The Fifth Witness - Michael Connelly [170]
Opparizio had seen me offer the bound book to the judge. He knew I had something to back my question. Rather than throw out a full denial he went with the vague response.
“As I said, I left my family behind when I went off to school. I didn’t know about them after that. And I was told nothing before.”
It was time to be relentless, to back Opparizio to the edge of the cliff.
“Wasn’t your uncle known as Anthony ‘The Ape’ Apparizio because of his reputation for brutality and violence?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Didn’t your uncle act as a father figure in your life while your own father spent most of your teenage years in prison for extortion?”
“My uncle took care of us financially but he was not a father figure.”
“When you moved out west at age twenty-one was it to distance yourself from your family or to extend your family’s business opportunities to the west coast?”
“Now that’s a lie! I came out here for law school. I had nothing and brought nothing with me. Including family connections.”
“Are you familiar with the term ‘sleeper’ as it is applied in organized crime investigations?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Would it surprise you to learn that the FBI, starting in the 1980s, believed that the mob was attempting to move into legitimate areas of business by sending its next generation of members to schools and other locales so that they could sink roots and start businesses, and that these people were called sleepers?”
“I am a legitimate businessman. No one sent me anywhere and I put myself through law school working for a process server.”
I nodded as though I expected the answer.
“Speaking of process servers, you own several companies, don’t you, sir?”
“I don’t understand.”
“Let me rephrase. When you sold ALOFT to the LeMure Fund you kept ownership of a variety of companies that contracted with ALOFT, correct?”
Opparizio took his time thinking about an answer. He made another furtive glance toward his attorneys. It was a Get me out of this look. He knew where I was going and he knew I couldn’t be allowed to get there. But he was on the witness stand and there was only one way out.
“I have ownership and part ownership in a variety of different enterprises. All of them legal, all of them aboveboard and legitimate.”
It was a good answer but it was not going to be good enough.
“What kind of companies? What services do they provide?”
“You mentioned process serving, that’s one of them. I have a paralegal referral and placement company. There’s an office staffing company and an office furniture supply entity. There’s—”
“Do you own a courier service?”
The witness paused before answering. He was trying to think two questions ahead and I wasn’t staying in a rhythm he could pick up on.
“I’m an investor. I’m not the sole owner.”
“Let’s talk about the courier service. First of all, what’s it called?”
“Wing Nuts Courier Services.”
“And is that a Los Angeles–based company?”
“Based here but with offices in seven cities. It operates all over this state and Nevada.”
“Exactly how much of Wing Nuts do you own?”
“I am a partial participant. I believe I own forty percent of it.”
“And who are some of the other participants?”
“Well, there are several. Some aren’t people, they’re other companies.”
“Like AA-Best Consultants of Brooklyn, New York, which is listed on corporate records in Sacramento as part owner of Wing Nuts?”
Opparizio was again slow to answer. This time he seemed lost in a dark thought until the judge prompted him.
“Yes, I believe that is one of the investors.”
“Now, corporation documents held by the state of New York show that the majority owner of AA-Best is one Dominic Capelli. Are you familiar with him?”
“No, I am not.”
“You are saying that you are unfamiliar with one of your partners in Wing Nuts, sir?”
“AA-Best invested. I invested. I don’t know all the individuals involved.”
Freeman stood. It was about time. I had been waiting for her to object for at least four questions. I was spinning my wheels waiting.
“Your Honor,