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Authors: Jerry Weber
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reward.”
After receiving an affirmative vote, Carlo reminds
Sam whose idea this is, and who will be responsible if the project misfires. It
is now 10:39 p.m. and the meeting is adjourned.
Chapter 14
Victor and ‘Firestop’
Sam now must turn his vague plan into concrete
results. This will be the first big project that he is doing for the
organization of his own initiation. Sam has to keep Victor from reaching out to
other sources like his parents for help. He has to give him just enough so that
Vic doesn’t go under before Sam even has a chance to enlist him into the plan.
First, Sam knows he just can’t pitch Victor directly with this scheme or he
risks his going to the police. He needs to ensnare Vic in a methodical and
patient way. This has to be done correctly, Sam thinks, I get one chance to get
this right. Since I don’t know any other failing funeral directors, I need
Victor.
Sam begins by calling an old associate from
Brooklyn, Louis Premes. Lou is presently working as a pit boss at the blackjack
tables at the Mountain Resort Casino in the Pocono Mountains in northeast
Pennsylvania. Lou would rather be back in New York, but he fell behind in some
heavy gambling debts with another family from Queens. Word was out on the
streets of New York that it would be healthier if he wasn’t there at this time.
So wanting to stay healthy, Lou was breathing the fine clean air in the lovely
Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
Sam, through his contacts, obtained Lou’s cell
number and called in a favor. He needed Lou to assist a ‘mark’ he would bring
into the casino to make some money. Lou could do this because it was only a
scam for $5,000. This money Sam would reimburse so Lou could return it to the
table. He then promised Lou $1,000 for helping.
The stage was now set to make the call inviting
Victor to meet Sam in the Poconos for an old time’s sake reunion. Victor took
the call in his present state of depression without emotion. He really didn’t
feel like setting foot into another casino or for that matter wagering the kids
outside for ice cream.
Sam says, “Vic, don’t say no, I really enjoyed your
company in Atlantic City and with the bonus I just got, I am buying dinner and
drinks for old times’ sake.”
Victor does what he always does in these cases,
first vacillates and then says yes. “Okay Sam, next Friday at 6:00 p.m. I’ll
meet you at Mountain Resort.”
Sam drove west across Route 80 from New York that
Friday, taking note how direct Route 80 was from the City to Pennsylvania. Two
hours from the City and forty-five more minutes to Duryea, not bad he figures.
Sam, of course, already knew that Vic was at the end
of his financial rope, and when he saw how depressed his old friend actually
looked, he was sure with some smooth finessing, he could pull this off.
“How are you Vic,” Sam calls out from the bar.
Vic smiles and tries to put on a happy face for the
occasion.
“Let’s get something to eat, I’m starved.”
He guides Vic to Sherali’s Steak House which is
right behind the gambling tables on the main level. Two hours later, after much
small talk about sports and other subjects, to keep Vic’s mind off of his
problems, they head for the casino floor. Sam steers Vic towards Lou’s
blackjack area. Upon arriving at a table, Sam pulls out of his pocket $100
worth of chips and hands them to Vic. “Here, use these they’re lucky.”
Victor isn’t feeling lucky, but in ninety minutes he
has turned the $100 into $5,000. For each time the dealer won a hand, Vic won
three. Vic picks up the chips and says, “Look Sam let’s at least split this,
after all it was all your seed money to begin with.”
“Not on your life Vic, it’s all yours, you made it
happen,” Sam responds.
“Oh by the way Vic, now that I am this close, how
about showing me your funeral home?”
“It’s hardly worth you driving up to see my little
place Sam.”
“Tomorrow, I have business in Scranton.
After receiving an affirmative vote, Carlo reminds
Sam whose idea this is, and who will be responsible if the project misfires. It
is now 10:39 p.m. and the meeting is adjourned.
Chapter 14
Victor and ‘Firestop’
Sam now must turn his vague plan into concrete
results. This will be the first big project that he is doing for the
organization of his own initiation. Sam has to keep Victor from reaching out to
other sources like his parents for help. He has to give him just enough so that
Vic doesn’t go under before Sam even has a chance to enlist him into the plan.
First, Sam knows he just can’t pitch Victor directly with this scheme or he
risks his going to the police. He needs to ensnare Vic in a methodical and
patient way. This has to be done correctly, Sam thinks, I get one chance to get
this right. Since I don’t know any other failing funeral directors, I need
Victor.
Sam begins by calling an old associate from
Brooklyn, Louis Premes. Lou is presently working as a pit boss at the blackjack
tables at the Mountain Resort Casino in the Pocono Mountains in northeast
Pennsylvania. Lou would rather be back in New York, but he fell behind in some
heavy gambling debts with another family from Queens. Word was out on the
streets of New York that it would be healthier if he wasn’t there at this time.
So wanting to stay healthy, Lou was breathing the fine clean air in the lovely
Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
Sam, through his contacts, obtained Lou’s cell
number and called in a favor. He needed Lou to assist a ‘mark’ he would bring
into the casino to make some money. Lou could do this because it was only a
scam for $5,000. This money Sam would reimburse so Lou could return it to the
table. He then promised Lou $1,000 for helping.
The stage was now set to make the call inviting
Victor to meet Sam in the Poconos for an old time’s sake reunion. Victor took
the call in his present state of depression without emotion. He really didn’t
feel like setting foot into another casino or for that matter wagering the kids
outside for ice cream.
Sam says, “Vic, don’t say no, I really enjoyed your
company in Atlantic City and with the bonus I just got, I am buying dinner and
drinks for old times’ sake.”
Victor does what he always does in these cases,
first vacillates and then says yes. “Okay Sam, next Friday at 6:00 p.m. I’ll
meet you at Mountain Resort.”
Sam drove west across Route 80 from New York that
Friday, taking note how direct Route 80 was from the City to Pennsylvania. Two
hours from the City and forty-five more minutes to Duryea, not bad he figures.
Sam, of course, already knew that Vic was at the end
of his financial rope, and when he saw how depressed his old friend actually
looked, he was sure with some smooth finessing, he could pull this off.
“How are you Vic,” Sam calls out from the bar.
Vic smiles and tries to put on a happy face for the
occasion.
“Let’s get something to eat, I’m starved.”
He guides Vic to Sherali’s Steak House which is
right behind the gambling tables on the main level. Two hours later, after much
small talk about sports and other subjects, to keep Vic’s mind off of his
problems, they head for the casino floor. Sam steers Vic towards Lou’s
blackjack area. Upon arriving at a table, Sam pulls out of his pocket $100
worth of chips and hands them to Vic. “Here, use these they’re lucky.”
Victor isn’t feeling lucky, but in ninety minutes he
has turned the $100 into $5,000. For each time the dealer won a hand, Vic won
three. Vic picks up the chips and says, “Look Sam let’s at least split this,
after all it was all your seed money to begin with.”
“Not on your life Vic, it’s all yours, you made it
happen,” Sam responds.
“Oh by the way Vic, now that I am this close, how
about showing me your funeral home?”
“It’s hardly worth you driving up to see my little
place Sam.”
“Tomorrow, I have business in Scranton.
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