"I ddon't have any idea of wwhat you're ttalking about, Harvey." he stutters.
Not a good sign, I've known him long enough to know that he stutters when he's lying. "How long we been friends, Johnny? What...since Bull D'Antonio used to kick your ass on the playground at St. Mary's? Second, third grade?"
"Yyeah, Harv, bout then. Good times we've had, eh?" He manages a weak smile, still glancing back and forth from my gun to my face, tongue wetting his lips.
"Yeah, John, we've had some good times, really good times. You've been like a brother to me over the years, which makes these rumors even harder to take." I stare at him, catching his gaze, forcing him to look me in the eyes.
Breaking down, he sobs, "I'm sorry Harvey, I didn't want to do it, they're forcing me." Burying his face in his hands I can see his shoulders jolt as he sobs quietly.
Dammit, I didn't want it to be true. I wanted it to be the wrong guy, I wanted options. Now...there are no more options. "Why Johnny?" I ask, "Why?" "I got caught embezzling money from some of my legit clients. FBI got involved and said they could keep me out of jail if I turned over the family's books and testified. You'd have been ok, Harv, it was the bosses they wanted. What could I do, Harv? I'm an accountant, I can't go to prison." He looks at me with pleading eyes, looking for hope, some sign.
"Son of a bitch, Johnny! This firm was your front, a cover. We're paying you more than enough money to keep your nose clean here." I could already feel the headache forming.
"I know, but it's the ponies, Harv. I got in real deep with a bookie over in New York. They were gonna hurt me, hurt Ma. I had to have the money." He looks up at me,his old friend, pleading in his eyes. "Let me run Harvey, I'll head to Canada, I'll disappear. The Feds have to have me decode the books and testify, if I run it's over, they can't get you. The Boss doesn't have to know, tell him you dumped my body in the river. Please Harvey!" |