Payback Italiano Style
By Chanuga Rollings
It was a
dreary fall evening when two childhood friends took up their positions in a
dimly lit alley across from a tavern called the “Cove.”
Mookie Johnson and Jesse Phillips needed to make some
money for the upcoming weekend. Neither of them worked, nor were they
interested in working, they preferred the ghetto lifestyle of drugs and crime.
Which is why they were hanging out in this alley, they planned on robbing
someone. Like most of the city’s lowlife criminal element, Mookie
and Jesse knew when the state government (the city’s biggest employer) paid
their employees.
The “Cove” was very popular with the state employees, the
food and drink were reasonably cheap, and the Cove cashed the state employee's
paychecks for a small fee. Twice a month, from lunch to early
evening, state workers flocked to the Cove for a bite to eat, and cash their
checks before heading to suburbia.
Across from the bar was an alley that adjoined a
state-owned employee parking lot. The parking lot was protected by an
eight-foot chain link fence but had a huge hole in it, state employees used the
alley as a sort of shortcut instead of walking to the actual entrance half a
block away.
The entrance to the parking lot was protected by security
guards, the problem was state employees were lazy really lazy. Many risked
their lives by using the shortcut in the alley, they opened their self’s up to
animals like Mookie and Jesse. Many of these state workers were
white, well-educated, and lived in the suburbs, many lacked street smarts or
common sense for that matter.
Mookie and Jesse’s plan was simple, (neither one was a
criminal mastermind) they would hide behind the dumpster that was in the alley.
Just as their mark was about to go through the hole in the fence they’d pounce
on him or her, most of their victims were white, and both of these idiots hated
white people.
One night while acting alone Mookie fucked with the wrong
white guy. As Mookie pulled his knife to rob him, the white guy laughed and
pulled a gun, the white guy then robbed Mookie of what little money he had,
then severely beat him. Mookie woke up in the hospital a day later, he never
did another robbery on his own again.
Keeping an eye on the Cove, Mookie smiled as a white man
approached the alley. The two morons were salivating as the white guy got
closer. Fortunately, for the white guy, a police street crime
unit pulled into the alley right behind him. Mookie and Jesse watched as their
victim walked right past them and climbed through the hole in the fence.
The officer got out of his SUV with his hand on his gun,
What are you two assholes doing in this alley? Nothing, Jesse replied. Well go
do nothing somewhere else, get moving, the officer ordered, and stay the fuck
out of this alley. The police officer didn’t bother to
pat the two boys down because technically they weren’t doing anything wrong,
although he knew that they were up to no good.
The boys walked out of the alley mad, that white
motherfucking cop ain’t shit without that gun Mookie muttered to his friend.
Fifteen minutes later the pair were on a city bus heading
across town, where are we going, Mook? Jesse asked. To a park where lots of
white people be. The park was in the city’s
Chambersburg section, a neighborhood made up of predominantly Italians.
Mookie’s robbed there in the past.
Peter Maranzano or just “Pete” to his few remaining
friends, liked staying active, but he also liked keeping to himself. Not much
is known about Pete, even his close friends know very little about his past or
personal life.
Peter Maranzano was born in Sicily (date uncertain) he
was brought to America sometime around 1922 or thereabouts. Peter grew up in
Brooklyn, New York, where he went to public school. Peter Maranzano’s history
ends there, at some point, and for unknown reasons, he moved to Trenton, NJ.
At ninety-plus years old, Pete’s pleasures in life were
simple ones. He woke early every morning around 5am, made his breakfast had
some coffee, and then watched the morning news, he loved being informed.
After eating and cleaning up (he refused to have a
housekeeper) depending on the weather, he tended to his beloved garden. He
loved the look on his neighbor’s faces when he gave them peppers, cucumbers,
carrots, and of course his prize tomatoes.
About noon he fixed himself a light lunch and had a glass
or two of his homemade red wine, then went out front of his home to sweep his
porch and the sidewalk. He loved sitting on his front porch and taking in the
silence of the day before the kids got home from school and his neighbors
returned from work.
Between 2 and 3pm, he walked the two blocks (he gave up
driving a car years ago, it was healthier to walk) to a private social club
where he’s been a member for three decades.
The club was called Napoli Hall, there Pete depending on
who was around would play pinochle, shoot pool, play bocce, or just hang out
and watch soccer on the club’s big screen T.V. until dinner time.
Mookie and Jesse got off the bus about a half block from
the park. Why are we here? Jesse asked. Look around motherfucker, do you see
any junkies sleeping or shitting in the streets, do you see any garbage anywhere,
this is where white people live, where the money is.
Standing at the entrance of the park, Mookie looked up at
the park’s sign, “Welcome to Columbus Park” It might as well say “No niggers”
allowed in here. What Mookie just said made no sense to anyone but Jesse
Phillips, who was smiling and nodding his head like a retard.
After spending the afternoon at the club, Pete would walk
down the block to Fran’s Café for dinner. Pete’s been having dinner every night
at Fran’s for the past eight years, ever since his beloved wife passed away,
tonight’s early bird special was meatloaf with mashed potatoes and peas, his
favorite.
Mookie and Jesse picked a bench where they had a better
chance of a fast escape. But on this cool autumn evening, potential victims
were a little scarce. An hour had gone by, and Mookie was
starting to get agitated, where be all the white motherfuckers tonight? Mookie
asked more to himself. It was then that someone caught
Mookie’s attention, do you still have that small video camera he asked Jesse.
Earlier that day Jesse stole one of those small cheap
handheld disposable video cameras from a Walmart, Jesse was going to sell it
for some pot. Yeah, I still got it, Jesse said
smiling… Get it out, Mookie said, we’re going to have some fun!
After dinner, Pete always, (if the weather was good)
walked over to Columbus Park just a short distance from Fran’s Cafe, it
was his last stop before turning in for the night.
Columbus Park was established sometime in the early 1900s
in honor of the Italian immigrants who settled in this part of the city. Pete
loved the park, especially in the fall, it’s where he met his Elizabeth seventy
years ago almost to the day. Ever since losing her, Pete has been
sort of lost, but coming to the park helps. The bench where he met her was long
gone, but if he stood in the exact spot where the bench was and he closed his
eyes he could still smell her perfume, hear her laugh, and see her wonderful
smile. The couple never had children, so Elizabeth was his whole world.
Pete was almost where the bench was when he noticed two
young black men walking towards him.
That camera on Mookie, asked? We rolling Jesse replied.
As soon as he was parallel with the elderly white man, Mookie Johnson using the
full force of his body punched the 90-something-year-old man right in the face
knocking him to the ground unconscious.
The pair then circled the old man still filming and
laughing, they planned on putting this assault on social media later. Mookie
was about to go through the old guy’s pockets when he heard someone running
towards them. A few other people in the park also witnessed the attack and ran
toward Mookie and Jesse.
The two boys took off running as they were still
laughing. In hot pursuit was an off-duty female Trenton police officer, she
stopped just briefly to make sure the other witnesses stayed with the elderly
man and called for an ambulance.
Dawn LaBarge a nine-year veteran of the force cornered
Johnson and Phillips in an alley, about a block from the park. The two idiots
were trying to break through a wood stockade fence, drawing her firearm she
ordered them to the ground.
Both Mookie and Jesse were cowards, they preyed on the
elderly, women, and the weak. Jesse Phillips with hands out got on the ground
immediately, Mookie Johnson however became belligerent. This bitch ain’t going
to shoot, Mookie said as he approached the officer, I’m a brother, why would
you kill a brother over some old white dude.
Dawn LaBarge was the only black female in the graduating
class of 2012, and the first member of her family to be a police officer.
Officer LaBarge got into the firing position please give
me a reason to shoot your loser black ass, Mookie slowly got on the ground and
put his arms out.
Just then a man came out onto his deck holding a shotgun,
may I be of service officer. Yes, thank you, would you cover these two animals
while I handcuff this asshole, LaBarge holstered her firearm, but she only had
one pair of cuffs, so she used them on Mookie because he was the more
aggressive one. One more favor LaBarge asked, can you call Trenton PD and tell
them that an officer needs assistance, and thank you for your help. The man
used his cell phone to call the police and then stayed out on his deck until
help arrived.
Within minutes four police cars pulled up, good job
LaBarge, one of the officers said. Thanks, sergeant, LaBarge said, I lost my
cell phone chasing these two assholes! Go retrace your steps we got these two
scumbags, the sergeant said. Officer LaBarge left the scene to look for her
phone and returned to the crime scene.
First Jesse was handcuffed and put into a car, Mookie was
next, hey man these handcuffs are too tight Mookie complained. Tough shit
asshole they’re not made to be comfortable, one of the officers said.
Mookie was kept separate from Jesse, watch your head
asshole, the officer deliberately slammed Mookie’s head on the door frame of
the patrol car. You did that on purpose Mookie hollered, my bad, the officer
said smiling, why don’t you call Black Lives Matter jerk off!
Both men were taken to police headquarters and charged
with assault, possible attempted murder, and robbery. Officer Dawn LaBarge
returned to the park to take statements and to see if she could be of further
assistance.
Peter Maranzano was responding to the EMTs, a good sign
as they loaded him onto the gurney. Sherry Slack a waitress who worked at
Fran’s Café was cutting through the park on her way home and saw the commotion.
Pete, she said out loud as they put him on the gurney, oh my God what happened?
Officer LaBarge walked over to Miss Slack, do you know
this gentleman? Sure, that’s Peter Maranzano, I just served him dinner, may I
ask what happened? He was assaulted, maybe it was a robbery attempt, we got the
guys, LaBarge said. Damn animals, Sherry said, he has no
one, his wife died years ago and he’s all alone, this poor guy’s in his 90s,
why did they have to hurt him.
One of the witnesses an elderly black woman came up to
Officer LaBarge, may I go to the hospital with him? Sure, that shouldn’t be a
problem, LaBarge helped the old woman into the ambulance and smiled. Officer
LaBarge like most police officers around the country rarely gets to witness the
good in people.
Moments later Pete Maranzano was rushed off to the
hospital and officer Dawn LaBarge was heading to headquarters to interrogate
Mookie Johnson and Jesse Phillips.
At police headquarters Mookie and Jesse were put into
different interrogation rooms. I want to question Jesse Phillips first, he’s
the weaker of the two LaBarge told one of the other officers.
Alone with Officer Dawn LaBarge, Jesse admitted almost
immediately that all he did was the filming, he blamed Mookie for the actual
attack. Ok, hang tight, one of the detectives will be in to go over everything
with you.
Dawn LaBarge went in to talk to Mookie, who was three
doors down, it didn’t take long for Mookie to start hurling insults at her and
acting up, most of what he said made very little sense. So much so that she
thought that Mookie Johnson may be retarded, she wished that she could just
shoot him and save the state a lot of money. As expected Johnson refused to cooperate, so
Dawn got up to leave, a detective would be in shortly, and Mookie just glared at
her.
Neither Johnson nor Phillips showed the least bit of
remorse for what they did to that old man. Because there wasn’t a judge available to set bail,
Johnson and Phillips were sent to the detention center.
A reporter for the Star, one of the state’s largest
newspapers still operating, just happened to be in the ER when Peter Maranzano
was brought in. What do you have here the reporter asked? He’s an assault
victim, and he’s in his ninety’s, two assholes jumped him in a park.
The EMT pointed out the elderly woman who rode in with
him and witnessed the attack. The reporter interviewed Doris Boone and then
sent the story to his office.
The headline the next day was, Man in his ninety’s
survives “Brutal attack in the park.”
The next morning still lounging in bed trying to decide
whether to get up or not, Vincenzo “Vinny” Migliaccio received a call
from one of his guys in the capital city. Did you hear about what happened in
Trenton yesterday?
No, I’m just getting up now, what’s going on Vinny asked?
The stories too long for the phone, when you go out, pick up the Star and call
me later, his guy hung up.
After a shower, shave, and some breakfast, Vinny made his
first stop of the day, it was to a newsstand on Eisenhower and Vine, where Vinny was
collecting his weekly vig from the owner.
He had to wait a few minutes, the owner of the newsstand
was helping out a customer. So, he grabbed a Star newspaper, looked at the
headline, then read the story.
The owner of the newsstand waved Vinny over and handed
him an envelope. Vinny took it and walked away without saying a word or paying
for the newspaper. Fucking gangster, the owner of the stand muttered. Vinny
didn’t hear the insult, (or he would have had to give the newsstand owner a
beating) he climbed into his Cadillac Escalade and gave the owner a cold stare.
Finally, a judge set bail for Mookie Johnson at $50.000
cash bail, and Jesse Phillips his bail was set at $15.000 Both were taken back
to the detention center because neither could come up with bail money.
At the detention center, the two boys were in line
waiting to make their once-a-day phone call when Jesse sensed something amiss
with Mookie. What’s up with you my man, Jesse asked. Mookie looked up with a
tear in his eye, I don’t have anyone to call, you know that my parents
abandoned my ass the last time I got locked up.
Francis and Otis Johnson were honest hard-working people
that gave up on their eldest son. Mookie has been a menace to society and his
own family since the age of five, something was obviously wrong with him. The
family tried to help him, but the boy was just evil.
There was that time when Mookie tied a rope around his
little sister's neck and tried to push her out of a second-story window, and
the time when Mookie set fire to his little brother’s bed when he was sleeping
in it, or the time when his grandmother awoke to find him standing over her in
bed with a butcher knife.
At the age of ten Mookie was a lookout for drug dealers,
a year later he himself was selling drugs and stealing cars. At age fourteen he
was sent to a juvenile detention center for burning down a neighbor’s home
while they slept just for fun. Seven days after being released, he mugged and
beat an old woman and was sent back.
Out once again, Mookie managed to stay free for eight
months before being sent to an adult prison, this time for possession of a
stolen gun and narcotics. Mookie by now was eighteen years old, so while he was
incarcerated his family decided that the best thing to do was cut their losses
and move far away so that their eldest son could never find them, Mookie never
saw or heard from his family ever again.
Jesse tried comforting his friend by telling him that he
still had one family member left, me. For a moment Mookie smiled, now how in
the fuck are we going to get out of this motherfucker? Mookie asked. What
Mookie neglected to tell Jesse was that he didn’t really mind being locked up,
three hots and a cot he always said.
When it was their turn to use the phone, Jesse only had
one person to call and that was his mother.
After picking up his money from the newsstand Vinny drove
over to Jersey City’s East Side to the “Sailors and Seamen’s Social Club,” on
the door was a smaller sign that said “members only.”
Parking his SUV across the street from the club, Vinny
acknowledged the guys hanging out front with a nod. Is the big guy in there?
Vinny asked. Yeah, he’s in there, after shaking some hands Vinny entered the
club.
The social club was just one big room with some tables,
chairs, a large-screen TV, and a bar, a smaller room in the back was used as an
office/conference room.
When Vinny entered the club he noticed that the fellow he
came to see was busy at the moment, so he tried making small with his no-neck,
6’7, refrigerator-sized bodyguard. But it was like trying to have a
conversation with a brick, thankfully Vinny didn’t have to wait too long before
being waved over to the big guy’s table. Nice talk Bigfoot, Vinny said as he
walked away from the bodyguard.
The guy that Vinny came to see was Augustine “Augie”
Porfirio, he was the underboss of the New Jersey-based DeSimone crime family.
Augie waved Vinny over to his table where they hugged and
kissed, sit down son, what’s on your mind? Vinny liked the fact that his boss always got right to
the point, in Vinny’s mind time was money.
Vinny put the Star newspaper down on the table, before
coming to the club he highlighted the Peter Maranzano story. Vinny sat
patiently as his boss read the story, fucking animals, So, you know what has to
be done here, Augie said to Vinny. Yes, sir I just wanted to get the go-ahead
from you.
As Vinny got up from the table, Augie took hold of his
arm, Vinny, make sure these black bastards regret being born. Vinny smiled.
Patrice Phillips was an honest, churchgoing, very
hard-working, proud black woman, that held down two full-time jobs to keep a
roof over her head and food on the table. She never could figure out what
the hell went wrong with her only child. She thought that maybe growing up
without a father affected Jesse.
A week away from his wife giving birth, Jesse Phillips
Sr. went into a liquor store to buy cigarettes and lottery tickets.
Unfortunately, instead, he walked right into an armed robbery and was shot in
the head, he died at the scene.
Patrice never remarried and did her best to raise her
only child to be a productive member of society. But she also had to make a
living, so she had no choice but to leave the boy with friends and family.
Patrice worked a 9-5 for the state of New Jersey, then
went on to her second job from 6pm to 11pm, cleaning offices for Everson
Cleaning Services. Life was not easy for Mrs. Phillips.
One day her cousin Vonda was looking after Jesse, now
eight years old, when she ran out of something and had to make a run to the
store. So, she left little Jesse with her neighbor Francis Johnson. Mookie and
Jesse became instant friends and have been getting into trouble together ever
since.
Throughout his life whenever Jesse got into a jam he
immediately called his mother. So, it was no surprise to Patrice Phillips when
she received a call from corrections asking her if she’d accept a call from
her son. Yes, I’ll accept the call, Patrice Phillips went ballistic on her only
child, is he with you, his mother asked? Is who with me? Jesse asked. Mookie,
you damn idiot, Patrice said furiously!
Patrice Phillips hated Mookie with a passion and often
referred to him as that psychopath. Patrice did however love her son, so she
made all the necessary arrangements with a bondsman to get both Jesse and
Mookie out of jail by putting up her house as collateral.
It took a couple of more days for the boys to be freed,
unlike Mookie, Jesse hated being locked up. He hated the food, the smells, and
the dirty toilets, but most of all Jesse hated showering with other men, Jesse
Phillips was a homophobe.
On the last morning of their incarceration, Mookie
couldn’t help but brag to the other inmates about getting out. See, that’s what
happens when you have people on the outside Mookie said. The other inmates just
smirked, most people couldn’t stand Mookie Johnson, most thought that he was an
asshole.
The day after he got the ok, Vinny headed to Trenton.
Although originally from the capital city, he moved to Jersey City when he was
bumped up to captain in the DeSimone family. Living in North Jersey put him
closer to his construction interests in New York City, his Trenton guys handled
his gambling and loan sharking interests in not only Trenton but Atlantic City
also.
Vinny’s first stop was to see his mother, she refused to
move to Jersey City. He used his key to get into his childhood home and
hollered out for his mom.
When she didn’t respond Vinny immediately used his
mother’s phone to call one of his guys. Hey, I’m home, can you do me a favor
and round up the guys for a meeting tonight at Bob’s at around 6pm sharp, I’ll
see you then.
Still holding his mother’s vintage phone, Vinny dialed
another number that he hoped wasn’t disconnected. It rang, and rang, and rang,
Vinny was just ready to hang up when someone answered, hello, the voice said,
it’s me, don’t say my name, do you recognize my voice? Vinny asked. Yeah, hey
man what’s up, the voice said.
Vinny skipped the small talk and got right to the point;
I need a favor. Of course, man, anything for you the voice said. Good man, can
you meet me tonight, Vinny asked. No problem brother, just text me when and
where, the voice said.
As he put down the phone his mother walked in with
groceries, Vinny helped with the bags and then hugged and kissed her.
Although Vinny talks to his mother several times a week,
it's been a while since he’s seen her. She made Vinny some lunch, and
afterward, he went up to his childhood bedroom to take a nap, mom can you wake
me around five.
A guard hollered Phillips, Johnson, let’s go you’re out
of here, Mookie and Jesse were escorted down to the processing center. What the
boys didn’t know was that the guard escorting them made a phone call informing
someone else of their release.
While Mookie and Jesse waited for their paperwork to be
finished, Mookie began mumbling about money. It was one of the few times that
Jesse got mad at his friend. Man, we haven’t even gotten out of this
motherfucker yet and you’re already talking about robbing people, Jesse
exploded. For the first time, Jesse thought that maybe Mookie was fucking nuts
like everyone kept saying he is.
Vinny’s mother woke him at exactly five o’clock, he
quickly washed up and came downstairs, hugged his mom, and headed for the door.
Vincenzo, what about dinner? I made a big pot of sauce, his mother said. I’ll
be back soon mom, set the table for five, the boys will be coming back with me.
The same correction officer who made the phone call also
escorted the boys out of the detention center. The officer held the gate open
for Johnson and Phillips. Freedom Jesse hollered out loud. You two assholes
better enjoy it while you can. What did you say, you old white motherfucker,
Mookie screamed. The guard closed the gate smiling at Mookie, bye, bye, jerk
off, the guard said.
Bob’s Café was just one of maybe thirty small
neighborhood bars scattered around Chambersburg, a discreet neighborhood place
where people minded their own business.
Vinny was the real owner of Bob’s, he kept an apartment
over top of the café, for meetings and the occasional one-night stand.
By six o’clock his top guys were all in the apartment
over the café, they hugged and kissed showing Vinny the proper respect. His
crew consisted of his childhood friends, all of which grew up on the same block
as Vinny, he trusted each and every one of them. Each one of these guys had men
under them, but Vinny only communicated with these five.
They were:
Donald “Donny Goggles” Carbone his rap sheet included:
Hijacking, extortion, gambling, labor racketeering, bank fraud, money
laundering, and suspicion of murder.
Ronald “Ronnie the Weasel” Sullivan his rap sheet
included: Drug trafficking, fraud, money laundering, burglary, and suspicion of
murder.
Victor “Vic” Sullivan his rap sheet included: Armed
robbery, gun trafficking, sports betting, illegal possession of a firearm, and
suspicion of murder.
Giuseppe “Joey the Hammer” Aragona his rap sheet
included: Manslaughter, illegal possession of firearms, gambling, and suspicion
of murder.
Raymond “Lip” Broconi his rap sheet included: Illegal
possession of a firearm, arson, gambling, and suspicion of murder.
Vinny got right to the point and laid out exactly what he
wanted them to do. When Vinny finished talking all the guys stood up to leave,
were you all going? Vinny asked. I thought we were supposed to leave, Lip said.
The apartment yeah, you guys all get your asses over to my mother’s house
pronto, it’s dinner time, Vinny said.
The crew ate huge plates of pasta, sausage, and
meatballs, then drank homemade wine, followed by pastries and espresso. They
told stories of the past making Vinny’s mom very happy. It’s been a long time
since all of these guys have been in her home at the same time.
When the guys were leaving, they all thanked, hugged, and
kissed Mrs. Migliaccio bringing her to tears, she still saw them as kids
playing around the house.
With the guys all gone, Vinny spent some quality time
with his mother, when she went to bed Vinny slipped out of the house to meet
the other guy that he called earlier.
His name was Dante Evens, he and Vinny met up near the
Trenton Makes bridge underpass.
I want you to follow these two guys, it shouldn’t be hard
they’re always together, Vinny gave Dante their police photos. Don’t let them
know that you're following them until I say it’s ok, here’s a burner phone, use
it to keep in contact with me. The job pays a grand, you in, Vinny asked.
Mookie and Jesse waited at the bus stop across the street
from the detention center. How come your mom can’t come and pick us up, Mookie
asked, I’m freezing my balls off. She has to go to work, she said for us to
find our own way home. How come your mom hates my ass,
Mookie asked. My mom doesn’t like anyone who doesn’t go to church, Jesse said.
Dante Evens, although half-white felt very comfortable
moving around in the black community, he talked the talk, as they say. Dante met Vinny back in his high school days when Vinny
used to pay Dante to throw basketball games. His relationship continued with
Vinny right through college, but by then Dante was a full-blown druggie, heroin
became his demon.
As others turned their backs on him, Vinny supported
Dante financially and fed him easy work like burglaries, and other scams. So,
Dante was happy to do this favor for a friend, besides he hated motherfuckers
who victimized the weak. Dante had no problem fitting into Jesse’s mother's
neighborhood, in fact, he had friends who lived there, so doing a little recon
was easy.
When the boys finally made it to Jesse’s house his mother
was still at her state job. So, Jesse and Mookie went upstairs to his room and
played Xbox until she came home. When she got home from work she called
upstairs, Jesse, bring your ass down here, alone, she could hear them playing
video games in his room.
When Jesse came downstairs she grabbed him by his shirt
collar and dragged him into the laundry room.
What the hell is wrong with you? Patrice screamed! You
two pussies hit a ninety-something-year-old man, why? Because he was white! You
both ain’t nothing but a couple of cowards, men in my day would of beat the
shit out of you two sissies for what you did, you better hope that old man
doesn’t have friends or die.
I have to go to my other job, here’s twenty bucks, you
two assholes fend for yourselves for dinner. Before you go I have to ask you
something, Jesse said. What, what the hell do you have to ask me? Patrice
screamed. Can Mookie stay with us? Jesse asked meekly. Patrice just walked
away.
Dante checked in with Vinny, no movement on the home
front, but I’ll keep you posted.
Driving to work Patrice thought that Mookie staying with
them might be a good thing, maybe living in her world would rub off on the two
idiots.
For a few days, the boys didn’t really leave the house
much, and if they did, it was just to hang out in front of Jesse’s house. The
past few days Vinny’s guys have been hanging around the apartment over Bob’s,
playing cards, watching TV, or hanging out in the bar downstairs, awaiting word
from Dante.
By now Dante has made it a point of going by Jesse’s
house and getting the boys high on their front porch. Where are you from Mookie
asked Dante? Two blocks over, moved her about two years ago, Dante said, why?
No reason Mookie said, this is some fine weed.
The next day Patrice Phillips took the day off from both
of her jobs, something that she’d never done before. She decided to make the
boys a good home-cooked meal, Southern style, with fried chicken, greens, mac
and cheese, cornbread, and a homemade apple pie with ice cream. Patrice needed a few things from the store, so she called
out for Jesse, I need you to run to the store for me. Jesse started to protest,
we’re watching a movie right now can’t it wait? No, boy get your ass down here,
Patrice hollered upstairs.
Surprisingly, it was Mookie who came to Patrice’s aid,
come on man, Mookie said, that movie will wait, Jesse got the list from his mom
and headed out the door.
Dante was across the street from Jesse’s house sitting in
his car, he called Vinny on the burner, hey man they're on the move. Ok, just
follow them for now Vinny said.
It was around noon when Mookie and Jesse headed for the
Shoprite just three blocks down the road. Dante drove past the boys and parked
about half a block away, he also called Vinny again. It’s a go Dante told
Vinny, they’re away from their home. Taking three cars, Vinny and his boys were
on the way.
Awe this motherfucker again, Mookie said when he saw
Dante pop out from behind a tree, this guy’s a pain in the ass. What’s going on
my brothers, handing Mookie a “Bob Marley-sized joint", spark that up
Dante said smiling.
Where are you guys heading? Dante asked. Down to the
Shoprite Jesse said, don’t answer him, Mookie butted in. You ask too many
questions you cracker-looking motherfucker, get the fuck out of here, and you
ain’t getting this big ass joint back Mookie said laughing. Dante put his hands
up, ok man, I’m out of here, fuck it.
The second he walked away from Mookie and Jesse he called
Vinny, they’re all yours, they’re heading for the ShopRite food store. Dante
went home, his job was over.
Using a burner phone Vinny told his guys that right
across the street from the food store was a small alley that leads to a few
old, abandoned warehouses, it’s perfect for us. Donny Goggles was to act as a
decoy, he had to make Jesse and Mookie follow him into that alley, it was
Donny’s specialty, as he watched the boys go into the food store. He waited a
few minutes before he followed them in.
Mookie and Jesse only needed a couple of things, when
they got to the check-out line they couldn’t help but notice the only white guy
in the store pay for a Snickers bar with a one hundred dollar bill, Mookie and
Jesse’s eyes lit up. And this guy was a perfect mark, with big goofy glasses, and goofy clothes, plus he was short, Mookie hated short white guys they were easy
marks.
Donny paid for his candy bar and slowly walked out of the
store and across the street towards the alley, Mookie and Jesse followed him.
Yo, man, Mookie called out, but Donny paid no attention to
him as he walked into the alley. Yo, man I know you hear me, you white
motherfucker, still Donny paid him no mind. The alley was lined with old
warehouses, and there was no place to run, seventy feet into the alley there
was another alley that crisscrossed, that’s where it was going to happen.
Once Donny crossed the second alley he turned around to
distract the two young men. What do you want nigger? Donny hollered out. We
going to fuck you up… Mookie stopped in mid-sentence when someone threw an
aluminum baseball bat at Donny, Mookie, and Jesse both turned around and four
white guys also with aluminum baseball bats charged them.
Vinny took care of the cops, so his crew had a good
fifteen minutes to do this piece of work. Mookie begged for his life as the
first blow came down on his head. Vinny because of his rank, was acting as a
lookout as his crew went to work on Jesse and Mookie, in two-man teams they beat
the bloody shit out of the two young black men. With each swing of the aluminum
bats, you could hear bones breaking.
Vinny looked at his watch, enough, times up, but not
before Donny brought his bat down on Mookie’s head again. Vinny’s crew got in
their cars and disappeared in different directions.
Thirty minutes later a young girl walking her dog in the
alley discovered the bodies of Mookie Johnson and Jesse Phillips. A reporter
who arrived on the scene right after the cops said it was one of the bloodiest
crime scenes that he’d ever encountered.
A few weeks after being attacked Peter Maranzano was
recovering nicely, the doctors were worried given his age, but so far Pete was
coming along great. One of his doctors even kidded Pete about being able to
take a punch, I hope I’m able to take a punch when I’m in my 90s.
Vinny and his guys all met back at the apartment over at
Bob’s Café. There, they all took turns showering and changing their clothes,
they’ll all be incinerated later along with their shoes and socks. The cars
used in the attack were sold to a chop shop, then resold for scrape.
Great job gentlemen, Vinny handed each man an envelope
with cash as they exited the apartment, enjoy your vacation guys see you when
you get back.
Back at the crime scene, photos were taken, evidence was
collected, and detectives were trying to piece together what happened in that
alley. Aren’t these the guys who attacked that old man, one detective asked
another. Yep, karma is a mother fucker, these assholes were professionally
worked over by people who do this shit for a living, someone must have liked
that old man.
Mookie Johnson died at the scene, an autopsy revealed
that he died from massive internal injuries, more than half the bones in his
body were broken, and his skull was crushed in.
Jesse Phillips was just barely alive, he also had most of
the bones in his body broken, at the hospital Jesse Phillips slipped into a
coma and never regained consciousness, he died six weeks later.
Four weeks after his business in Trenton Vinny was back
at the Sailor’s and Seamen’s social club in Jersey City. When Vinny walked into
the club it was his boss “Augie” who stood up and greeted him with a hug and
kiss. Let’s take a walk as he led Vinny to the door.
Well done son, very well done Augie said, he held onto
Vinny’s arm as they walked, and Augie’s refrigerator-sized bodyguard trailed behind
them.
I’m very impressed with your crew Vinny, very
professional Augie said. They’re a great bunch of guys Vinny said, let me ask
you something boss, is Peter Maranzano really related to our founder. Yes, he is, Augie replied. I checked it to make sure,
Peter Maranzano is a direct descendant of Salvatore Maranzano, the founding
father of the Cosa Nostra here in America. That’s why it was necessary for you
and your people to do what you did, it’s about our tradition, our honor, and
it’s about respect something those two animals knew nothing about. Now let’s
get back inside I’m freezing my balls off.
The aftermath:
Mookie Johnson’s mother claimed his remains, he was
cremated a week after his death. He was 23.
Jesse Phillips never regained consciousness and passed
away six weeks after the attack. Patrice Phillips spent every second that she
could with her only child. Jesse Phillips was buried right next to his father,
he was 22.
Twelve hours after the brutal attack on Johnson and
Phillips, surveillance cameras at the Kings Fair Grounds Mall in Hamilton
Township picked up a car parked in an isolated spot. When police investigated,
they found the body of Dante Evens, he was shot three times in the head. He was
32.
Peter “Pete” Maranzano, in a couple of months, was back
to normal and going about his daily routine, even going to Columbus Park most
evenings. Doris Boone, the woman who rode with Pete to the hospital the night
of the attack became best friends, they remained close right up until his
death. Pete Maranzano died in his sleep, he was 99.
Two years after the attack on Johnson and Phillips,
Vinny’s mother died, but Vinny never got to attend her funeral. Three days
after his mother's death, Vincenzo “Vinny” Migliaccio was murdered in Brooklyn,
NY. He was 46.
Giuseppe “Joey the Hammer” Aragona took over Vinny’s
Trenton crew, and less than a year later he too was murdered. He was 43.
The end
Copyright 2021
