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“What do you mean?”
“I know your story was going to be that someone in the Polish Mob told you about Mr. Scotto’s alleged illegal activities. Why did you pick the Polish Mob?”
“Because— uh —I know they have connections to the Mafia. The guy who heads it is friends with Salvatore Mancinelli, I guess. That’s what I’ve heard. I figured it would be plausible that they’d do him a solid by covering for him.”
More contradictions.
“But you made it sound like this person you were going to claim was your source would speak up because they wanted Gabriele to be found guilty. It can’t be both.”
“Yeah, it can. Bartlomiej and Jacek Nowakowski get along with Salvatore out of necessity and would help him out if he asked. But neither of them like Gabriele because he’s been the one to enforce some of Salvatore’s wishes. Since those brothers don’t like him, neither do members of their organization. Any of them would be happy to narc on him.”
“Aren’t you worried that implicating anyone in the Polish Mob in Mr. Scotto’s case could be dangerous for you? If word gets around you said a Polish Mobster knows what Mr. Scotto did, do you think Bartlomiej will turn a blind eye? Not with you drawing attention to them. What happened to wanting to protect your family?”
“Um. Hmm. He knows it’s just business.”
For fuck’s sake. None of this makes sense. He’s fucking all over the place.
“Does he, though? Have you told him about your plan? If pressed for a name, do you have one to give? One that belongs to a person the cops can question?”
“Uh, no.”
“If NYPD can’t find your supposed source, they won’t give up. They’ll just dig deeper and stir up more complications. That’s not what anyone needs. So, was there any truth in what you said?”
Hesitation. My fucking word. He still needs so much coaching. He’s like a deer in the headlights kind of hesitant, not a measured and thoughtful hesitant.
“Someone in the Polish Mob knows something. I don’t know any names or details. I just overheard a few guys in a parking lot at the casino in Atlantic City.”
“Did you tell anyone what you overheard?”
His face flushes. Why can’t his story be consistent? It’s making me think he knows something; he just hasn’t figured out how to use it. It’s making him jump all over the place.
“I got a bit tipsy at the roulette table, and I might have said something about knowing the person who’s going to take down the mobster to a guy who works for me. We met up there because the place has the best buffet.”
Why fucking me? I’ve had other trying clients, and he’s hardly the worst. But everything about him irritates me. And this started well before I met Gabriele. But discussing anything that connects him to Gabriele sets me on edge.
“Do you intend to speak to either brother before the Assistant DA interviews you for this?”
“Uh, no.”
“You’re just going to let someone find out about this lead of yours and tell the Polish Mob, meanwhile, praying for the best? You’ll be safer in prison.”
“I can’t play my hand.”
“There is no hand to play. Once the prosecution interviews you, theywillget this information, and theywillsend out cops to pick up anyone else you name. The prosecutionwill notsettle with just your hearsay testimony. Theywillwant the firsthand account. Two thingswillhappen if you don’t make that connection for them. Actually, three things. One, they won’t offer you immunity. Two, they won’t call you as a witness. Three, the defense attorney will impeach you. If you’re the prosecution’s witness, I will have to step down from Mr. Scotto’s case. I can’t represent Mr. Scotto and question you during his trial since I already have prior knowledge about you. If you perjure yourself or an attorney can poke holes enough to impeach you after I’m forced to walk away from Mr. Scotto’s case, I won’t be pleased.”
I raise an eyebrow and narrow my eyes at the same time. It’s the look I mastered in high school when I used to babysit three sisters who were monsters to each other. It would make them stop dead in their tracks, and it’s doing the same to Cohenour.
“So, what do I do, Ms. O’Malley?”
“You can tell the ADA that you know someone who could be an informant for them. You could even see if the prosecution will consider a minimum sentence in exchange for your cooperation. But you’re already weakening your defense by insisting upon taking the stand. If you also testify during Mr. Scotto’s trial, you risk adding to your sentence with the crime of perjury.”
“All right. I won’t ask for immunity, but I will tell the police that there’s a possible informant.”
“Good.”
I pull out my phone and tap my contacts before I show Cohenour a phone number.
“This is the lead detective for Mr. Scotto’s case. Call him now from your phone.”
