance they were going to meet. They wouldn’t have gone into it if they intended to just sell out right. As a matter of fact, I think I read somewhere where someone already approached them and offered them four times what they paid for it and they turned the offer down. For another, I think it’s too premature. I told you, as far as I know they only purchased the property; they still have to raise the money to demolish what’s there and build their mosque.”
Tompkins walked up to De Niro, put his hand on his shoulders and looked him straight in the eyes.
“Cris, for all my friends … all the firefighters that lost their lives … for all those innocent victims ... and for Lisa … these people can’t be allowed to build that mosque there.”
Mentioning Lisa wounded De Niro. There weren’t many people that De Niro would have allowed to mention her name in that context, but Keith Tompkins was one of the few that could. He also knew that his friend wouldn’t have mentioned his wife’s name in a casual fashion. This meant a lot to Tompkins as it did many others … including him.
Tompkins spoke first.
“All I’m asking is for you to go to New York and … do what you do. Look into it whatever way you feel is right. Then maybe you can speak to a bunch of us …survivors and families and friends of victims. We’ve been keeping in touch about this and I sort of told them that you and I were friends and that you’d look into it for us. Everyone respects you Cris. Just let us know what you think.”
De Niro stood in thought a moment. What can it hurt?
“Alright, Mugsy and I have business in the east anyway. I’ll see if I can talk to a few people and get a handle on what’s really going on, but no promises Keith! There’s probably nothing I can do but let a few people know I’m against it being built so close to Ground Zero. I think speaking to the Imam or his wife will be a waste of time, their minds are made up, but I was friends with one of Mayor Giuliani’s advisors. I’ll meet with him and see if we can coax Mayor Bloomberg’s support away from it.”
Tompkins smiled broadly and put his arm around De Niro.
“Fantastic. I knew you’d come through brother!”
“Mugsy and I will be flying east Monday. Why don’t you tag along? We’ll stop off first in Virginia. Mugsy, I’ll have you get things rolling there on your own, on Monday. Keith and I will fly up to Teterboro and take care of business in Manhattan. We’ll stay in the city overnight then fly down to you on Tuesday morning. You can fill me in, introduce me to your new staff and we can give Keith here a tour of our new company. Then we can be back in the air right after lunchtime and be back here in Vegas before Yvonne even knows Keith is gone.”
“With the way that woman gambles, I bet she won’t even know I left!”
All three men laughed.
Chapter 5
Formerly Liberty Defense Contractors, now - The Watchman Agency
Office of the President
Arlington, Virginia
2:00p.m., Monday, May 16, 2011
“Charley, do you have a minute?”
The voice of Les Pastak, Executive Vice President of what had been known as “LDC,” Liberty Defense Contractors, a counter-terrorism consulting firm, emanated from the intercom of Charley Santappia. Santappia’s title was Director of Operations but no one was sure if they were going to keep their jobs after the billionaire hedge fund manager, Cris De Niro bought their firm out the week before.
The first to go was the firm’s founder and CEO Nick Gerolitis, but that was part of the acquisition deal. All of the details of the deal weren’t known, but the gossip was that De Niro paid Gerolitis twenty million dollars for his firm. All Gerolitis told everyone - by email - was that it was an offer he couldn’t refuse and wished everyone at LDC well before he packed his things and left.
Santappia was formerly Major Charles Santappia, a highly decorated United States Marine who joined LDC right after 9/11. Counter-terrorism firms were in great demand after 9/11 and so they all went on a hiring spree, plucking many warriors from America’s armed services, luring them with large salaries and perks, but Santappia didn’t need any luring. He was a patriot that knew his time serving in the Marines was coming to an end but decided he still wanted to “fight the fight” to defend the nation. Pastak, on the other hand was Gerolitis’s brother-in-law. A lawyer by trade, he never served a day in the military. Most of the former military men had no use for the Executive VP. Pastak had taken it upon himself to move into the president’s office the moment Gerolitis moved out of it. Since then he’d been acting like he was President though he was never appointed acting-President by De Niro. Some air was let out of his balloon-ego when he received an email from De Niro stating that he was on his way to put the new president in place. The message didn’t say that he was naming Pastak president but Pastak was convinced that no one else could be given the position. In any case, he wasn’t about to pack up his things and move out of the office. He figured that his initiative would probably impress the new owner. Charley had a feeling Pastak wanted to see him to try and get his ducks in a row.
“Sit down Charley,” Pastak pointed to a chair as he buzzed Debbie Lynch, former Executive Assistant to Gerolitis. She didn’t like taking orders from Pastak any more than Santappia did.
“Debbie, could you make me a latte and bring it into me … and I want to know the moment De Niro’s car enters our gates.”
There was a pause, just long enough for the Executive Assistant to express her indignation - it infuriated Pastak. Just as he was about to repeat his order, her voice came through the phone speaker.
“… Yes … sir.”
Santappia suppressed a smile as Pastak looked up at him.
“Charley, before De Niro arrives, I wanted to talk to you, so we could sort of align.”
“Align, how so, Les?” Santappia knew it grated Pastak when anyone but Gerolitis called him by his first name. He could see Pastak’s face turning red from it already.
“What I mean to say is that I’m sure there are changes that De Niro may want to make in our firm. Some people will probably be let go and the rest of us may be moved around within the organization. I just think that if we show a unified front, we may be able to influence him to put the right people in the right positions.”
Santappia tried hard not to show his anger with Pastak’s disrespectful tone whenever he uttered the new owner’s name, specifically omitting the “mister” whenever he referred to him and for his attempt to manipulate De Niro, but he thought it best to hear him out.
“… And just who are the right people for the right positions, Les?” His question lit Pastak’s face up with a devilish smile.
Pastak leaned back in his chair.
“Well Charley, I think it’s a foregone conclusion that I’ll be named president. After all, I’m sure De Niro isn’t going to take the helm here, himself. Since I was the second in command, it’s just common sense to promote me to CEO. Now, as for who will become my Executive VP … that’s what I called you in to talk about.”
Santappia tucked his hands under his thighs for fear that he would reach across the desk and choke Pastak.
“I know you have seniority here over the other directors, but … a few of them are younger than you are and …quite frankly Charley, I never considered you on my team.”
Santappia couldn’t conceal his anger anymore.
“What EXACTLY are you saying Les, spell it out!”
“Yes, Les, I would like you to spell it out too!” The comment came from just beyond the door to the office.
Pastak rose to his feet from behind the president’s desk with a look of shock on his face as Santappia remained seated, just twisting his head around to see who was walking into the office. It was Mugsy Ricci followed by Debbie Lynch wi
th a latte in her hand.
Pastak looked at Ricci but directed his enraged comments to Lynch.
“Debbie, I thought I told you to let me know when—“
“Mr. Pastak, you ordered me to alert you when Mr. De Niro’s car entered our gates,” Lynch interrupted. “This is not Mr. De Niro. Gentlemen, this is Captain Louis Ricci, United States Navy, retired.”
Now Santappia stood up, this time unable to suppress his smile. He winked at Lynch as he offered his hand to Ricci.
“Please to meet you, Captain. Would you be Captain Mugsy Ricci, by chance?”
“The one and only ...”
“Please, call me Charley, Captain.”
“I will and it’s Mugsy, Charley.”
It was obvious that the two men both liked each other from the start. Pastak, on the other hand, had been standing behind the desk with a look of confusion on his face while the two men were introducing each other. His confusion finally wore off being replaced with anger at everyone else in the room.
“Excuse me; we were having a private meeting here. Debbie, please show this gentleman out of my office and then I want to speak to you after I speak with Mr. Santappia, is that clear?”
“Belay that order Ms …”
Lynch offered her hand, “Debbie Lynch, sir, I was Executive Assistant to Mr. Gerolitis.”
“Pleased to meet you Ms. Lynch, Ricci said, shaking her hand.
“Excuse me!” Pastak raised his voice.
“Please Captain, call me Debbie.”
“EXCUSE ME!” repeated Pastak even louder.
“Okay. Debbie, belay that order.”
“EXCUSE ME!!! Pastak repeated one more time, this time banging his palms against the desk as he did.
Ricci finally turned to face the enraged man.
“Les, may I call you Les?” Before Pastak could say no, Ricci went on.
“Les, my name is Captain Ricci. I’m here on behalf of Cris De Niro to inform you that, effective immediately, I’ve been appointed by him to take the helm of this firm as President and CEO.”
Ricci handed Pastak a sealed envelope.
“This is the letter of authority signed by Mr. De Niro, stating such.”
Ricci could have continued but he decided that it would be more fun to pause and give the utterly beside-himself Pastak the opportunity to read the letter. After reading it, Pastak looked up at Santappia with the look of someone who just realized he didn’t win the lottery after all and Santappia countered with a mock shrug of his shoulders. Apparently he was enjoying this as much as Ricci was.
Pastak blinked a few times then tossed the letter onto the desk and picked up the phone.
“This is outrageous! I’ve been acting in the capacity of president since my brother-in-law left!”
“In fact … I’m calling my brother-in-law now and I’m going to get this straightened out.”
Ricci stepped close to the desk and put his index finger on the button to disconnect the call then took the phone out of the shaking man’s hand and hung it up.
“Les, I want to point out the errors in judgment you just made. First, your brother-in-law no longer owns this firm. MY brother-in-law Cris De Niro does. Second, I think you were trying to intimidate me by picking up the phone, my phone, by the way …and as long as I’m pointing errors out, moving yourself into this office ... my office … without authorization from me … BIG error in judgment!”
Pastak’s face turned white as snow as he looked around at both Lynch and Santappia. Both stood behind Ricci staring at him with blank expressions.
“I …I want to speak to De Niro. I want—“
“MISTER De Niro, Les!” Ricci cut him off. “From now on, you refer to him as MISTER De Niro and you refer to me as Captain Ricci. Are we clear?!”
There was silence until it occurred to Pastak that Ricci was expecting him to answer.
“Yes … sir, Captain Ricci, but I still want—“
“You can speak to Mr. De Niro tomorrow, when he arrives here,” Ricci cut him off again. “For now, I want you out of my office.”
A look of abject fear appeared on Pastak’s face.
“… Out … out of your office, yes sir. You mean, just leave your office now? … Where should I go?”
“Les, for now, just leave the room. After I speak to Major Santappia and Ms. Lynch, you can come back, retrieve your things and move them back into your office while Major Santappia and Ms. Lynch join me for a late lunch. I would invite you, but I want my office ready for me to move into when I return.”
Pastak’s relief when he realized he wasn’t being fired covered up some of his embarrassment.
“Yes sir, Captain.”
Just as he was about to walk out the door, Debbie Lynch called out to him.
“Mr. Pastak, you forgot your latte!”
Chapter 6
In a limo parked in front of the proposed site of the “Ground Zero” mosque
45-51 Park Place, New York, New York
2:30p.m., Monday, May 16, 2011
“It’s not exactly being built on top of ground zero, is it,” De Niro remarked. Sitting in a limo with him was Keith Tompkins and Joe Carbone, a former advisor to Mayor Giuliani.
“That’s not the point or the perception it will make Cris and you know it!” exclaimed Tompkins.
“What do you think, Joe?” asked De Niro.
“Your friend is correct, Cris. Two blocks is just too close to build a mosque. That is, if your intent was to create peace and harmony between Muslims and non-Muslims.”
“I see,” replied De Niro, “so, playing devil’s advocate, just how far away would be acceptable to most people, for them to build their mosque?”
“Most people I know say that if the street had debris blown onto it from the collapse of the towers, no mosque should be built on it!” replied Tompkins.
De Niro nodded then exited the limo with Tompkins. He told the driver to take the former mayor’s advisor wherever he wanted to go then to meet the two men down by Ground Zero. Before pulling away, Carbone lowered the window in the back of the limo.
“Cris, I didn’t have to tell you that they have the legal right to build here. As far as this Mayor is concerned, he supports their right. I can also tell you that I’ve heard from reliable sources inside the White House that the President still supports their right to build here.”
“This isn’t a question of legal rights though, Joe. It’s a question of wisdom, is it wise to build here …and motives …what are they trying to accomplish by building here?”
“Well, I told you Rudi’s feelings on the matter. He believes it’s insensitive to build it here. Do you want me to set up a meeting between you and him?”
“No, there’s no reason. Thanks Joe, for taking time out of your busy schedule to meet with me on such short notice.”
“Never a problem Cris, tell the boys I was asking about them.”
“Will do. Say hi to your wife from me.”
De Niro patted on the hood of the limo as Carbone raised the heavily tinted window, signaling that the driver could pull out.
De Niro and Tompkins started walking up to West Broadway on their way to Ground Zero as a man sitting in a van parked across the street punched an auto-dial button on his cell phone.
(In Farsi) “This is Payam. You wanted to know of anything unusual. There was a limo here with three men in it. We’ve taken pictures of each and are running them through the facial recognition software now. The limo is rented.”
The reply was in English with a slight British accent.
“How long will it take you to identify the men?”
Payam replied in American English, “It could take some time. We had the limo followed but two of the three men are on foot now. Should we follow them?”
“Yes, follow them and send me the photos now of the three men.”
Payam spoke in Farsi to the two men in the back of the van.
“The photos are being sent to you now.”
As the photos appeared on his iPhone, the man on the other end of the phone immediately identified one of the three men.
“Payam, which two men are walking?”
“The tall black man and the man in the blue suit are walking, they turned south on West Broadway. The older man remained in the limo.”
The man on the other end of the phone thought for a moment; then replied.
“I think I know where they are heading. Follow them anyway but keep your distance. Call me on my cell phone when they arrive at their destination.”
The man ended the call by simply hitting the disconnect button. Then he hit an intercom button.
“Have my car brought around.”
Aref Sami Zamani stood up from his desk in his lower-midtown office and headed for his private elevator, followed by his aide, Bahman Fard who used a keycard to open the doors to the elevator. Fard was curious.
“Sir, our plane is being readied for takeoff in less than two hours. Shall I notify the flight crew that we will be delayed?”
Zamani smiled at the tact his aide used. He knew that Fard was curious as to where they were going but knew better than to boldly ask. Bahman is even cunning with me. He looks like an accountant but he will kill on my command without a hint of remorse.
“That’s not necessary, this won’t take long.”
Zamani saw the look of frustration on Fard’s face and decided not to keep him in suspense.
“You are wondering what I saw in those photos, Fard, and where we are going now?”
“Sir, I—“
Zamani held his hand up to quiet his aide, then he handed him his iPhone.
“Do you recognize any of those men?”
Fard looked closely at the small screen and used his finger to move between each photo.
“This one looks like … that hedge fund manager …De—“
“De Niro, you are correct Fard. It is Cris De Niro and we are going downtown so that I may meet him before we leave.”
The doors opened to the elevator and both men walked out of the building and straight into their waiting limo. Fard was still confused.
The Watchman of Ephraim (Book Club Edition) Page 5
