MURDER AT THE GALLIANO CLUB is my next release, set in upstate New York during Prohibition. The Galliano Club is an Italian social club for men, catering to mill workers producing the copper and iron to build America’s bridges, ship hulls, and power grids.
When Al Capone chased him out of Chicago, Benny Rotolo fled to Lido. After a slow start, he's become the biggest bootlegger in town. But the Galliano Club, owned by Vito Bottini and run by Luca Lombardo, remains a thorn in his side.
“Well, if it ain’t the sucker-punching sheik and his gal,” Benny crowed. Of all the people he expected to see in downtown Lido, it sure wasn’t Lombardo with some rich-looking tomato in a blue hat.
He and Trixie were hardly butting in. Lombardo and the gal were having a serious conversation right on the sidewalk in front of Nelson’s Department Store.
“Ain’t you gonna introduce us?” Benny tipped his tan fedora at Miss Blue Hat. She had on matching gloves and a velvet coat with a wide collar. Probably smelled better than a thousand dollar bill.
Lombardo looked like he seen a ghost. “Tess Kennedy,” he said, sort of strangled-sounding. “This is Mr. Benny Rotolo. And his friend.”
“Trixie Dawson,” Benny supplied.
“Pleased, I’m sure,” Trixie said.
Miss Blue Hat smiled but didn’t say anything, like she was too good to rub elbows with a working girl from Camden.
“Sheik been telling you about me?” Benny asked Miss Blue Hat. “Him and me, we’re gonna be business partners.”
“That’s not how I would put it,” Lombardo said, still in that strangled voice.
“Gotta take some time out for the ladies, right?” Benny said, enjoying Lombardo’s discomfort. “Trixie and me are heading up to the theater. See the new Buster Keaton film about a sickly prizefighter or something. Bet he don't got a punch like yours.”
“Enjoy the movie,” Lombardo said. He grabbed Miss Blue Hat’s hand and turned to go.
“Not so fast, Sheik,” Benny said, getting serious. “I got a message for your boss, Bottini.”
“Another time,” Lombardo said.
Benny jabbed the air. “You tell him that Benny Rotolo ain’t no punk. I own the rackets in Lido now and if he wants to stay healthy, he knows what to do.”
Lombardo’s face tightened. “Nobody tells Vito Bottini how to run his business.”
“Your gal’s a real tomato, Sheik.” Benny winked at Miss Blue Hat. “Pretty buttoned up for an Eye-talian though, ain’t he? Bet he ain’t got a dollar in his pocket, either. Any time you get bored with this mug, Benny Rotolo will show you a real good time.”
“Benny!” Trixie gave Benny a playful swat on the shoulder, but as he’d made clear when he finally woke up after yesterday’s marathon, she wasn’t being paid to pout.
“Let’s go, Tess,” Lombardo said. “Mr. Rotolo has said enough.”
“Be a good boy now, Sheik,” Benny called after them. “Do what you’re told.”
Benny felt really good as he steered Trixie toward the theater. Lombardo might have sucker-punched him last night, but Benny just had the last word.
Trixie chattered on about Buster Keaton as they strolled toward the Strand, but Benny let her noise slide by. Lombardo was no mug. In fact, Benny could use a man like that in his gang. Cool-headed, good with his fists, and close-lipped. Sort of reminded Benny of Al Capone’s enforcer, Frank Nitti.
The rich tomato was an unexpected bit of leverage over Lombardo, too. Dames always liked a fella with cash in his pocket.
By the time Benny and Trixie were in front of the theater, his mind was made up. With Lombardo on board, Benny would control the Galliano Club without having to deal with old man Bottini. After that he’d gobble up the Empire Club in Syracuse. They were both big enough to really pack in the paying customers. Back in Chicago, his old
boss Hymie Weiss would take notice.
Things were looking up for the Lido Outfit.
Read more about the upcoming Galliano Club series here: http://carmenamato.net/ galliano-club-mystery-series/
