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〃And？〃
〃Medusa's now in Moscow； Mr。 Director。〃
34
Louis DeFazio wearily dragged his small frame out of the taxi in the boulevard Masséna； followed by his larger； heavier； far more muscular cousin Mario from Larchmont； New York。 They stood on the pavement in front of a restaurant； its name in red…tubed script across a green…tinted window： Tetrazzini's。
〃This is the place；〃 said Louis。 〃They'll be in a private room in the back。〃
〃It's pretty late。〃 Mario looked at his watch under the wash of a street lamp。 〃I set the time for Paris； it's almost midnight here。〃
〃They'll wait。〃
〃You still haven't told me their names； Lou。 What do we call them？〃
〃You don't；〃 answered DeFazio； starting for the entrance。 〃No names…they wouldn't mean anything anyway。 All you gotta do is be respectful； you know what I mean？〃
〃I don't have to be told that； Lou； I really don't；〃 reprimanded Mario in his soft…spoken voice。 〃But for my own information； why do you even bring it up？〃
〃He's a high…class diplomatico；〃 explained the capo supremo； stopping briefly on the pavement and looking up at the man who had nearly killed Jason Bourne in Manassas； Virginia。 〃He operates out of Rome from fancy government circles； but he's the direct contact with the dons in Sicily。 He and his wife are very； very highly regarded； you understand what I'm saying？〃
〃I do and I don't；〃 admitted the cousin。 〃If he's so grand； why would he accept such a menial assignment as following our targets？〃
〃Because he can。 He can go places some of our pagliacci can't get near； you know what I mean？ Also； I happen to let our people in New York know who our clients were； especially one； capisce？ The dons all the way from Manhattan to the estates south of Palermo have a language they use exclusively between themselves； did you know that； cugino？ 。。。 It es down to a couple of orders： 'Do it' and 'Don't do it。' 〃
〃I think I understand； Lou。 We render respect。〃
〃Respect； yes； my fancy rendering cousin； but not no weakness； capisce？ No weakness！ The word's got to go up and down the line that this is an operation Lou DeFazio took control of and ran from beginning to end。 You got that？〃
〃If that's the case； maybe I can go home to Angie and the kids；〃 said Mario； grinning。
〃What？ 。。。 You shut up； cugino！ With this one job you got annuities for your whole passel of bambinos。〃
〃Not a passel； Lou； just five。〃
〃Let's go。 Remember； respect； but we don't take no shit。〃
The small private dining room was a miniature version of Tetrazzini's decor。 The ambience was Italian in all things。 The walls were papered with dated； now faded murals of Venice； Rome and Florence； the softly piped…in music was predominantly operatic arias and tarantellas； and the lighting indirect with pockets of shadows。 If a patron did not know he was in Paris； he might think he was dining on Rome's Via Frascati； at one of the many mercialized family ristoranti lining that ancient street。
There was a large round table in the center covered by a deep red tablecloth； with a generous overhang； and four chairs equidistant from one another。 Additional chairs were against the walls； allowing for an expanded conference of principals or for the proper location of secondary subalterns； usually armed。 Seated at the far end of the table was a distinguished…looking olive…skinned man with wavy dark hair； on his left was a fashionably dressed； well…coiffed middle…aged woman。 A bottle of Chianti Classico was between them； the crude thick…stemmed wineglasses in front of them not the sort one would associate with such aristocratic diners。 On a chair behind the diplomatico was a black leather suitcase。
〃I'm DeFazio；〃 said the capo supremo from New York； closing the door。 〃This is my cousin Mario； of who you may have heard of…a very talented man who takes precious time away from his family to be with us。〃
〃Yes； of course；〃 said the aristocratic mafioso。 〃Mario； il bola； esecuzione garantito…deadly with any weapon。 Sit down； gentlemen。〃
〃I find such descriptions meaningless；〃 responded Mario； approaching a chair。 〃I'm skilled in my craft； that's all。〃
〃Spoken like a professional； signore；〃 added the woman as DeFazio and his cousin sat down。 〃May I order you wine； drinks？〃 she continued。
〃Not yet；〃 replied Louis。 〃Maybe later…maybe。 。。。 My talented relative on my mother's side； may she rest in the arms of Christ； asked a good question outside。 What do we call you； Mr。 and Mrs。 Paris； France？ Which is by way of saying I don't need no real names。〃
〃Conte and Contessa is what we're known by；〃 answered the husband； smiling； the tight smile more appropriate to a mask than a human face。
〃See what I mean； cugino？ These are people of high regard。 。。。 So； Mr。 Count； bring us up to date； how about it？〃
〃There's no question about it； Signor DeFazio；〃 replied the Roman； his voice as tight as his previous smile； which had pletely disappeared。 〃I will bring you up to date； and were it in my powers I would leave you in the far distant past。〃
〃Hey； what kind of fuckin' talk is that？〃
〃Lou； please！〃 intruded Mario； quietly but firmly。 〃Watch your language。〃
〃What about his language？ What kind of language is that？ He wants to leave me in some kind of dirt？〃
〃You asked me what has happened； Signor DeFazio； and I'm telling you；〃 said the count； his voice as strained as before。 〃Yesterday at noon my wife and I were nearly killed…killed； Signor DeFazio。 It's not the sort of experience we're used to or can tolerate。 Have you any idea what you've gotten yourself into？〃
〃You 。。。 ？ They marked you？〃
〃If you mean by that； did they know who we were； happily they did not。 Had they known； it's doubtful we'd be sitting at this table！〃
〃Signor DeFazio；〃 interrupted the contessa； glancing at her husband； her look telling him to calm down。 〃The word we received over here is that you have a contract on this cripple and his friend the doctor。 Is that true？〃
〃Yeah；〃 confirmed the capo supremo cautiously。 〃As far as that goes； but it goes further； you know what I mean？〃
〃I haven't the vaguest idea；〃 replied the count icily。
〃I tell you this because it's possible I could use your help； for which； like I told you； you'll be paid good； real good。〃
〃How does the contract go 'further'？〃 asked the wife； again interrupting。
〃There's someone else we have to hit。 A third party these two came over here to meet。〃
The count and his countess instantly looked at each other。 〃A 'third party；' 〃 repeated the man from Rome； raising the wineglass to his lips。 〃I see。 。。。 A three…target contract is generally quite profitable。 How profitable； Signor DeFazio？〃
〃Hey； e on； do I ask you what you make a week in Paris； France？ Let's just say it's a lot and you two personally can count on six figures； if everything goes according to the book。〃
〃Six figures enpass a wide spectrum；〃 observed the countess。 〃It also indicates that the contract is worth over seven figures。〃
〃Seven 。。。 ？〃 DeFazio looked at the woman； his breathing on hold。
〃Over a million dollars；〃 concluded the countess。
〃Yeah； well； you see； it's important to our clients that these people leave this world；〃 said Louis；