THE YOUNG SOPRANOS PART 3--XXVIII (CONTINUED)

 THE

YOUNG SOPRANOS

PART 3--XXVIII

BY

J. BECK

2024

...

(CONTINUED)

XXVIII

Enroute from St Jude's Children Hospital in NYC across the Hudson River to Jersey to call upon Junior's old lawyer Harold Melvoin A.J. told Vito about his visit to their late mob boss father Tony's old lawyer Neil Link's Attorneys' Office in NYC Monday afternoon:

"Neil Link is his name--Nice guy but brutally blunt concise & to the point.  It's like his time is too expensive & valuable that he hasn't the time for all the stupid fucking bullshit!- He's not all wordy & verbose.--I like that."

"Anyway: I digress.

So I met this Neil Link at Junior's Last Great Gangster Funeral during the calling hours. He introduced himself handed me his card & told me to visit him at his law offices some afternoon--That's when he takes his first "Belt of the Day!" So I go yesterday after Caitlyn's surgery at St Jude's Children Hospital.

He pours us a three-finger drink of rum after shaking hands & formalities before offering me a seat & a small Cuban cigars as he sat off the edge of his desk in front of me.

He lifts his glass & salutes our Soprano Family & outer father Tony. Taking a drink & then a second drink Neil took a third drink to finish it & slammed it down hard on the oak desktop beside him to say:

Your father Tony has been gone ten long years now. I can proudly tell you Anthony that when I heard the news of his murder over my car radio stuck in the evening Rush? I cried like a baby alone inside my idling car in the dead-locled traffic-jam.

I was so saddened A.J. I can't explain it--I can't explain it to myself?! I actually miss Tony even more today after all these years. I'm always waiting for him to come breaking in the door late in the day like he always had. Wanting a drink wanting to talk--He'd say Youre already late for dinner--Fuck sitting out in that traffic!

Then I could see he was getting all coughed-up over it so I asked him. Did my father die owing you any outstanding debt or fees? 

No.--NO. Neil insisted holding out both hands out in front of himself. But he tells me that I just reminded him that he had something for me. Then he goes on to hand me a thick vanilla folder with a copy of the Oldman s Federal Indictment that was filed the same day of his murder.

Someone else knew Anthony even before I did. I am certain of it & that's why Tony was murdered before he could be arrested. Somebody didn't trust Tony not to Rat. I can tell you he insisted that it wasn't an opinion--He could never Rat. & You believed him Neil?!--I asked.

Yes. I'm afraid I did Anthony.  I didn't want to mind you. I knew if we couldn't beat the rap that he would go away for along time. & If he became an informant he could enter into the Fed's protecion custody program. He could of had a second chance at this life. He told me the quiet life wasn't for him.

Read over that indictment my Young Soprano & perhaps you will glean a measure of valuable or useful insight into the past context which has resulted in you sitting here in your late father's own seat figuratively & symbolically being the new Don.

So I can only give you the same advice as I gave Tony. I don't know how good it is because He'd never listen to me! Neil chuckled.

He said go to work all day everyday. Don't get all flashy & draw attention to yourself. Don't get into trouble fighting or speeding. Spend time with your family. & Make a weekly appearance at church. It all just looks good.

I told him I couldn't argue with any of that besides the fucking church part! I laughed--I pay my tides & offerings but I don't go! I would probably catch on fire if i tried stepping inside a church--Holy or Not!

Then I finished my drink & stood to thank Neil for the folder & his advice when he says: "WAIT!--I told you I have something for you!" as he walks over to a small closet in the corner. He takes out a key-ring & unlocks the door.

"THERE." Neil points inside. 

I look inside & there is this large blue bag & nothing else. "THATS FOR YOU!"

Asked him what was it?! & He answers: "MONEY!--AND LOTS OF IT!" Neil told me that Dad brought him this big bag of cash to keep hid for him while he was away on the lam when Leotardo had a death contract out on him. Neil told me that he locked it inside that closet where it's been for the past decade!"

"I will be goddamned T! That Link fucker could of kept it all to himself & no one would of been the Wiser?!"

"It just states to what a Good Man & friend to our father that he was!" (& NOBODY KNOWS.) "WE KNOW VITO!"

Vito pulls their car up to a rolling stop & parked on the storefront street curb of MELVOIN LAW OFFICES. Where they find Harold Melvoin alone in his office.

"What can I do for you two Young Sopranos this afternoon?!" Harold asked with a surprised & questioning expression across his pale pasty face.

"We've come to offer you a proposition." (Proposition?!) "Yes--We are both well aware that you or ourselves are never going to recieve anything from our Uncle Corrado's estate. (Yes.--I suppose so.)

HAROLD "MEL" MELVOIN

(JUNIOR'S OLD ATTORNEY)

"So we will offer you 700K$--The entire contents of cash in thos blue bag of money my little brother is carrying." A.J. points out & unzipped it to toss Harold a fat bundle of 100 dollar bills. "FRESH LETTUCE!" (FOR WHAT?)

"For all of Junior's old legal records & documents that compiled your 1M$ legal fees?!" (WHY?) "That is no concern to you as what you do with this money is no concern to us."

"I understand. There must be as many as 25 to 30 boxes." (Good.--That gives us more for our money!) 

Harold stands with his back to them & pours himself a drink & lights a cigarette. 

"So what you are saying is you are making me a deal that I can't refuse?!" (Why would you refuse?) "Something called Ethics?!" 

"Don't make me fucking laugh Harold! ETHICS?!--Next you're going to say something about your Oath & shit. I know. Believe Me! I hear it all the fucking time from our sister! But Junior is dead & buried in the ground. He won't be rising anytime soon unless the Tapture happens & it won't matter then!" A.J. smiles.

Harold finishes his drink & turns around to fave the two brothers chuckling: You Boys have yourselves a deal!--Follow me!"

HAROLD "MEL" MELVOIN'S

ATTORNEY OFFICE 

CASE RECORDS  WAREHOUSE

Harold takes them out through a door that appeared to be a closet. But it opened up to a small long warehouse with standing shelves of stacked cardboard boxes of records & evidence.

Harold flipped on all the light switches for them to see.)

"Do you have somewhere besides a bank to keep your money safe & secure Harold ?!" (Sure Do!) The lawyer pointed out an old heavy floor safe in the warehouse corner as they made there way through the isles of stacked boxes & shelves.

ATTORNEY OFFICE

CASE RECORDS  WAREHOUSE

FLOOR SAFE

Harold takes out a small pocket flash-light to point out & read the names on the proper boxes.

"All the Mob stuff is right down here with Good Ole Corrado John Soprano Jr on the end!" Harold points out to them as he took his final drag of his cigarette to butt it out on the smooth concrete floor under his shoe-heel.

When A.J. knodded at Vito standing behind the greedy lawyer. & Vito step up behind him to clutch both of  his arms around Melvoin's head & snapped his neck like a stick.

"CHRIST VITO!--THAT POOR FUCKER DIDNT KNOW WHAT HIT HIM!" A. J. pretends to wave his hand in the dead lawyers face as Vito remained holding his heavy limp body up. 

"Let me drop this guy T before he releases his bladder & pisses down my goddamn leg!" The two brother laugh as Vito tosses him away. (Good Work V.)

A.J. turns to light a cigarette & picks up the fallen flash-light to examine all the other names on all the boxes. (DIMEO)

"GO--Hang out the CLOSED sign & Lock the front door behind you V. Then bring the car around the back alley to these garage doors. There are body-bags I got from Hymie in the trunk. They're clean & efficient. Empty all of his pockets so we can load the dead fucker up & deliver it to Hymie for the disposal of it."

HAROLD "MEL" MELVOIN'S

ATTORNEY OFFICE 

CASE RECORDS  WAREHOUSE

Then A.J. got on the cellphone to call in the troops. He calls Raymond & Robbie to come with their new rental van to retrieve Junior's Records. Secondly A.J. calls Geno to bring Jake & two moving trucks with a couple of lumpers to empty all the boxes from the small warehouse & the contents inside the four offices. Lastly A.J. called Jack Black--"I have a safe for you to crack!" (On my way A.J.!)

. . .

(To Be Continued)

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2024