32
I
CALLED A COP I knew in L.A. named Samuelson.
"Calling to see how
it's going with a Boston guy as chief," I said.
"Best cop I ever
worked for," Samuelson said. "Whaddya want?"
"I'm calling to
inquire as to your well-being, and you're giving me 'Whaddya
want'?"
"Correct," Samuelson
said.
"Ever make captain?"
I said.
"Yes."
"Makes me proud," I
said, "just to know you."
"Will you get to the
favor you want me to do you," Samuelson said.
"You think I'd only
call because I needed a favor?" I said.
"Correct."
"That's cynical," I
said.
"You think being a
cop for thirty years is going to make me idealistic?" Samuelson
said.
"Didn't you join the
force in order to protect and serve?" I said.
"Sanitation
department wasn't hiring," Samuelson said. "Whaddya
want?"
"I'm interested in
finding out whatever I can about a woman named Alice DeLauria," I
said. "Jumbo Nelson's agent."
"Has her own
agency," Samuelson said. "Alice DeLauria Inc."
"Ah, you know
her."
"Her old man is to
the Anglo Mob in L.A. what your pal del Rio is to the Latino
Mob."
"His name
DeLauria?"
"No," Samuelson
said. "His name is Nicky Fellscroft. She's married to one of his
associates, guy named Stephano DeLauria."
"He a
hood?"
"Stephano? You bet.
He's Nicky's enforcer."
"Any good?" I
said.
"World-class,"
Samuelson said.
"And Alice
DeLauria?"
"Close family,"
Samuelson said.
"She's in the
business."
"Sure is. We've
never been able to get anything that'll stand in
court."
"One reason being
that no one will testify against DeLauria's wife," I
said.
"Or Nicky's
daughter," Samuelson said.
"So how come she
works as an actors' agent?"
"How many actors you
figure she represents," Samuelson said.
"One?" I
said.
"Correct."
"Jumbo?" I
said.
"Correct," Samuelson
said.
"She's his keeper,"
I said.
"That's
right."
"You know why?" I
said.
"Mob money is
invested in him."
"I know," I said.
"Can you prove it?"
"No," Samuelson
said.
"I can't prove it,
either," I said.
"But you know about
the Mob money," Samuelson said.
"They invest in
Jumbo's films," I said. "Wash dirty money, and make a profit,
too."
"And you know that
how?"
"You're not my only
friend in Los Angeles," I said.
"Lucky for you,"
Samuelson said. "You working the Jumbo Nelson thing in
Boston."
"I am," I
said.
"Who you working
for?"
"I'm sort of pro
bono at the moment," I said.
"He kill her?"
Samuelson said.
"I don't know," I
said. "Homicide commander in Boston has his doubts."
"I'll pay
attention," Samuelson said. "Anything passes me, might be useful,
I'll let you know."
"Back at you," I
said.
"Good," Samuelson
said. "Be nice to arrest somebody."
"Always is," I
said.