Elizabeth Street - Laurie Fabiano [100]
“You’re a good man, Joe, and a good father. That little girl will have much to be proud of. Let’s go over the details.”
Bingham settled into his chair. “We have promises from the Italian government to hand over the criminal records. And we have promises from our own government to deport the thugs when we have their records in our hands.” He took out a steamer ticket from a leather portfolio on his desk. “You sail the day after tomorrow on the Duca di Genova—first class, I might add. You’ll travel as a Jewish businessman with the identity of Simone Velletri. In this folder I have letters of introduction for the Italian Minister of the Interior and the head of Italy’s police forces, Francesco Leonardi.”
While Petrosino inspected the letters, Bingham joked, “Joe, I know how much you love that watch,” pointing to the gold chain across Petrosino’s pocket. “But I don’t think a gift from the Italian government thanking you for arresting criminals would be a good thing to carry.”
Petrosino managed a little laugh. “Yes, I think I’ll leave it at home.”
“I want you to stay home with Adelina and the baby tomorrow. We’ll spread the rumor that you’ve had a relapse of pneumonia and on doctor’s orders you are leaving town to convalesce. Only members of the Italian Squad will know your whereabouts.”
“And my Adelina, of course.”
“Of course. We’ll take good care of her, Joe. Now, do you have your list in order?”
“Yes, Commissioner. And it starts with Lupo.”
“Lupo’s been here more than three years, Joe.”
“I know, Commissioner, but my brother works at Ellis Island, and we found proof that he traveled to Italy last year under an alias.”
“You are clever! How many names do you have on that list anyway?”
“It’s up to seven hundred, sir.”
“Joe, you’ll need an army to dig up that many records.”
“Imagine, Commissioner, if we could deport them all.”
Commissioner Bingham stood. “Imagine, indeed. We’ll be heroes, Joe.”
FEBRUARY 12, 1909
Giovanna stared at her mother’s writing on the envelope. At last, the proof that she needed. Tears welled in her eyes as she slit the letter open.
Dearest Giovanna,
We received your generous cable with 1,000 US dollars.
Giovanna breathed a great sigh of relief and continued.
I only hope that you have not sacrificed everything to send it. This is a fortune. Zia Marianna will also be writing to you, but I can say without a doubt that this money has saved her life. Her health was so fragile and her despair was so great that your father and I feared she would die. This gives her hope of establishing a home again. The same is true of cousin Fortunata and her family. Everything that you said in your letter that Enrico Bellantoni told you is true. So many of our friends and family are gone, but we live. I don’t know why this is, and I question our fortune each day. We that remain live all together in our home. It’s probably hard for you to believe, but fourteen of us live here now. Zia Marianna remains in the French hospital. Each day, we work at rebuilding houses. Soon Fortunata’s family will be moving back into their home. The armies removed the bodies and much of the debris. They never found your Zia Antoinette’s and Signora Scalici’s bodies. Pasquale’s body was found only last week. It was his rings that identified him. You know how he loved those rings! People work night and day rebuilding and cleaning, but I worry that when the work is done, we will look around only to see a Scilla that is empty. Please do not come here. The money you sent will help more than you’ll ever know. Give my love to your brother and all my grandchildren. Mamma.
FEBRUARY 28, 1909
Bingham paced his office. He had spent the entire week questioning his decision to tell the press of Petrosino’s mission. Those dandy aldermen were all over him and he needed to prove he had taken decisive action. But he hadn’t expected the story to be picked up by the International Herald.
“Come in,” called Bingham, answering the knock on his door.
Lieutenant Vachris entered and instantly Bingham could read his