The Contractor

By Chanuga Rollins

 

When I think of the mob, I have to go back to the 1980s and a guy I knew from my old neighborhood. 

His name was Anthony, but everyone called him Tony. At that time, he was a young guy just starting out with a young family. Tony was a contractor, or I should say, he wanted to be. After passing all the state requirements, Tony got up early every morning and went down to the union hall and waited around to get called out on a job, but nothing ever happened.

One day while hanging around the hall an old guy approached him. Hey kid, you know that you’re wasting your time here every day the old man said to Tony. What do you mean Tony asked. You need a nod from the boys, without it you might as well stay the fuck in bed, the old man said.

What boys are you talking about Tony asked. Are you fucking kidding me with this shit or what, the wise guy's asshole, they own this union local? Tony left the union hall feeling lost, he wasn't going to kiss some mob guy's ass to get work. He was smart enough to know that doing that would put him right into the pocket of one of those guys.

A few weeks went by when Tony was at a food store and ran into that old guy from the union hall. Hey, I was just thinking of you the old man said to Tony. Yeah, why's that, Tony asked. I may have something for you, a guy I know wants a patio build and he's looking for someone who's going to give him a good price and do good work, are you interested the old guy asked.

Yeah, but why me, Tony asked. Hey kid, I was trying to help you out, if you don't want this gig, I'll ask someone else the old guy said, it makes no difference to me. But with very little money coming into his household, Tony reluctantly agreed to at least meet with the patio guy.

Tony met with the old man and the client who wanted the patio done, it was a typical township home, nothing fancy until you went out back. This guy’s pool was without a doubt one of the best designs that Tony had ever seen, and this guy wanted a patio to match it, complete with an outside kitchen.

We weren't properly introduced, I'm Frank, Tony introduced himself and the two men shook hands. Don’t worry about the materials, I’m having the stone and tile shipped in from Italy, I just need your best price on the labor and picking the materials up when it comes in. That night Tony worked up an estimate called Frank and gave him his best price, Frank was very pleased.

Two days later Tony, his dad Anthony, and Petro, his next-door neighbor who helps Tony out from time to time started breaking up concrete and clearing the way for the new patio and outside kitchen at Frank’s house.

After meeting Frank things started getting weird for Tony, he noticed that people around town were treating him differently, nicer. Like in the bakery he was called up to the counter even though several people were already in line. 

People started calling and texting him, wanting to hire him. Two weeks into Frank’s patio, one day a cop apologized for giving Tony a parking ticket. It took Tony a little time to figure out that all of these people were connected to Frank in one way or the other.

One morning Tony was drinking coffee and looking out his front window, he had just put out the garbage twenty minutes before, when two men in suits and ties, pulled up and put Tony’s trash in the trunk of their car and drove off. What the fuck was that Tony thought to himself.

Moments later his wife Kira joined him at the window, what’s up she asked. Two men in suits just put our trash in the trunk of their car and drove off. Are you fucking high she asked.

A week later Tony ran into the old guy from the union hall again, by the way, I’m Dan we keep running into each other and I never introduced myself. How’s it going with Frank’s patio, Dan asked. It’s going good Tony said, in fact, we’re picking up the stone in a couple of days. I can’t believe how so much has changed in just a few weeks Tony said. 

Well, like I told you when I met you, that you needed a nod, the old man said. Tony thought for a moment, wait, what did you just say… A nod, you know, you needed one of those guys on your side Dan said.

You mean Frank’s a mob guy, Tony said with a surprised look on his face. Dan just smiled and said no, he’s a fucking Amway representative. I thought you knew that Frank Leone was a mob boss Dan said. Wasn’t it his crew that got in a shootout with the feds a few years ago over a drug deal that went bad? Ancient history Dan said, don’t worry about it he likes you. Tony was upset, and Dan understood completely, you committed to this job, finish it up, do it well and things will go your way I promise you.

A few days later: Tony, his dad, and Petro picked up Frank Leone’s imported stone and tile, using his dad’s big truck they were able to fit it all in without making two trips. Considering that the shipping yard was two hours away and going back would have taken up most of the day. The three made it back to town a little after one in the afternoon with plenty of the workday left over.

Tony treated his dad and Petro to lunch, from their window seat Tony could see two guys circling his truck and trying to peek inside. But when he got up to go outside the men left, that was strange Tony thought, the diner was packed but why did these two guys focus on my truck?

With their bellies full from lunch, the guys piled into the truck and were heading for Frank’s house to unload the stone and tile. As they were passing through the intersection, a car pulled right in front of Tony’s truck blocking them in. Four men jumped out pointing their guns at Tony, his father, and Petro, to get out of the truck they ordered. That’s when several other unmarked vehicles pulled up. Get out of the truck now with your hands up, do it now, keep them where we could see them. Those were some of the commands being screamed at by the three confused men.

The people conducting this little turd fest were the FBI, ATF, DEA, and the local police. Petro, Tony’s dad (who just turned seventy), and Tony were taken out of the truck and put spread eagle on the hot street.

After being searched all three were handcuffed but still left on the hot street, except Tony, who was brought over to the special agent in charge. Where’s the dope stashed, come on it’s a hot day, let’s just save some time and tell us where it is. The only dope I know of is you and these other idiots, I’m going to sue you mother fuckers so bad, Tony screamed at the agent. Don’t bullshit me asshole, we know that you're with Frank Leone the agent said. Get my father and my friend off of that hot asphalt, Tony said.

Ok, that’s not a problem the agent said, then how about you start cooperating with me. I have nothing to cooperate with Tony said, there are no drugs on that truck.

Ok, have it your way the agent said to Tony, put this asshole back on the street with the others he asked one of the officers. Let’s get up in that truck and start smashing them stones, that shit’s in there somewhere. Three feds jumped into the truck and started tossing the imported tile and stone onto the street smashing it to pieces.

About fifteen minutes into the stone smashing, a car came screeching to a halt and a very well-dressed man jumped out, I want to see the search warrant, and whoever is in charge right now, the man said, I’m Frank Leone’s attorney. 

But by this time, the FBI already smashed almost a whole pallet of stone and tile, it littered the street as the lawyer and the head agent went over the warrant. Ok, guys, stop breaking the stone, hey you, the lead agent hollered to Tony, clean this shit up, we’re out of here.

Frank’s attorney looked at all the broken tiles and stones in the street. Get your guys in the truck and go see Frank, fuck him don’t worry about cleaning this shit up.  

Tony’s dad of course was shaken, so before going over to Frank’s house Tony dropped his father off at his home so that he could calm down. Tony still had Petro with him.

The guys pulled up in front of Frank’s house, he was standing on his front porch screaming into his cell phone, they hung back so as not to hear Frank’s conversation, but a few minutes later Frank was waving them into the house. Tony was about to tell Frank what happened when Frank said that he already knew, the pizza place, that one on the corner, it’s mine.

My guy in there called me as soon as them assholes stopped you, he told me what they did. He also told me that you only said what you had to, I respect that.

The next day Tony, his dad, and Petro were back working on Frank’s patio, a few days later two pallets of stone and tile were delivered to Frank’s house so the boys could finish the job. Frank loved his new patio and cooking area, in fact, he had a party that weekend inviting Tony, his dad, and Petro. Frank introduced Tony to so many people that his head was going to explode.

With the work at Frank’s house all done Tony moved on to other projects, so much money was pouring in that Tony hired Petro and four of his relatives to work full-time.

Frank Leone never paid Tony for the work that was done at his home, but Tony understood. When Tony mentioned to Dan about not being paid, Dan just smiled and said I’m guessing you figured it out, kid.

Even though Frank never paid Tony, he made up for it many times over by introducing Tony around town. Tony today is a millionaire, he and Petro own their own construction company.

Two months after the incident with the FBI, Tony was once again enjoying his coffee and looking out of his living room window. When a car pulled up out front of his home and two men in suits got out, opened the trunk, and removed two trash bags, putting them in front of Tony’s house, mother fucker, Tony thought!

The end.  

Copyright 2022