“I’m currently taking over the city,” he replies, quite matter-of-factly. “I’ve set up on my own; I’m eager to distance myself from any former association with the Pellaggio’s — something I’m sure you of all people can appreciate.”
“Probably the smartest thing you’ve done since I’ve known you,” I agree.
“Before I tell you the details of the job, I wanna skip ahead to how it benefits you.”
“Spare me the sales pitch, Jimmy. I’m not doing a job for you.”
“Humor me,” he says. “Hopefully, with your help, in a few days I will have total control of this city. I have a considerable amount of assets already at my disposal, and that is increasing with each day that passes. I will be kingpin in this state, Adrian.”
“Go on,” I say, intrigued. I’m not about to say anything to him, but given my reasons for being in town and what I know of the kingpins already in business, Manhattan suddenly throwing his hat in the ring may just make things a bit more entertaining.
“The way I see it, me and you are square,” he continues.
“Oh, are we? How you figure that?”
“You saved my life,” he says. “That cancels out all the slights against me in the last year or so.”
I sigh heavily down the phone, resisting the urge to argue the finer points of who slighted who. “Fine,” I say. “So we’re best friends — why would that make any difference to my life?”
“I’m sure it won’t do you any harm to have someone in my position as an ally… Certainly not in your line of work. I have a lot of resources that you may find helpful.”
He has a point. I’ll give him that. I don’t actively associate myself with people like Manhattan, as it’s bad for business. But on the other hand — and I’m sure Josh would agree — having a pet gangster isn’t the worst idea, especially under the circumstances. Same reason we keep a relationship with GlobaTech — every now and then, it’s nice to have some back up.
“But you’re not in that position yet, are you?” I point out. “That’s what you need me for.”
“Exactly. You help me now, I’m sure I can return the favor somehow.”
‘What do you want?’
“There’s a businessman here who is more reluctant to succumb to new ownership than other people have been. I think your particular brand of persuasion would prove most effective.”
“So you want him removed?”
“Just name your price.”
I think about it for a minute… I think about everything he’s said. I obviously don’t trust the old prick as far as I can throw him, but… But maybe I could use him. If he’s telling the truth, and he now effectively runs Allentown, I could use his help taking down Trent. It’s unlikely he’s anywhere near Trent’s level, but I could definitely use what he has.
“Lemme think about it,” I say.
“Excellent. You won’t regret it, Adrian. I’ll be in touch.”
He hangs up, leaving me standing in an alleyway with one of his men, holding a phone. I click it off and throw it the man, who catches it clumsily and stares at me.
“If I see you following me again, I’ll kill you,” I say, before turning and walking off, back down the alley and toward my hotel.
I should probably talk to Josh.
“You’re shitting me?” asks Josh.
We’re in his hotel room. His laptop and various other pieces of equipment are scattered across his bed, and he’s pacing around his room as I sit, patiently, in one of the chairs by his window. He’s been doing a lot more pacing than usual — almost as much as I do when I’m feeling agitated or when I’m thinking. It’s probably isn’t the best time to point out he’s becoming more like me every day…
“Nope,” I say.
“Has he heard of Trent?”
“Doesn’t look that way,” I say with a shrug. “There’s no way he’d talk about taking over the state if he had.”
“Jesus… And what are you thinking?”
“Honestly? I think having him on our side for the time being maybe isn’t as sickening an idea as it sounds. Keep your friends close, an’ all that.”
“But getting in bed with Manhattan…? That’s dangerous ground, Adrian. We can’t trust him.”
“I know,” I say, with an almost sympathetic smile. “But ask yourself, what harm would it do, compared to how it would benefit us going up against Trent?”
Josh paces some more in silence, then moves a small, hand-held radio on the end of his bed out of the way so he can sit down.
“Fair point,” he says, reluctantly.
I stand and look out of the window. Light rain has started to fall, but it looks worse than it is because the wind’s picked up. It’s been threatening for a couple of days, and I suspect it’ll get worse before it gets better, judging by the color of the clouds.
I smile at the fact the weather is serving as a metaphor for my week.
“As always, Josh,” I say, turning to look at him, “we both have to agree one hundred percent on it before we do anything.”
“I know,” he says with an appreciative smile.
“Look, just look into his claims of domination over Allentown — see if there’s any truth to it. If there is, we maybe look at pitching our tent in his camp, for now. Agreed?”
Josh stands and nods. “Agreed.”
I turn and look back out of the window one last time. I hope this is the right move. We could both get burned if I’m wrong.
15
Jimmy Manhattan hung up the phone and tossed it on the bed. In the corner of the room, Tarantina sat reading a newspaper, which he promptly put down when the call finished.
“What he say?” he asked.
“He said he’d think about it,” replied Manhattan. “But I’m confident he’ll see the benefit of assisting us in this matter.”
“And who exactly is this guy again?”
“He’s a very talented, and a very dangerous individual. I’ve had dealings with him in the past, and he’s always proved very… resourceful. I’d rather have him working with me than against me. I’ve learnt from experience to pick my battles.”
“Jeez, he sounds like a real piece of work…”
“He is,” confirmed Manhattan. “And if he agrees to it, I fully intend advertising the fact that Adrian Hell will be carrying out the hit for us. Then, our enhanced reputation, coupled with the mere threat of having him being sent after you, will deter anyone from even thinking about going up against us in the future. Nobody need know it was a one-time deal.”
Tarantina nodded. “So, what now?” he asked.
“Now, we wait. Go do your rounds,” said Manhattan. “Check in with everyone and make sure the transitions are going according to plan.”
“Sure thing, Boss.”
Tarantina left the hotel suite, leaving Manhattan alone.
So far, everything was going ahead as expected. With the exception of Johnny King, everybody had relented. Manhattan now either ran their businesses as his own, or he’d closed them permanently. He kept the profitable, or potentially profitable, businesses alive with his own men at the helm, and killed off the rest — literally.
His next step was to secure the support of local law enforcement, to make his life easier when running and expanding his empire. From experience, he knew that police officers were typically greedy, but were nearly always a sound investment. If you found the right cop, you could have a free run at the city. He was going to put the word out among his men to keep their ears to the ground for any potential candidates, and then he would make the approach himself. He’d done it many times before, and knew how to play the game just right.