CAPONE'S VAULT
CHAPTER 1
The normally calm Eliot was furious. He had pounded the desk until his hand throbbed, kicked the wastepaper basket until it was smashed to the size of a basketball and now was directing his ire at the three remaining officers in the room.
"What you are saying is that we have been trying to send that son-of-a-bitch to the electric chair for murder, rape, bootlegging, bribery, pimping and every other piece of corruption known to man and now the Internal Revenue Service is sending him to prison for eleven years on tax evasion?" He exploded for the tenth time.
"Christ, Elliott, we are lucky to get him on anything," said McGruder. "He has half the lawyers in Chicago working for him. The other half are working against us. At least we have him on federal charges."
"But eleven years. I wanted his ass in the electric chair. I wanted to see that shoe shining, son-of-a-bitch dust the arms of that electric chair."
"There are worse things than death, Eliot," said McGruder, trying to get the chief calm again.
"Name one?" he asked, glaring at McGruder and waiting for an answer.
"Having to stay in prison all day-you know-no women, no booze. He'll be out of his mind in three years."
"He'll be out on parole in three years. That's not good enough. It has to be more than that. If I can't get him into the electric chair then I want to make his ass miserable. Where are they sending him?"
"Talk is that he is trying to buy his way into Leavenworth. We've got Frank Nitti and Jack Guzik there now. I'm sure he is getting lots of feedback. They probably have an apartment set up for him. Last I heard, Frank is the warden's chauffeur and Jack putters around in the prison garden all day. Raises his own herbs. They have their own apartment with a kitchen where they can cook and invite guests."
Eliot stared at him, trying not to believe what he was hearing. His lower jaw had dropped just slightly, and while McGruder held his full attention, the other two agents slipped out of the room. The senior agent let them go. He motioned for McGruder to take the chair next to his desk.
"It looks like we will have to do a little sentencing of our own," said Eliot."
"Like what?" asked McGruder.
"You don't think for a minute that I am going to let that son-of-a-bitch end up in that country club at Leavenworth. I may not get him in the electric chair but, like you said, there are worse things and he is going to experience them all."
"Jesus, Eliot, why the vendetta? We got the fat fart, so let the system take over."
"The important thing for you to remember, Mac, is that there is a vendetta. Another thing, I am putting you in charge of it. I want you to search out every way you can to make that son-of-a-bitch miserable. He treats this like he is going to Mama Lasagna's for gumba or whatever that shit is he eats. I want him to hurt like he has made so many others hurt. I want the son-of-a-bitch to scream with misery. And I want you to see to it."
"You're sure you want to do this..."
Eliot cut him off. "And I had better never find you easing up on him. He claims he can buy anybody. He damn sure better not buy you."
"You want it, Eliot, you got it. Where do you want me to start and give me some idea what you are about."
"First, call Judge Wilkerson. He will be doing the sentencing and he dislikes the bastard as much as I do. Tell him very nicely that Capone goes to Atlanta. Tell him we have it set up for him to be in a cell with one of our informers. Lead him to believe that we are trying to locate where Capone hides his money so we can collect the fines and back taxes he owes. If, and I say if, Wilkerson doesn't agree to that, tell him he will be there next year serving Capone's time."
"That's pretty strong, Eliot."
"You're damn right it is. I want everybody to know that if anybody is nice to that son-of-a-bitch it will be me. I don't want anybody else even saying good morning to him. Another thing; talk to Wilkerson on the phone. I don't want any witnesses to any of this. Get back to me as soon as you can. We'll plan our next move."
Judge Wilkerson was elated. He didn't like gangsters and he particularly didn't like Capone. He had his secretary leak information to the press that Capone would follow Guzik and Nitti to Leavenworth just as McGruder had suggested. Capone's lawyers learned of it before the paper went to press. Big Al was elated when he was informed. He had his trunks packed and his own vehicle and driver set to leave. Eliot was ecstatic when McGruder told him. For the first time, McGruder showed some interest in the project. That afternoon he sat down with Eliot and established the ground rules for Capone's prison stay.
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