The Last Don - Mario Puzo [20]
Fifteen years before, while still a young police officer, still a little careless, he had been entrapped by the Internal Affairs Unit of the New York City Police Department. It was small graft, almost impossible to avoid. But he had stood fast and refused to inform on his superiors who were involved. The Clericuzio Family underlings observed this and set in motion a series of judicial moves so that Andrew Pollard was given a deal: Resign from the New York Police Department and escape punishment.
Pollard migrated to Los Angeles with his wife and child, and the Family gave him the money to set up his Pacific Ocean Security Company. Then the Family sent out word that Pollard’s clients were not to be molested, their houses could not be burglarized, their persons were not to be mugged, their jewelry was not to be stolen and if stolen in error must be returned. It was for this reason that the flaming ARMED RESPONSE signs also flashed the name of the protection agency.
Andrew Pollard’s success was almost magical, the mansions under his protection were never touched. His bodyguards were as nearly well trained as FBI men, so the company was never sued for inside jobs, sexual harassment of their employers, or child molesting, all of which happened in the world of security. There were a few cases of attempted blackmail, and there were some guards who sold intimate secrets to the scandal sheets, but that was unavoidable. All in all, Pollard ran a clean, efficient operation.
His company had computer access to confidential information about people in all walks of life. And it was only natural that when the Clericuzio Family needed data, it would be supplied. Pollard earned a good living and he was grateful to the Family. Plus the fact that every once in a while there was a job he could not ask his guards to do, and he would then make application to the western Bruglione for some help in the way of strong-arm.
There were slyer predators for whom Los Angeles and Hollywood were like some Edenesque jungle, teeming with victims. There were the movie executives lured into blackmailers’ honey traps, the closeted movie stars, sadomasochistic directors, pedophile producers, all frightened their secrets would get out. Pollard was noted for dealing with these cases with finesse and discretion. He could negotiate the lowest possible payment and ensure that there would be no second dip.
Bobby Bantz summoned Andrew Pollard to his office the day after the Academy Awards. “I want all the info you can get on this Boz Skannet character,” he told Pollard. “I want all the background on Athena Aquitane. For a major star, we know very little about her. I also want you to make a deal with Skannet. We need Athena for another three to six months on the picture, so structure a deal with Skannet so that he goes far away. Offer him twenty grand a month but you can go as high as a hundred.”
Pollard said quietly, “And after he can do what he wants?”
“Then it’s a job for the authorities,” Bantz said. “You have to be very careful, Andrew. This guy has a powerful family. The movie industry cannot be accused of any off-color tactics, it might ruin the picture and hurt the Studio. So just make the deal. Plus we are using your firm for her personal security.”
“And if he doesn’t go for the deal?” Pollard asked.
“Then you have to guard her day and night,” Bantz said. “Until the picture is done.”
“I could lean on him just a little,” Pollard said. “In a legal way of course. I’m not suggesting anything.”
“He’s too well connected,” Bantz said. “The police authorities are leery of him. Even Jim Losey, who’s such a good buddy of Skippy Deere, won’t use any muscle. Aside from public relations, the Studio could be sued for enormous amounts of money. I’m not saying you should treat him like a delicate flower but . . .”
Pollard got the message. A little rough stuff to scare the guy but pay him what he wanted. “I’ll need contracts,” he said.
Bantz took an envelope from his desk drawer. “He signs three copies and there’s a check in there for fifty thousand dollars