Hitmen
A two-page spread in today’s NY Post by Brad Hamilton jogged my memory. About ten years ago a fellow Lafayette H.S. alum asked if I’d be interested in speaking to someone who was planning a book and screenplay on his life as a mob hitman. I agreed, probably thinking my name on such a work would make it easier to get my novels punished. We met at a diner and he cited details of his kills. I sat quietly, trying to be objective, non-judgmental. He spoke loudly enough for others to hear, and either didn’t realize it or didn’t care. He was disappointed that I had no influence with publishers. I was disappointed that he already had a ghost writer. At the time I may have had only two books in print, one self published one a partnership with a woman to whom I paid a fee. I made the mistake of telling him I knew an actor who had a friend who had gone on from their small theater company to substantial work in films and TV in supporting roles. Weeks later the made man gave me a copy of the screenplay, although he was leery of theft. I mailed it to my friend, who sent it on to California. The actor balked, fearing trouble with the law, citing statute of limitations. Fortunately, he did not throw the manuscript away. MM wanted to know the his name. I refused to divulge it. Fortunately, he did not threaten me. I might have folded. I’ve always suspected I would be a coward in a life and death situation. Whew! I returned the manuscript, apologized for being unable to help, wished him luck, and did not hear anything about him until this morning. I’d wondered about him occasionally, but forgot to ask our mutual acquaintance if he’d gotten anywhere. At first, reading the article, gazing at his picture, I wasn’t sure it was him, as the main focus was the poisoning of Pope John I, during which MM claims he was outside the bedroom while an associate did the deed. I remember family members laughing about the “assassination” at a holiday dinner. I thought they were being cynical. Then it was a major plot point in The Godfather III (1990), and I wondered if it there was something to it or if Mario Puzo simply ran with the rumor as writers are wont to do. The newspaper piece also cited the Lufthansa heist, MM claiming it was set up by Meyer Lansky. He did not mention either of those incidents to me, but I did recognize other parts of his story. He was about to sent to prison for murder when authorities intervened and trained him to be a sniper in Vietnam. I also vaguely recall the Beth Meyerson/Ed Koch angle, which I won’t detail here because it may not be true. The funniest thing he related was having sex with a famous congresswoman who had an impressive rack. These incidents can’t be verified, as the other players are deceased. Anyway, MM is now fighting cancer. I’m interested to see how the book sells. He was convinced he was sitting on a gold mine. I thought it would turn a profit but wasn’t sure it would be as big as some mob books, as there are so many. Here’s the cover:
According to another article in the Post, Latino owned businesses had an average gain of 45% in the past year. How did this happen during a racist president’s term? Also, the left must be crowing about Trump abandoning plans to hold a summit at his Florida resort. For the record, any money the politically connected spend at his magnificent Washington hotel has been going to the U.S. treasury. Don’t expect the mainstream media to report this.
Dynasty again delayed. Hail, Astros and Jose Altuve:
I made a few bucks and decided to close shop, as the rain seemed to be coming earlier than forecast. It was the right choice. My thanks to the young Asian mom who bought three kids’ books for her little girls, one who seemed to have had a recent visit from the tooth fairy; and to the woman in a wheelchair who purchased CDs by Elton John, George Michael and Linda Ronstadt, and four books for her grandkid.
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